Residents press Wanaque council on 183‑unit affordable‑housing obligation, warehouse/data‑center concerns and storm costs

At the public‑comment segment of the March 9 Wanaque Mayor and Council meeting, multiple residents raised land‑use and housing concerns and thanked borough departments for recent storm response. Mr. Manning and several other speakers praised the Department of Public Works, the First Aid Squad and the Police Department for clearing roads and maintaining services during the recent snowstorm.

Resident Sandy Lawson asked how many affordable housing units the borough must provide for the 4th round. Mayor Daniel Mahler said the borough's obligation is 183 affordable housing units and noted constraints on where new units may be sited, specifically that development cannot be placed in the Highland area or near the reservoir. Lawson also asked about the Brick Paver Program and its advertising; the mayor said the program was publicized in the borough newsletter and that future newsletters will be sent electronically to reduce costs.

Questions were raised about a warehouse on Union Avenue and whether trees removed during that project would be replaced; Mayor Mahler said the developer was approved, will pay funds to replace trees and that tree planting will occur borough‑wide rather than between sidewalks and curbs to avoid sidewalk damage. Several residents, including Janet Rekesius, urged the borough to consider local ordinances to prevent detention centers near schools; Rekesius asked for a two‑mile restriction. The request was made during public comment and no ordinance motion was introduced at the meeting.

Residents also voiced concerns about a potential data center at the warehouse site. Jay Cohen noted electrical demands for data centers and said the borough should research the type of business being proposed. Borough Administrator Robert Hermansen said storm responses did affect the budget and that the borough is preparing the budget while using temporary appropriations where necessary; he added that the DPW used some cross‑departmental labor and stipends during the storm to maintain operations.

First Aid Squad Chief Patty Norton asked whether the squad could advertise in the borough newsletter to recruit additional members and whether the squad would have input into its budget; Administrator Hermansen confirmed the squad would participate in budget discussions. Resident Alison Colahan asked whether the borough body enters nondisclosure agreements; Borough Attorney Anthony Fiorello replied that the council does not enter NDAs in that context.

Mayor Mahler said he would not participate in the executive session that evening because of a conflict of interest and left the meeting prior to closed‑session discussion on litigation. The council returned from executive session and then approved a T‑Mobile settlement by roll call.