Full Notification

Update on the DPW Land: When Bureaucracy Meets Common Sense:
I want to bring Leonians up to date on an issue that came to light shortly before I became Mayor. On its face, it sounds almost unbelievable. Unfortunately, it is very real, and resolving it has become one of the more frustrating challenges we face.

To understand the issue, a little history is helpful.

In the 1950s, the Borough of Leonia donated approximately 150 acres of Borough-owned land north of Fort Lee Road—and portions of the Overpeck area south of Fort Lee Road—to Bergen County for the express purpose of creating what is now Overpeck County Park. Today, that park is one of Bergen County's greatest recreational assets, and we are grateful to the County for creating and maintaining it for everyone to enjoy.

The park, however, was not developed as quickly as Leonia had expected. By the late 1960s, after years of little progress, the Borough filed suit to reclaim the donated property. That litigation ultimately resulted in a settlement under which Bergen County agreed to move forward with creating the park, while approximately seven acres at the northern end of Overpeck Drive were returned to the Borough. That is the property where our Department of Public Works facility stands today and where the Borough leases a portion of the land to a commercial tree service.  From a previous update HERE you’ll recall we are looking to lease the land north of our DPW to Teaneck for their DPW. 

Around 1974, the Borough constructed our DPW facility on that returned property. For more than fifty years, that facility has faithfully served our community.

Then came the surprise.

Shortly before I became Mayor, I was informed—first by Bergen County and later by the State—that an easement runs beneath portions of our DPW property, including the DPW buildings themselves. Apparently, this easement was carved out of the land returned to Leonia as part of the court settlement more than fifty years ago. I have even spoken with a former Council member who served during that period and was directly involved in those decisions. He told me there was never any discussion or awareness that such an easement existed when the Borough decided where to construct the DPW facility.
In other words, for more than half a century, Leonia has unknowingly operated its DPW on top of an easement that no one realized was there.

Unfortunately, the story doesn't end there.

That easement is classified as Green Acres protected land under the jurisdiction of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Under current regulations, the Borough's DPW buildings are technically considered an encroachment. Resolving such an encroachment generally requires either removing the encroaching structure—which, in this case, would mean demolishing a perfectly functional public works facility—or providing replacement land at a ratio of five acres for every acre affected by the easement.

Think about that for a moment.

Leonia voluntarily donated roughly 150 acres to create what is now Overpeck County Park. The County fulfilled that vision, and everyone benefits from it today. A court later returned seven acres to Leonia, upon which the Borough built and has operated its DPW facility for more than five decades. Yet today, because of a technical easement that appears to have gone unnoticed at the time, the Borough is being told it may have to provide additional land to resolve the issue.

To me, that outcome simply does not reflect common sense.

The purpose of Green Acres is to preserve and protect parkland, and that is an important public policy. But applying the law in this unique circumstance—where the Borough originally owned the land, donated it for public use, had a portion returned through a court settlement, and unknowingly built on a decades-old easement—produces a result that seems far removed from the intent of the law.

I have discussed this matter personally with the DEP Commissioner and the DEP Chief of Staff, and those conversations continue. We are actively working to find a practical solution that protects the public interest without penalizing Leonia for what appears to have been a decades-old oversight.

As always, I will keep you informed as we work toward a fair and common-sense resolution.

This is exactly the kind of issue residents rarely see, but it is often where as Mayor I spend a substantial amount of time working to ensure that the government applies common sense as well as the law. Much of that work happens quietly, behind the scenes, but it matters just the same.

Journey to Victory:  A Special Leonia project to commemorate the 250th anniversary of George Washington’s Retreat down Fort Lee Road:
About six months ago, I had an idea about how Leonia might commemorate the 250th anniversary of George Washington's retreat through our community. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that allowing this important anniversary to pass unrecognized would be a missed opportunity—not just for Leonia, but for everyone who values our nation's history.

Many people don't realize that Leonia, like much of northeastern New Jersey, was a hotbed of Revolutionary War activity. Some of the most influential figures of the American Revolution spent time here.

