Community Corner

Long Valley's Top Issues of 2013

Safety in school hallways also among top stories that resonated with readers this year.

As 2013 winds down, we’re reminded that each year comes with an immense number of topics, issues, and news. So, in our first installment of “Year in Review” we’re going to look at the biggest issues that faced Washington Township in the past 12 months.

These choices, of course, are our editorial opinion. If you feel we’re wrong, or should add stories, let us know in the comments section. Thanks!

Kings Highway Apartment Complex Proposal 

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While the application was submitted two years ago, it wasn’t until the second half of 2013 when this issue really took hold. Kings Highway, LLC, which owns a piece of land at the bottom Kings Highway, is looking to have its acreage rezoned from industrial to residential. The reason? To build 208 apartments.

After plenty of back and forth with the planning board, that township body recommended the project to the next step – a re-zoning possibility by the township committee. Two meetings in November and December saw the developer bring evidence to the committee promoting the project, while residents of that area came out against it.

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While two new recruits have become full-blown rookies who now patrol the roads on their own as Washington Township police officers, the staffing level of the department is still a question mark.

One lieutenant and an officer retired this year, following 2012, which saw another officer retire from being injured on the job. In addition, the chief of police, Michael Bailey is eligible for retirement, and another senior officer is eligible in mid-2014.

Two hires have been approved for the academy in January.

Read:
Retirements, Resignation Impact Police Department’s Staffing Level
‘Serious Conversation’ Needed for Police Staffing Level
2 New Cop Hires Approved for 2014

Break-ins, Crime Sprees Hit Long Valley

Washington Township was plugging along through the year as the normal rate of crime for such an area was somewhat unchanged, even trending downward. Then July happened, kicking off the first of a four-month stretch where car break-ins, auto thefts, and home burglaries ran rampant.

Vehicle break-ins occurred in rashes, with eight, nine, even more than a dozen being hit in one night. Then a luxury vehicle was stolen from someone’s driveway, copper piping ripped from a vacant home, and two houses forcibly broken into and ransacked in the same day.

Read:
Burglar Sought After 11 Car Break-Ins Reported
9 Car Burglaries Under Investigation in Washington Township
Doors Kicked In, Rooms Ransacked in Two Home Burglaries Wednesday
15 Cars Burglarized in Long Valley Monday Morning
Mercedes Benz Stolen From Outside Long Valley Home, Cops Say
Copper Piping Stolen From Vacant Long Valley Home
Long Valley Man Accused of Burglarizing Fairview Ave. Home
Laptop, Cash Stolen From 3 Unlocked Cars 

Enrollment Decline in Washington Township, West Morris Schools 

Late in the fall of 2011, a demographer’s study on the Washington Township School district came out and said the area’s K-8 grades would see an overall decrease of 500 students over the course of the next five years.

In September of 2013, another study commissioned by the West Morris Regional High School District showed that same figure and then some. The projections added two more years to the total and predict the drop to continue steadily. That brought about the issue of what to do with the open school building space if the projections come to fruition.

This report came the same month the district started full-day kindergarten because the classroom space had become available.

Read:
1,350 Student Drop Projected in Western Morris Schools
Closing a School Building a ‘Very Real Possibility’ as Enrollment Dives

School Safety and the Rise of Gun Permits 

It’s been a full year since the terrible tragedy that took 20 young lives in Newtown, Connecticut, and school safety has been on the forefront of family’s minds across the country.

As the year came to a close, the Washington Township School district was granted more than $1.4 million for building and security enhancements; $1.1 million more than it had originally expected. 

Full-time, paid residents have been sitting at the front of each school signing in visitors since January, and the district put away more than $300,000 in the 2013-14 budget to put toward security enhancements. At the same time, Washington Township has seen a record number of gun permits issued in town each of the last three years. 


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