MONTVALE—Mayor Michael Ghassali wrote residents on March 4 to warn on major projects in “another town, in another state, with planned developments that could have potential negative impact on Montvale’s traffic and roadways, and will even impact our neighboring towns with flooding concerns and added traffic.”
He targeted “three major projects in the Village of Chestnut Ridge in New York within feet of the Montvale border that you should be aware of.”
The “immediate concern” he said, is a 200,000-square-foot warehouse with 25 truck bays on the border with Montvale “and feet away from The Alexa” on Spring Valley Road.
“I, along with residents from The Alexa, will be testifying in opposition of this warehouse on Thursday March 7 at 8 p.m. at the Chestnut Ridge Planning Board meeting,” he said urged that Montvale residents turn out to show solidarity. The meeting is at 277 Old Nyack Turnpike, Village of Chestnut Ridge.
Ghassali said that projects taking shape on Schoolhouse Road are a school for 1,000 girls and 328 boys; hundreds of residential condominiums; and the warehouse, “all within literally hundreds of feet of each other.”
The mayor said, “My obligation as your elected official is to make you aware of these projects, and to find ways to limit their impact on our town given the zero authority we have over these projects.
“Our engineers and attorneys are working on our options, and will be working with Bergen County officials to put restrictions on Spring Valley Road and support plans to keep traffic from these developments to head north of the border.
This isn’t the first time we’ve covered Ghassali calling for locals to weigh in on these projects. See also “Mayor sounds alarm on village warehouse project,” Aug. 25, 2023; and “Mayor warns on local impact of Chestnut Ridge Village school project,” Dec. 7, 2020.
Equestrian Estates Development In Chestnut Ridge
Plans for Equestrian Estates on Schoolhouse Road include 84 two-bedroom market-rate rental apartments, 62 market-rate three-bedroom semi-attached condominium units, and 118 predominantly two-bedroom senior housing rental units, with half restricted to residents over 55.
The development also proposed community amenities including a clubhouse, pool, tennis courts, basketball courts and walking trails, and a 1.8-acre nature center and green space.
Trees Removed and Land Cleared To Make Way For 1,000-Girl Day School And 328 Residential School For Orthodox Boys and Men
Two private religious schools have been approved by special permit by the Village of Chestnut Ridge. One is an elementary school for 1,000 girls. The other is a residential secondary/post-secondary school for 328 boys and young men. Two dormitory buildings, separate from the school building, will serve the secondary/post-secondary school.
The girls’ elementary school/day school will be approximately 90,000 square feet. The boys’ secondary residential school will be some 51,000 square feet with two dormitories.
The plan includes a guard booth with a lift gate, play areas and basketball court. Site access is along curb cuts at Summit and Red Schoolhouse Road.
Work on the project has begun.