The Marquis de Lafayette established an encampment on the south side of Fort Lee Road, across from today's library between Gladwin Avenue and Oaktree Place. General Nathanael Greene used Day's Tavern, at the corner of Grand and Fort Lee Road, as his headquarters. General George Washington frequently traveled through Leonia between his headquarters and the military encampment at Fort Lee. Thomas Paine, author of Common Sense, wrote portions of The American Crisis after observing Van Horne's grist mill in the northwest corner of Leonia.

If you haven't seen it already, I encourage you to take a look at our recent Instagram post highlighting Leonia's remarkable Revolutionary War history HERE.

With all of this history surrounding us, I wanted to find a meaningful way to tell one of the defining stories of the American Revolution—the retreat that ultimately preserved Washington's army and made eventual victory possible.

I shared that vision with a childhood friend from Leonia who is uniquely qualified to help bring it to life.

The concept is called Journey to Victory. Using moving silhouettes, light and shadow projected onto the H Mart wall facing Fort Lee Road—just a stone's throw from where Washington's retreat actually occurred—we hope to create an immersive visual experience that tells this remarkable story where it happened 250 years ago.

I couldn't ask for a better partner on this project than Stephen Silvestri, an accomplished artist with extensive experience at Disney and Universal Studios, who has generously volunteered his time and talents to help make this vision a reality.

At our recent Mayor and Council meeting, Stephen unveiled the concept, which received the enthusiastic support of the entire governing body. If you haven't seen the presentation, I encourage you to watch it HERE.

One of my goals from the beginning has been to complete this project without using taxpayer dollars. We estimate the total cost will be between $20,000 and $25,000, and we are working to raise those funds entirely through private donations. In the coming weeks, I'll share more information about the fundraising effort for anyone who would like to help bring this project to life.

Our goal is to unveil Journey to Victory sometime in October, well in advance of the November 22 anniversary of Washington's retreat.

I'm also pleased to report that I've already secured permission from both H Mart and the owner of the building across the street to use their properties for this project.

I'm genuinely excited about what this can become—not simply as a public art installation, but as a way to remind residents and visitors alike that history didn't just happen somewhere else. It happened here, in Leonia. If we can tell that story in a way that educates, inspires and instills a little hometown pride, I think we'll have created something truly special.

Stay tuned… 
 
Station Parkway Development Update:
As you may recall, the Borough previously reached a negotiated settlement with the developer who had initially proposed constructing more than 150 residential units on the west side of Grand Avenue between Station Parkway and Maple Street. Under that settlement, the proposed development was dramatically reduced to a total of 14–19 units.  

What has happened since is something I had never encountered before. Although a settlement agreement had been reached, the developer fired his legal team and requested that negotiations be reopened. While courts generally do not look favorably on revisiting a negotiated settlement in this manner, it is nonetheless permitted under the law.

As a result, the Borough is once again engaged in discussions regarding what development would be acceptable on this property. At the same time, the developer now faces the additional challenge of demonstrating to the Court that he is continuing to negotiate in good faith.

I want to assure residents that my position has not changed. I remain committed to protecting the character of our community while fulfilling our legal obligations. Because these are active legal negotiations, I cannot discuss specific proposals or bargaining positions publicly. However, I will continue to keep you informed whenever I am able to do so.

HERE are links to my previous updates on this topic.  And for those who want to go back to 2023 when I first wrote about this before I became Mayor, you can read my comments HERE. 

Post Partum Care Facility proposed for Southwest corner of town:
The Planning Board will soon begin hearing an application for a proposed postpartum care facility in the southwest corner of Leonia.

Many residents may not realize that Leonia extends beyond the Civil War Drill Hall on the west side of Grand Avenue all the way to Edsall Boulevard. It is an unusual boundary. While the east side of Grand Avenue from Oakdene Avenue to Edsall Boulevard is in Palisades Park, the west side is within the Borough of Leonia.

