Oradell council tables plan to merge planning and zoning boards after wide public opposition
June 24, 2026 | Oradell, Bergen County, New Jersey
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The Oradell Mayor and Council on June 23 opened a public hearing on ordinance 26-10, a proposed overhaul to combine the borough’s planning board and zoning board into a single joint planning board. After extensive public comment raising procedural and local-control concerns, the council voted to table the ordinance to its July 14 meeting.
Council President Tom Kelly read the ordinance and invited public comment. Dozens of residents spoke, many arguing that a merged board would dilute the zoning board’s specialized, quasi-judicial role. “I don’t see the same thing on our planning board,” said Sam Tripses, who attends meetings regularly; “why do you want to dilute the zoning board that’s not broken?”
Other commenters pressed for stronger tree protections and longer replacement windows, citing recent large tree removals and the need for conservation safeguards. Walter Winston told the council he opposed moving planning-board members onto variance decisions because “they do not have the qualifications” the zoning board members bring to quasi-judicial hearings.
Several speakers said the public loses time and scrutiny when two separate boards are combined. “These boards foster participation and good citizenship,” a resident said, urging the council to preserve both panels and recruit additional volunteers instead of merging them.
Council members said the proposal has been discussed for more than a year and that the public hearing was part of the required process. Following public comment, the council voted by roll call to table ordinance 26-10 to the July 14 meeting to allow more review and any material changes to be posted and considered.
Action at a glance: Ordinance 26-10 was tabled to the July 14 Mayor and Council meeting; no adoption vote occurred. Council also noted that amendments affecting chapters on trees and public-advocate language could be drafted in response to comments.
What comes next: The council will consider the public input collected at the June 23 hearing before deciding whether to redraft the ordinance or move toward adoption at a future meeting.
Council President Tom Kelly read the ordinance and invited public comment. Dozens of residents spoke, many arguing that a merged board would dilute the zoning board’s specialized, quasi-judicial role. “I don’t see the same thing on our planning board,” said Sam Tripses, who attends meetings regularly; “why do you want to dilute the zoning board that’s not broken?”
Other commenters pressed for stronger tree protections and longer replacement windows, citing recent large tree removals and the need for conservation safeguards. Walter Winston told the council he opposed moving planning-board members onto variance decisions because “they do not have the qualifications” the zoning board members bring to quasi-judicial hearings.
Several speakers said the public loses time and scrutiny when two separate boards are combined. “These boards foster participation and good citizenship,” a resident said, urging the council to preserve both panels and recruit additional volunteers instead of merging them.
Council members said the proposal has been discussed for more than a year and that the public hearing was part of the required process. Following public comment, the council voted by roll call to table ordinance 26-10 to the July 14 meeting to allow more review and any material changes to be posted and considered.
Action at a glance: Ordinance 26-10 was tabled to the July 14 Mayor and Council meeting; no adoption vote occurred. Council also noted that amendments affecting chapters on trees and public-advocate language could be drafted in response to comments.
What comes next: The council will consider the public input collected at the June 23 hearing before deciding whether to redraft the ordinance or move toward adoption at a future meeting.
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