What can be built on the Sheraton Crossroads site? Mahwah Planning Board Makes Decision

MAHWAH — A proposal to include data and fulfillment centers as possible uses at the Sheraton Crossroads site is “not inconsistent” with the county’s master plan, its Planning Board ruled Monday.

It is the first action carried out at the site since the hotel closed in December.

The developer, Crossroads Hotel Developers LLC, originally proposed building two warehouses totaling 1.7 million square feet on the 143-acre site.

But on Monday, city planner Doreen Green outlined “Amendment 1,” proposing new options:

• “Service center” with five floors and 37 meters high, less than 500 meters from the western border of the site;

• Three-story, 12-meter-high garage building;

• 55-foot, two-story limit on other buildings on site.

“The first plan has not been ruled out,” said board attorney Mark Madaio. “This change presents options.”

Planning Board Chairman Jeremiah Crean expressed reservations about the proposal, arguing that “this is a totally different project” and that the plans were vague. He questioned the impact on traffic control and the need for a parking lot, when the previous plan only called for parking at ground level. Member Megan Jankowski asked about the energy needs of buildings.

“This strikes me as more intensive use,” said board member Victoria Galow.

However, Madaio said his concerns would be addressed in future site plan presentations. The limited purpose of the hearing was to decide whether the proposal change was consistent with the master plan, nothing more.

“They are still limited to 35% maximum lot coverage,” Green said. “We still don’t know what they’re building, but planners are not involved in highway planning. That’s done by the state.”

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Council members reviewed the history of the master plan to see if any contradictions could be found. They noted that the building’s maximum height has not changed since the 250-foot-tall, 25-story hotel was built in 1987, taller than the proposed height of the distribution center. The uses were found to be similar in description to those already included in the master plan.

Councilman David May spoke during the public hearing portion of the meeting. He said the original plan for the site was not just one 24-story building, but “two more of the same.” An earlier proposal for an urban village, 800 affordable housing units and 350,000 square feet of commercial space was a more intense use.

“That’s traffic,” he said. “It’s not a plan, just zoning. Height doesn’t increase density.”

The board ultimately voted to declare the changes “not inconsistent” with the master plan. Crean cast the only negative vote. Mayor James Wysocki, a member of the council, was not present.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Sheraton Crossroads Website: Mahwah NJ Planning Board Decides Future