I am totally fine with the original offer, definitely much better than the one with all the apartments! Let's give Hekemian the rezoning he's asking and avoid the risk of losing this huge chance to have a graded field, a much needed parking lot for the school and the opportunity to use the current Shoprite site for something useful!

Say good bye to New Milford as we know it. What we needed was leadership. What we got was cowards. Why not let the application run its course through the zoning board? Let it get denied. Let Hekemian try in the courts. Cedar Grove just won against another giant developer: Hovnanian. Why not be true leaders and represent US? Rezoning this property to allow ShopRite to relocate is just plain WRONG. It will be unsafe for our students at NMHS during the construction process and it will be unsafe after the store is complete. The property is documented as having highly contaminated ground water. ALL of New Milford will suffer from this construction. Commercial property DEPRECIATES in value, meaning in a short time any of the very small increase in ratables seen at completion, will disappear and our RESIDENTIAL tax base will soon be making up for the lost revenue. Great job, M&C: you just voted to kill New Milford.

I was at last nights meeting until almost one in the morning and I can say a lot of "smoke and mirrors". And in my opinion, this town has an "inept governing body"... No communication between them, members hoarding information, and no one recalls anything... I can't wait to vote most of them out...

I thought this is a democracy. Looks more like a dictatorship. The Mayor told me her vision several months ago. And with the knowledge that the people of New Milford are not interested in this development, she moves forward with her dream. I want an investigation. How do we support Hedy Grant in getting this accomplished?

Cowards, defeatists, fools! Elected to represent the people, or, elected to protect their reputations for not performing their due diligence, and certainly dropping the ball when the matter WAS in their hands. Passing the blame to prior administrations when the crux of the matter was in the majority of the current governing body's hands simply displays the fact that they are too proud to admit their failures which translate to failures for the residents of NM.

Hekemian played them like a puppet, and certain members of the M&C, obviously did not have the perspicacity, intelligence, and foresight to have realized this. Councilwoman Grant's request for an independent review is spot-on, as many people believed all along that not everyone on the governing body was honest. There is no harm in clearing one's name/names, & for clearing the entire process, if one has nothing to fear, EXCEPT THE TRUTH. Those who do not support the review are providing the biggest disservice to the residents of New Milford. Councilman Berner emphatically stated that he brought the $1/$1.5 million offer from the Riverkeeper as a down payment to purchase the property to Mayor Subrizi's attention, and MAYOR SUBRIZI has stated on numerous occasions, lastly yesterday evening, that she does not remember. How can you not remember a $1/$1.5 million dollar offer made within the past year or so? The memory bank cannot be that full, as to one not having any recollection. TO BE CONTINUED

CONTINUED

The tensions, interruptions, loud comments, accusations, forgetfulness, among many of the council members was a disgrace! Ms. Grant provided an option to put matters to rest, and instead many of the council members perceived it as a "witch hunt." It is not. I am appalled at the entire process, at the resistance to uncover the truth. NM should be angry and should stand for the right for the truth.

It took a very recently formed grass roots organization, SOD, to bring this issue to the forefront. Now, many citizens of New Milford are aware of the outlandish scope of this proposed development, either in it's original (April 2011) or current plan. SOD's letter to the Mayor and Council, published yesterday, very clearly laid out the reasons to hold off rezoning this property. Sadly, in a display of cowardice masquerading as pragmatism, the Mayor continues to show a lack of leadership and vision and clearly does not have the wants and desires of the citizens of New Milford in mind when she acts. Citizens, perhaps it is time to let her go.

