Status of United Water Property Application Sure to Dominate Thursday's Special Meeting

The big question sure to dominate Thursday's special meeting of the Zoning Board is this: does the 'conceptual contract' between Hekemian and the New Milford Board of Education, whereby Hekemian is giving the BOE 3.25 acres of land and a 'sizable' donation, constitute a new application?

Louis Flora, the attorney representing Oradell in the matter, and Al Alonso, an attorney representing himself, believe that the donation of land to the BOE changes the land use requiring that residents within 200 feet of the property be re-noticed.

Attorney for the applicant, Antimo "Andy" DelVecchio, informed the Zoning Board that Hekemian had entered into a "conceptual contract" with the New Milford BOE to donate "in excess" of three acres of property to construct a field of dreams-like "state of the art" athletic field and stadium on a parcel of property that is not subject to flooding. DelVecchio stressed that the developer is not building the athletic stadium, they are only donating the land and a "sizable donation" for the BOE to have it constructed.

The three-acre area to be donated for the field lies where the site plans currently have a storm water detention basin. DelVecchio said that the storm water detention basin will be moved to the current softball field, but an easement will be provided to allow for the basin. Underground pipes will be installed to drain the water from the new field site into the retention basin to alleviate any potential flooding. (The softball field will remain the property of the BOE.)

According to Antimo "Andy" DelVecchio, the contract between Hekemian and the BOE is contingent upon Hekemian receiving the necessary approvals from the Zoning Board to construct a 70,500 sq. ft. supermarket, a 4300 sq. ft. bank and 24 fair market housing units on the 13-acre property.

DelVecchio ended last Tuesday's hearing by saying that this donation of land, and change to the site plan application, did not constitute the need for a new application. He argued that the donation of the three acres required only an amendment to the application.

Zoning Board attorney Scott Sproviero is certain that he will hear arguments from both sides regarding that issue.

However, he would not speculate on what this means going forward. "Until I see the actual amended plans, I cannot comment on it," he said.

The special meeting of the Zoning Board is Thursday at 7pm in the Council Chambers of Borough Hall.

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