TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON—After nearly two decades of wrangling over affordable housing and disputes with neighbors, the Township Planning Board voted Sept. 22 to approve the Viviano American Dream project that includes a 66-unit development on 14 acres at 463 Van Emburgh Ave.
The vote was unanimous of members present: Bill Carroll, Vincent Vinagre, Leonardo Sabino, Councilman Tom Sears, Mayor Peter Calamari, and chair Brian Murphy. Not present were George Toole, Said Toro, and Vladimir Wojno-Oranski.
The project includes 42 single-family lots and 24 townhome lots on the now wooded lot near Immaculate Heart Academy, between Van Emburgh Avenue and the Garden State Parkway.
Calamari said “a large part of my vote and decision” was based on the agreement worked out between the applicant and neighbors. “I appreciate both sides’ hard work and the fact that we did not get a lot of input from the neighbors tonight, I hope that means they’re as happy as they can be with what’s going on.”
Board attorney Lou Lamatina said because the agreement “pre-dated” Calamari as mayor, he did not see a need for the mayor to recuse himself.
Murphy thanked attorneys Shimanowitz and Lamb for “working everything out, to work out the issues that the residents of the area had with this project, and that everybody is as happy as they can be with this project at this point in time. Thank you for all your work on that.”
Attorney John J. Lamb, representing Concerned Citizens of Washington Township, said he wanted to make sure that the proposed development creates no impacts due to stormwater runoff on his clients’ nearby properties on Katharina Place.
Several residents who spoke raised questions about sanitary sewer pump station maintenance, number of bedrooms, and impacts on local taxes, schools, and traffic. Calamari said he would request another traffic study from Bergen County on Van Emburgh Avenue. Officials said the prior traffic study was 10 years old.
A resolution of approval will likely be voted on at the board’s Oct. 6 or Nov. 3 meeting.
This story is developing. For the latest, keep checking with us in print and online.
Editor’s note: The web version of this story adds Mr. Vinagre to the list of Planning Board members who voted Sept. 22 and gives the names of the members who were not present at the meeting.