You know I felt the same thing Ulisies...when Hedy read her "not so factual" timeline created by herself, SOD and Randi, the timeline/information was AGAIN misleading to the public as usual. Reading from her(Hedy) "notes" rudely, smugly and condescendingly to the audience and council she did not allow any discussion from the mayor to defend or clarify any of her accusations. But, instead the second she was finished reading her final sentence, she immediately said she wanted to pull a vote on a "NEW" council to over see and check what the mayor and council has been doing with this application. (All of the months, years, prior council, prior mayor, etc.) Seconding the motion immediately was Randi Duffie. Ashley then tried to vote on this "new council" but of course he must have forgotten that he has a LAWYER that speaks for him when it comes to the United Water property. Smoke and mirrors....absolutely. Does Hedy and Ashley make it political...absolutely...

The developer is running scared and using whatever tactics he has left and the mayor and council are acting like rats in a garbage pail, taking whatever they can get. Please don't let a field and a parking lot determine the fate of this property. Now the mayor and council are capitulating to big money rather than represent their town. People should camp out at their homes and make this issue personal-embarrass them. They are an embarrassment to the town and must wreak the consequences of their actions. Municipalities should not be buying land, they should stand up to multimillionaires and challenge them using the land ordinances in place. Variances should not be given just because a developer has the resources to litigate-the council needs strong redirection using the court of public opinion. The citizens must act now, don't be bought by a parking lot and field.

Hmmm. Original offer back on the table. Does anyone else feel that the apartments was just a theatrical ruse to get the property rezoned? Who else feels played? And more importantly, played by whom? Heikemanian will get his money at any cost, Subrizi will get her "Municipal Complex" at the old ShopRite location and the citizens of this town get to bend over and grab their ankles.

And Donna, BOTH parties have made this political.

Come November 6, we need to purge our council of both parties and get an INDEPENDENT in the running or at the very least a write in candidate. And not just this year--we need to continue the purge until the chambers are clean and filled with honest, dedicated to the townspeople representatives.

Councilperson Randi Duffie agreed, that by considering to re-zone this property it allows the town to have control of what goes there. "Information is Knowledge" she said...The planner is being asked to draft up some ideas that will help our town have a say as to what goes there, how big can it be, where it can go, how far from the street, how many trees, where are the exits and entrances, etc, etc, etc, We must remember our kids...the future of our town...I don't think this development will "destroy" "ruin" "kill" New Milford like many of the SOD members say. A SOD member handed in a petition of 1100 names of people who are against United Water development. On numerous occasions I witnessed people signing the petition that were not from New Milford. How many of those names are not residents? how many people who signed that petition were "SCARED" of the things that SOD members told them. SOD is doing a great job in bringing the town together and proving that we CAN work together. But We CANNOT use scare tactics.

Please read those January 2011 Closed Session minutes. In it, you would read that I attempted to get United Water to donate the land to the town. You would also read that I was the only council member showing a desire to buy the property, a position I still believe is doable. A CPA for over 20 years, I estimate it will cost the average homeowner $76 a year, but I believe it will help keep the character of New Milford and futher help the people living in the flooding area.

I will give credit where credit is due. Hekemian is smart. He knew that any development would be met with opposition, so, he dangled as bait, the original proposal to whet everyone's appetite. It was only a proposal, not an application. Those who were smart, & had the vision knew exactly what he was doing. When Hekemian actually submitted the application, many people were astonished that the original proposal was not even close to what was contained on the application. Hekemian, from the onset, had devised "WHAT IF" STRATEGIES, as he is a shrewd businessman. He already had 'ACTION PLANS" in place, in the event that the Zoning Board decided to deny the current application. The original proposal is part of Hekemian's action plan and our Mayor & several others fell for it. Hekemian gets what he originally had planned, our Mayor & some of the council members are then portrayed as heroes for saving NM. Well, I certainly have news! Heroes they are not! TO BE CONTINUED

