Sunday, January 6, 2013
Councilman James Koth was named Council President for the second year
For the second consecutive year, an uncontested race has led to the all Republican status quo to remain in place in Oradell. Councilmembers James Koth and Donna Alonso were officially sworn in on Sunday afternoon after facing zero competition at the polls. Koth, who was renamed Council President for the second year, garnered 2,460 votes. First elected to the governing body in 2009, the lifelong borough resident is a product of both the Oradell Public and River Dell school systems as well as volunteering as a third generation firefighter in town. He is the Vice President of a New York State Public Benefit Corporation with focused responsibility in Manhattan managing the day to day operations of newly created public space and amenities on a …
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Mayor says ordinance dead with possibility of reintroduction next year
Mayor Joseph L. Murray Jr. announced at the December 11 council meeting that the ordinance concerning a new Verizon cell phone tower to be placed in Memorial Woods would come to an end right along with 2012. “The planning board has not completed its review which statutorily expires today. Therefore, we can’t have a hearing on it tonight,” Murray said. “The ordinance will die.” Murray said there was a possibility that the ordinance would be reintroduced in 2013. Comments during the public portion were overwhelmingly positive in response to the news. Resident Cathy Sears thanked 107 residents who, just this past week, signed a petition that expressed concern over the proposed tower and asked for more focus from the mayor and council on open …
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Discussions could continue in 2013 on whether the Zoning Board of Adjustment and Planning Board should be combined
With former and current Zoning Board of Adjustment and Planning Board members having previously spoken against merging the two boards, the Oradell Mayor and Council indefinitely tabled an ordinance on Tuesday night that would have done just that. Ordinance 12-18 which was initially supposed to be introduced Tuesday night was instead pulled from the agenda by Councilwoman Donna Alonso to allow the governing body additional time to discuss the merits of a potential merger. "I think it's important to talk about why we are tabling this versus just taking action without an explanation," Council President James Koth said. He added that if Alonso had not tabled the ordinance he would have done so. "I think a lot of discussion around this issue …
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Over concerns by residents, the Council voted 4-2 to begin drafting an ordinance to form a combined Land Use Board
Before the end of the year is out, Oradell may see the merger of its Planning Board and Board of Adjustment as the Council voted 4-2 to begin drafting an ordinane outling the consolidation. The measure will have to be officially introduced in November and then approved to take affect following the new year. "There is no secret that I'm supportive of moving in this direction," Councilman Edward Pfleging said. "I firmly believe in a reorganized board is a more effective and efficient way to manage this process in Oradell now and in the future. We need to look to the future of efficient and effective ways to streamline things and smaller government in Oradell." One of the main reasons towards merging the two boards has been a lack of …
Thursday, September 13, 2012
While members of Stop Over Development build opposition to the New Milford Redevelopment Associates project, the Borough of Oradell is strategizing their own plan of attack.
The better part of the mayor and council meeting Tuesday was spent discussing a potential development in New Milford by S. Hekemian Group under New Milford Redevelopment Associates LLC, which could potentially have adverse affects on Oradell residents. Oradell resident Mary Lang, a member of the Oradell Planning Board, addressed the plans for a 70,500 sq. ft. Shoprite supermarket, 4300 sq. ft. bank, and a four-story 221 unit multi-family housing complex with a 428-space multi-level parking garage at the intersections of Madison Avenue, Main Street, River Road and John D. Cecchino Drive. The 13-acre property is owned by United Water. “A development of this size, a 221-residential unit here in Oradell that might be about an 8-10 block …
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Neighboring community driven group urges Oradell governing body to educate selves, residents of potential impact from the proposed United Water development
For the past few months, Oradell's neighbors in New Milford have been battling plans for a proposed supermarket, bank and housing unit development on a 13.6 acre tract near the Hackensack River and New Milford High School. On Tuesday June 12, members from Stop Over Development (SOD) appeared before the Oradell Mayor and Council urging them to educate both themselves and their residents about the potential impacts the development could have on Oradell. "Our research shows that the development of the United Water property will effect Oradell as much as it would New Milford," Stop Over Development founder Miriam Pickett said. "I believe a letter from this body to the New Milford Zoning Board of Adjustment could be used as an exhibit when this…
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Members of SOD invited to speak at Oradell's Mayor and Council work session Tuesday.
SOD has been invited by Oradell Mayor Joseph Murray to the June 12 work session of the Oradell Mayor and Council to discuss their role in fighting the proposed development of the United Water property. "This is extremely important for SOD, New Milford and Oradell," said Miriam Pickett, Executive Director of SOD. SOD was recently organized by New Milford residents to prevent the proposed development by the Hekemian Group of a 70,500 sq ft supermarket, 4300 sq ft bank and 221 residential units with 428-spaced parking garage on the 13-acre United Water property. "This development will change the character of New Milford forever," Pickett said in stating the importance of SOD's intent. SOD is concerned with the effects the proposed …
Thursday, February 16, 2012
The volunteer organization will need to find a new option to store its equipment on site
Despite an impassioned plea by Habitat for Humanity for the Oradell Council to reconsider its previous decision on denying the organizations request for a construction trailer on site, the governing body's January decision was once again upheld. The 4-0 decision included Council President James Koth and Councilwoman Donna Alonso abstaining from the vote. Koth lives within 200 feet of the project area while Alonso wanted input from the neighboring residents. "The borough of Oradell has embraced this program," Councilman Garrie Murphy said. "We've given property, multiple variances, 50 percent off of building fees and now we're being asked to allow a sizeable trailer to be located abutting on the backyard of private residents for a period of…
Concerned Citizen
9:46 pm on Sunday, December 16, 2012
Wow! Worried about open space preservation ? How about the two multi family homes being built at the bottom of Lake Ave.? Good job planning board! more ›