Final Countdown: Saddle River to Vote on Affordable Housing Plan for Former Rosie O’Donnell Estate in Saddle River

Dec. 9 Deadline: Planning Board Nears Decision on 54-Unit Townhouse Complex in Saddle River

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Saddle River NJ, The long-running saga over the future of the property once known as the Rosie O’Donnell estate in Saddle River is approaching its climax. After three contentious hearings, the Planning Board has concluded expert testimony and public comment on the proposal to construct a 54-unit residential townhouse complex, including eight much-needed affordable units, at 115 East Allendale Road.

Affordable housing attorney Jonathan Drill advised the board that a final vote could occur at the next hearing scheduled for Monday, December 9th at 6 p.m.

The East Allendale Road Plan Details

The proposed development, known as the East Allendale Road plan, is being put forward by Toll Brothers and seeks to address the borough’s affordable housing obligations. Key details confirmed by developer witnesses include:

• Total Units: 54 for-sale townhouses.
• Affordable Units: 8 units, featuring four two-bedroom units and four three-bedroom units with separate entrances.
• Design: A mix of 28 “tuck under” townhouses and 18 “carriage style” units, all with two-car garages.

Planner John McDonough stated that the plan “substantially complies” with borough regulations and argued that the requested exceptions were “reasonable and appropriate” in the “interest of providing affordable housing.”

Privacy and Access Concerns Dominate Debate

Testimony focused heavily on mitigating the impact on the surrounding exclusive, single-family neighborhoods. Landscape architect Christopher Karach detailed plans for heavy border planting to shield neighboring homes.

However, the most heated debate centered on the complex’s entrances:

• Emergency Access: The applicant offered to add a second emergency entrance with grass pavers and a breakaway gate to prevent bottlenecks at the main site.
• Main Entrance Dispute: Mayor Albert Kurpis and Vice Chair Carol Boyajian strongly advocated switching the location of the main and emergency entrances, arguing the emergency spot was better for local traffic, particularly for drivers making left turns from Oak Road.

Despite the developer’s attorney citing expert testimony that the current main entrance location was “already set” and optimized for sight distance by the county, the board assigned the borough engineer to inquire if the county would approve the switch.

The Wandell School Impact: Safety and Congestion

During the public comment section, concerns focused heavily on the potential impact on the nearby Wandell School (K-5), which is separated from the development by a narrow, wooded right-of-way.

Concerns raised by residents, including the Board of Education President (speaking as a resident), covered a wide range of issues:

• Student Safety: Risks associated with students crossing the wooded area and potential falls from a 10-foot retaining wall topped with a fence bordering the project.
• School Operations: Worries about project traffic, noise from construction and generators, and complex residents using the school lot for overflow parking.
• Environmental: Stormwater impact on the school property.

The developer’s attorney countered, noting that drainage issues had been addressed in prior testimony and that the borough engineer confirmed no injuries from similar retaining walls had been reported elsewhere in Saddle River.

The Planning Board’s vote on December 9th will determine the fate of this high-profile project and Saddle River’s efforts to meet its “affordable housing obligations”.

 

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