Where is this exactly?

This lot is on Route 94 close to the Chateau Hathorn and on the other side of the road. Travelling towards ShopRite from the Village and looking at the left side of the road, you will see a residential development from Bradner to Wilder Drive, then an old white house. The lot to be developed is directly after the old white house and is only 2 acres in size. Back to top

What do they want to build?

The developers are proposing a 12,000 square foot building with two stories; the first would be retail shops and the second would be office space. The design they have drawn shows a building remarkably similar to the mall at Merchant Square, only twice as high... and on a much smaller lot! Back to top

Since when is this a commercial lot?

Good question! This was always a residential lot but suddenly became commercial around the time the new zoning ordinance was enacted, with no warning to neighbors. At the end of March a sign appeared on this lot saying "2.1 acres prime commercial lot... high traffic area... zoning allows the widest possible range of uses". When local residents quetioned the Town Supervisor about the zoning change the sign suddenly disappeared and this strip mall was proposed a month later. Back to top

What effect would this mall have?

This mall would be a disaster for local residents and a real annoyance for everyone in the Town. The original Master Plan paid special attention to this stretch of Route 94, calling it a "scenic corridor" and asking for especially strict zoning to keep it looking rural. It is a road that many non-residents use to visit Warwick and many residents use to commute and shop. It is beautifully rural and well hidden from the large shopping areas of ShopRite and Leo Kaytes Ford by bends in the road. Putting such a large mall here -- on such a small lot -- would not only ruin the character of the neighborhood but would make traffic treacherous and cause serious health and safety concerns to nearby residents. Back to top

What would be the effect on traffic?

Traffic on this road is already a serious problem. This is the main route between the Village and ShopRite and the recreation areas in New Jersey. It is also a major commuter route. The lot in question is on a blind curve: you cannot see one end of it from the other. This is what keeps ShopRite out of our daily view, but it also makes getting on and off the road a constant hazard. The speed limit is 55 but drivers, who are often not familiar with our roads, frequently speed and try to pass unsafely. All of the local residents experience problems getting on to or off the road and many have stories of being cut off or nearly hit head on. There have been several fatalities in the area in recent years. Back to top

Why do they need a variance?

This lot is only 2.15 acres in size. This is way too small for the project the developers want to build. But they don't want to buy a piece of property of the right size, so they decided to go to the Zoning Board of Appeals to ask them to waive all the legal restrictions that prevent them from building on this tiny lot. Back to top

How can they get away with it?

Because they are very well-connected politically. They make contributions to candidates for office in Warwick and do a lot to help them get elected. Most of the money supporting Warwick elections comes from real estate and development interests. When they want a few favors in return, Town officials and board members find it hard to "just say no". These are their friends and sometimes their colleagues. They also have the money to pay for expensive lawyers, who wear fancy suits and try to intimidate Town officials. Back to top

Is Town government corrupt?

The Warwick Town government and most of its Boards have usually sided with large development and real estate interests. But they are not corrupt. They generally hear only one side of a story since the "little people" who oppose development have neither the friends nor the resources to get their message across. But when Town officials do hear a real public outcry, they do listen and respond. Back to top

What is the status of the zoning appeal?

The developers have asked the Zoning Board of Appeals to allow them to build a larger development than is allowed by law. This prompted a huge outcry by local residents, who responded by appearing in large numbers at Board meetings and delivering letters and petitions in opposition. Residents spoke about problems with traffic, noise, water, enviromental concerns, and loss of value of their houses. Serious questions were raised about how this lot was rezoned and how inappropiate the commercial zoning is. Because of this, the Zoning Board of Appeals was kind enough to hold off any ruling to allow the residents to file a petition with the Warwick Town Board to change the zoning back to residential, which would make the strip mall impossible. Back to top

What do we have to do now?

We have to deliver a petition to the Town Board asking them to restore the original zoning of this lot: back to residential. Back to top

How can I help?

The most important thing you can do right now is add your name to that petition to the Town Board. The Board will not act unless they see a lot of support from residents! See the How you can help page to learn how to add your name to the petition. Back to top