Auto Group Owner To Run For Town Council

Todd VanDuren says his history of involvement in town prompted him to run

One of the owners of the Ramsey Auto Group, a family-owned and operated chain of local car dealerships, is planning a run for town council this November. Todd VanDuren said he submitted petitions to the township clerk Friday because he feels his long history as an “involved Mahwah resident,” makes him a “good candidate for the job.” VanDuren has lived in Mahwah since 1975. He has three kids, two of which are currently enrolled in Mahwah schools, and his wife is the President of the Company 4 ambulance squad. VanDuren said he has a long history of volunteering on behalf of the town. He has been a member of the Mahwah Municipal Alliance for two years, and a member of the township’s Planning Board since January. “I am involved in a lot in the…

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ref

10:41 am on Monday, September 10, 2012

Abby it seems that a certain gasolione station owner wants to expand his business on Rt 17 North,its my understanding that he is going to the planning board to try and get a variance,just so happens he owns two or three stations already,isnt that right Chardel?   more ›

Fletcher House Owner Given Heritage Award

A group of Joyce Kilmer students also got an award from the Town Council Thursday

A woman who is keeping Mahwah's historic homes alive and well was honored by the Town Council at its Thursday night meeting. Historic Preservation Commission Chairwoman Barbara Shanley explained the Mahwah Heritage Awardbefore presenting it to Sue Handley, owner of the Fletcher House. Shanley went on to explain that the home, the first built in 1909 in the Cragmere area of town, is an ‘arts and crafts’ style. This translates to the use of native field stone, chestnut trim, exposed beams and multi-paned windows. It had fallen into disrepair, and was nearly deemed irreparable. But following close inspection of the home, it was determined it could be saved. For seven months it sat unoccupied, until Handley agreed to purchase it, fully aware …

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Winter's Pond Dredging Could Begin This Summer

Residents frustrated with flooding and other issues

Around a dozen citizens attended Thursday night's town council meeting to express their concerns over the long-running debate over the dredging of Winter's Pond. At least half of those in attendance are residents of South Railroad Avenue. Winter’s Pond, at the corner of S. Railroad and Ramapo Avenue, has been the subject of much debate for quite a number of years.  Multiple plans have been laid out to dredge the pond, which floods often, but no action has yet been taken. Local Resident Emily Buchanan spoke more than once to the council about the intolerable situation. She claimed that the flooding is unacceptable, and that this proposed dredging has been ongoing for eight years. Michael Kelly of Boswell Engineering laid out what the …

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Development Wah-tch

Town Council Votes 4-2 In Favor Of Crossroads Rezoning Ordinances

Following a long public hearing, the council voted after midnight to approve the three ordinances attached to the Crossroads rezoning.

With about 250 concerned citizens in attendance at Thursday night's town council meeting, the council approved the three controversial ordinances that would rezone the International Crossroads property to be the site of a shopping center. Though originally the second item on the Council’s agenda, it was moved to open the public hearing on the topic of the three ordinances first.  A motion was made for a non-binding referendum on this issue.   A discussion ensued between Council President Roth and township attorney Bottinelli about a provision in NJ statutes that forbids such a referendum. It was clarified that a non-binding referendum was allowable.  However, with a split vote of 3-3, the motion was defeated.  Attorney James Jaworski, …

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V

11:32 pm on Wednesday, April 13, 2011

I WISH V came to Mahwah.... And your last name is Creedy. Hah. :P   more ›

Town Council: Improvements Coming To Veteran's Park

The Town Council held a public meeting and work session on Wednesday 2/23.

At Wednesday night's Town Council meeting, a new township historian was appointed, improvements to Veteran's Park were approved, and the Council considered the implications on traffic in town that new developments may have.  An overview of the major points discussed: The Mayor sent notice that Carol Greene, a Mahwah Museum trustee and author of The Ramapough Chronicles: A 300-Year History of Mahwah New Jersey and Its Surrounds, had been selected to be the township's new historian.  The members of the board congratulated her in absentia. The position of Town Historian is an unpaid, volunteer endeavor. Following years of deliberation and planning, it was announced that after receiving eleven bids, one had been approved for the improvements …

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Town Council: Residents Will See Tax Increase, PD Will Get New SUV And Possibly A Wage Freeze

Police department will get a new SUV, other budget concerns discussed at Town Council meeting

Mahwah residents will see a tax increase this year, according to the budget discussions at Thursday night's town council meeting.  Considerations discussed at the meeting included decreased revenue sources for the budget, as well as the effect of a two percent cap on tax revenue increases that the town is legally bound to.  That increase has a few exemptions, such as health insurance and pensions.  Councilman Williams, calculating numbers available in the budget, said that tax rates for the township are still low.   Business Administrator Brian Campion, who presented the budget to the Council, made it clear, however, that a small surplus, which is not increasing, is maintained in order to offset unexpected costs, and presumably to prevent …

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Development Wah-tch

Two New Crossroads Ordinances Proposed To Address Resident Concerns

The special Jan. 31meeting on the proposed Ordinances to rezone the International Crossroads produced more debate but no forward motion.

Two new ordinances were proposed at Monday night's special Town Council meeting to address the concerns previously brought up about security and traffic related to the proposed rezoning of the Crossroads complex.  Plans to change the zoning to create the Crossroads Town Center and allow for the construction of 600,000 square feet of retail space as well as an additional 150,000 square feet of hotel space continue to be debated. The first ordinance, entitled “Shopping Center Private Security Requirements” would create a provision that would require the developers to provide a private security officer for every 250,000 square feet of retail floor space.  The second, entitled the “Transportation Improvement District”, would create a fund that…

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Development Wah-tch

Residents Fight Crossroads Rezoning

More than two dozen local citizens attended a special meeting of the Town Council on the ongoing issue of zoning for the International Crossroads.

Not one of the more than two dozen citizens present at the Dec. 6 special meeting of the Town Council spoke in favor of the proposed rezoning of the International Crossroads space. The most voiced concern of the evening was the possibility that the addition of retail space would change the character of Mahwah, and might even turn it into another Paramus.   Residents also brought up concerns over increased crimes that many associate with malls, in regard to Paramus, the borough in Bergen County with the highest crime rate. One attendee noted a study that showed Paramus had the highest crime rate in the county by 24 percent more than the next borough, Hackensack.  She pointed out that both of these towns possessed malls not too far in scale …

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