Bergen County Real Estate News: July 2005

Bergen County News

Bergen county news with an emphasis on aspects affecting real estate, residency and community issues.

Teaneck of Bergen County Calls for More Cell Towers

The Township Council at Teaneck plans to introduce an ordinance that will allow cellular towers and antennas on municipal property to fill coverage gaps that are viewed as a safety risk. The change will be called for at its meeting on July 26, 2005. As per the amendment schools will not be included and will continue to be off-limits to cell towers and antennas. Township officials also say that allowing monopoles or antennas in certain areas of the town would also help improve quality of communications with the police, fire and ambulance services. The main areas of concern are Route 4 westbound from Queen Anne Road to Belle Avenue and eastbound from North Wilson Avenue to Queen Anne Road; Palisade Avenue north of Route 4; Cedar Lane west between Queen Anne and Teaneck roads; Rodda Community Center on Colonial Court; the municipal green on Teaneck Road and the Cedar Lane and Windsor Road fire stations.

Ordinance to Control Construction Debris

The borough council of Ridgefield in Bergen County has now introduced an ordinance that requires contractors doing major projects to erect 6-foot fencing around work sites and clear a 10-foot area that will remain clear and passable for pedestrians. Also, tougher cleanup laws require contractors to clean up the debris from the work site on a daily basis. This measure was taken in response to the safety threat caused by careless construction crews that leave equipment and debris strewn across sidewalks near work sites. The council feels that this ordinance will increase safety and make life easier for neighbors who live near homes under construction or repair. This will also help to keep children off the work sites.

Bergen County Property Assessments Challenged by EnCap

As per Cherokee EnCap, the developer of golf courses and housing in the trash-strewn Meadowlands, property assessments are high. This company is now challenging the property taxes it must pay to its three host towns Rutherford, Lyndhurst and North Arlington. The company acquired 795 acres to build 2,580 houses and two golf courses in the marsh areas of the three host towns. But this spring the company has filed appeals in tax court to reduce the assessments on more than 400 acres. It states that it paid less than the amount set by the tax assessors. EnCap is challenging assessments of more than $10 million in Rutherford and $7 million in North Arlington.

Woodridge Residential Village

On June 22, 2005, residents of Woodridge were invited to a final public information session on the future of the Curtiss-Wright housing development, now renamed as the Wesmont Station. The project is proposed to be built over 80 acres of the Curtiss-Wright industrial plant. It is estimated to cost $400 million and would take five years for completion. The final result would include a mix of row and detached houses, a train station, a 77-unit senior building, a middle school and ball fields, and about 70,000 square feet of mixed commercial space. The open-house forum was conducted at 7 p.m. at the Catherine Doyle Elementary School. Residents got the opportunity to watch a DVD animation of the 737-unit residential village and could also talk to traffic, environmental and engineering experts regarding the same. Presentations were made by Mayor Paul Sarlo and John Knifton, an executive with Somerset, the developer.

Artful Apartment Tower in Edgewater

The neighborhood of Shadyside in Edgewater may soon have an eight-story apartment complex and a gallery that features the works of pop artist Peter Max. While an expert testimony was conducted before the zoning board on July 27, the panel is tentatively scheduled to vote on the project in August 2005. The application for the project has been put forth by a group called One Development of Edgewater. The group proposes an eight-story residential building with 34 units, most likely condominiums, along with a gallery and other retail uses. The residential building would be about 200 feet west of Old River Road. The existing building at 280 Old River Road would be rehabilitated to accommodate the gallery, a retail store and perhaps a cafe. Thompson Lane would also be widened and expanded to add sidewalks.

Find out more about Bergen County homes available for sale. Anat Eisenberg can help you find your dream real estate property. Anat is no ordinary real estate agent. In short, she is professional, honest and dedicated. Call: 201-750-6232 or email here.