CLOSTER, N.J.—A second town-hall-style meeting on Sept. 9 will focus on Closter schools and the regional high school and offer residents a chance to voice opinions on schools as well as future development—including the Village School’s 35-unit, 100 percent affordable complex, said a Republican councilwoman co-sponsoring the meeting.
The town-hall-style forum, dubbed a “Discussion on Closter Schools,” is the second of three community forums planned.
The meeting is Sept. 9 at 7 p.m. at Closter Senior Center, 4 Lewis Street, Closter.
Councilwoman Victoria Amitai said the public question-and-answer forum “was just trying to ascertain from the residents what they’re thinking about our schools. I actually found it very interesting what parents brought forth at the first town hall,” she said.
The second town-hall meeting Sept. 9 is sponsored by the Borough Council’s three Republican members, including Amitai, Joe Yammarino, Alissa Latner, and Republican Mayor John Glidden.
Amitai said parent suggestions for staggered drop-off and pick-up times at Hillside Elementary School and Tenakill Middle School as well as signage indicating locations for each were valuable suggestions offered at the last session now being followed up on.
Up to 50 students
At the first Closter schools town hall held Aug. 5, residents were told between 30 to 50 students were likely to be generated from new development—including the Village School affordable housing development—by the 2022 or 2023 school year.
Closter Board of Education President Gregg Lambert said with more families moving into town, the elementary school was running out of space but that accommodations would be made by relocating administrative offices out of Hillside in 2021-2022, while the district can still handle additional students at the middle school.
He said only if the district sees “significant, significant growth, which could happen” would the school board need to consider expansion, which could involve a referendum to ask taxpayers to foot additional taxes for such an expenditure.
Amitai said that Tenakill Middle School Principal William Tantum and Northern Valley Regional High School Board of Education President Joseph Argenziano were invited to attend the Sept. 9 town hall.
Another potential topic likely Sept. 9 is the impacts of affordable housing obligations, which was raised previously.
To underscore the value of Closter settling its affordable obligations early on, Amitai pointed out a recent Superior Court decision allowing developers to sue Englewood Cliffs to build up to 599 affordable units there.
The judge’s decision stripped Englewood Cliffs of its immunity to such “builder’s remedy” lawsuits and ruled it had made a “concerted effort to avoid compliance with its obligation.”
In addition, Judge Christine Farrington said that town made no efforts to comply with affordable housing mandates and had not built one affordable housing unit in over four decades.
‘Difficult for towns’
“It just makes it difficult for towns with the mandates that we get,” said Amitai, noting every town must comply with state mandates.
“Even over the years, we’ve always done what’s asked of us. It takes a lot to run a little town,” she added, noting residents’ input is vital to local decision-making and quality of life.
At the August meeting, Mayor John Glidden said Closter has little vacant land available for future affordable housing and that additional affordable units here may be unlikely after 2025, when the latest “round” of affordable obligations ends.
Closter has satisfied its obligations through 2025.
Amitai said other topics likely to be discussed Sept. 9 include ongoing downtown improvements, school issues, parents’ concerns, “and whatever topics are on people’s minds,” she said, noting the first session offered disparate viewpoints and topics on local concerns.
Light refreshments will be offered Sept. 9, she said.