Residents slam bank proposal at clinic site
Zoning board expected to render decision March 7
BY JESSICA SMITH
Staff Writer

The fight to decide the fate of the Forney Clinic site is in its final round.

With concerned citizens in one corner and representatives of Valley National Bank in the other, the deliberations have gone on for several months before the Milltown Zoning Board of Adjustment. A decision is expected on the fate of the approximately 150-year-old North Main Street building next month.

Public comment consumed most of the zoning board's Feb. 7 meeting, which was adjourned shortly after 11 p.m. The board agreed to vote on the matter in March after borough professionals offer input and potential conditions of approval are discussed.

"Change in itself can be good and acceptable, so long as the overall effect on Milltown as an entity is acceptable," resident Dennis Strimple said. "What used to be a bucolic little town even as late as the 1970s is now just a high speed throughway from one major highway to another."

Residents voiced concerns about traffic, safety and environmental issues that could arise if the bank's application to replace the house with a branch is approved. Underlying most of their arguments is the desire to save a piece of the town's history.

"Every time money comes into town, money rips down something," resident Carol Jegou said. "If we take away what we have now, what are we going to leave for future generations? Our history is falling by the wayside."

Michael Lewycky, vice chairman of the Shade Tree Commission, became emotional as he spoke of the historic nature of the house and how it tied in with the forefathers of the town.

The Forney Clinic house was constructed in the 1850s by Joseph Evans, the father of Milltown's first mayor. It was used as a residence until about 1890, when it became the medical clinic run by the Forney family, some of whom served as doctors. A number of the town's residents were born inside the house, which remained a clinic through most of the 20th century.

The house has been deemed eligible for listing by the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), but it can take six months to a year for it to become registered as an historic property.

Since banks are subject to federal regulations, Valley National must get approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) before going forward with their plans, even with town approval. To obtain OCC approval, the bank must meet the guidelines set forth in the Historic Preservation Act of 1966, which requires them to take the historic value of the site into account.

"After they leave here tonight, they will go to another community and build up their empire even further," Lewycky said of Valley National.

Valley National Bank attorney Fredric Azrak said that although most people do not like to see change, it is inevitable. Regardless of whether the board accepts the application, he said, the house will be demolished by its owner because of its dilapidated state.

"Frankly, you know the town does not have the money to buy this piece of property," Azrak said. "It's not worth it."

Michael Shakarjian, vice chairman of the Environmental Commission, said he will work along with commission Chairman Alan Godber and others to help the current owners of the house find grants and loans to restore it.

Aside from the historic preservation issue, several residents expressed displeasure with another bank coming to the area. Shakarjian said the population in Milltown stays relatively stable, yet more banks keep being built. There are currently 10 banks in the town, he said.

Resident Bob Belloff said he takes offense at the notion that the Valley National representatives seem to imply that they know what is best for the town, and that they would like to take part in revitalizing it.

"We're not a town that's in desperate straits," Belloff said. "We're not a ghost town. I don't think that we have to feel like we're in a position that we have to feel like this is the only offer we're going to get."

Azrak objected repeatedly during statements by some of the residents for various reasons. One point of contention arose when Godber wanted to show films as part of a presentation. Azrak questioned what was on the videos, and said Godber could not present his own calculations regarding drainage and traffic issues.

"At this point, it's prejudicial," Azrak said. "Now it's getting into specific testimony which only an expert can do."

After representatives of Valley National reviewed Godber's presentation in a separate room, it was determined that he could not follow through with it.

"This is common sense," Godber said. "It doesn't require an expert. We get so involved in these legal matters that no one can get to the real facts."

Other residents agreed.

"You can prove anything you so desire as long as it is your people doing the study," Strimple said.

Charlie Jegou, husband of Carol, referenced the lawsuit the town is facing from the owner of the Ford Avenue site being planned for redevelopment.

"You talk about professionals as if they're the only ones who know anything," Jegou said. "We're going to court now, we're getting sued, because the professionals screwed up."

The bank's plans include a drive-through area for which it will need a variance, and it is requesting variances involving signage and parking. The applicants reduced the number of parking spots to 19 in order to create more space for the drive-through area and to save trees on the site. Although the decreased number of spaces lessens the impervious surface on the site and helps to amend certain issues brought forth by the board and residents, it does not meet with the town's ordinance.

Shakarjian said the board allowing Valley National to reduce its parking could set the stage for other banks to do the same. Godber agreed, saying other banks in town are on larger parcels with more parking. When the 19 spaces fill up, bank customers would take up public parking on the street, he said.

"The problem we have here is, we're putting a size-10 foot into a size-8 shoe," Borough Councilman John Collins said. "This is going to set a dangerous precedent."

Azrak said, however, that with the drive-through, less parking is necessary.

Though it may reduce the need for parking, Shakarjian took issue with the fact that the drive-through would create a 24-hour use of the site for its ATMs. Idling cars would contribute to air pollution, he said.

Another environmental concern was with runoff from the site being contaminated with chemicals from cars.

Traffic was another recurring point, with numerous residents citing the danger posed for schoolchildren walking near the site. Godber said traffic is overwhelming on Main Street, and the bank would just add to the problem. He also said the traffic studies done by Valley National did not take into consideration the fact that there is another bank directly across the street.

"If that's not an accident waiting to happen, I don't know what is," Godber said.

The town's master plan calls for more commercial uses, and most people would not like to see businesses cropping up in residential parts of town, Azrak said. He touted the benefits of the bank, saying it would eliminate the mixed use of the house, which was a dwelling and doctor's office. It would bring an improved drainage system where none exists now, as well as a detention basin and water recharge system, which is not required.

"We are going to put [in] a device that will give that clean water that everyone has talked about," Azrak said.

Azrak referred to the town's zoning ordinance, saying it calls for a maximum of 90 percent impervious surface, but Valley National will not have nearly that amount.

"We're half of what you allow us, and you could have another use come in and bring it to 89.99 percent," Azrak said.

Though Azrak gave numerous arguments in favor of the bank, the residents who spoke were not convinced.

"This is an example of a business that is privatizing the profits and socializing the costs," Shakarjian said.

A vote on the final site plan is expected to take place at the zoning board's March 7 meeting.