Expert: Assisted living facility inherently beneficial

Waldwick A planning consultant for the proposed assisted living facility on Wyckoff Avenue testified Dec. 17 that the facility is "an inherently beneficial use" of the 3.5-acre site and that six of eight conditions that qualify it for approval as a "conditional use" have been met.

Michael Kauker of Wyckoffs Kauker& Kauker said the proposed 85-unit, 100-bed assisted living facility is a permitted conditional use in the R-1 single-family residential zone. He said under the states Municipal Land Use Law , assisted living facilities "are universally considered a value to the community."

Formation-Shelbourne is proposing to build the facility north of Wyckoff Avenue and west of Walgreen's. The facility, to be known as Solana of Waldwick, would require the demolition of houses at 237, 239, 241, and 247 Wyckoff Ave. As proposed in May, the facility would require four variances and a minor subdivision. Approximately 40 residents attended the hearing.

Kauker said the facilitys parking on its east and west sides which require a variance because only rear parking is permitted and its need for an "emergency access" driveway were exceptions to "conditional use" guidelines.

Kauker said the site is "unique" as it provides more than triple the minimum square footage required for such a facility, is designed for easy access and its sloping topography helps the facility blend into the landscape.

"No one should bend over backward to screen this from anyones view," he said.

Kaukers testimony will continue at the next hearing Jan. 28.

Landscaping

Landscape architect James Langenstein returned to answer additional questions about landscaping. He said that Waldwick "has no criteria in its ordinances" to mandate the size and quantity of trees to replace ones cut down. He said of 305 trees on site, 202 would be cut down due to their "questionable" quality, including overly pruned, misshapen and dead branches.

Langenstein said some trees were growing on steep slopes and others were "poor quality and poorly maintained" and required removal. He said that Formation-Shelbourne would replace removed trees on a 1:1 basis. He told zoning board chair Patrick Hunter that the developer "will work with you" on putting in new trees as large as possible given site constraints to help screen adjacent homeowners views of the facility.

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Expert: Assisted living facility inherently beneficial