By Sophia Gonzalez
Staff Writer
Posted Feb. 21, 1:45 p.m.

NORTHVALE — Refusing to "leave the town exposed," the Borough Council agreed to spend $3,000 to update the town’s zoning maps.

"The master plan review was supposed to be done in 2005, so we’re in violation of what the state requires of us," Democratic Mayor John Hogan said.

The mayor said it was his understanding as a resident in 2005 that "the master plan review was being conducted and [the maps] were going to be … [updated] at the end of year."

Instead, he said, the Council adopted a zoning change to allow the Rio Vista Greens housing complex at 199 Paris Ave.

"I don’t know who or where the ball got dropped, but obviously did for a lack of only $3,000," said Republican Council member Roy Sokoloski, who sat on the first Planning Board subcommittee working on the master plan.

The mayor said that the outdated maps put the Building Department at an "extreme disadvantage."

According to the current master plan, there are several sites marked for multi-family housing.

"Now, I don’t want to mention what those sites are, but if that business were to close, someone could conceivably come before the Planning Board and apply for multi-family housing," said the mayor, who favors development control.

Hogan added that the analysis would not be a long process thanks to a review conducted last year by a Planning Board volunteer subcommittee.

"We shouldn’t even have to discuss this," Sokoloski said, before the unanimous vote was cast. "We should appropriate the [money] and get this thing done."

E-mail: gonzalezso@northjersey.com or call 201-894-6711