IDYLEASE

Updated 3/15/02

Idylease downzone vote postponed

At the West Milford town council session in early March, 2002, a planning board report recommended that the Idylease property be downzoned to R4. This zoning would be consistent with the zoning on adjacent tracts. However, the attorney for the Idylease owner, Alice Zampella, explained he is in negotiations with the State to buy a large portion of the most sensitive lands as Green Acres. The vote to downzone was postponed until the Green Acre deal could be finalized. The state is not interested in the portion of the property containing the Idylease Inn itself. West Milford residents are hopeful that an organization will come forward to rehabilitate and use this property in an appropriate manner. Possible uses include a bed and breakfast, a banquet hall/wedding facility, or a 'Highlands Center” run by a non profit agency. In the latter case, the non-profit could have offices there, where meetings and events could be held, and could rent office space commercially to environmentally sensitive private parties.

A 750-unit senior citizens center at the historically designated Idylease home in Newfoundland

In response to the Idylease project, CLEAN and residents created West Milford 2000 Inc. to examine the developer's proposal. Bob Szuszkowski, V.P., West Milford 2000 stated, "the Idylease developer has not fulfilled the seniors zoning criteria which says that this development must build a nursing home. The developer has not even applied for the nursing home certificate, he's just planning to build high density patio homes, town-houses and garden apartments in a watershed". In September, West Milford 2000 and residents asked the Town Council to repeal the seniors zoning for this property. The Council has sent the request on to the Planning Board for review. West Milford 2000 feels this proposal for inappropriate development will ruin the rural character of Newfoundland, increase Newfoundlandís population 13-fold and jeopardize a watershed.

In October 2000, the West Milford Town Council voted against the proposed development of the Idylease property. This victory was in large part due to the efforts of West Milford 2000 and CLEAN.

email:clean@skyclean.org