Vast Majority of Parsippany Residents Support New Whole Foods Center

Poll Shows Desire for Property Tax Relief, Jobs and Home Rule

Parsippany-Troy Hills, New Jersey, Sept. 13, 2013 – The majority of the residents of Parsippany supports the proposed new Whole Foods Center, and the construction of 60 new town homes, and want the $22 million in property tax relief and the 500-plus jobs that it is expected to bring, according to a new National Research Inc. survey released today.  The results of two previous National Research surveys continue to be consistent with the one taken September 8-9, 2013. The survey also showed that a majority of Parsippany residents believe the town’s elected officials would be wrong to vote against the project.

Survey highlights:

·      63% of respondents support the new Whole Foods Center when informed of new property tax revenue the town will generate.

·      61% of respondents agree that town elected officials should approve the new Whole Foods Center in order to have the opportunity for property tax relief and new jobs for Parsippany residents.

·      84% of respondents believe the concerns of Parsippany residents should be given more attention by elected officials than those of out-of-towners like Mountain Lakes residents.

Located at the intersection of Route 46 at Waterview Boulevard, the new Whole Foods Center at Waterview proposes the development of a community shopping center along with the construction of 60 luxury townhomes. 

According to studies by nationally known, certified land use planners John McDonough Associates, the center would create more than 500 new jobs and generate $1.1 million per year in tax revenue for municipal and school purposes, and a total of $22 million in homeowner property tax relief over the 20 year span of the center. 

“The new Whole Food Center is good for Parsippany because we need jobs and the town needs the revenue,” said Parsippany resident Bob Grieb of Sprinkler Fitters Local 696.  “There are plenty of everyday people as well as carpenters, electricians and plumbers out there that need the work, and the stores will hire hundreds of people for the long-term.”   

The new center requires the land to be rezoned from office to mixed use.  Presently, the vacancies in office buildings in Parsippany are at historic highs.  To date, the Parsippany Planning Board has approved the changes, and the town Council has moved to vote on the rezoning, which is scheduled for September 17.