We believe the current proposal of replacing the sculpture garden, green space, and existing courthouse annex building with a massive borough hall-courthouse-police building would adversely affect the quality of life and materially lower the value of the properties on Beechwood Place.

In particular these are our concerns:

1. Beechwood Place is a RESIDENTIAL block, and this new municipal complex would not comply with the height, impervious coverage, or setback requirements that the rest of the residents on the block must adhere to. This building would loom over the neighboring homes and be out of character with the rest of the block.
2. The new municipal complex will create a lot of TRAFFIC and NOISE. Currently, whenever court is in session visitors leave a lot of garbage and use up all the street parking spaces. By locating the police and additional municipal functions on Beechwood Place there would be regular sounds of sirens related to police activity, as well as additional traffic and contention for street parking created from the increased parking demand to accommodate police vehicles, municipal workers and residents that use the relocated municipal services. This will only further disturb the peace and quality of life for local residents.
3. The residents of Beechwood Place and the rest of Leonia currently enjoy the SCULPTURE GARDEN a lovely green space with benches, tables, sculptures, a gazebo, and mature and beautiful trees on their block. All this would be lost in order to accommodate the municipal complex.

We understand that Leonia’s infrastructure needs to be updated. We request the following:

1. Any new construction on this land should adhere to the same residential zoning rules that all the other Single-Family Dwellings on the block adhere to.
2. The sculpture garden, green space, and trees should be preserved.
3. The police department should not be placed on Beechwood Place at all.

We encourage exploring solutions that:

1. Expand the capacity of existing police station / fire station / ambulance buildings.
   1. they can all be doubled by adding a level
2. Purchase and build on properties that are in the central business district and don’t require giving up green space.
   1. Residences next to the library and current police station on Fort Lee Road
   2. Other lots that may be available on Broad or Grand Ave

Sincerely,

Concerned Residents and Homeowners of Beechwood Place and Leonia