photo courtesy of the Borough of Franklin Lakes
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Franklin Lakes NJ, volunteering is the cornerstone of community development, and few embody this spirit better than Julius Lauber Jr. At 92 years old, Lauber stepped down from the Franklin Lakes Planning Board on January 2, concluding an extraordinary 62 years of consecutive service.
Lauber, a former chairman and vice chairman of the board, is believed to hold the distinction of being the longest-serving planning board member in New Jersey. His contributions were honored during the borough’s reorganization meeting, where Mayor Charles Kahwaty presented him with a volunteer award.
A Legacy of Dedication and Leadership
Lauber’s journey on the Planning Board began in 1963, when he was appointed by former Mayor Richard Steves. Over the decades, he served under seven mayors and witnessed Franklin Lakes evolve from a small rural municipality with 3,316 residents to a thriving suburb with over 11,000 residents.
He served as chairman for 18 years and vice chairman for 27 years, leaving an indelible mark on the town’s development.
“Jules Lauber is an extraordinary person and personality,” said Mayor Kahwaty. “He is a living repository of both the ordinances and history governing decisions by the board. A truly unique individual.”
From Builder to Board Member
Born in Paterson and a graduate of Central High School, Lauber moved to Franklin Lakes in 1949 while pursuing a civil engineering degree at Lehigh University. Following in his father’s footsteps, Lauber worked in the family construction business before establishing his own company, Lauber Construction Co., with his wife, Jan, which operated until 1999.
His father, a former councilman, inspired his interest in the Planning Board.
“My dad had been talking about it, and I just liked what they were doing,” Lauber recalled. “They were building things, and that was what I was good at.”
Guiding Franklin Lakes Through Transformational Projects
During his tenure, Lauber played a pivotal role in shaping Franklin Lakes, overseeing some of the borough’s most significant development projects:
- The IBM Complex: Opened in 1971 and vacated in 1993, it later became home to Medco and Express Scripts before portions were transformed into Parsons Pond Park in 2016.
- Becton Dickinson Headquarters: Built between 1986 and 1992, the 130-acre campus includes state-of-the-art corporate facilities.
- High Mountain Golf Club Conversion: Approved in 2015 and completed in 2017, the 132-acre golf course was converted into a 275-home residential project.
A Fixture in the Community
Beyond the Planning Board, Lauber also contributed to the community as president of the Franklin Lakes Republican Club and the Passaic County Engineering Society.
“Jules Lauber is a fixture,” said Planning Board Chairman Michael Ochs, highlighting his unwavering commitment to the town.
A Well-Earned Retirement
As Lauber steps away from his decades-long role, Franklin Lakes celebrates the legacy of a man who helped shape its landscape and future. His dedication serves as an inspiration to all who volunteer their time for the betterment of their communities.
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Twp of Washington should honor their past! Not ignore it. The people who helped shape, volunteering their time and efforts to make the community what it is today should be recognized!
Township of Washington, between Township of Washington, that town has a been in a time lapse for a long time high taxes, schools are not that good, what’s great about that town not much,
Isn’t it amazing how many times you see in the village that they’re looking for volunteers, and pretty much their banking for people, I just keep on hearing from people sometimes it’s just not worth it.
its not. you get abused online and at meetings. so many fools live in glass houses.