Tenafly council adopts amended Dean Drive redevelopment plan after lengthy public hearing

The Tenafly Mayor and Council adopted Ordinance No. 26-14 on April 21, 2026, approving the amended redevelopment plan for 123–145 Dean Drive, the site of the former Clinton Inn. Councilmember Adam Michaels moved the ordinance and Councilmember John Roglieri seconded; the roll call vote was Jamie Corsair: aye; Adam Michaels: aye; Lauren Dayton: aye; Dr. Julie O'Connor: nay; Jennifer Jackson: aye; John Roglieri: aye.

The public hearing drew more than two dozen speakers, with residents raising concerns about building scale, traffic, school impacts and the removal of mature trees. Irav Argale told the council that "192 trees will be cut at Knickerbocker Country Club" and asked the governing body to investigate. Borough Attorney Wendy Rubinstein told residents how the project would be taxed, saying developers "would be paying taxes like any other would." Mayor Mark Zinna and planning staff described a multiyear redevelopment process and said the planning board found the project consistent with the master plan.

Councilmembers and staff emphasized that additional approvals and refinements remain: county sign-off is required for work affecting county roads, the traffic engineer said remaining items in his report were outstanding, and the borough can still negotiate setbacks and public amenities during later stages. The ordinance implements amended minimums and an amended redevelopment plan; the council's vote advances the project to subsequent implementation steps rather than final construction approvals.

The ordinance's adoption was the night's most contested formal action and sets the legal framework for future site plan reviews, county coordination, and municipal negotiations on design and mitigation measures.