Full Notification

Mayor Bill Ziegler’s Monthly Status Report: September, 2026:
 
Redevelopment and revitalization remain Leonia’s #1 priority.  For the sake of Leonia’s future, we must get this right.  In the last 2.5 years, because of the dedicated work of numerous Leonia volunteers and the input from many Leonians every step of the way, we’ve adopted our redevelopment plans for the area below Grand Avenue on Fort Lee Road and along the Willow Tree Road corridor.  We’ve made substantial progress and, of course,  there is much more to still do to get this right. 
 
Hosting periodic Town Hall meetings focussed on redevelopment is just one way we work to keep you posted on what’s happening and to seek your input as plans and actions unfold.  And your input doesn’t fall on deaf ears.  
 
The next Redevelopment Town Hall is scheduled for Tuesday, October 6th at the new Municipal Center Building (229 Fort Lee Road, adjacent to the library) at 7:30 pm.  As with our previous three Town Hall meetings focused on Redevelopment, we welcome your attendance and participation.  We will also allow for virtual attendance and record the session for later viewing in case you miss it.  Any and all comments can also be directed by email to info@leonianj.gov. 
 
Spreading the word about what redevelopment and revitalization isn’t limited to just Town Halls and these monthly status updates.  All of our plans and objectives are listed on the Borough website HERE if you want to refamiliarize yourself. 
 
I also have opportunities to provide information through other means, including occasional interviews. Last week, the chair of my Youth Advisory Committee interviewed me as part of an investigative journalism project examining how local governments balance redevelopment and community growth with the preservation of public spaces that foster community connection. I was impressed by her insightful questions—they made me think, which is always a good thing!
 
I thought it would be helpful to share some of this student’s questions and my answers with you to help better frame the ongoing redevelopment dynamics we as a community need to keep in balance. 
 
1. Have there been any recent redevelopment or planning decisions where preserving community spaces and/or maintaining Leonia’s sense of community was an important consideration?
 
Absolutely. In fact, maintaining Leonia's character is an important consideration in virtually every significant planning decision we make. Our redevelopment planning is a good example. We recognize that Leonia needs to evolve, particularly with the anticipated arrival of light rail and our state-mandated affordable housing obligations, but that doesn't mean abandoning the qualities that make Leonia special.
 
That's why we've tried to concentrate much of the potential new development in areas where it makes the most sense rather than encouraging significant density throughout our established residential neighborhoods. Good planning isn't simply about deciding where development should occur; it's also about deciding what should be protected.
 
I would also point to our continued investment in all of our parks, our library, public art, recreation facilities and other gathering places. Those don't necessarily produce tax revenue, but they produce something equally important: community.
 
2. As Bergen County continues to experience development and demographic changes, what pressures is Leonia likely to face?
 
I think Leonia faces three major pressures.
 
First is development pressure. We're in an extraordinarily desirable location close to New York City, and improved public transportation (in our case the introduction of light rail) will only increase that demand.
 
Second is housing pressure. New Jersey is requiring municipalities to provide opportunities for additional affordable housing, while at the same time our population is changing. We need housing appropriate for younger people, families and an increasing number of older residents who may want to remain in Leonia but no longer need a traditional single-family house.
 
Third is financial pressure. The cost of municipal government continues to rise. If virtually the entire tax burden continues to fall on homeowners, maintaining the services and quality of life residents expect becomes increasingly difficult.
 
The challenge is therefore not whether Leonia changes—it will. The challenge is whether we manage that change thoughtfully or simply allow change to happen to us.
 
That's an important distinction.
 
3. Have there been situations where promoting development conflicted with preserving existing community spaces or businesses? How does the Borough approach them?
 
Yes, and those tensions are inevitable.
 
Development can produce new housing, businesses and tax revenue, but it can also create concerns about traffic, density, trees, open space and neighborhood character. There isn't a mathematical formula that tells you exactly where the right balance lies.
 
Our responsibility is to examine the entire impact. What does a project contribute? What does the community potentially give up? Can the project be modified to preserve something important? Can landscaping, pedestrian improvements, public spaces or other amenities be incorporated?
 
And sometimes the answer should be no. Redevelopment is a tool, not an objective in itself. A project shouldn't be considered successful simply because something new gets built.
 
I might add something particularly relevant to young people: preserving community doesn't necessarily mean preserving every building exactly as it exists today. Sometimes replacing an obsolete or underutilized property with something that brings more people into an area can actually create more community activity.
 
4. What role should local government play in ensuring development strengthens rather than weakens community connections?
 
A very significant one.
 
Developers understandably look at whether a project makes economic sense. Municipal government has to look at a much broader question: Does it make sense for the community?
 
That means considering how people will interact with a development—not just how many units it contains. Are there sidewalks? Trees? Places to gather? Can people walk to businesses? Does it connect with the rest of town or isolate itself from it? Does it contribute to a lively street rather than simply putting more cars onto it?
 
