Montvale, New Jersey

Within Reach of the Big Apple Without all the Hustle and Bustle

A Close-Knit Community Offering the Best of Suburban Living

Montvale, a vibrant community in the northern part of Bergen County, New Jersey, offers a welcoming blend of small-town charm with the conveniences of modern living. Located just 45 minutes by train from New York City, Montvale has managed to preserve its close-knit atmosphere, even as it attracts new businesses and opportunities.

Mayor Michael Ghassali describes the community as one “where everyone knows everyone.” He highlights the friendly nature of Montvale, with benefits like the small school system, which builds strong bonds among families, creating lifelong friendships. As Montvale continues to evolve, it is drawing an array of new businesses, including restaurants, retailers, and medical facilities, further enhancing the quality of life for residents.

Attracting and Retaining Businesses

Noting that Montvale is focused on bringing in amenities that make the borough an enjoyable place to live, the mayor details, “We are happy we have a steakhouse coming. We have small restaurants, fast food restaurants, sit-down restaurants, BYOB’s, and retailers, like Williams-Sonoma and Pottery Barn. Those are all convenient for residents, within a short drive.”

He reports that Montvale is attracting a steady stream of businesses, adding an average of three to four new enterprises each month. “Some of them are small, some of them are in the 2000 to 3000 square foot size,” shares Ghassali.

“Many are office based like accountants, attorneys, and some are ancillary medical businesses, like medical billing.” Dental services is a particular area of interest, with several new specialists opening in the town over recent months.

The borough is also revisiting its zoning laws to attract more economic diversity. “We’re trying to make it easier for companies to move in, without having to go for variances or a lengthy process,” explains Ghassali. “We have identified a few uses, like manufacturing, warehousing, and indoor recreation, that we would like to include. So, any company that wants to move in, it’s already rezoned and ready.”

Along with these, Borough Administrator, Joe Voytus says the town is working to bring maker spaces, data centers, banks, and self-storage on board. “With the increase in population we have had over the past five years there’s a demand for services,” he elaborates. “These new residents need dentists, they need self-storage, they need daycare centers, they need places for recreation because they’re in an apartment.”

Economic and Workforce Development

Montvale’s Economic Development Committee is actively engaged with the borough’s largest businesses, supporting their growth and success. Ghassali recounts, “We have our top five companies that we work with. They occupy large spaces in town, and we try to help them to get more clients and more business. We try to be the connection between them and the state for any incentives with the county, with any grants or programs for their employees, for their businesses, or their improvements.”

The committee also works closely with companies looking to expand, aligning their needs with local regulations. “There are a couple of companies that are looking to expand, which means their footprint will be bigger than what’s allowed. We’re working with them, to give them what they want, but still stay within the code and the laws,” conveys Ghassali. He discloses that one major company is planning a significant expansion, nearly doubling its current size.

On the workforce development side, efforts are underway to improve transportation options. Additionally, Montvale is focusing on expanding daycare facilities, as Ghassali expands, “About a third of our community is younger families, and many of them work outside of town. So, they need daycare.”  The borough also benefits from a very active Chamber of Commerce, which the mayor says plays a crucial role in supporting both business and workforce initiatives, including organizing internship opportunities for high school seniors.

Preservation and Progress

Beautification efforts have been underway as part of the revitalization of Kinderkamack Road, the heart of Montvale. This has included attention to parks, and a veterans banner program, creating a welcoming atmosphere that will attract people to the downtown. “A lot of the focus over the past three to five years has been on DiPiero Drive, Grand Ave, and sort of creating a new town center,” admits Voytus. “But we certainly don’t want to ignore Kinderkamack because that is the history of the town. It’s an area that we want to revitalize and get some more retail and mixed-use in.”

Montvale has also purchased the iconic Octagon House, built in 1850 and depicted on the borough logo. The goal is to receive grant funding to restore the building and offer it as a resource for community groups to use as an office and meeting space. “It does have that historic character, and there’s a sentimentality about that building,” Voytus acknowledges. “It’s something that we want to preserve. We don’t have a ton of historic buildings. So, I think it’s important that the buildings that we do have are preserved and kept for the community.”

Housing Development

With no vacant land left to build on, Montvale is focused on repurposing existing spaces.

“Everything that we’re going to see in terms of new development would have to be redevelopment,” Voytus asserts. “It’s going to be taking the spaces that we have and finding new uses that are appropriate to the location and zoning district.” He says the borough is currently witnessing a trend where smaller single-family homes are being bought and expanded, and houses that do go on the market don’t last long.

These redevelopment efforts extend to Montvale’s downtown area, where mixed-use developments are planned to meet the needs of the growing community. “It’s all about repurposing what we have,” Voytus says, emphasizing that the proximity to mass transit makes the downtown area particularly attractive.

Infrastructure and Sustainability

Montvale has been actively working to enhance its critical infrastructure, with a focus on ensuring reliable water and gas services for its residents. “We’re trying to take stock of where we are after the latest housing boom, and trying to make sure that everything in town is planned well for who we have here right now,” describes Voytus.

With this in mind, Montvale is working with utility providers Veolia, PSE&G Orange, and Rockland to ensure safe and reliable services for residents. Veolia has been upgrading water lines, and the borough has facilitated the installation of new water tanks to provide the necessary pressure for fire safety, particularly in buildings equipped with sprinkler systems. PSE&G has also been improving gas line capacity in the community.

Beyond these essential services, Montvale is prioritizing greenspace, catering to the needs of young families, and the active youth population. “We’re looking to improve the fields all the time, create new gathering spaces, park spaces, and fix up what we have,” Voytus describes. “We don’t have new open space, so we’re trying to improve the fields so that they’re playable even if it rains, just to provide more accessibility to everyone.”

Community Engagement and Events

Montvale prioritizes open communication and community engagement through regular town hall meetings, newsletters, coffee hours, and “Walk with the Mayor” opportunities. Ghassali also takes a personal approach. He illustrates, “People send me an email when they have a question, and I go there and knock on the door. They’re surprised for about two seconds, and then we’re having coffee inside their home.” The borough also brings people together through events like “A Day in the Park” featuring food, family-friendly activities, and fireworks. “The council and myself are there just interacting,” he adds.

Montvale’s cultural diversity is another key aspect, with residents hailing from 57 different countries and speaking 27 languages. “This is all within four square miles,” touts the mayor. “Every week something is happening in those communities. Sometimes they use their facilities, sometimes they use the parks, sometimes they use their backyards. But it seems there’s always something happening with the different cultures in town.”

Looking to the Future

As Montvale continues to experience growth, there is an ongoing effort to preserve the quaint character of the community, while embracing new opportunities. This is evident in the plans for the DiPiero farm, recently purchased by the borough. “We will keep a portion of it as a farm,” details Ghassali. “We are looking to make it a pick-your-own strawberry farm and we’ll take one acre for a community garden, where we’ll be offering four by eight plots to the residents, and we’ll offer a greenhouse to the high school for botany classes and experiments.”

This project, funded entirely by taxpayers, is set to commence next year, with several farmers already showing interest.

With its ideal location, unique amenities, and tight-knit community spirit, Montvale continues to position itself as a desirable place to call home.

AT A GLANCE

The Borough of Montvale, New Jersey

What: A vibrant community just 45 minutes from New York City, with much to offer

Where: Bergen County, New Jersey

Website: www.montvale.org