Mini Golf Amusement Center Not Coming To Ramsey-Mahwah Border
The Castle Fun Center withdrew its applications to build a new location on Route 17, officials said
An application to build a Castle Fun Center on Route 17 next to the Home Depot has been withdrawn, Ramsey Mayor Chris Botta said at a council meeting Wednesday night. The amusement complex, which would have included a mini-golf course, go karts, laser tag and an arcade, received several variance approvals from both Ramsey and Mahwah to be built straddling the border of the two municipalities.
According to attorney Jim Jaworski, land-owners Brian and Allison Leentjes, “found another project to invest [their] capital in,” a driving range in Orange County, N.Y. That project, he said, is only about seven miles away from the Castle Fun Center the developers already own in Chester, N.Y.
According to a NorthJersey.com report, Ramsey’s Zoning Board of Adjustment approved variances for the 6,500-square-foot amusement center in November of 2010. Though the project would have technically been in Ramsey, access to the site would have come through Constantine Drive in Mahwah. The Mahwah Planning Board approved the plans for the project in May of 2011, though several board members voted against it, citing safety concerns regarding traffic flow to the spot on and off Route 17.
According to Jaworski, Leentjes “has no current plans to develop anything else,” on the 2.6-acre piece of property, and may sell the land.
Nick
12:51 pm on Saturday, September 29, 2012
Fine with me. That area of Rte. 17 is already a dangerous mess with the HD entrance/exit, Boston Market and MacArthur Blvd.
JP
3:08 pm on Saturday, September 29, 2012
Home Depot should grab that land while it can and reposition the entrance off 17. The current entrance is too short and too curved for that fast of a road.
Mahwah Resident
5:48 pm on Saturday, September 29, 2012
I don't really mind them withdrawing, I'm not a fan or Jaworski of building applications that require too many variances. Also i agree that that spot on 17 is already getting to be a mess. I have been to the castle in Chester several times, its a nice place, kinda curious what they plan on doing with the driving range.
Mahwah Resident
9:33 pm on Monday, October 1, 2012
I am very happy they withdrew. There are trees that have been cut already. You can see the cut trees on the right hand side of the first home depot entrance. They should be legally responsible for replacing them. The land and trees should be left alone.
Mark W
5:16 am on Sunday, September 30, 2012
I travel through that area a lot and find it only to be a problem during "rush hour". This is because you have a lot of people going to work on MacArthur Blvd or returning home to the condos at the top of MacArthur Blvd. It really just seems like another typical Bergen County area to me.
However, with regards to the development of that site, I think it would have been nice to see a family oriented entertainment place like the Castle Center. It sure would beat having another retail store or office building being built there; we already have enough of those.
NJ2020
7:14 am on Wednesday, October 10, 2012
I'm sad they aren't coming. This area needs an attraction like that. There is nothing to do here but shop. As for the comment on the trees, they bought they land. They can cut what they like. That area should be developed cause it looks like crap.