Local government also has a responsibility to listen. Residents, Planning Board members, professionals, and developers won't always agree, but public participation frequently identifies issues and concerns that may not have been apparent when a proposal was first presented. That’s why, among other things, I am a huge proponent of informing the public as to what’s happening.  
 
Since I became Mayor, we have held three well-attended Town Hall meetings on redevelopment, with another scheduled October 6, 2026. Community input is invaluable and has directly influenced our plans. A good example was the decision to eliminate the proposal for townhouses on the west side of Grand Avenue between Maple Street and Fort Lee Road.
 
That change was made entirely in response to public input.   That's exactly the way the process should work.
 
And young people should be part of that conversation. You're going to live with these decisions longer than most of the people making them.
 
5. What are your priorities for maintaining Leonia's character while allowing the town to grow, develop and adapt?
 
My priority is to preserve what makes Leonia Leonia without pretending that Leonia can remain frozen in time.
 
I want to protect our residential neighborhoods, parks, trees, historic character and community institutions--our overall 'small town' feel. At the same time, I want appropriate redevelopment to strengthen our tax base, provide additional housing choices, support local businesses and prepare us for changes such as light rail.
 
Those goals aren't inherently contradictory.
 
In fact, responsible redevelopment can help pay for the things we want to preserve. A healthier tax base helps us maintain parks, plant trees, support our library and recreation programs, improve streets and sidewalks, and provide the municipal services residents expect.
 
So I don't see the fundamental question as development versus preservation. I see it as:  How do we use thoughtful development to help preserve and strengthen the community we value?
 
Please keep in mind, the goal isn't to choose between growth and preservation.  The goal is to manage growth in a way that gives us the resources and opportunities to preserve - and improve - the things that make people want to live in Leonia in the first place.  The premise that redevelopment and community preservation are opposing forces is too simplistic. 
 
At our Town Hall on Tuesday, October 6th at 7:30 pm we will also be sharing some initial thoughts regarding the MX3 zone which is Broad Avenue.  This is all very preliminary work and sharing it with the public at the outset is important because we can get your input at the earliest stage.  Your friends and neighbors on the Mayors Advisory Committee on Redevelopment and Revitalization (MACORR) are working hard to move us forward.  Click HERE for a reminder of MACORR’s objectives as posted on the borough website.  I will be assisting co-Chairs Pat Botten and Frank Livelli with the Town Hall presentation on October 6th and hope to see you there.
 
The MACORR logo with its objectives clearly spelled out is printed below for your reference. 
 
 
AirBnb Poll Question:
 
At the last Mayor and Council meeting we reviewed Leonia’s recent experience with the pilot Short Term Rental ordinance.   If interested, you can watch the discussion HERE. 
 
The governing body would now like to gauge how a majority of Leonians feel about this topic.  There are reasonable arguments on both sides.
 
Potential benefits include:

• Providing additional income for Leonia homeowners
• Introducing visitors to Leonia and its businesses
• Potentially increasing interest in our community and its homes
• Taking advantage of an opportunity that surrounding communities are embracing

• Guests who may not respect neighboring properties or the residential character of the community
• Increase in parking demand, trash and potentially traffic
• Turnover of unfamiliar visitors in our neighborhoods
• Costs associated with enforcement

Please let us know what you think by clicking on this link and answering “yes” or “no”.  “Do you want to see short term rentals permitted in Leonia?”
 
This is not a scientific poll by any stretch of the imagination but it will still provide a useful indication of public sentiment.  The results will help inform the governing body’s next discussion on this issue.
 
32 Gallon Trash Receptacles:
 
I recognize—and fully appreciate—that this change is likely to go over like a ton of bricks. Frankly, I am not thrilled about it.   But when the safety and welfare of our DPW employees are at stake, we must do everything necessary to protect them.
 
Here’s what I’m talking about…At a date to be announced, the Borough will require all garbage, trash and recyclables to be placed in containers no larger than 32 gallons. HERE is a photo of a standard 32-gallon container.
 
This change is necessary because DPW employees have been injured while lifting larger containers. They have also cut their hands on broken glass and other sharp objects while reaching into oversized containers to remove plastic bags manually. Cans too large to be lifted by just one person. 
 
Plastic garbage bags placed directly at the curb will also no longer be permitted. Unfortunately, some bags contain broken glass or other sharp objects that can seriously injure an employee when picked up by hand.  One of our DPW workers recently sustained a hand cut requiring 12 stitches.  When these bags and other materials are placed inside a standard 32-gallon—or smaller—container, the container can be safely lifted into the truck by one employee without direct contact with the bags themselves.  That’s key.  One person can lift one container and not have to take the bags out individually by hand. 
 