A postpartum care facility provides a comfortable, professionally staffed environment where new mothers can recover after childbirth before returning home. As hospital stays following uncomplicated births have become much shorter over the years, these specialized recovery centers have become increasingly common and fill an important need for many families.

From my perspective, I believe this is exactly the kind of thoughtful, low-impact commercial use that has the potential to be an excellent fit for Leonia. Supporting new mothers during one of the most important times in their lives is a worthy purpose, and I believe a professionally operated postpartum care facility would be a welcome addition to our community if it satisfies our Borough's planning and zoning expectations.

Beyond providing an important service, it also represents the kind of commercial ratable that can strengthen the Borough's financial position. Facilities like this generate property tax revenue without adding students to our public school system, and they may also generate additional municipal revenue through the State-authorized hotel and motel occupancy tax.

Broadening our commercial tax base remains one of the Borough's long-term priorities. It is something I promised before I became Mayor.  Today, approximately 86% of Leonia's property tax levy is borne by residential taxpayers down a bit from the 93% when I first took office.  Thoughtfully attracting appropriate commercial ratables helps continue to ease that burden over time while providing services that benefit the broader community.

The applicant must still demonstrate that the proposal satisfies all applicable zoning requirements and planning standards. The Planning Board will carefully evaluate the application's design, scale, setbacks, parking, traffic impacts, and compatibility with the surrounding neighborhood before making any decision.

As this application moves through the public review process, I will continue to keep you informed. While there are many details still to be considered, I am cautiously optimistic that this proposal could become both a valuable community service and an appropriate addition to the southwest corner of our town.

Targeted Grant Strategy Continues to Pay Dividends:
I'm pleased to report that the New Jersey Department of Human Services has awarded Leonia a $250,000 grant to support and expand our Age-Friendly initiatives. 

These funds will help provide many of the services our seniors have come to enjoy and rely upon, including bus trips to museums, concerts, plays, gardens, farmers markets and festivals. The grant also helps fund educational programming, the salaries of our full- and part-time bus drivers, health benefits for our full-time driver, maintenance of our senior buses, and a soon to be announced Operation Blue Angel wellness program in partnership with the Leonia Police Department.

One lesson I've learned during my time as Mayor is that successful grant management isn't about applying for every grant that's available. It's about applying for the right grants.

We begin by asking two simple questions. First, does the grant support something the Borough genuinely needs? Second, are the conditions attached to the funding in the long-term best interests of our residents?

Not every grant is truly "free" money. Some are actually loans. Others require the Borough to contribute significant matching funds or commit to ongoing expenses long after the grant period ends. While those grants may be appropriate in certain circumstances, we have chosen to be disciplined and strategic, pursuing opportunities that clearly align with our priorities and provide lasting value to Leonia taxpayers.

That approach is producing results.

By carefully targeting our grant applications, we've not only avoided unnecessary spending but also substantially increased the amount of grant funding coming into Leonia. Every dollar we receive through grants is one less dollar that must be raised through local property taxes. It is one of the most effective ways we can improve services while protecting taxpayers.

I'm also pleased to report that Age-Friendly Leonia recently received a highly competitive $75,000 grant from the Henry and Marilyn Taub Foundation, a respected private philanthropic organization that supports innovative programs benefiting older adults. You can learn more about that award by watching the discussion from a recent Mayor and Council meeting HERE.

This disciplined approach to grant funding has become an important part of our financial strategy, and we intend to build on that success in the years ahead.

I want to recognize Borough Administrator Marisa Mesropian for her outstanding leadership in helping develop and implement this targeted grant strategy. Her thoughtful approach has positioned Leonia to compete successfully for grants that truly benefit our residents while strengthening our long-term financial position.  And, of course, thanks to the Recreation Department’s Senior Center and Age Friendly for success with these two sizable grant awards.

Veterans Banners:
The Borough is now accepting another round of orders for our Veterans Banner Program.

