Will Hekemian Offer Another Plan for a Field Donation, or is it Off the Table for Good?

Over the course of the past few months, the hearing on the proposed development of the United Water property has been filled with so many dramatic twists, turns and audible gasps that many residents are pondering what might be in store for Tuesday's meeting. 

The twist began in March when Superintendent of Schools, Michael Polizzi, submitted a letter to the Zoning Board regarding the proposed development of the United Water property. 

At the time, Polizzi stated that he and the Board of Education do not believe that the property should be left completely undeveloped.

Although they adamantly oppose any residential building, Polizzi previously said, that a certain degree of development would be good for the community.

As public debate ensued on the BOE's involvement in the United Water development, the attorney for Hekemian revealed that they had entered into a conceptual contract with the Board of Education for the donation of a field. 

This revelation put the brakes on the hearing as the Board now had to decide if this donation of property constituted a 'change of use' and called for a new application, or was just another amendment to the existing amended application.

Before that point could be determined, Polizzi informed the public at last week's BOE meeting that Hekemian had rescinded his offer for the field donation because a geological study showed that the water table was too high on the land slated to hold the storm water retention basin.

However, Polizzi made it clear that he still hopes to have a seat at the table with the developer. Will the developer find another way to go through with a land donation for a field, or will Tuesday's hearing pick up where the Board left off in March? Only Tuesday will tell. 

The Zoning Board will be meeting Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of Borough Hall. In addition to the continued hearing of the United Water property development, the Board will also be hearing two more applications--the 14 unit multiple dwelling with parking under building on Madison Ave., and the construction of a new house on Birchwood Rd. 

Click here for a full copy of the agenda. 

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The Mayor and Council will be holding a work session Monday, 7 p.m. in the upstairs conference room in Borough Hall. Click here for a full copy of the agenda. 

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