Councilman Colucci: Superintendent Polizzi makes it clear in his letter that it's not just a "field." It's more of an athletic complex with room for a field, a track, bleachers and a field house. That was never on the table. And if any rezoning were to include that scope of a "donation" to the municipality, it would mean much more than eliminating the residential component. The bank would be gone and the supermarket would need to be scaled back, too. Be serious. Hekemian would never go for that. Even when they made their presentation in April 2011 (a plan that was never formally submitted), it only mentioned a field and it would have been located on the worst part of the property, the part that is now slated for "flood water storage." So are you for Polizzi's proposal in this letter or just for a small parcel that would be a field only?

I asked the M&C a question a few meetings ago concerning this property and the new board attorney Mr. Liebman suggested the M&C should not talk nor answer any questions about this property because the application is currently being addressed by the ZB. I pleaded with the attorney that the M&C continues to discuss the property throughout the media and it makes no sense they can't talk about it on record? But again it's ok to discuss this property on the Patch, the Record, TBN, etc... What joke our new M&C attorney's advice to the council members is.

It is beyond me how those who have been elected to protect and serve the interests of the residents of New Milford, would be able to support something that will hurt residents of New Milford. I can’t help but wonder what people’s attitudes and thoughts would be had they sat through the hearings and heard firsthand the despicable testimony we have been subjected to. Having attended from day one through now, I have come to many conclusions:

It is my opinion: that this developer, S. Hekemian Group, does not care about the residents of New Milford or the children at the high school. Hundreds of pieces of evidence to support this view, from designing minimum standard 10 foot-wide lanes that invite collision when two trucks can’t pass each other (on roads children are crossing), to saying that the application takes precedence over any new flood maps that coming out (God forbid the true flood conditions get in the way of the development);

I believe that Hekemian could care less about the economically disadvantaged and providing them with affordable housing -- evidenced by the fact that the affordable housing complex wasn’t in the initial presentation. It only appeared after that presentation wasn’t well-received, and all it took was a simple phone call from our Mayor to get him to drop the apartments and go back to the original deal;

I feel DelVecchio has been priming the pump all along for a builder’s remedy lawsuit, something that can only be achieved with the apartment complex, hence the reason for its existence;

that Hekemian is not going to let go of his precious apartment building, unless he’s guaranteed his commercial zoning and his commercial complex;

that Hekemian and his paid for attorneys and experts can’t be trusted; their purchased opinions aren’t worth poop. (Once we grant this developer his wishes -- against the wishes of 100’s of NM residents -- then Councils change and ZB’s change, anything can go on that land, and most likely will.);

that the opinions of those who have not followed the testimony aren’t worth poop either; spotty appearances at a handful of meetings with a predetermined view is not nearly enough to gain the insight.

that the commercial complex will negatively impact New Milford in many ways, most especially the school kids, and the residents in near proximity, but all of us in general.

Councilman Colucci, as you have addressed me in the past, how do you answer to those who will be hurt by this? And where would a field go since we now have a huge storage basin that the developer has testified to the necessity of? And can you explain Hekemian’s Sheffield flooding despite the new storm water management rules? Or how they could fail to consider the road closings due to school events? Or to consider turn lanes big enough for trucks to turn on? Or to automatically consider putting a fence around a flood basin where children are near?

We supported you with our votes, we want to know what your plan is now to protect our school children, and our interests. Color me small, but I expect more from our elected officials.

(I have the highest respect for Superintendent Polizzi. I believe and hope he will position himself fully against this development once he realizes the nature of the beast we are dealing with. At least he brought his concerns to the hearings by way of questioning the traffic witness.)

I'm sure the Mayor and Councilman Rabalino are next with their Patch articles supporting InSerra, United Water and Hekeminian's interest. This article from Colluci is more to gain political support in town than anything else. You don't rezone on the patch that business is done in boro hall. Colluci's plight is with FoD as he mentions in this article, yet I didn't realize FoD wants a StripMall by the field because in Aprill 2011 they were adamantly against the Hekeminian presentation as was everyone that filled the HS auditorium that night. Again, this article is more about political support than what's right for the town's future. For the record, Dominic is a nice guy I voted for him but he's changed from his original stance on this property; here's why I voted for him:
"...I believe if the property is to be developed, it should be done in a way to best service our residents, ideas like a senior center, a recreation facility, a sports field, a municipal building or a fire department, etc. If I get elected, that is the direction in which I am going to move."
http://www.northjersey.com/news/106136033_Colucci_running_for_council.html

Over 1,200 people signed a petition to not change the zoning on this property to commercial and yet that did nothing to convince some members on the M&C what a most people in town want.

