Fair Lawn wants to buy field to stave off housing development

FAIR LAWN — In an effort to stave off a massive affordable housing development that would eliminate open space along Plaza Road, the Borough Council plans Tuesday to authorize the purchase of Daly Field through eminent domain proceedings.

The authorization specifies the acquisition of approximately 5.5 acres of land — 3.5 acres for open space and the balance for construction of 40 to 70 senior housing units, with a significant affordable housing component, borough officials said.

The Borough Council will introduce the acquisition in the form of an ordinance at Tuesday’s public meeting. The action follows a recent court ruling that favored Landmark Cos. LLC, a Woodbridge-based developer, for a proposed 175-unit affordable housing development on contiguous property commonly known as Daly Field, Archery Plaza and the Hayward parcel in the Radburn section of town.

“We haven’t been able to reach an agreement with Landmark,” Fair Lawn Mayor Steven Weinstein said Saturday. “This would be a win-win-win.”

The condemnation price tag could reach $3.5 million, borough officials said

“We must introduce the ordinance to do it,” Councilman Joe Tedeschi said of condemnation proceedings.

The borough has been awarded $750,000 for open space acquisition from Green Acres, Weinstein said.

“It’s a matching grant, and we have $600,000 in an open space trust fund,” he said.

Weinstein called the 175 units too dense and said many Fair Lawn residents favor senior housing. The property acquisition makes sense if it’s done via eminent domain, he said.

“There would be 3.5 acres for open space and 2 acres for senior housing,” Weinstein said.

The plan would, in part, help the borough meet its COAH obligations. The municipality is challenging a state appellate court decision, denying the borough’s assertion that it can meet state affordable housing requirements without allowing development on the property. The project has been strongly opposed by neighboring residents and the Borough Council. Legal and zoning debates continue over the property and whether the borough has complied with state laws that require municipalities to approve a certain number of housing units for low-income families. The full tract covers 13 acres; the smallest piece is the 1.5-acre Archery Plaza.

“We’re committed to our town, we’re committed to open space, and we’re committed to senior housing,” Tedeschi said.

Radburn, one of the nation’s first planned communities, was built as a model of suburban living decades ago, and many residents prefer it remain suburban.

 “Towns use eminent domain as a last resort,” said Bergen County Freeholder David Ganz, who lives near the proposed development. “The site needs to be developed in a responsible way.”

“Ideally, I would like to leave it open as a park,” said resident Michael Shinkarovsky, who walks his dogs Peaches and Ricki in the area daily and plans to attend Tuesday’s council meeting. “I would very much like it to stay the way it is, but we’ll see.”

“We moved here because it was the perfect combination of the European and American lifestyle,” said Nick Maslavets, who has lived in the area about a year with his wife and family.

“It’s really the best of both worlds here. We hope this does not dilute the value of the properties. Our property prices have stayed pretty much the same. Parks bring people here.”

A call Friday afternoon to Ronald Shimanowitz, the attorney representing Landmark Cos., was not immediately returned.

The Borough Council will meet Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at 8-01 Fair Lawn Ave.

E-mail: coutros@northjersey.com
 

FAIR LAWN — In an effort to stave off a massive affordable housing development that would eliminate open space along Plaza Road, the Borough Council plans Tuesday to authorize the purchase of Daly Field through eminent domain proceedings.

DON SMITH/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Micheal Shinkarovsky walks his dogs Peaches and Rickey in Daly Field.

The authorization specifies the acquisition of approximately 5.5 acres of land — 3.5 acres for open space and the balance for construction of 40 to 70 senior housing units, with a significant affordable housing component, borough officials said.

The Borough Council will introduce the acquisition in the form of an ordinance at Tuesday’s public meeting. The action follows a recent court ruling that favored Landmark Cos. LLC, a Woodbridge-based developer, for a proposed 175-unit affordable housing development on contiguous property commonly known as Daly Field, Archery Plaza and the Hayward parcel in the Radburn section of town.

“We haven’t been able to reach an agreement with Landmark,” Fair Lawn Mayor Steven Weinstein said Saturday. “This would be a win-win-win.”

The condemnation price tag could reach $3.5 million, borough officials said

DON SMITH/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

“We must introduce the ordinance to do it,” Councilman Joe Tedeschi said of condemnation proceedings.

The borough has been awarded $750,000 for open space acquisition from Green Acres, Weinstein said.

“It’s a matching grant, and we have $600,000 in an open space trust fund,” he said.

Weinstein called the 175 units too dense and said many Fair Lawn residents favor senior housing. The property acquisition makes sense if it’s done via eminent domain, he said.

“There would be 3.5 acres for open space and 2 acres for senior housing,” Weinstein said.

The plan would, in part, help the borough meet its COAH obligations. The municipality is challenging a state appellate court decision, denying the borough’s assertion that it can meet state affordable housing requirements without allowing development on the property. The project has been strongly opposed by neighboring residents and the Borough Council. Legal and zoning debates continue over the property and whether the borough has complied with state laws that require municipalities to approve a certain number of housing units for low-income families. The full tract covers 13 acres; the smallest piece is the 1.5-acre Archery Plaza.

“We’re committed to our town, we’re committed to open space, and we’re committed to senior housing,” Tedeschi said.

Radburn, one of the nation’s first planned communities, was built as a model of suburban living decades ago, and many residents prefer it remain suburban.

 “Towns use eminent domain as a last resort,” said Bergen County Freeholder David Ganz, who lives near the proposed development. “The site needs to be developed in a responsible way.”

“Ideally, I would like to leave it open as a park,” said resident Michael Shinkarovsky, who walks his dogs Peaches and Ricki in the area daily and plans to attend Tuesday’s council meeting. “I would very much like it to stay the way it is, but we’ll see.”

“We moved here because it was the perfect combination of the European and American lifestyle,” said Nick Maslavets, who has lived in the area about a year with his wife and family.

“It’s really the best of both worlds here. We hope this does not dilute the value of the properties. Our property prices have stayed pretty much the same. Parks bring people here.”

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