HILLSDALE—The Borough Council has cleared a $50,400 feasibility study to help determine whether the public works facility can be retrofitted to minimize flooding impacts or whether a new DPW facility is needed to be constructed on the site.
The April 11 vote was 5-0. Councilwoman Janetta Trochimiuk was absent. The resolution was not publicly available at the meeting, nor was the proposal from Colliers Engineering and Design, Montvale, the borough’s engineer. Mayor John Ruocco read from the resolution and briefly described the approved study.
Due to prior severe flooding at the DPW facility, especially during remnants of Hurricane Ida in September 2021, officials have been pondering options for improving the site, and possibly sharing services, space and facilities with neighboring communities.
Craig Zimmermann, borough engineer, provided an update on the study in his monthly report.
“Late last year, [Colliers] was authorized to prepare a proposal in which to do a feasibility study for the current DPW property along with a land survey of the property. The study will also include an analysis of the environmental constraints nearby and on-site, a conceptual [design] and estimates in regards to retrofitting the current DPW structure as well as a conceptual demolishing [of] the existing building and constructing a new building. Colliers will factor in stormwater drainage concerns and flood hazard area measures into this study,” said Zimmermann.
New Area For Stonybrook Community Center?
Updating the council on the Stonybrook Community Center’s status, Zimmermann said another area at the Stonybrook Swim Club site was identified as “potentially plausible” to do another conceptual plan. He said this area would not be in a flood zone.
He said he would likely present a proposal for the site surveying, design, and bidding for the community center project at one of the May council meetings.
Last December, we reported that Colliers was approved to do a $9,500 study (Resolution 22240) for “an approximately 5,000-square-foot community center” at the 12-acre Stonybrook Swim Club.
While Ruocco and councilman Zoltan Horvath have repeatedly questioned the need for what they term “a second community center” at Stonybrook, other council members noted that a final facility size would be based on site environmental constraints.
The prior $9,500 study at Stonybrook included: a preliminary regulatory constraints evaluation of wetlands; a flood hazard area and riparian zone preliminary assessment; and minor concept revisions to a prior DMR Architects’ community center plan.
Another community center is being built in Hillsdale at a new 256-unit luxury apartment complex in the Patterson Street Redevelopment Area. That center will be provided to the town free by the redeveloper. It’s estimated to include 5,000 square feet of indoor space and approximately 2,100 square feet of outdoor space, officials have said.
Upon questioning by Ruocco in December, then-business administrator David Troast said DMR Architects told him that cost estimates for the Stonybrook community center range based on the facility’s final size.
The council approved a $199,000 resolution to hire DMR Architects in mid-July, 2022 to design a freestanding 4,000 square foot senior community center at Stonybrook, then estimated to cost approximately $2 million. Recent estimates from Colliers put the final community center at $2 million to $3 million, depending on its size.
Pickleball courts coming?
Administrator Mike Ghassali said he and Recreation Director Patty Hughes visited four locations to scout for potential pickleball courts. Initially, the plan was to construct four courts. He told Pascack Press that a final candidate site would need to have parking and not be near a residential area due to noise concerns.
He said he and Hughes would get guidance from the Recreation Committee, and present a proposal to the council. Once given a council go-ahead, he said Colliers would be asked for a proposal to design, construct and build the courts.
He said the Recreation Department would handle future scheduling on the courts.
Zimmermann told council that he estimated pickleball court construction costs at approximately $20,000 each.
Ghassali noted pickleball is a “very popular sport” and said he would likely report back to council at the next meeting on the site selected for the courts.
Councilwoman Abby Lundy noted funds for the courts could be taken from this year’s capital budget account. Ruocco added that he was “not enthused” about the noise level from pickleball courts, based on news reports of Ridgewood resident concerns. “Just keep that in mind,” he added.
Zimmermann said Colliers would make a presentation in May on the 2023 Bergen County Open Space grant proposal for Beechwood Park’s nature trail.
He said a public hearing must be held in early May as grant proposals are due by May 14. According to the county Parks’ Department Division of Land Management, towns needed to submit a letter of intent by Friday, April 14 if they planned to submit a grant proposal.