30-story buildings in WNY?

The town’s Planning Board will soon discuss various zoning changes that could alter the residential density of some areas of West New York.
Currently, the town’s master plan establishes guidelines for further development and redevelopment in the next few years. The Planning Board intends to revise the plan, which could mean changes to guidelines for height, density, and other development variables.

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It could take months of public meetings before revisions to a master plan are finalized.
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“There are going to be public hearings, community meetings, and mailings,” said Phil Swibinski, spokesman for the town of West New York. “It’s important that West New York does this because just like every town in the area, the manufacturing [and] industrial base in the area is declining. You don’t have as many of these commercial tax payers, so towns have to make sure that their zoning ordinances and plans for future growth are up to date.”

Residents are concerned

Not all residents are excited about the upcoming master plan revisions. Some feel that if residents don’t get involved in the meetings, developers could get away with requests that could alter the residential densities and landscape of the township.
That is the concern of Chris Lopinto, a West New York resident who cited the request of a developer to rezone a 10-acre area that was meant mostly for 2-3 family homes and buildings up to 12 stories high. The developer would like to build a 30-story building there.
Lopinto said a company called Park View Terrace, LLC made a request in July to the Planning Board to change an area from medium to high density. However, Park Terrace withdrew their request via a letter on Aug. 28.
“It was going to ruin the character of my neighborhood. It was going to ruin the quality of life. It just didn’t belong there,” said Lopinto. “It’s basically trying to put a square peg in a round hole.”
“No comment,” said Joseph Layton, planner for the township, when asked if he had anything to say regarding the proposal.
Anne Marie Rizzuto, attorney for the Planning Board, did not return The Reporter’s phone call.
RJ Contant, an attorney for Park Terrace, was unable to provide comment from his client.
“There are two issues here,” said Swibinski. “There’s an issue with that particular development application, which has been withdrawn. We don’t know if it’s coming back or not. But the larger issue is the zoning for the town and the process of updating the master plan.”
Upcoming Planning Board meetings in West New York have been scheduled for Oct. 8, Nov. 12, and Dec. 10.
For more information, residents can contact the West New York Planning Board at (201) 295-5262.
Melissa Rappaport may be reached at mrappaport@hudsonreporter.com