I would not support this project. Why can't this project, or the Whole Foods part of it, move to the old Walgreens/Costcutters on 46? There is no need to exhaust the little remaining wooded land we have left in Parsippany.

or the empty michaels, or the empty blockbuster/Ihop, etc, etc

It was standing room only at last night's meeting.The taxpayers of Parsippany do not want this development! The wildlife will be impacted greatly. Over the past 13 years, I have seen countless numbers of wild turkey and fox in that area along with black bears and many other eagles and hawks. This is a valuable asset to our community.
I may not be an engineer but water always travels downward and takes the least resistant path. I do not believe that Troy Brook will not be affected by this over development of land. The town homes will have an entrance only to and from Intervale Road. It will be a dangerous entrance & exit with the oncoming traffic. Water will travel down that street. When the heavy rains come, will it then flood Intervale Road? That water can travel across the road into the steam on the other side into Mountain Lakes. Are these developers going to put a guarantee in writing that no existing homes will impacted by displaced water?
Mountain Lakes residents need to be made aware of this development. It will increase the traffic on Intervale Road, Old Bloomfield Road, and most likely Midvale Road. People will use the side roads to cut through the traffic and to avoid all the traffic lights.
We hope the Parsippany Board will listen to its taxpayers and reply with NO to these developers. Just because you can do something doesn’t mean that you should.

The Walgreens location is already spoken for. An Indian grocer will be moving into that location. The Michael's location is probably ill suited to handle the parking needs that would be generated by whole foods. The same is likely for the ihop/blockbuster location. That's not to say I agree with tearing down another 26 acres of land for some strip mall / big box store hybrid... I don't, but those solutions don't really make sense.

This project is so over-sized and out of character for the area.
The town does not need more pavement and ugly big box stores such as Target and a bank, let alone more students in our school district.
Whole Foods will cater to a niche clientle based most out of neighboring Mt Lakes, not the majority of Parsippany residents who will continue to shop at Shop Rite.

Parsippany residents will surely foot the bill for road improvements and such since the developers will receive a tax abatement.

It's a lose-lose for all Parsippany residents and tax payers.

The key pharase is "Nothing is absolutely guaranteed," That means that the developer and his engineers will say absolutely ANYTHING to get the job approved. Then when it doesn't turn out, "Nothing is absolutely guaranteed,"

That's one of the few large stretches of woodland left in the town -- the only other I can think of is the back of Sylvan Way/Entin Road. Why tear it up and "put in a parking lot" when there are at least two prime retail locations - Walgreen's and Michael's old stores - lying empty ?

BTW, the "traffic study" thing is likely bogus. I've seen this before - the argument being that office workers will be lost for a couple of days, until they find the best way in, and then the traffic problems will go away. NONSENSE -- when you have retail, you have an endless stream of people who've never BEEN there before, getting lost on the local streets.

We need this development like we need cancer.

Why is the Parsippany Water Department doing an evaluation? Why are the taxpayer's employees getting paid to do what the developer should have completed themselfs? The developer should be telling them how much water 72 townhomes and a strip mall will need and then let the Water Deparament tell them if it is at all probable. With out enough water this proposal is D.O.A. When I moved in 20+ years ago I could water my lawn whenever I wanted, now with the restrictions washing your car or keeping your lawn green are almost impossible. HOW CAN WE SUSTAIN MORE GROWTH WITHOUT FINDING MORE WATER? How can I have water restricted after 20 years of paying taxes and now new people use what little there is left in our wells during peak months! Oh and condo's always have sprinkler systems!!!

The traffice study is bogus. They studied the traffic around the development, where they say there won't be an issue as there are 3 lanes of traffic and they will make improvements to the jug handles and change traffic light patterns. They admitted last night that the traffic study only inlcuded the existing traffic in Parsippany and adjusted it for the new development at Waterview, and the additional traffic for the replacement business at Loman Ford and occupancy in the vacant office space at Waterview. The traffic study only includes current traffic patterns which is lower than the normal due to the vacant retail space (Michaels, Walgreens, IHOP, Blockbuster, etc), other vacant office space in Parsippany that is not in Waterview and the vacant houses in Parsippany. The current traffic situation along Rt 46 is horrendous, especially where there are only 2 lanes during rush hour (Shop Rite mall,Rainbow lakes area). We are not at full capacity and it is this bad. Imagine what it will be like when the existing empty retail/office/housing space is occupied AND this new development adds to it! Rt 46 in Parsippany will be another Rt 10 and Rt 23. This is our future.

