Special Needs Facility Wayne Move 'Makes No Sense,' Residents Say

WAYNE, NJ — Some residents are calling a local company's application to move from Hamburg Turnpike to a quiet neighborhood off of Route 23 unnecessary.

Cerebral Palsy of North Jersey wants to move from 415 Hamburg Turnpike to 9 Meadow Road off of Route 23 South, a move local residents say would destroy their quality of life and neighborhood on Meadow Road and Edgemont Terrace.

The company wants to construct a 17,300-square-foot adult daycare center. The property would have separate entrance and exit driveways. Access would be on Meadow Road, which leads to Edgemont Terrace. The 20 staff members would enter and exit on Route 23. Vans would transport some people to and from the facility daily. About 200 people would go to the facility daily.

Arlene Sullivan lives on Meadow Road. She is one of the most outspoken critics of the application.

"We only have one entrance in and out of here and it's on Meadow Road," Sullivan said. "We're never going to be able to get in and out. The traffic is going to be a nightmare."

According to a traffic expert who testified at a Board of Adjustment meeting Monday, Route 23 experiences the most traffic on weekdays from 7 to 8 a.m. and 4 to 5 p.m.; most people would come to the site at about 9 a.m. and leave by 3:30 p.m.

Residents are concerned that the facility, and resulting traffic, would adversely affect their property values.

A wall erected around part of the property would act as a buffer for the surrounding neighborhood. Sullivan said she would have an 8-foot high wall next to her property if the application goes through.

Purna Conare, Cerebral Palsy of North Jersey's CEO, testified at a Board of Adjustment meeting Monday that between one or two to four and five would be made from the facility a day. Residents are concerned about vans "stacking," or getting backed up on Edgemont Terrace and Meadow Road.

More than 100 trees would be cut down so the facility could be built. Although the company would need to plant 124 to replace them, only 62 would be required to go on the property. The other 62 could be planted on township property or the company could pay a fee to cover the cost of the town planting them.

"It's going to destroy the woods and wildlife," Sullivan said.

Conare testified at the meeting that the company looked at other sites in town that were suitable in terms of space, location and size.

"Certainly there are other places in town where they could build," Sullivan said. "It makes no sense to build here. I can't believe that this is the only place they came up with."

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