Councilman Colucci: I am still waiting for an answer. Are you for the proposal in Polizzi's letter or for just the small, useless field in the flood area?

Councilman Colucci is a builder. Who do you think he is going to side with? The residents of New Milford who elected him? Nah....

Councilman Colucci. I must correct you sir. Councilman Robalino does not think that is the best possible plan for New Milford. He believes the best possible plan is to have nothing built there. But he is afraid of trying to achieve that. These are his words:

“It is not so much that I am in support of this development, the best thing that could be built there is well, nothing. Absent from that option, I can only encourage my fellow Council members to to align with me to have the least of all things the developer will push to build there. The least intrusive of which is the one presented at the high school in April 2011. So to answer your question, it is not that I want it, what I would prefer, if I had a magic wand, is for N.M. to own it. Then we can move forward with all the great ideas presented by so many of the residents. It would be our little Utopia.”
http://newmilford-nj.patch.com/articles/robalino-addresses-hekemian-s-revised-plans-for-united-development-property#comments

What is your reasoning for wanting this so desperately Mr. Colucci if I may ask?
As our representative I would hope that you intend to answer our questions.

Smells to high heaven.

Has the Councilman , and the Board of Ed, lost sight of the application at the zoning board ? there is no field of dreams being proposed by the developer, there IS a GIANT REGIONAL SUPERMARKET and 24 UNITS OF HOUSING
and a bank ! The Boro lost the opportunity to have a say it the development when the M & C didn't accept the Riverkeeper's $ 1,000,000.00 .
The Bd of Ed is INVOLVED with the development ? How, from behind the scenes ? This is going on for more than 400 days, is there a secret deal to buy the property, no shop rite ?
Why is it OK to build a Shop Rite next to a school, but the National Transportation Safety Assoc, or whatever agency has been drilled into the traffic report ( sic ),
SAYS THAT SCHOOL LOCATIONS SHOULD AVOID COMMERCIAL LOCATIONS BECAUSE OF THE DANGER IT IMPOSES ON STUDENTS , look it up .
Let's stay focused, we can't make a deal to have a say in the development without defeating this application , then M and C can revisit the cost to purchase when the property stays as it is currently zoned, one family .With some luck and careful planning, the High School will get the field it deserves .

If you give them an inch they will think they're a ruler! This rezoning must be defeated. Accepting any of this development will allow them to carry on with whatever they choose once it is rezoned. The only development that belongs there is a fully developed field and sports area. Think how much we will save by not replacing tracks and tennis courts every few years because of water damage. Our children's future safety is at risk. It is zoned single family for a reason. Don't let them change it!

Too many of our elected and appointed officials are utilizing their own feelings and agendas instead of the will of the people who put them in their positions. WHY?

After reading all the BOE letters sent to the M&C, Councilman Collucci shows a complete disregard for his community. Since 2010 the Superintendent has addressed the M&C with his concerns about the development’s impact on the town and the safety of the schoolchildren. He clearly states his position as wanting the town to keep control of the property. This was during the time when the town had the option to buy that property. Yet, the Councilman, as did the Mayor, clearly ignored the Superintendent's concerns when there was an opportunity to actually do something. Since the M&C decided not to act on Superintendent Polizzi’s concerns, or to relay them to the ZB, New Milford and the Zoning Board are in a mess right now. Making this land commercial only benefits Hekemian, and possibly somehow those who support it, but not the residents and high school children of New Milford. Over a thousand people signed a petition Councilman to not change the zoning, why are you not listening to them?

I'm starting to really feel good about SOD's fight. Please attend March 28th's ZB meeting.

Mr. Colucci, if you re-zone, New Milford will find itself with another lawsuit on its hands.