There will be increased traffic to the side roads as well, Midvale&Intervale in Mountain Lakes, Rt. 202/Parsippany Blvd, Littleton Road as neighboring towns will travel the local roads to get to and from this development. Parsippany residents wll pay for the more frequent repaving that will be required on these roads as they get more use, not the developer. Also, what is the impact on traffic accidents with this new traffic? Does their traffic study include that? With increased traffic, there will be increased accidents draining our ambulance and police resources. Parsippany residents will pay for this as well. This development will have a everlasting effect on the whole town, not just the intervale section. The traffic is only one concern of this development, there are many more. Please get involved and learn more about it before it is too late.

From what I have read of what occured, I have significant concerns that there seem to be so many unknowns from the engineers perspective. The fact that our mayor would comment is even more concerning.
I live on Intervale and can tell you that the traffic that speeds down Intervale is already quite heavy, with what is being proposed it will be horrific.
Lake Intervale school has already been expanded to take into account the significant increase in children. Where will all the new children go? Our schools are at capacity as it is.
As we have eagles in the area, perhaps we the citizens can get the wild life area designated so that it cannot be developed?
Bottom line - seems like our elected political leaders, you know, the ones that are for the people and by the people, seem more interested in increasing the tax base without fully thinking out the true ramifications.

I would like to know if their traffic expert Mr. Meyer ever tried to drive west on route 46 up the hill toward Mountain Lakes and Denville between 4-6 oclock. What he called the peak hours are nightmare hours. Route 80 west is even worse so how do you travel through this area? Also how could he say between 7-9 oclock going east is not as bad has he tried coming from Denville to Parsippany thats also nightmare
He will just say whatever the developers want him to say!! Oh one other point how do you block trafic from Forest Drive in his concept plan, wheres the actual plan? can we see it? NO!

You are correct with the many unknowns by the developer's expert. The response is generally, "it is only a concept plan" for the overlay approval. The "unknown" would be answered through the "site plan" which is apparently developed after the "overlay" approval. Therefore, our elected political leaders would be deciding based on many "unknowns" which can easily be a developer dream and the Parsippany residents nightmare. A small sample of the issues at hand with this developent:
1-traffic
2-resources-schools, water, police, fire/emergency/ambulance, etc
3-wildlife perservation/open space
4-historical value of Doremus cemetery located on the 26 acres, possible relics/artifacts and preservation of the historic Doremus Home located on Intervale road.
5-maintaining the residential charateristic of Intervale community.
It seemed the only information the engineer/expert had last night was information on traffic in the waterview area and the development itself. Most everything else was not known or looked at for the 'overlay' application approval. Seems to me, a decision cannot be made without looking at the FULL impact on the town before the "overlay" approval occurs.

Let's list the pros and cons.
CONS
1) Traffic nightmares and hazardous conditions to pedestrians.
2) Not enough school space, classrooms and teachers.
3) Current and maybe even more stringent water restrictions, or even worse no water.
4) We may need more Police and Firemen.
5) No where for the bears, foxes, coyotes, deer, and turkeys. ( If you walk down Intervale Road in the a.m. you will see at least 2 large flocks of turkeys on most days. Last week I saw a coyote very near the proposed site and turkeys on the other side of the fence.)
6) The Township will collect more tax dollars and spend twice what they collect trying to fix all of the other problems created by this project.
PROS
1) The Township will collect more in tax dollars, give the builder tax breaks. Which will anger the taxpayers and we will probably vote them out. Nice job guys!!!!

"Patch attempted to ask Mayor James Barberio who attended the meeting his thoughts on what the proposal could mean in terms of economic development for the town. He declined to comment"
Why would Mayor Barberio decline to comment given the implications this project might have on the township he was elected to lead? With the Mayoral election only 10 months away surely the Mayor has a position. Why won't he share it?

I don't think there is any way Barberio can get re-elected - and most of the council too.

Here's some info. on this development. The actual name of the deveoper is RD Management LLC. Here are easy links to follow to learn more. It sure looks like this is a done deal. Maybe the corrupt money has already changed hands?

1) http://rdmanagement.com/properties_northeast.html

2) http://www.rdmanagement.com/files/ParsippanyNJ.pdf

i am against ANY further development in this town. i'm disgusted every year when our town earns the Tree City award...they should not only take into account how many trees we have, but how many we have cut down. i say leave ALL the undeveloped land, undeveloped. the same goes for the Krishna Temple that wants to go in on Troy Rd. Find someplace else.