I have legitimate concerns about the inconvenience and potential expense involved, particularly for residents who may have recently purchased containers larger than 32 gallons.  However, there is no question that employees have been injured.  Their safety and welfare must take precedence over personal convenience and the argument that this is how we have “always done it”. As part of Leonia’s transition to this new rule, we will likely offer discounted 32 gallon trash containers to our residents.  Stay tuned for additional information about that possibility. 
 
Please click HERE  to view the recent presentation by DPW leadership to the Mayor and Council.  This new measure was brought forward and unanimously approved by the DPW Committee, consisting of Councilmember Diane Scarangella (Chair), and Councilmen Louis Grandelis and Christoph Hesterbrink. 
 
If you have questions, please contact any of these Councilpeople on the DPW Committee.  Their emails are dscarangella@leonianj.gov, lgrandelis@leonianj.gov, and chesterbrink@leonianj.gov.    
 
We will embark on an extensive communication campaign to ensure the word gets out there about this change, and I’m relying on the DPW Committee to take the lead in this campaign.  I personally do not want this implemented until there has been effective communication about what we’re doing and why we’re doing it.  Stay tuned…
 
2026-2027 Leonia Community Calendars:
 
Many have already received their new Borough of Leonia community calendar with this year’s “Age Friendly” theme in the mail.   As we’ve all experienced some difficulties with USPS mail delivery,  particularly certain neighborhoods in town, it might take a bit longer if you have not already received.  Additional copies will be available at Borough Hall on Broad Avenue, the Library, and the Senior Center on September 8th.  The new calendar is another outstanding effort, looks great and is chock full of timely information. 
 
Rotary of the Palisades:
 
For anyone interested, our local Rotary sponsors a monthly speakers series at the Leonia Public Library.  At the next meeting on Thursday, September 10th beginning at 6:30 pm,  I will talk about some of the more challenging issues facing Leonia today–from redevelopment, flooding, budget, challenges and traffic to the recent controversial DPW land encroachment issue–and answer your questions.   I hope to see as many of you there as your respective schedules allow. 
 
Please also note…Leonia Oktoberest, sponsored by Rotary of the Palisades, will take place this year on Saturday, September 26th in Wood Park from 3:00 to 10:00 pm. 
 
Two New Police Officers Ready to “Hit the Streets”
 
Our two newest officers, PO Kayla Meneghin and PO Andreas Sidossis have successfully completed their police academy training and have just begun their assignments with their Leonia training officer.  So it is possible you may see two officers on patrol in one vehicle during their 3 month field training program.  After completing the training, they will be ready to be in their own patrol vehicles. 
 
What’s more—and I’m always gratified when this happens—both Kayla and Andreas were exemplary in their performance at the Newark Police Academy, positively distinguishing themselves and Leonia. Kayla won the Academy class’ award for being the most physically fit and Andreas won the Academic Achievement award for having the highest grade point average. 
 
HERE is their graduation photo from the Newark Police Academy after receiving their distinguished performance awards.   When you see our new officers on patrol, please take a moment to introduce yourself and welcome them to Leonia. 
 
Traffic Concerns:
 
As we move closer to the start of the school year, we also know that it typically coincides with an inevitable increase in traffic. Considering how much traffic we’ve already had this summer, that’s a sobering statement.
 
HERE is a link to the presentation from our last Traffic Town Hall if you would like some helpful background on the causes of our traffic and our collective efforts to prevent it from overwhelming us. Remember, our proximity to the world’s busiest bridge—the George Washington Bridge—is both a tremendous benefit and, at times, a curse. Your property values fully reflect the extraordinary access to New York City that we enjoy from Leonia, but that access comes at a cost too.
 
Some of our friends and neighbors from Ridgeland Terrace, Grandview Terrace and Nordhoff Drive attended the last Mayor and Council meeting to raise concerns about traffic in their neighborhood. There is no doubt that traffic has increased in that section of town, according to objective data we have recently collected and begun to analyze.
 
To address these concerns, I have asked the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on Transportation and Pedestrian Safety to present its perspective and recommended next steps at the Mayor and Council meeting on Monday, September 21st, at 7:30 p.m. in the New Municipal Center adjacent to the library. Police Chief Scott Tamagny, who also serves on the committee, will be there.
 
The presentation will be one of the very first items on the agenda, so if you would like to attend, you need not feel obligated to stay for the rest of the meeting. How’s that for an incentive?
Please feel free to attend if you are interested. I hope to see you there.
 
A final note…
 
‍   Did You Know that September is Healthy Aging 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 jsclafane@njlincs.net.  
 
I know I’m certainly not getting any younger and can use all the advice I can get so thank you to our Leonia Board of Health.   
 
That concludes this month’s update.  I hope all is well with you and your family.

Follow us on Instagram and YouTube @LeoniaBorough
 
Kind regards,

Bill Ziegler
Leonia Mayor