Good idea to share our beautiful town with those who might not normally have a chance. All is ask is that there is a THOROUGH check on our new neighbors... I do know of some negative situations in Westchester County from similar residences. One question though... I wonder why they're not seeking out property in the Rio Vista section of town. Weird, eh?

Speaking of beautiful Mahwah, could someone please tell me why the ballfield on the corner of Island Rd. and E. Ramapo Ave. has every light lit at 8:00 pm when it is perfectly light and no games going on? Lots of electric being wasted....

I hope the 12 senior units will be for long-time MAHWAH RESIDENTS ONLY.
It's darn expensive to live in this town.

It would be great to see a senior citizens community there.

Wow. The town fathers have been keeping busy. Consider making it all a senior citizens community. Some societies consider the elderly holy. We just throw them out with the trash or try to pass euthanasia laws for a quick fix. Can anyone comment on this.

Stop Mahwah Mall people... isn't this going to directly increase traffic and flooding on Rt 202? You know, all those addition visitors and relatives to the area and such.

If it for seniors and special needs that will be fine. However, watch what moves in there... you think crime is on the rise now?? Lock your doors. Don't complain or you'll be deemed racist.

Also, you'll be seeing more dead deer as we continue to displace them.

they should not have this facility so close to a place that sells intoxicating beverages

My concern is the traffic that already exists. It's not the safest of areas to cross/walk. How about some sidewalks for not only the new residents, but for the safety of everyone. Elderly people, people with disabilities (cognitive or physical) will find it difficult to travel that area on foot. As for additional traffic, we don't present a problem in Allendale. (My son lives in an apartment complex for young adults with disabilities) There is parking at the apartment complex and we aren't there on a daily basis and only two residents drive. If anyone is concerned, talk to the people in Allendale. They have been so nice to the young adults that have moved into the community. Our kids move about town and are additional business for the small businesses that exist there. I am not sure how deciding who gets into this housing will work. The apartments were filled by young adults who went through a screening process and it seems to be a success in Allendale. (The residents are from Bergen County, not just the town of Allendale) They are adding additional units for general population adults, adults with disabilities, people with MS and I believe low income.

My concern is the complex being built in an already dense area with house built on top of house and what little trees are in the neighborhood being wiped out. Add to that, the intersection for Reich Ave is impossible to navigate safely without added traffic. Exactly how is that piece of land perfect for the development? If the property is donated to the township...do property owners surrounding this piece of land have a say in how it is developed?

oh wait it isn't donated to the township, it is being donated to United Way. Guess that means the properties that this will be built on top of won't have a say in any of this.

Orchard Commons is a beautiful development. It is located and landscaped to allow residence the ability to live and walk in an area that is pedestrian friendly. The development is in walking distance of churches; pharmacies; food stores; restaurants and a variety of shops. The location in Mahwah is not as desirable in terms of providing an environment for independent living. The Webster Family's gift should be celebrated by all of Mahwah. But this is is a gift the town now has a responsibility to develop so this area provides the the residents with access to the all Mahwah has to offer. Sidewalks absolutely and a service to take them to shops; pharmacies; restaurants; post office; etc. And as this is an area that does suffer with floods an evacuation route....

Why is Mahwah Freeholder Hermansan supporting the spending of more of our taxes. He pledged to the Tea Party and at the Tea Party rallies to cut spending, but now with the County approving more building and more grants. Why does Mahwah have to get have to get even more and more of those who have to be subsidized from through out the county. why? why?

I for one am very happy to see more affordable housing being built in Mahwah, we should have much more. Hopefully the surrounding towns will see what Mahwah is doing and allow affordable housing to be built in their towns as well. This will give families an opportunity to live in a town they would of other wise not of been able to afford.

James, my question to you is what kind of through check would you like to see. Would it be the same through check you had to take when you moved to Mahwah? James I am sure you will agree, as long as they are low income they should qualify, that is the whole point of affordable housing being built in the first place.

I have to say I truly love the comments on the deer, infesting the land, no natural predators. Let me ask all you people that feel this way, about too many deer’s, bears or what ever other animal we humans have a problem with, what is humans natural predators? What keeps the human population in line? I really believe the problem is not too many deer’s, but too many humans, if you ask me human’s need their #’s thinned in the worst way.