It seems like the Patch and its questions create an uneasy feeling to some of our elected officials by asking for such a responsible answer
The Truth...
Same reason people avoid Barbara Walters

This just goes to show how out of touch the town counsel and Mayor is with their constituents and reality. I am not going to play party lines here but it is time to say goodbye to this clueless bunch of people. Traffic is horrendous already -- try driving down to Pinebrook for a pizza and back to Intervale on a Friday evening say between 4-7 PM and be prepared to take 90 minutes to do so. Proposing a rezoning with traffic conditions being horrendous already shows me that Parsippany township is lacking leadership and common sense. As an Intervale resident I can say I will be more than happy to pack it in and move somewhere else that has local leaders with common sense before watching my quality of life deteriorate. But before I go I plan on making sure all these corrupt officials are voted out of office.

I agree with Clyde -- this mayor is a joke... From storm response to this nonsense it shows how out of touch this mayor is with the community. Why on God's earth would you consider rezoning this area when the negatives clearly outweigh the positives and also I for one am not happy with Parsippany spending money even looking into such a ill conceived proposal...

Count us for two votes against the mayor and the current elected officials supporting this crazy notion. I think Elmer Fudd would even win a landslide election against this corrupt bunch of clowns.

This Whole Foods/condo project is such high-density it would warm the heart of Ann Grossi. Reference: http://parsippany.patch.com/articles/planning-board-continues-work-on-272-parsippany-rd

This project certainly benefits Mountain Lakes. It absolutely does not benefit Parsippany.

Mountain Lakes stays residential and predominatley White by not zoning retail and lower income housing. Mountain Lakes gets the suckers in Parsippany, Denville and Boonton to build all they retail they need. Even the townhouses in this project are targeted toward people from Mountain Lakes who want to unload the big house but stay nearby.

Whole Foods pretends to be all about the enviroment. I guess they don't care about trees in Parsippany. "The more they tell you it isn't about the money, the more it is about the money," George Young, NY Giants, deceased.

A Whole Foods bs statement:

America’s Healthiest Grocery Store™

"Who are we? Well, we seek out the finest natural and organic foods available, maintain the strictest quality standards in the industry, and have an unshakeable commitment to sustainable agriculture. Add to that the excitement and fun we bring to shopping for groceries, and you start to get a sense of what we’re all about. Oh yeah, we’re a mission-driven company too." I guess their mission is to ruin your quality of life.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_Furman
(RD Management LLC owner)

he is Goliath alright

Perhaps the Mayor would be willing to break his silence and make a comment as to how much, if any, of our tax dollars has already been spent by the Township on this project. A lesson learned from the FOD experience was that Mayor Barberio felt empowered to spend thousands of dollars on legal fees in an effort to find the legal loopholes that would allow him to proceed with the FOD plan . A plan that he was eventually forced to abandon.

I would say that first, before any more development, Route 46 needs an upgrade, especially in the areas around smith road and those millions of traffic lights. Also, on weekends, 46 is slammed by Beverwyck and the other shopping plaza. If they are thinking of putting in more Shops, they need to fix the traffic problems on 46 first.

But, it is human nature for people to want to resist change. But people have to look at the big picture. More development and more growth is always better.

population growth = environmental destruction.

2013 IS an election year in Parsippany. For any of the current council AND the Mayor to try and ram through a project of this magnitude at this time borders on the criminal. At the very least, the Mayor's refusal to respond to questions indicates a rather callous disregard for the rights and sensibilities of the citizens of the Township. But it wouldn't be the first time.

As for Mr. Furman, let's also look at what the relationship is of Mr. Furman's son is to the Obama administration, having served as an adviser to the President. As a point of fact, BOTH Furmans are very heavily politically connected, which may serve to explain the Mayor's reticence at responding for fear of offending.

All that said, this project can wait until after the election; there is sufficient EMPTY space in town that can be re-purposed with needed traffic corrections (for example - the office park at Rt 202 and Rt 10 that is quickly emptying out or the office building on the edge of Rte 80 behind Blackthorne's that has been empty now for almost 25 years that can be changed into an indoor mall); the developer and NOT the taxpayers should be footing all the exploratory needs. Add to that, the added taxes required to school more children, hire more police, and improve fire equipment to contain such a development. No one appears to be concerned about that at the Town level, and I am sure the developers are counting on tax breaks, given their connections, to offset their expenses. WE, the taxpayers end up paying higher rates.

