Township Officials to Vet Master Plan

An ad hoc committee of township representatives will soon convene to start taking a look at Wyckoff's Master Plan.

Members of the Township Committee and various volunteer boards will meet on Saturdays, starting in March, to take a fresh look at the plan, which exists as a guide for land use and development in the township. Additionally, the ad hoc committee also will include the discussion of open space and recreation as key elements of its agenda.

Committeeman Kevin Rooney said the group would need to complete its work and present it to the Planning Board by May for adoption by Aug. 1.

Rooney, a former longtime zoning board member, said the temporary committee would offer its suggestions rather than simply having the Planning Board review the document with Township Committee input.

"The direction we should go this year.. is to be inclusive. We have a lot of talented people on our boards," he said at a governing body meeting earlier this month.

After some debate, the governing body agreed that the ad hoc committee would be composed of the following officials: Rooney and Mayor Rudy Boonstra (committee); Administrator Robert Shannon, DPW Manager Scott Fisher, Engineer Mark DiGennaro and municipal attorney Robert Landel (township); Mark Borst (Shade Tree Commission); Thomas Madigan (Recreation Commission); Brian Bigler (Environmental Commission); Larry Skott (Design Review Board); Richard Bonsignore (Planning Board); and Jerry Lombardo and Doug Christie (zoning board).

However, Committeeman Brian Scanlan objected to the composition of the ad hoc committee, saying it should include members of the public.

"Before the group charges off in a particular direction, there ought to be an opportunity for public input so that at the end of the process we don't have people coming to a meeting and seeing something for the first time without an opportunity to give their ideas.

"The public will be given the opportunity to comment on a fait accompli," said Scanlan, the lone Democrat on the governing body.

Rooney disagreed with that characterization. "The direction needs to be set by the people that deal with the community on a daily basis on the township level.

"Once we organize the meetings in such a fashion that we can seek input from the public, then we'll open it to the public," he later said.

The discussion of the ad hoc committee took place over two public meetings in which Scanlan's colleagues assured him that the public would play a vital role in the process. Scanlan had felt that "normal" township representatives would be able to offer input on residential areas of concern that may not come up among a meeting of officials.

However, the majority of the governing body believed that the representatives should be tasked with creating a framework for discussion before soliciting public input.

"It should be our intention to reach out and make an effort to be proactive," in asking for suggestions, Boonstra said.

Committeeman Chris DePhillips said, "I'm comfortable with the way this is being rolled out. I think the public would expect us to have at least a structure and an initial plan for how information would be received... then let's get out there and talk to as many groups as we can."

Open space hearing

On a related note, the township may find out soon if it will be granted open space funding for the possible acquisition of Russell Farms.

Members of the governing body and administration are expected to attend a meeting of the Bergen County Trust Fund Public Advisory Committee planned for 7 p.m. March 1 at 1 Bergen County Plaza, Hackensack. That committee, on behalf of the freeholders, will hold a public hearing on various municipal grant proposals, including $1.859 million for Wyckoff.

"I think it's appropriate and necessary for us to attend that meeting," Shannon told his colleagues.

Members of the committee appeared before the board in the fall to present the township's application for funding to possibly purchase the former apple grove that sits just off the corner of Russell and Sicomac avenues, which has been targeted for residential development.

Should the county grant the funds, Wyckoff would then have the option to pursue the purchase of the former farm, although a winning proposal would not necessarily bind the township to any course of action.