Parsippany Halts Open Space Application, Waterview Land Still Available for Development

The Open Space Trust Fund application was halted by the Parsippany-Troy Hills Council at Tuesday night’s meeting.

The council had applied for a $3.5 million grant, though the county appraiser valued the land at $3 million on Thursday. In order for the township to be considered for the grant, they would have had to amend section 4B and adjust the request from $3.5 million to $3 million.

Councilmember Michael dePierro made a motion to amend the grant, but no other council members had second the motion and with that, the council decided they would no longer proceed with the application.

But before the decision, other council members reminded the audience that receiving the grant did not obligate the town to use the money to purchase the property, located at Route 46 between Waterview Boulevard and Intervale Drive.

“By amending the grant, in no way shape or form means that there’s any agreement (for the land). We have not accepted anything,” said Council President Paul Carifi, Jr.

The public had a chance to speak, with all of the speakers thanking the committee for not going forward with the grant application.

“Thank you for not going for that … I don’t think we should waste money ... It’s not conceivable for this town,” said one Parsippany resident.

Another resident, Curtis Hardenburg, said “I just want to thank you for what you just did. I think it’s better to not take the money.”

Nick Homyak of Parsippany said “that’s the first thing actually done for the community that lives here,” also adding the township’s master plan’s objective is to save natural resources - the land being one of them.

This comes at a time when the community is at odds with an ordinance that would rezone the tract of land in the Waterview Complex to build a 40,000 sq. ft. grocery store, 149,900 sq. ft other retail and 60 townhouses at about 2,500 sq. ft. per townhouse. The developers have since sued over their failed plans.

But it does not seem as though the entire matter has been solved with the halt of the Open Space Trust Fund application.

“It does not affect whatever agreement may or may not be reached with RD Realty. It simply amends the application to reflect the appraised value as determined by the county’s appraiser,” said township attorney John Inglesino, Esq.

And when Hardenburg asked Inglesino, “Is it (the rezoning project lawsuit) going to the court or is it still being negotiated? Where are we at?” Inglesino said, “I think that we’re in court and we’ll proceed with the case at this point. That’s where we’re at.”

Still, the audience was pleased with the council members’ actions.

“You actually represented the community here tonight by not going for that money,” Homyak said.