This project to succeed would require creativity if the developer is serious about it. Let them expense that creativity so that all the Town's residents benefit. Let them figure a method for the extra government revenue required for such a project. Let the Mayor speak out where he stands. Or this will become the opening salvo of the 2013 election season in Parsippany.

(OK Chris - this is where you chime in with another sophomoric attack)

Jesse Furman, a nominee for the Southern District of New York, disclosed a net worth of $14.2 million, among the highest for Obama’s judicial nominees. He has spent much of his career in the Justice Department, most recently as the deputy chief appellate attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Manhattan. He’s worked on several high-profile cases, including the attempted prosecution of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.
http://legaltimes.typepad.com/blt/2011/08/judicial-nominees-disclose-finances.html

now this is wow!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gail_Furman (ex-wife )
This is like a soap opera ... it gets better and better ... Mr. Mayor reject this he is getting personal phone call from Mr. President.

This plot was meant to be developed, but the problem is that the current concept does not fit with the "Grand Design" that the council and residents have worked on (called the Master Plan, renewed every 10 years or so).
In other words, they would have less resistance if the developers were more sensitive to the local residents as well as respected the town's unique character in their design. Basically, they're building an eyesore to drain the local property values rather than trying to improve them.

Selfish? Probably, but as I have noted to others, I did not move here because I crave unchecked development. I would hope the largest town in the county could maintain some zoning discipline.

Unless you were at the latest meeting, you may not be aware that the Whole Foods already signed a lease. How can you sign a lease on a building that hasn't even been approved to build yet? Isn't that like putting the cart before the horse??? What insight does the developer have that would lead him to believe that this would be approved? These are far too many questions left unanswered!!!

No matter how connected he is, if the town won't give tax concessions, they won't want the property. I realize this is a fantasy to think our town will not give tax concession, it is always about the money. Once this guy bulldozes his way through our town, he will move on to the next one without ever looking back.

@Chris: You don't like my suggestions as to where to develop yet all you do is criticize suggestions and attack the residents of Parsippany. Tell the truth - do you work for RD?

Chris..do you hear yourself while writing?

Office space emptying out: Means Whole Foods and the owners of the large property adjoining 202 (VERY HEAVILY TRAFFICKED) can re-purpose space for Whole Foods to have theiir market as well as ancillary stores. No companies don't like to spend their own money being creative, but they do. It's called capitalism, the free market, and development. WE the taxpayers will not have the expense of their profit needs thrust upon us. Review other companies that have developed and they have their own staffs or outsource "creativity." I would venture that RD has such a staff. But I asked and I'll ask again - given you are happily critiquing and marginalizing everyone's comments - are you on the RD payroll? Are you an RD staffer? Be honest!

Beside RD Management LLC - there is another company owned by Furman's family called MF EST LLC. Looks like money going from one company to another to may be to avoid taxes .... I try to understand MF Global (Owned by Jon Corzine went bankrupt) relationship with MF EST LLC. Meantime Furman's fortune read on.

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/politics/20090403whitehouseforms/Furman.pdf

MF global (Jon Corzine Company) when it went to bankrupt the case goes to Judge Jesse Furman court.) His father Jay Furman (RD Management LLC) gave campaign donation to Jon Corzine election .... hmmmm any want to guess what happened to this case ?

This project may be financed by Chinese. Look at 2nd page bottom (Jay Furman Patners - http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/vprr/07/9999999997-07-028198)
Beside (1) RD Management LLC
He has (2) MF EST LP
(3) MF EST LLC
(4) Jay Furman Patners
(5) American Securities China (B) LP
(6)American Securities Patners II LP

This thing is big! Money getting move around multiple companies and at the end who knows how much tax gets paid .... God Bless U S of A

Dear Outraged Citizens
Calm down. I’m an “interested party”, please look it up. I don’t have a financial interest in the project. I don’t know if this project makes sense and you don’t either. This process plays out in nearly all NJ municipalities. It is wasteful of resources that should go toward reinvestment. It also fosters community mistrust. This applicant property owner has a right to make a presentation of facts. The public has a right to ask questions and present facts too. Elected officials and land use boards have a duty to hear facts and decide an outcome based on facts. No matter how out of control your emotions are, you don’t have a right to hijack the process. This is not a referendum. Protecting rights through due process is the only way to avoid flawed land use. And don’t put too much faith in a planner that trades vision for job security or in a master plan that can’t anticipate future conditions.
Robert Steelman, Broker, 4a Realty

Dear Robert,

Please put your money where your mouth is. Why don't you buy a house somewhere around intervale or mountain lakes boro and than tell us how you feel.

