Wayne Residents Say Adult Day Care Would 'Change The Fabric' Of Their Neighborhood

WAYNE, NJ — One homeowner is upset that an application for a rehabilitation center on Route 23 South will ruin her neighborhood if the Zoning Board of Adjustment approves it.

Cerebral Palsy of North Jersey and Nouvelle LLC have applied to the board to construct an adult day care and rehabilitation center for people with disabilities.

The applicants are requesting several waivers, including one for use, impervious coverage and design. The property is located in a residential zone and the application is for a commercial property, which is why a use variance is needed. The facility would need to be at a minimum of 10 feet from a neighboring property, but the application calls for it to be just 1 foot away.

"This is a residential area. It's been a residential area forever," said Arlene Sullivan, a resident who has lived on Meadow Way for years as did her parents for 70 years. "For them to possibly rezone this area, you're going to change the whole fabric of the neighborhood. It opens a Pandora's Box."

Sullivan said she and her neighbors received a notice from the board about the application. Officials are required to notify residents of pending applications that could potentially alter their homes' values.

"It is truly going to shred the neighborhood if it goes up," Sullivan said. "Not only that, but drainage is going to be problem. There are other places something like this could go."

The application is on the board's calendar for its Oct. 16 meeting at 7:30 p.m. at the Municipal Complex. It will also be broadcast live on cable channel 77 and online.

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