CONTINUED
It is not heroic to give up the fight & to represent what most of NM desires, using the excuse that it would cost lots of money to fight Hekemian. NO ONE WANTS TO SPEND MONEY, BUT THE ISSUE HERE IS THAT THE TOWEL HAS BEEN THROWN IN WITHOUT MAKING THE ATTEMPT TO FIGHT & EXPLORE ALL OPTIONS. We are in this mess because of the inaction & inappropriate steps that our Mayor & several council members have undertaken when NM had the 4 month option to purchase the property as contained within the contract of sale between United Water & Hekemian. THERE IS NO WRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE from our Mayor, the township’s attorney, or, NM’s governing body to United Water either ACCEPTING, REFUSING, REQUESTING ADDITONAL TIME TO MULL OVER, OR, REQUESTING A COMPROMISE TO PERHAPS PURCHASE A PORTION OF THE PROPERTY. NO WRITTEN CORRESPONDNECE! It is shameless and cowardly to NOW PICK UP THE PHONE & COMPROMISE WITH THE DEVELOPER in order to save face using the excuse that any litigation would cost money! Why now? Why was not this tactic employed at the time the application was submitted, or, any time during the Zoning Board hearings that have occurred during the year?

I think it is safe to say that NO ONE in this town/or council wants 221 apartments to be built on that property and they our council will fight tooth and nail to STOP IT. However, it would be a gamble to "See what happens" as some would want our town officials to do. That is not the responsible thing to do. Wait and See=NOT GOOD! (re: Cranford is still paying for lawyers (over $600,000.00 to date and going higher by the day) that's peoples' HARD earned money, to defend them in superior court. A judge who knows nothing of their town, their people and the goings on...) Our council does not want that to happen here. If we keep it here, we can control it.
The previous heavily sided Democrat administration (Debari) prior to 2011, voted these 221 units in on December 30, 2010 just days before he stepped down as Mayor. The same ex-council people today wear SOD pins and host a sign on their lawns. I have been at most of the M & C meetings since Debari told us of his VISION...221 units...Residents/neighbors/New Milford there are ALWAYS two sides of everything.

oops, meant to say shameful and cowardly

TommyIce, you are correct we need to vote these members out! I'd leave Grant and Ashley in because they have a backbone and are leading on the side of the people. The rest must go!!! And we should explore all options to create an Independent party that unites Democrats and Republicans for the good of our town, rather than the good of outside developers and political bosses.

Donna, SOD does not use scare tactics to make citizens aware of the issues surrounding the proposed development. We rely on factual evidence in the form of photographs taken during the most recent major flood events, research on traffic volume based upon the size and scope of the development, traffic incidents involving injuries that occurred BEFORE the property is developed. In addition, we have looked at peer reviewed studies on the impact of classroom overcrowding and natural disasters (i.e. flooding) on the ability of students to perform well in a classroom setting. Those SOD members who live in the vicinity of the United Water property tell truthful and sad stories of the impact of the recent floods. We have said that while the property itself may not flood to level of the roads and properties on it's perimeter, development will force more runoff in areas that already flood, most likely causing more damage. Sometime the truth can be scary but ignoring it does not make it any less true.

Numerous people that I have spoken to have said that SOD members told them that their homes WILL flood. These people (not living in a flood zone/way/fringe, etc) host SOD signs on their property and I have begun to ask questions of them.

Tommyice or whoever you are.. RE-ZONING = STOP the Apartments

Well Donna then the council members (or any of their spokespeople) were not very good at articulating the outcome of re-zoning because everyone I have spoken with believed that council vote to rezone would greenlight the mixed use development. But the over commercializing development is good then?

For the record, SOD never used the "your property will flood" scare tactic on me.