We understand their right to present to board and our right to protest. and board will do what they deem is right. We all are doing our part and you are doing your part (you may want to sale a gas station or restaurant once it build fine by us).

I would request you to start living next to 900 car parking lot, 4 AM delivery trucks humming, restaurants open up to 11 PM and who knows crime it will bring and than tell us don't get emotional.

Its zoned for office and we have no problem office getting build.

May force be with you

Robert Steelman,
Who the hell are you to tell us how to act? Maybe that sanctimonious attitude works in Summit but as my fellow citizen states just above me, try living next to this project. It's clear you're just shilling to curry favor for some business, how about if this happens in Ridgewood, do you take the same stance?

The current online tax records for the 26 acres, blk 421 & lot 29, says that Bellemead Dev Group/Chubb at 15 Mt. View Rd, Warren, NJ owns the property. Maybe these people will buy the property from Bellmead/Chubb if they can get the zoning changed. Is it possible this is all speculation, because I do not see the property being sold to anyone. I'm not an expert at looking at these records so I could be mistaken.

Many times a land purchase is "contigent on zoning approval."

"contingent" (sorry)

@Annie,
Great Info you found. I did some more digging ... one thing surprise me - this property assessment always going down every year .. How is this possible? Can town answer this?

Year Owner Land Assessment Building Assessment
2012 BELLEMEAD DEV CORP 2000000 0
2011 BELLEMEAD DEV CORP 4989000 0
2010 BELLEMEAD DEV CORP 4989000 0
2009 BELLEMEAD DEV CORP 7989000 0

http://njtaxrecords.net/r/waterview-blvd-parsippany-morris-county-nj-property-tax-record-2232460

There is a glut of office space in the market now and for the forseeable future. Two projects for this site have been turned down already. At some point, depriving the owner of the economic value of his property may reach the level of a constructive taking. According to USLEGAL.COM "Constructive taking is a term used in property law to refer to actions that amount to depriving an owner of the use and enjoyment of his/her property. The legal term “takings” refers to the physical acquisition of private property by governmental bodies. It also applies when government regulation removes all economically viable use of private property in what the courts describe as a “regulatory” or “constructive” taking. The Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution requires that private property cannot be taken for public use unless there is just compensation.

A constructive taking falls short of physical seizure or possession. It is a legal fiction, based on fairness principles, to apply to a situation that is tantamount to physical deprivation of possession. For example, a zoning regulation that deprives the land owner of the economic value of the property might be challenged as a constructive taking."
At some point, if continually turned down for viable projects, the owners could sue the town for "just compensation." That would result in higher taxes instead of an upscale ratable that could increase our tax base and lower taxes for home owners, while creating many jobs.

Yes Bellemead owns the land. They lease it to RD Reality so that they can build the stores. RD Reality then leases the building to Whole Foods and other retailers. It's a triple lease and it is commonly done. Bellemead did not sell the land if the building burnt to the ground Bellemead loses nothing.

Kenneth Kaplan,
Your argument doesn't work. BELLEMEAD DEV CORP bought this property in 1987. For 25 years they sat on this property for whatever reasons. They could have made a killing if they developed offices in late 80s. Fast forward to internet days and all office around Parsippany or around suburban USA will never achieve 70 to 80% occupancy rate and future trend not looking promising.

If I were you, I will start looking for another job because working for Belle Baby or Furman Fairy (aka RD Development or Chinese company) won't last too long.

Parsippany approved on November 23rd 2010 Land assessment from almost $8 Million to $5 million and can't find record from $5 Million to now $2 Million.

Page 17 : http://www.parsippany.net/web_content/acrobat/minutes/rmeeting112310.pdf

Bellemead is the current owner of this land. They are probably entering into a triple lease. They have done this in the past. Bellemead owns the land and will lease it to RD and they will build on it and lease the building to Whole Foods and other retailers. I don't believe that Bellemead is selling the land. They are still in business under the Chubb Corporation.

Parsippany is not giving any tax breaks to the have this property developed. Commercial property is assessed differently from residential property. An office building pays taxes based on the rent it is able to charge. RIght now, because of the many vacancies, office rental space is very cheap. If another office building is built on the site, that would only create more inventory and lower rents across town. If this property is eventually approved, the taxes it would generate would be much greater than any single office building could ever generate.

I support the idea! People are just to much, some of you have nothing to do.