In any moment of decision… the worst thing you can do is nothing.
― Theodore Roosevelt
Who is CUPON, and what are we trying to do?
CUPON (Citizens United to Protect Our Neighborhoods) is a volunteer-led, grass roots
organization. We are a group of local residents in Mahwah, Upper Saddle River and Montvale
New Jersey. We care deeply about our homes, towns, the safety of our children and the quality
of the natural environment. We support responsible development through the enforcement of
land-use and building code laws. We seek to maintain the quality and character of our
neighborhood – the things that brought us to this area in the first place. We partner with
CUPON volunteer-led organizations in Rockland and Orange Counties in New York.
What current project are we focused on?
Extensive development is planned for Hillside Avenue. This wooded, peaceful road crosses from
Airmont, NY into Upper Saddle River, NJ. Look on Google maps satellite view and you see a
large tract of undeveloped woodland north of Hillside Avenue. Developers have submitted
plans for several significant non-residential complexes that would forever change the peaceful
character of this area.
The major construction projects on Hillside Avenue include:
1. A school with 100+ students, 60 parking spaces
2. A ritual baths open to 10PM with 6 pools, 50 changing rooms, 10 staff and 60 parking
spaces. Projected water use will require a dedicated water mains supply to be laid by
Suez Water Company.
3. Dormitory housing
4. Once these complexes are in place, further development projects are expected.
Why are we objecting to these construction projects?
● This quiet, safe area with single-family homes is ill-suited to such large-scale,
non-residential developments.
● Hillside Avenue passes over a single-lane bridge with a 3-ton weight limit. School buses
and trucks are too heavy for this bridge. There are no sidewalks to accommodate the
projected heavy foot-traffic.
● Projected traffic volumes cannot be accommodated on this narrow road and single-lane
bridge.
● Upper Saddle River residents are on well water; water requirements for these multiple
new buildings may cause the water table to drop precipitously.
● The area sewer system is at or beyond capacity; sewage overflows into NJ streams and
waterways is a probability.
● The clear-cutting of hundreds of trees has begun. This will forever change the pleasing
character of the area.
● The closest fire hydrant is on Pinebrook Avenue, some distance away. Multiple fire
trucks would be needed to shuttle water to Hillside in case of any fire.
● These projects continue the unfettered, ill-conceived development that has become the
new normal in Ramapo County, NY.
What can you do to help?
1. Sign up for email updates here: info@cuponmahwah.org
2. Attend our regular meetings. Numbers really do matter, spread the word.
3. Attend town meetings.
4. Become a CUPON member $20 annual fee.
5. Support us with a healthy donation. These funds pay for carefully-chosen legal and
engineering services.
6. Membership payments and/or donations can be made through our paypal link on our
website: www.cuponmahwah.org or send a check made out to “CUPON Mahwah” to:
111 Franklin Tpk #185, Mahwah, NJ 07430