Jump in the Lake Fundraiser Continues Fight Against Waterview Development

A dip in Mountain Lake provided fun for attendees of a nonprofit organization's fundraising event to stop a proposed plan to develop 26.6 acres of Parsippany's Waterview tract and develop a retail-residential complex including a Whole Foods Market and a townhouse community. 

The Jump in the Lake fundraiser was appropriately named: Many participants leapt into the water at a cost of $30 to raise funds for CHSW's mission to stop the project planned by developer RD Realty.

The group, , which includes citizens from towns including Parsippany, Mountain Lakes and Boonton, is calling the event a great achievement, according to President David Kaplan.

"The day was a tremendous success by all accounts," Kaplan told Patch. "We raised $11,000 and the turnout was strong. We had people coming and going all day, probably a few hundred people, and many remained for the entire afternoon, participating in the numerous activities the DJ provided and jumping in the lake all three times. Local business donated prizes and there was food and music all day.

"Add to that the perfect weather and it was everything we had hoped for."

Kaplan said the event allowed them to raise needed funds to sustain their battle, to increase awareness of the issue, bring people together and show CHSW's seriousness.

Among those to take a dip in Mountain Lake Sunday: Parsippany Councilman Paul Carifi Jr., who is running for the Republican mayoral nomination in the June 5 primary. He attended the event with his ticketmates, council candidates (and land lubbers) Dr. Louis Valori and Robert J. Peluso.

Carifi said he and his running mates are on the record about the issue of Waterview development.

"We are against the rezoning," the candidate said.

The Township Council is to decide whether to allow the current Planned Office Development zone affecting the tract to become an overlay zone. That would permit mixed retail and residential use on the land.

Kaplan said many CHSW members were pleased to have Carifi, Valori and Peluso on their side so visibly.

"I heard many people talking about how wonderful it was that his ticket isn't in favor of this proposed development and were appreciative of his attendance," he said. "His ticket already sent a letter to the entire Intervale Heights area overtly stating their opposition for the proposal."

Town Attorney John Inglesino said the councilman's public stand does not affect his ability to vote on the issue and Carifi does not have to recuse himself.

The nonprofit group has come out in force before the Parsippany Planning Board—even forcing the body to move its meetings to Parsippany High School because of fire capacity concerns. After the Planning Board's decision to recommend rezoning to the council, CHSW has brought its full-court press to relocated Township Council meetings.

CHSW states a number of concerns including worries that development of the Waterview complex could overwhelm the water supply and cause traffic and noise issues, and that the proposed buffers between the commercial complex and residents' homes are too small.

Group member Nancy duTertre of Mountain Lakes, whose family participated in the fundraiser as “Team du Tertre Frog Jumpers” while she was working, said the event included a hot air balloon demonstration, gourmet food trucks, and music from a DJ.

DuTertre said the event shows that Parsippany residents are buckling down for the fight—and that residents in nearby towns will stand up too.

"Clearly,  when the greed of a big-money developer threatens everything we have ever worked for as law-abiding, honest, hard-working citizens, and our governments fail to protect our interests, then we, as individuals have an obligation to stand up and fight for what is right and fair," she said. "As human beings, it is time we started thinking about long-term planning for essentials like water, air and land instead of our pathetic short term goals of quick-fix, band-aid revenue-gap fillers.  It is time to stop being penny-wise and pound-foolish. 

"If we don’t start getting smart and fighting for our rights, our towns will be raped by developers who get in and get out quickly with their cash leaving us holding the bag," duTertre continued. "Unfortunately, unless we as citizens step up to the plate, everything is up for sale – and it goes to the highest bidder."  

Citizens for Health, Safety & Welfare was formerly known as Don't Rezone Waterview.

A decision has not yet been made on whether to approve the development. The Town Council recently opted to hold off on introducing a proposed ordinance to permit the rezoning.

"Our next steps continue to be to monitor the situation, speak with, and educate, elected officials, communicate with the residents, and continue to gather data that supports our belief that the proposed ordinance will have obvious permanent and detrimental consequences to our quality of life, environment, and overall well-being as a whole," said Kaplan.