I have often said, when I see a deer laying on the ground dead after being hit by a car, the driver of the car is so pissed off about the damage to his car. But change the scenario, the same driver hits & kills a person, now all of a sudden the damage to the car is not important, now the legal system kicks in because it was a human and not a deer and he can only hope he is not convicted of man slaughter and sent to jail. But if it is only a deer it is no big deal, the deer should not of been on the road in the first place. Humans only put a road through its habitat, the deer should of know better.

Humans, what a strange species indeed, we think somehow we are better then all the other species on this planet, we are nothing more then bullies destroying the planet for greed and nothing else. In my opinion humans need a wake up call, take away our homes, living on the street, society as we know it breaks down, no stores to get food so we become like every other species, living day by day, taking what we need to survive even if it means taking it by force, somehow I think more deer will survive then humans, most will become depressed curl up in a ball and others will not have a clue what to do if they can’t get their food at a store. Don’t believe me, next pay attention to when the weather report says snow, and watch the panic of humans as they run to clean out the supermarkets, think about what would happen if the supermarkets were not filled up again. Does this not ring true, survival of the fittest would mean more then anything if there were no laws to stop humans from acting on impulse. Now that is something to look forward too. If you really think about it, nature somehow has to do something to thin human #’s down, how many humans can this planet support before there are no more resources.

What narrow minded people I live with here. I have stopped taking the posts here seriously because this is a horrible way to discuss an issue. Also meaning and tone is lost when someone reads these and can not hear the delivery of the poster. People like JP comment about the mall in this topic. Laughable. Others talk about type of people, applications or back ground checks to move in, sad, deer and bears. We know they are being run out and of course thinning out the population. Natural disasters and disease handle that and if it happened to your family you would be the first to complain to an elected official they did nothing to prevent it.

Kevin, I think you misunderstood me when I said thinning out the human population. What I mean is thinning the human population world wide, not by a hurricane, tornado, earthquake but something much bigger. Like yellow stone one of the largest mega volcanoes in the world letting go, covering hundreds of miles in radius with ash from where it erupted and leaving enough ash in the sky to block out the sun for months if not years. The warming climate causing the ice to melt all around the world raising water levels, flooding and putting coastal cities under water from that point forward. Countries completely underwater, humans having to find higher ground to survive. The complete human society changed forever.

So Kevin, I am not talking about a few hundred or even a few thousand humans lost, I am talking about 2/3 of the world human population wiped out. The survivors will be the fittest and strongest and will then live like every other species on this plant, day by day. Will live by natures rules, this is what I was talking about. Not a little disaster you watch on the news.

Humans have been on the planet for only 250 to 300 thousand years and look what they have done to the planet in this very short time, no other species on this planet for over 4.5 billion years could change it’s environment except humans. All we do is pollute destroy for money.

I hope this clears up what I was speaking of, a lot of people won’t want to believe this, but all they have to do is just think about what good humans have done for the planet, not the good humans have done for themselves, but name one good thing humans have done for the planet. This is why humans need a wake up call; don’t you think we have destroyed enough?

Is this affordable housing for seniors or familes? Because the Mahwah school system is over-crowed already.

We need to address the lack of sidewalks along Route 202 before anything is built there. I live in the neighborhood next to this lot and my son cannot walk home from school because it is so dangerous (and of course we live 'too close' to the schools so he cannot take a bus). People speed along 202 and not only is there a lack of sidewalks, but the houses are built so close to the road there is no room to safely walk there. Even to go to Janek's Deli from this development less than a block away is dangerous!

Affordable housing on Ramapo Valley Road. Why not affordable housing in Fardale, Cragmere or Rio Vista?

Low income deer walk in packs to the mall, so I don't see what the traffic concern is

what's wrong with open space? can't these knuckleheads understand population density? I'm sure they can find 1.5 acres over in the mall site. I love my northern white pines on a 50/100 lot, may put another half dozen in this fall. Whats wrong with a nice stand of white pines on that 1.5 acres?

Carmel Retreat would certainly make a much better location for the affordable houseing plan. Is it too late to discuss the change in venue?

Jessica , my point is simple. The "T" intersection of Island road, two very distinct but seperate neighborhoods bordering the north and south of the proposed site with only one way in and out and lastly a very successful restaurant. The Carmel site would provide many more units that are desparately needed. What's the rush to judgement here. I just think more discussion on the proposal is important before the shovel go into the ground.