TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON—The Township Council unanimously approved moving forward with a $900,000 county open space grant application for the 3.2-acre tract at 450 Pascack Road on May 1, with a dozen residents voicing support for the acquisition and suggesting uses.
The vote was 5-0 to apply for the grant. No matching funds are required on the $900,000 grant. Generally, the county Open Space Fund provides less than 100 percent of the funds requested.
Township administrator Mark DiCarlo told Pascack Press on May 2 that the $900,000 figure was determined by “negotiations/discussions between the Township attorney and seller’s attorney supported by appraisals.”
He said they anticipate hearing in four or five months whether the Bergen County Open Space Committee will recommend the funding and expect a Bergen County Commissioners’ vote by year’s end.
In summer 2021, threatening condemnation, the town bid $430,000 for the mostly wooded residential property adjacent to Memorial Field and George Washington Elementary School. Since then, council members, upon advice from attorney Kenneth Poller, have mostly refrained from commenting on negotiations.
In summer 2020, developer Nick Tsapatsaris & Associates proposed a 48-unit senior living complex on the site. This was opposed by neighbors, and the proposal was withdrawn.
Since then, neighbors, residents and public officials have discussed its possible purchase, with some speculating a developer might wish to develop the property for multifamily and affordable housing, which most residents who’ve spoken out say they do not want there.
At council meetings lately, residents have suggested the property could serve partly as a supplementary parking lot of about 30 spaces for the school, as well as a possible connecting road to alleviate congestion during dropoff and pickup times.
(A committee to improve safety during Washington School drop-off/pickup periods was likely to meet in May, said officials.)
Efforts to reach David Biunno, grants consultant, GLD Associates, for details were not returned by press time.
The property owners are marketing the property for $2.1 million on commercial real estate sites and have declined to speak with Pascack Press on the record.
Former independent councilman Michael Ullman questioned whether an access road or parking could be built at 450 Pascack Road should the town acquire it under Open Space funding. Biunno said that parking might be approved if the parking was used as an accessory to active/passive recreation on the site.
However, Biunno said constructing a road to ease elementary school traffic congestion was likely not possible, as grant funds would restrict the site to active/passive recreational uses. He said the county Open Space officials would determine what land use is permissible under the Open Space guidelines.
Biunno told Ullman that there was no plan yet for the 450 Pascack property. He said phase two would be creating such a plan, similar to what’s occurring with the 6-acre-plus former swim and recreation club property, at Ridgewood Boulevard North, purchased with open space funds last year.
Biunno stressed applying for the grant and later deciding whether accepting it is the right move. He said council can always reject the funds. Other residents suggested collaborating with the Westwood Regional School District on its purchase, or simply purchasing it via bonds over a longer period.
Council also unanimously approved applying for a $325,000 matching county Open Space grant for improvements to the club property. The total amount, with local matching funds, would equal $650,000.
Mayor Peter Calamari said a plan for upgrades to the property likely will be presented soon.