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In TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON, it was a busy year with ripples likely throughout 2024. Recently, the Council voted to approve an appropriation of $825,000 to buy 450 Pascack Road, a 3.2 acre sliver of land long-sought and was also awarded a $550,000 county Open Space grant to help fund the acquisition. Walking trails and passive recreation are said to be in its future.
Two huge stories in 2023 were the county’s long-delayed upgrade of the busy Pascack Road and Washington Avenue intersection, and the Zoning Board of Adjustment’s denial of a proposed 17,100 square foot shopping plaza, called Four Seasons Marketplace, at that same intersection.
In late March 2024, the applicant, 660 Pascack Realty LLC, and Zoning Board attorney, are due in Superior Court, Hackensack, to argue the applicant’s appeal. The applicant alleges the decision was arbitrary, capricious and unreasonable given the evidence and proofs presented.
Also on a positive note, three so-called “zombie houses”, or vacant, dilapidated structures at the Pascack-Washington corner were torn down in late August, and a newly hired code enforcement officer had previously issued violation notices to the homes’ owners, plus other homes that long-needed repairs, including 450 Pascack.
Another ongoing Open Space acquisition, the former 6.1-acre swim club, is currently being evaluated for appropriate recreation options by the engineer, mayor, administrator and Recreation Advisory Board. Future recreation plans for the property may be disclosed in early 2024 and likely discussed at council meetings.
Another ongoing story is if and when the newly-seated Council will approve one of architect Arcari Iovino’s designs (such as Option 3) for the new DPW Building. The Option 3 design, estimated at $7.6 million, favored by the prior council includes new space for the police department at town hall, and moves the council chambers and courtroom to the second floor of a proposed new, five-bay DPW complex.
Officials previously approved a new DPW facility design in December 2022 but held off moving ahead while they requested designs to expand police department space and urged the architect to be creative. Arcari Iovino then proposed three alternate designs, including one involving the proposed DPW facility.
However, none of the designs included storage of all DPW vehicles on site. Recently, Council approved a nearly $64,000, two-year lease for 35 parking spaces at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church after accepting a county Open Space land acquisition grant that partly funds the purchase of the former swim club.
As a condition of taking the funds, the township had to remove DPW vehicles parked at the swim club to another location. Apparently, no other parking options exist despite the mayor and council’s efforts to find alternate locations.