Crossroads Hearing Eyes September Finish

By Patch Editor Jessica Mazzola

The developers of the proposed Crossroads Town Center – a 600,000 square foot shopping center with stores, restaurants and a movie theater – have been in front of the township Planning Board since early 2012 seeking approval of its site plan application. Now, the developer says, the hearing is almost ready to come to a close.

According to Crossroads attorney Jim Jaworski, he should be finished presenting witness testimony about the development’s site plan application as early as this fall.

After a string of testimonies on the potential design of the center, traffic pattern changes that will be made both to surrounding roadways and the internal parking structure around the Sheraton Mahwah Hotel, and other topics, Jaworski said only a few experts are left to testify.

After Planning Board members asked the developer to return next month with a more in depth presentation on the planned security at the facility, Jaworski said he plans to make that at the next hearing date, scheduled for July 22. In addition, he plans to present to the board continued testimony on the environmental impacts of the project, and architect testimony that will present a “virtual tour,” of the site.

“I think that’s the end,” Jaworski told the board at its hearing last week.

He said he anticipates the hearing will be concluded by September.

If the developer receives approval, it will need to return to the Planning Board again one more time in the future, after more specific details about the design of the shopping center and its surrounds have been set. Before construction, the developer would need to obtain final site plan approval from the board after a second round of testimonies.

The development also has several other requirements to satisfy, including NJ Department of Transportation approval and NJ Department of Environmental Protection approval, and is awaiting a decision on a pending court case against it.