I am especially grateful to Justin Choi, the brother of Christian Choi (who managed our very successful first round as his Eagle Scout project). Justin has generously volunteered to lead this next phase as a volunteer service project. Coordinating the banner program is a tremendous undertaking, and I sincerely appreciate his willingness to devote the time and effort to honor our local veterans.

HERE is an example of one of our Veterans Banners featuring Leonian John McCloy USN who was one of only 19 Americans to receive the Medal of Honor (our nation’s highest commendation for valor) twice. 

This round of new orders will make approximately 50 additional banners available. They will be displayed along Broad Avenue, Station Parkway, and other locations throughout the Borough, allowing us to recognize even more of the men and women who have proudly served our nation.

Because we expect demand to exceed the number of available banners, applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. A reservation is not secured until the application is complete, all required information about the veteran has been submitted, and payment has been received. Once approximately 50 completed applications have been accepted and payment received, any additional applicants will be placed on a waiting list should another round become available in the future.

If you would like to honor a veteran with a banner, HERE you will find the application, eligibility requirements, and complete program information. 

Theodore Van Zilen, LPD:
In the first floor lobby of our new police department in the Municipal Center Building is a new brass plaque in honor of Leonia Police Officer Theodore Van Zilen.  Patrolman Van Zilen was killed in the line of duty in a motorcycle accident on Fort Lee Road near Leonia Avenue on August 30, 1918.  HERE you can see a photo of the plaque in the Police Department lobby.  Patrolman Van Zilen’s sacrifice 108 years ago should never be forgotten.

2026-2027 Community Calendars:
You can expect this year’s new community calendar to be delivered by USPS to each Leonia residence by late-August.  

Not only are these calendars indispensable when it comes to keeping track of all our important Leonia dates like when to put out your bulk trash once-a-month but they are amazingly well designed too.  We have Leonian Aviva Levy to thank for that.  Her calendars particularly these last few years are incredibly well done and another feature that continues to set our town apart from so many other communities.  For her efforts Aviva was recently recognized with the Rotary Club’s Paul Harris Award.  Well done Aviva!

This year’s theme is around our borough’s Age Friendly initiatives.  As you know, we are committed to doing everything we can to help our seniors age in place with dignity and independence–to remain in the town they love, maintain their friendships and social connections and continue to play a vibrant role in borough life. 

Old Borough Hall to be Named in Honor of Former Mayor Dudley Allen: 
At our July 20 Mayor and Council meeting, the governing body unanimously approved my proposal to name the former Borough Hall on Broad Avenue in honor of former Mayor Dudley Allen who served in the 1950’s.

It is difficult to overstate Mayor Allen's impact on our community. Elected to four consecutive terms—a distinction unmatched in Leonia's history—he combined extraordinary vision, determination and perseverance with an unwavering commitment to protecting the town he loved.

Mayor Allen is perhaps best remembered for leading what can only be described as a David-and-Goliath battle against the federal government's proposal to build Interstate 80/95 on Fort Lee Road. Had that plan become reality, it would have dramatically altered or,  more likely, destroyed Leonia.

If you'd like to learn more about Mayor Allen's remarkable story, I encourage you to watch our one-minute Instagram video HERE. It highlights why his legacy continues to shape Leonia more than half a century later.  The backbone of Leonia continues to be our volunteers just like Mayor Allen as a volunteer decades ago made his own remarkable contribution. 

And if you haven't already done so, I also invite you to follow the Borough's official Instagram and YouTube channels under LeoniaBorough, where we regularly share stories about Leonia's history, current projects and upcoming community events.

Did You Know that August is Vaccination Awareness Month?
The Leonia Board of Health has compiled helpful resources, wellness information, and local community events to support health and well-being for all. Click here to learn more!  Questions? Email [email protected].

And please encourage your neighbors to sign up for NIXLE by emailing their Name, Email and Cell Phone # to [email protected]. 

That’s it for now.  I hope everyone is having an enjoyable summer.

Kind regards,

Bill Ziegler
Leonia Mayor
Follow us on Instagram and YouTube @LeoniaBorough