Barry Kroll, President of the Madison YMCA, addressed the following letter to the editor of the Madison Eagle/Chatham Courier newspapers:
I would like to express my compliments to the Madison Borough Zoning Board of Adjustment for its ability to listen and sift through diverse testimony presented by applicants, opponents and expert witnesses. As a resident of Madison, having never been part of Zoning Board of Adjustment hearings, the process established by the zoning board to hear the merits of a case is thorough, efficient and fair. On Monday night, April 8, the Four Towns Preservation Association (FTPA), represented by Philip Glucksman, had its opportunity to present opposition to the development proposed by Pike Development for a 75-unit apartment assisted living facility at 300 Madison Ave. Planner David Zimmerman presented a through, detailed analysis of the proposed project and its substantial negative impact on the surrounding properties, the existing historical building and the resultant loss of open space. The zoning board also heard from other witnesses who oppose or are very concerned about the development. A statement was read by Mary Louise Blanchard, a Planning Board member in Harding Township, which indicated that the proposed development is not in concert with the Master Plan for Harding Township (which is adjacent to the property) and that Harding Township and its citizens oppose the proposed development. Similar testimony was heard from Scott Rosenbush, who represented Morris Township, another adjacent town. Janet Foster, a Board of Adjustment-hired historian, testified on behalf of the borough describing the negative impact such a development would have on the existing historical building currently at 300 Madison Ave. David Budd of the Great Swamp Watershed Association and Karen Parrish, chairwoman of the Madison Environmental Commission expressed grave concern that the Pike application does not address potential environmental impact including the increase in runoff to the Great Swamp Watershed, loss of open space and mature trees and the severe potential for groundwater/aquifer contamination because of run-off from parking lots in an area that has been designated as prime recharge. On Monday, April 15, the final aspects of this development will include testimony by borough planner Susan Gruel, summation and arguments by attorneys, comments by concerned residents and a final vote by the Zoning Board of Adjustment. I would encourage all residents of Madison to attend this meeting at 7:30 p.m. to see how your government works to protect the best interest of residents, the community, the environment and potential new businesses entering Madison. Barry E. Kroll President Four Towns Preservation Association