Controversial Waterview Development Up for Vote Tuesday

Last week, Township Planner Ed Snieckus guided the Parsippany planning board through the details of the consistencies and inconsistencies the proposed Waterview development had with the township’s Master Plan at Monday night meeting.

The board passed unanimously Snieckus’ report and presentation of the proposal’s inconsistencies. The matter now goes over to the town council, which meets on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at Parsippany Hills High School for a second reading, presentation by the township planner on traffic issues and fiscal impact, a public hearing and then a final vote.

Board Attorney Michael Cresitello said the governing body has two options, they can amend the ordinance to address the inconsistencies or adopt it in spite of the inconsistencies.

Last month the Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council introduced a controversial rezoning ordinance on first reading. The ordinance, which rezones a tract of land in the Waterview complex was passed on first reading in a 3-1 vote.

At the planning board meeting, Herold Law Attorney Rob Simon brought up a possible conflict of interest with Township Planner Ed Snieckus for advising both the township council and the planning board on the proposed Waterview development.

“We feel very strongly that ethically, there is no doubt a conflict of interest,” said Simon.

Since last week’s planning board meeting did not have a public hearing, several letter to the editors were submitted.  and many look forward to their opportunity to speak up at Tuesday’s meeting.

Nancy du Tertre, Board member of Citizens for Health, Safety & Welfare, said that the Mountain Lakes Council voted unanimously in favor of signing a Protest Petition that would require the Council of the neighboring town of Parsippany to obtain a supermajority vote before being able to pass an ordinance to rezone Waterview.

Bob Grieb, a 47-year Parsippany resident and a member of the Morris County Building & Construction Trades Council, AFL-CIO, said that a "recent survey shows that 61 percent of Parsippany residents want the municipal council to vote to approve a zoning change to allow for a new Whole Foods on Route 46."

Stephen C. Arnold of Mountain Lakes said, the development would result in "devastation of key environmental assets embodied in the Doremus Ridge (overlooking Intervale Rd., Forest Dr. and the Waterview tract) and the associated buffer zones."

John Mitros, of Mountain Lakes, also brought up environmental concerns, calling the location of the proposed development as the "last piece of virgin land on route 46" and is a "wonderful opportunity to develop green spaces and recreational spaces for the people of Morris County" and for future generations."

Related Patch Posts:

• Waterview Development Receives Planning Board Approval
• Waterview Plan Poses Potential Conflict for Parsippany Planner, Attorney Says 
• Proposed Waterview is 'Opportunity to Develop Green Spaces,' Reader Says  
• Mountain Lakes Approves Waterview Protest Petition

At this council meeting, there will also be public hearings for the following items:

• Various Sewer Utility Improvements for the Township appropriating $4,400,000 
• An Ordinance of the Township, the county and the state to authorize the property acquisitions.  
• Amending and Supplementing a Fire Prevention ordinance that identifies Emblems and Light Weight Construction and establishes a New Fee 
• An amendment to a township Code Chapter 372 Taxicabs and Limousines
• An amendment to the township’s Code Sections 4-34 Fees Governing Services Rendered By Off-Duty Police Officers, and 405-7 Traffic Controls for Street and Highway Construction and Maintenance Operations for Municipal Roads 
• Amending and Supplementing Chapter 430, Zoning, of the Code of Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills Establishing Prohibited Uses in Residential Districts and Establishing Violations and Penalties

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On Tuesday, the Parsippany School Board will also meet. Their meeting is at 7 p.m. at the Board of Education Building.

"The meeting for this week is strictly for interviewing law firms that we are considering to be hired as the Board's Legal representative. There will be no action taken," said board president Susy Golderer.

Tuesday is also the Back-to-School night for Brooklawn Middle School at 7 p.m. and the high school PTSA meets at 7:15 p.m.