That property cannot be rezoned for anything-it is in a flood zone and the streets around it are not able to handle the traffic that development will incur. NM will spend a ton of money to update the streets-not the developer. Rezoning should occur willingly, not as a result of an application. Let Shop Rite worry about itself-shop somewhere else so that it will go out of business and someone else will update that store. SOD is not scaring anyone-they are doing a great job of promoting the democratic debate necessary in municipal issues. Independents need to step up and run for office and fight against developers who think they can rule the town with their millions. SOD keep up the great work!!1

I cannot believe that you penned a dumb statement saying that people who do not live in a flood zone/way/fringe host SOD signs & that you are asking them why.
I host several SOD signs on my property, I do not flood, nor do I live around the corner from the proposed development. SOD is not about flooding....once again, check your facts. Flooding is only one of the problems that may occur with any development on the UW property. Pollution, noise, traffic congestion, infrastructure/road repairs, classroom crowding, traffic impact on surrounding towns, increase in emergency personnel, are only a handful of the reasons this development will have a negative impact.

So, it appears that you have taken a political mission/vendetta against SOD.....& please do not answer that you are seeking the truth/two sides to the story as you so famously say....SOD speaks the truth and we work off of facts. Funny, that you are not quick to jump and support the proposal for outside counsel to investigate the possible improprieties of the Mayor & Council for their inaction & dropping the ball during the United Water/Hekemian discussions, or, failure, thereof.

TO BE CONTINUED

CONTINUED
It is obvious that your so called mission to seek the truth/two sides only applies when it is convenient for you. Then again, how can you seek the truth if your spouse is a member of the council? Quite frankly, what you are doing is having the opposite effect, as you are working against him, and are alienating many member of the public against him. Wait until Election Day & then we will see who is right.

Thank you Donna for insulting SOD. We based everything on facts and not scare tactics. If my spouse was in politics I'd watch what I say but you don't see how your comment hurts your husband (Councilman Collucci). After your husband's vote last night and all your accusations here, I can't wait to vote against Councilman Collucci next year (and I was a big fan of his). Scare tactics, please!!!!!

Well thank God SOD didn't use that one on you. First off Tommyice I am a resident of this town for over 16 years. I am a tax payer and a very concerned citizen that has learned to truly care about her hometown. I have had two children graduate this school system and move along to college. I still have another child who attends elementary school. With the help of God I will see her graduate this school system in 9 years as well. I am proud of my home and my family. I have my own mind and I say what I feel and I will NEVER speak for anyone.
I have witnessed hundreds of people come together for the better of Cancer, Kidney Disease, and our Neighbors in the flood area. We can do anything together. I NEVER said that over commercializing is good.

Ashley and Grant seem to be the only ones who are putting the town's best interest first. Subrizi is incompetent, Berner speaks out of both sides of his mouth, Colucci let's his wife do all the talking, Robalino is a Yes man and who knows about Duffie. Pete Rebsch should distance himself from Berner or he may get sent packing by association this coming November.

I've lived here my entire life. In fact my parents spent the majority of their lives here--when Boulevard ended at Madison Avenue and became a dirt path through farmland. I too, am proud of my home and my family and all the blood, sweat and money we have put into living and thriving in New Milford.

You are not being clear in your posts. If the re-zone vote is to rid us of the apartment mess, we still end up with the commercial garbage, no? A 70,500 sq ft. grocery, a bank and "family restaurant" is not the lesser of two evils. It is just as evil. I certainly don't want an Olive Garden or Ruby Tuesday's on the corner of River and Main.

And any development there will impact flooding and traffic. Traffic in front of that high school your children attended and will attend. Traffic in front of our Senior Citizen Center.

See Team Subizi has failed the good people of New Milford....

"What dedication of our Patch editor....... 3AM and she's already posting the latest progress in last night's M & C meeting, thanks for keeping us tuned in and informed. With that said, I am happy to read that we are are least considering an option. That is what we have elected officials, to measure up what is the best interest to the entire town. Although I've been vocal with my friends from SOD, we MUST realize that Larry Incerra is a neighbor, a friend to our town and may be the greatest contributor to any and all fundraisers in our town; be it HS Musicals, Boys and Girl Scouts, Recreation sports, Junior Football, PTO events, BBQ of Love for our neighbors in the flood affected areas last year, you name it. From what I know, they've never said no and have always responded with cash on hand. Come to think of it, it's almost a mandated stop for our kids when looking for their first job while in HS. Can you think of anyone else that would have agreed to accommodate a table to obtain signatures for residents being vocal against his own family business wanting to build at the UW property? Yes, you heard right, Mr. Larry Incerra himself authorized SOD to obtain signatures at the door of Shop-Right to oppose his expansion. Now we have a chance to at least consider a word of thanks to our neighbor that will be here for us for the long run!"

