Two-lot subdivision in Mahwah approved

By Frank J. McMahon

Mahwah The Planning Board has approved a subdivision of a heavily wooded 8.8-acre parcel on Monroe Drive.

Owners Anthony and Vincent Fasciano and Joseph and Terese Rizzi sought the subdivision to create two lots: one with 115,055 square feet, or 2.9 acres, and the other with 261,736 square feet, or 6.5 acres.

The owners plan to evenually build two homes on the properties.The board, however, attached certain conditions to protect neighboring properties. The owners must connect each lot to the township sewer system, install swales to route run-off, and delineating an easement to protect trees planted on the property.

The vacant property lies in the single family R-40 zone and has 150 feet of frontage on Monroe. It partially borders Ramsey and features a stream and wetlands.

Under the plan, Monroe Drive will be extended to create a cul-de-sac to provide driveway access to both lots.

Several neighbors of the property have voiced their concerns about the plan, citing the location of the proposed driveways and the potential drainage onto their properties. The plan includes a storm water runoff system that would collect the rainwater in the swales, directing it to basins at the rear of the property where it will drain into the wetlands.

The homeowners would be responsible for maintaining the storm water runoff systems on their properties.

Joseph Vinci, an engineer for the applicant, advised that the plan had been changed at the request of the board to show an 8-foot right-of-way behind the curb instead of 10 feet and a larger drainage basin. He said 74 trees would be removed and 47 trees would be added, not counting 19 white pines that will be planted as a buffer.

David Roberts, the townships professional planner, advised the board that if a buffer was provided to mitigate the impact on a neighboring property, the board should require a 10-foot planting easement to ensure trees in the buffer will not be removed by new property owners.

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Two-lot subdivision in Mahwah approved