RUTHERFORD ─ Iviswold Castle, a 19th-century three-story turreted mansion, peaks above the trees at Felician University’s campus.

Its full facade comes into view from the school’s main entrance on West Passaic Avenue.

But that vista could be in danger of disappearing should the borough approve the university's proposal to build a 20,200-square-foot athletic and recreation complex next to the castle, say critics of the plan.

Rutherford’s Planning Board is scheduled to hold its last hearing on the project on Tuesday, after months of testimony and pushback from residents who fear exacerbated traffic and flooding problems as well as potential impact on the historic castle.

The proposed two-story addition to the university’s existing gym would sit on an adjacent surface parking lot near the entrance to the school and would jut toward the center of campus.

Historic preservationists are concerned that construction of the project would disrupt historic features surrounding Iviswold, which is listed on the New Jersey Register of Historic Places, and spoil views of the castle for residents of West Passaic Avenue.

“We’re not against Felician, but we're very troubled with what this building will do to the property,” said Rod Leith, vice chairman of the Rutherford Historic Preservation Committee. “We’re very concerned that the building would block and obscure the last street view of Iviswold.”

Both the New Jersey Historic Trust and the Bergen County Historic Preservation Trust Fund hold deeds of historic preservation easement with Felician that promise to protect the integrity of the castle, including views from the ground level and some landscapes surrounding it.

Felician is required under the terms of the easements to seek approval from both the state and the county for any projects that might affect the protected features of the castle. The state is in the process of reviewing the university’s plans, a state spokesman said, but the county has yet to see them.

Elaine Kiernan Gold, administrator for the Bergen County trust fund, said the university has not submitted its project for approval or notified the county of its proposal.

“We usually have a pretty good relationship with easement holders, so this is the first time we’re outside of the process,” she said.

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Gold said anything that infringes on the look or feel of the castle could be breaking the conditions of the easement.

A representative for Felician University did not respond to requests for comment.

Lisa Ryan, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Community Affairs, said the state will determine whether Felician’s gym expansion complies with the easement and, if not, will work with the school until it does.

The easements were put in place as part of grant programs that funded significant restoration work on Iviswold Castle more than a decade ago and are in effect until 2029 in the county and 2042 in the state. Along with the castle, protected features include mature trees and open spaces on the south, east and north sides of the building.

Leith said he worries that construction of an athletic center would lead to excavation work that could damage the trees’ root system and adversely affect the landscape.

“If Felician’s application gets approved, it very well could cause destruction of some of those trees,” he said.

For neighbors of the university, the fate of Iviswold appears to be of less concern. They say they are more troubled by the potential for more traffic, noise and flooding.

Yellow signs reading “Felician University is not a good neighbor” dot lawns around the perimeter of the 11.7-acre Rutherford campus. One neighbor, Rob Ferrell, hired an attorney to represent resident opposition at Felician’s hearings before the Planning Board.

Valerie Capezzuto, who lives directly behind the campus on Fairview Avenue, said the streets already become clogged with cars on weekends, when droves of people drive to the university and the nearby synagogue and Woman’s Club of Rutherford.

“I’m worried if they have an event there, I’m going to feel like it’s in my home,” she said, fearing a din from packed basketball games.

The proposed athletic complex would be able to accommodate up to 1,100 attendees for men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball games, according to Felician’s proposal. The gym is expected to host 22 home basketball games per year and would not be eligible for collegiate tournaments.

Edward Mazure, junior warden of the neighboring Grace Episcopal Church, called Felician a “good neighbor” but said traffic problems have plagued the area for years. Some 2,000 resident and commuter students are enrolled at the university.

“It’s a continual nightmare,” Mazure said.

A parking study for the project found that the proposed gym would create a total parking deficiency of 67 spaces at full capacity. But if available on-street parking is included, consultants added, the deficiency is limited to five spaces.

Felician is requesting six variances from the Planning Board, including permission to exceed building height and building coverage.

Residents along Montross Avenue, downhill from the campus, fear that the increase in impervious coverage could worsen existing flooding problems. They are particularly concerned about a detached lot across Montross Avenue where the school has proposed stacked parking, facilitated by a valet service, to help solve the expected parking deficiency.

Neil Kalb, one of the most vocal residents fighting Felician’s application, questioned why the athletic complex was proposed for the small Rutherford campus rather than the school’s much larger Lodi location.

“Felician has about 27 acres in Lodi — a lot more room over there,” he said.

The Rutherford campus originally belonged to Fairleigh Dickinson University and was sold to Felician in 1997.

At least three Rutherford residents who live across from the university say they are not bothered by plans to add an athletic center to the smaller campus. One said he had become “fed up” with the issue after nearly a year of Planning Board hearings on the application.

Francine Andrea, Felician’s vice president of administration, said there are more benefits to the proposed gym than residents may realize and believes those who oppose the project may be won over in the long run.

She touted the potential for future community events, such as a health fair, that the existing gym cannot accommodate. The university struggles to meet the demands of their own athletic teams in addition to intramural leagues that schedule games at Felician, she said.

“I think there is a difference between the community and concerns of the neighbors,” Andrea said.

Email: shkolnikova@northjersey.com, katzban@northjersey.com