I am not allowed to comment on this because there is an application before the zoning board, which I am a member of. Those of you who know me know that I couldn't care less what anyones opinion of me is, so here is my point. Football season just started. Some people understand the game, others just like it and watch and get all hyped up pulling for their team. And then there are others that think they know what is going on in a game though they never played it. They don't know what an Iso or trap is. They have never heard the term passing tree. A Mike linebacker? Will? Sam? Cover 2 robber defense...never heard of any of it...but they will go on and on about what the coach is doing wrong or why this guy sucks....and often, it is personal because they are talking about their favorite team... don't kill a guy for not blocking the guy in front of him when you dont know if the QB called for slide protection, (or even know what slide protection is) and that wasnt his responsibility.

Mr. Loonam the job you do for our town is a time consuming one taking you away from your family and is pretty much thankless. So Thank You for your time and commitment.

But to keep the "sports analogy" it looks like our "team" is playing a game without the consent of the owners.

Mr. Loonam, in your analogy are you saying most concerned citizens in town don't know what's going on in the "game" because we're not at the "level" that you and the M&C perceive to be?

I've long believed that the huge residential proposal was a scare tactic to get NM to think of the earlier proposal as acceptable. Now I see I was right. Asking for the sun and the moon is how builders convince the powers that be to be thrilled when they later ask for "just" the sun!! There should be NO development on this site. If there MUST be development it must only be single family homes on the non-sensitive sections of the property. There IS money out there to purchase this property!!!

Joe, I as well appreciate all your hard work and dedication to our town. Yet, I believe your analogy to be quite derogatory and offensive. You completely made it appear as though the people in the audience are misinformed, under informed, and out of the league of those sitting on the bench. Do you know what all of our occupations, level of education, and special interests? Attending a zoning board meeting, and reading up on the happenings at the M&C meetings, and Zoning Board Meetings.. is NOT like a football game. I have no idea about football... but I do have quite an idea of what a 70k shoprite and 221 apts next to the high school would be like. I take serious offense and believe that you need to apologize.

Facts: I have lived in New Milford for 34 years. I do not live in the neighborhood of the UW property. My property does not flood. My children are done with school. More facts: I am against any development of this property. I am a member of SOD. I am embarrassed by the lack of leadership in my community, by the cowardice of our elected body, and by their lack of vision. More facts: Rather than stand up to the developers, fight and perhaps, WIN!, like Cedar Grove, we are capitulating to the whims of the developer. Very interesting that for months we were told that we simply did not understand land use law. After all, our COAH obligation was "parked" on that property. But now it's OK to rezone without the COAH units and allow commercial development of that property. We will pay with higher taxes for police, fire, emergency and court services. As the property depreciates, we will pay a bigger and bigger share. This is a lose-lose for New Milford. They want control of what goes there? Leave it zoned single family! No one wants to build single family houses in a flood area.

Stop beating up on her because of what she thinks. You really take it way too far and make it personal. I agree with her, and many of my neighbors also agree, we would like to see part of it developed.

Please understand that the housing compnent is not off the table. From what I understand from last night's meeting, Hekemiam agrred to a 3 acre portion for New Milford's use. The mayor said we could set a part of those 3 acres for our COAH housing requirement. I also want to remind all of the people who have been posting all day here, had not SOD pushed against this proposal our mayor would never have done anything to try to even modify it. The people of New Milford have roared their disapproval and while the reaction from our elected officials is not what we hoped for, at least we got them to do something. Come to our meeting tomorrow night at the Senior Center at 7:30 and help us come to a consensus on what the next step should be. I am so proud of all we have accomplished.

