Hooray for Maplewood?

In the last week and a half, a group calling itself Save the Mountain has been working to alert locals to plans to develop and commercialize a portion of the South Mountain Reservation.

According to their website, a request for proposals for design and construction of signage was issued to a group of "potential advertising partners." The RFP stipulates that the signage will be placed on the eastern face of South Mountain (facing New York), that no trees will be removed and that the sign will be illuminated at night—either internally or externally.

The selected firm is reportedly working to get an application before the Maplewood Planning Board for its next meeting on April 5. Planning Board Chair Tom Carlson was typically philosophical, "They're going to have to prove that the variances they are looking for are going to be worth any changes made to the environment." Added Carlson, "We will be looking very closely at all aspects of this application."

Spokesman for Save the Mountain Frank Lirpa was less dispassionate: "I think it's outrageous that the Township is fast-tracking this desecration of the mountain's vistas. Without an ounce of public input they've allowed approvals to move through quickly." Lirpa, who works in Manhattan, said he only happened to find out about the proposal through contacts in the advertising industry.

Mayor Vic DeLuca was not available for comment but Committee member Jerry Ryan was more than happy to oblige: "It's entirely too early for people to be upset about these ideas. Let's let the process work itself out. There will be alot of public input." Continued Ryan, "I'm confident that something can be worked out that will make everyone happy."

The proposed sign, which is a copy of the famous "HOLLYWOOD" sign, would instead read, "MAPLEWOOD." Local reaction to the plan is mixed.

"It's really not  a very 21st Century idea," said Maplewood resident Kris Floyd. Floyd, who works in IT, thought the Township should consider an LED-type screen which could change messages.

Others worried about safety. "What if people start climbing it? Or if it falls on houses below. We've got enough headaches worrying about trees falling on our homes," said Alex Burns who just spent several days without power on Wyoming Avenue due to a downed tree.

"South Orange is not pleased," said Village President Doug Newman. "We will be stuck with this sign looming over our town and we won't even reap the benefits—financially or to public relations." Newman joked that South Orange might consider erecting a giant sculpture of an orange on the mountainside in retaliation.

"I understand that the County and the Town are hard up for cash in this economy," said Maplewood resident Joe DePlasco, "But this is going too far. If we ruin one of our best assets, what's the point?"

DePlasco noted that he would also not support a five-story building on the mountain.

Dennis Percher of the South Mountain Conservancy was too upset to comment.

And if you've read this far, Patch would like to wish you a very happy and not too gullible —

April Fools' Day!