Planning Board Members Discuss Effects of HUMC Application on Master Plan

The focus of the Westwood Planning Board meeting Thursday was on the re-examination of the Master Plan, specifically the hospital zone and its adjoining zones.

Borough Planner Ed Snieckus presented an overview of the specific zones that were the topic of the evening: the H zone (hospital) and the HSO zone (Health Service Office). He presented an explanation of what each zone is intended to include. The HSO zone would be medical offices, nursing homes, child care and the like.

The H zone is the site of the former Pascack Valley Hospital. The acute care facility which used to include 291 beds, an emergency room and various other specialized care closed due to bankruptcy in 2007. Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC) runs an there currently, but the rest of the services once provided are no more.

On June 1, however, . The timing of this, according to Snieckus, fit in nicely with the re-examination and gave some new direction with regard to the hospital and its surrounding zones.

John Lamb, representing the Westwood Taxpayers Alliance, made remarks about the group's position on the proposed hospital. He made it clear that the Alliance was very much in favor of the reopening of the hospital.

The proposed 128-bed facility has a great many hurdles to overcome before it will be a reality. Lamb introduced Robert Glenning, executive vice president and chief financial officer from HUMC. He went on to present a timetable that included the state Department of Health declaring the application complete, which he expected by early August. Next would come a review by the state Planning Board, which would hopefully approve the plan by year’s end. They hope to be able to open the doors to a new acute care facility by November of 2012.

Richard Freeman, , introduced himself to the board and the more than 25 members of the community present at the meeting. He said he had a great deal of enthusiasm for working with the community, and to help make a new hospital the vital anchor suggested in the review of the Master Plan. 

The meeting continued with a review of the LM and RW zones, which are adjacent to the H and HSO zones, and would also be affected by the reopening of the hospital. Board member William Martin suggested that Snieckus consider reviewing Zoning Board decisions on variances for these zones over the past decade or so, to get some idea of what might best serve the borough as they re-examine the Master Plan for not only the needs of today, but for the needs of the future.

The next meeting of the Planning Board is scheduled for June 23 when members are expected to continue discussions about the hospital and surrounding zones.