Miriam, is correct. They could still build affordable housing there and strain our public services (Donna, these are facts which you'll interpet as scare tactics), no change to the Master Plan, which currently requires COAH housing there. This is all based off a phone conversation the Mayor supposedly had with the developers last week. Nothing is in writing, just a discussion. Yet, Rabolino, Duffie and Colucci voted to start the process to compromise with the developers.

I agree with Lori Barton's sentiments. While I've been outspoken regarding our substandard & flooded fields, I'm not willing to sell out my town & neighbors for a field. First, we're NOT getting a field - we're getting a graded area to develop into a field. Moreover, I'm doubtful that the size could hold anything other than a combo soccer/football field (that needs about 2 acres)- most likely it would not be a large enough area for bleachers, concessions, clubhouse. Did the 3 acres include the parking? If that's the case, how does this land really meet the needs of the town in terms of a field? All this must be clearly understood. The main problem that I've had with this debacle from the onset is there's been a lack of "transparency" although that term gets used all the time in politics. The input from the public started in April 2011 instead of Jan. 2011 and therein lies the problem. The M&C had already made up their minds to move forward with rezoning without consulting us; while I believe that we elected a M&C to make decisions on our behalf, we didn't elect them to assume they know what we want without our input. There's a fundamental difference in those two approaches. Whether that was done because of hubris, naivety, going with the majority, etc. one can only guess. I don't think there's a need for a special council, but I do think there's a need for accountability & ownership of the mistakes that were made. It all comes out in the wash.

I have a sign on my front lawn and I am not in a flood zone. NOBODY from SOD used any kind of scare tactics on me. I have been living in this town for over 35 years. The traffic has progressively gotten worse over the past few years. It is kind of ridiculous that I cannot turn onto my street because overnight about 2 years ago "no left turn" signs appeared on main street and center street. I live down those streets and have to constantly drive out of my way(3 blocks) to get home. Now if this development occurs, what does this mean now for traffic? Maybe make my street a one way? Or maybe just adda few more lights to really make it aggravating?

Who can I make a suggestion to about those "no left turn" signs? Possibly putting times, like 7-9am and 4-6pm M-F? or will they be taken down once they finish the elm street bridge?

I told you, this is all part of the game. They do not want to build apartments there, they do not want the liability of not renting them. This is far from done.

Having served our residents for 9 years as councilmen I think I've gained some respect as someone who always listened to our neighbors & tried to do what was best for NM & it's residents. That being said, what is going on now is not as cut and dry as some people think. Currently we know that there is a land owner/potential owner who wants to invest in NM & make a profit.Now we as the town of NM can buy the property & do with it as we please or we can try & get what best serves NM from the owner.
1. Do we know how much it will cost to buy the property? I haven’t heard of any price as of yet.
2. What monies are available thru grants, New Jersey or the county?
3. NM has an open Space Historic Preservation, Recreation & Farmland preservation act that funds such things around $80K per year. Don’t know how much is in the kitty
4. Can we ignore the possible tax revenue of a development?

This being said I would like to add my thoughts on the negativity being doled out towards the Mayor and ALL the members of the council.

SOD has been great at being pro active and bringing this to where it has come to as of today.

We are all residents and neighbors concerned with our town and our children. Throwing darts and negative antidotes at our elected officials while engaging in this QUEST to do what’s best for NM gets us nowhere.

I see a lot of negative correspondence integrated in the conversation of how we can get what is best for all of us. It’s counterproductive.

Mr. Day, you make a lot of valid points and I agree that emotions get the best of us at times. Here's the contract. $7.2 million.
http://www.state.nj.us/bpu/pdf/boardorders/2011/20111109/11-9-11-5B.pdf

The mayor and council are doing what's best for us? Jar Jar Binks says Pee-a-usa!! Monsters out there, leaking in here. Well dat smells stinkowiff.

Re-zoning is a big mistake. They should let this application run its course. Lets forget about blaming the the Democrats or the Republicans and focus on the fact that local officials have been elected to represent the people of this town. Those people have been making it clear what their desire is for more than a year, and as it has manifest itself through the creation of SOD, the desire of the people of New Milford is leave the space undeveloped, not to have it rezoned and if possible to explore the possible purchase of the property by the town in order to keep it as open space or if fiscally feasible to explore the possibility of creating a sports complex. The town does not want either commercial or residential development. I cant understand why the Mayor and Council cant seem to grasp this. SOD and all of New Milfords residents need to hold them accountable and vote anyone who is for rezoning the property or for a compromised development of any kind out of office. If necessary SOD should seek specific promises from the candidates and if they dont keep their promises SOD should run its own independent ticket in the next election until the house has been cleared of officials voting their own interest. It may be too late to have an independent ticket this Novembe, but its never too late to write in votes. Whatever extreme act needs to be done until the voice of the people is heard and their will is done!

Perhaps it's time for all members of New Milford's boards and commissions to step down. Why should they bother giving up their time and energy if they are going to be ignored? The Environmental Commission is against having this land developed. But the M&C have ignored their input. The Zoning Board has to feel like they have wasted months of their time if the M&C was planning this all along. The mayor says it's too big a gamble to let this run its course through the Zoning Board? Why? Aren't these people competent to make that decision? I trust the Zoning Board to make the right decision for New Milford. The M&C are supposed to represent their constituents. This is supposed to be a democracy. But the people of New Milford have been ignored. Oradell said they would sue if the Zoning Board granted approvals. Now they may sue our M&C. I hope they win.

Are you kidding me??? First they tell us we have to have affordable housing there, then they tell us they're saving us from that by rezoning so we ONLY have to have ShopRite. Vote them all out. They are a bunch of liars. What's best for New Milford is leaving that land alone. With ONLY ShopRite there, we will still have pollution, traffic, flooding and , oh yeah, HIGHER taxes. They are a disgrace.

I have been following this and I never thought I would comment but I can't be quiet anymore. I have lived here for 43 years. I don't want to move. I love this town. My children grew up here, went to school here. but I am afraid to stay if this is how our elected officials act. What is next? Why don't they care what we think? Why don't they listen? What makes them think they know better then so many long time residents? I feel physically sick that this is happening in my beloved New Milford. Why can't we leave just one piece of land green, the way it was meant to be? Shame on you mayor and council.

Thankyou Ulises
This is from the agrement United water proposed to Board of public Utilities
: The Company states that in considering its options for the sale of the Properties, it has given
significant consideration to the State's goals of open space, recreation and affordable housing,
and that the requested regulatory treatment is a critical element in its decision to sell the
Properties. All Agreements for the sales are contingent on satisfactory regulatory treatment in
the Company's discretion"
Lets focus on that

Information is knowledge, that’s where we agree Donna. So respectfully I have to say your information is not accurate. I am a member of SOD and your characterization of them is off. They did not lie to get people to put signs on their lawns or to sign those petitions, and they certainly didn’t create some faulty timeline to mislead the public. I have a SOD sign, I signed the petition; it was hardly a matter of OMG I’m going to flood? let me have two signs please. I was persuaded to SOD’s viewpoint by their presentations at their meetings, they were sobering and factual. My experience with the core members of SOD is that they are intelligent and well-informed and could probably outdo most in an information exchange.

It’s sad to me that you feel the need to investigate SOD. SOD are your neighbors and friends, and I’m not sure why you’re attacking them. Did you ever think Donna that these people might be scared? That the M&C are the ones they’ve turned to for help, and if they’re disappointed, the M&C is who they will blame because they feel they’ve been let down. It’s not a scare tactic to express withdrawing your support. That’s the only power the general populous has over its elected leaders. It’s not personal, it’s part and parcel of taking those positions. SOD are New Milford residents who feel threatened by this overdevelopment, and they want the M&C to fight for and with them. The M&C with two exceptions, are choosing another route.

Cont… The only people I have seen fighting tooth-and-nail are the ones who were up there fighting, mainly SOD members: attorneys, housewives, realtors, architects, admin assistants, engineers... Also attorney Al Alonso. Attorney Marc Liebman on behalf of Austin Ashley. ZB Chairman Karl Schaffenberger, a 24-year veteran of the environmental commission, recused himself because of his concerns with the environmental impact that “any proposed development of this property would have on the surrounding area.” He was up there fighting, I saw that. (And he may or may not know what “slide protection” is, but I’m willing to bet he knows what “elevation 18” is.) And there were many substantial residents who helped in the shadows and wished to remain in the shadows. This is the community that came together.

But WE did not come together as you imply. I sat next to you at the ZB meeting, we were not a “we.” I never saw you fighting for SOD or against this development. However I have seen you on Patch duking it out with SOD members. Oradell and SOD came together. Democrats and Republicans came together. But WE didn’t come together. That’s why we’re at this distressing juncture. Some people are okay with the development apartments included, some are okay with a compromise, but we are not okay with developing that property at the expense of our neighbors and high school kids.

If the M&C refuses to rezone; if the ZB doesn’t grant the variances; if the M&C relocates the COAH units to meet the second round obligation, that would leave that property with 38 developable single-family residences as per Kirwan’s report. Hekemian is not going to stick around for 38 single-family homes.

I have to question the timing of this re-zoning decision. Why pull the rug out from us now after so much time and resources are invested? Why not way before right off the bat. Why not later after the ZB made their decision? Why now? It’s a punch in the stomach to those who have worked so hard to get this far, and it is my hope that the decision to rezone is not a done deal. It’s not too late to become a WE.

I Suggest going to the web site Ulises put up and read the petition United Water proposed to the Board Of Public Utilities

According to M. the timing of the rezoning might have something to do with Hekemian running out of time on their contract. So instead of letting the contract run out, our wonderful M&C throw Hekemian a lifeline by offering to rezone to make it easier for them. If the contract runs out, maybe NM could pursue those grants and purchase the property. But no...that would be a "gamble." You really have to wonder what's going on here.

Don Johnson: I had the opportunity to work with Peter and have experienced his integrity from an inside perspective. He is the last man on earth I would call a “yes” man. If you give yourself the opportunity to get to know him better, you won’t be saying that. He is a principled independent thinker who is not afraid to speak his mind. He also has a heart of gold and is very much for his community. There are rivers of people who have been on the receiving end of his generosity and wisdom. I am definitely going to vote for him, and I’m secure that that vote will yield more for the community than any vote I can cast. Peter will contribute to his community whether he gets voted in or not, and that’s the type of guy I want running the show. Someone who genuinely cares.

I agree. I've known Pete Rebsch for many years and he is everything you said he is. Hopefully people realize that and vote him in even though he's on the same ticket as his complete opposite Howard Berner.

If our mayor and the council allow for the rezoning of this property, the citizens of New Milford should let them know we will seek to recall all of them...they will nit be reelected anyway, but we should let them know that we, as a community, will "pay them back" for their betrayal of us! NM

Hello All,
Why don't we call the FBI to investigate any and all actions? From the outside looking in, and without pointing fingers or making accusations; it appears somebody is on the take. However, since I do not have all of the facts and most of what I've read on the comments appears to be hearsay. Let's let the FBI proved all of us with the facts.

Also, I would like Ulyses to see Ulyses run for Mayor!!!!!

Sorry, provide

Sorry, I would like to see Ulyses run for mayor & like to see him win!!!!