This Monday evening, June 18 the planning board may vote to approve the property owner/ developer’s proposed Lackawanna Plaza plan.  Approving a plan because the developer refuses to work  for a better plan and local residents hope to get a supermarket which is years away, a few weeks earlier is irresponsible and a major disservice to the town residents.  This plan includes the demolition of the majority of the atrium housing the train station sheds preserved in the 1980’s when the Pathmark supermarket was built.
 
The developer says no supermarket wants to have train sheds to build around or use.   BUT….. the 1980’s Pathmark designed a store using the sheds.  Supermarket design firms say a supermarket including the sheds offer a unique open air design.  The Philadelphia Redding Market is an excellent example of a market in a train terminal with metal stanchions, such as those in Lackawanna but much closer together at 10-12 feet.

OPEN ILLUSTRATION BELOW OF ORIGINAL TRAIN SHEDS WITHOUT 1980s ATRIUM ENCLOSING THEM.
https://gallery.mailchimp.com/970fb69de4ff36622c2b55fff/_compresseds/14514d67-b6ee-40a6-9287-42ab8e0b35cc.jpg
NOW OPEN TO SEE SUPERMARKET BUILT INTO SHEDS WITH EXISTING SKYLIGHTS FROM 1980s.
https://gallery.mailchimp.com/970fb69de4ff36622c2b55fff/_compresseds/04d9c43f-3582-4026-b838-83bc39b0d70a.jpg

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The planning board needs just a few weeks and the Council’s support to insist that the developer maintain the integrity of the station and work the sheds into a plan with our town preservation architects.  The Lackawanna project start date is 4-5 years away according to the developer and the opening of any supermarket coming sometime long after; the planning board is under pressure from the Council’s recent resolution to approve this plan because local residents are angry about not having a supermarket for 2 ½ years.  
…BUT pressuring our planning board is completely misplaced.  
This current and the 3rd proposal for Lackawanna Plaza since 2012 is the first and only widely accepted plan and its review process just started this spring. 
Lackawanna Plaza is the only major opportunity to improve that area and the sheds can beautify this site and create an enhanced shopping experience.  Once the sheds are gone, they are gone.  

Improving the Lackawanna area neighborhood is what all town residents want,its what Council representatives want and especially what local residents want…its not simply to get another supermarket. 

The Planning Board and Historic Preservation Commission are trying to get the best design for the town and the Council should support this effort. Particularly considering the following history of this developer in our town. 

1. Since the Pathmark closed in November, 2015 the developer has refused allow  any temporary market at the site because of insurance and other costs. 
2.The developer, for the last two months has refused to cooperate with the planning board’s directive and sit down with our Historic Preservation Commission to work on a plan maintaining the whole station and use the sheds. In addition, he did not work with the planning board’s preservation architect to design on a plan using the sheds. 
3. This developer said, “ Supermarkets  cannot work with the train sheds”.  The  Pathmark did and a firm specializing in the design of supermarkets say the sheds can be included in a supermarket design. 
4. This developer says he found a historian that says “the train sheds are not historic” although all 3 levels of local, state and national historic authorities have given the station this designation.
5. This developer recently built Valley and Bloom apartments which now have chunks of the façade falling to the sidewalks, just this week.
6.This developer built the Sienna and condo owners litigated leaks for over 10 years while living with empty rooms with hoses directing water to collection buckets.
7. This developer habitually proposes out of character construction, unlike other developers, not respecting the historic nature of Montclair’s neighborhoods.

HOW YOU CAN HELP GET A GREAT SUPERMARKET AND A MORE ATTRACTIVE DOWNTOWN.  “This is the last big development in town and worth the effort.” “Come out and take a stand.”
1.Come to Mondays special planning board meeting with a sign to save the whole station and sheds or speak up at public comments; 205 Claremont Ave, 7:30.
2.Email planning board members and tell them why you want them to maintain the integrity of the station by saving the sheds.
Planning Board
Petto, Graham [email protected]
Rooney, Stephen [email protected]
 Schlager, Robin [email protected]
 Schwartz, Martin [email protected]
 Talley, Janice  [email protected]
 Watkinson, Tom  [email protected]
 Willis, Carole [email protected]
  Tim Barr [email protected]
 Brandon, Craig [email protected]
 Brodock, Keith [email protected]
 Ianuale, Anthony V. [email protected]
 Loughman, Carmel [email protected]
Neiss, Art [email protected]
 Daniel Gilmer  [email protected]

Copy the Mayor and Councilors below on your message to Planning Board.
Baskerville, Renee [email protected]
Hurlock, William [email protected]
Jackson, Mayor [email protected]
McMahon, Rich [email protected]
Robert Russo [email protected] 
Schlager, Robin [email protected] 
Spiller, Sean [email protected]
 
3. Go to www.Planetcivic.com and vote to save the sheds. If there are enough voters, the Council will get the report.
**Pass this to residents to join to get direct emails at  www.savemontclair.org. Like us on Facebook.
 ​

​Boards seek best for Lackawanna Plaza.
On Monday, June 18, 7:30 at 205 Claremont Ave, the Planning Board has scheduled a special meeting, in part to review and determine if a successful supermarket requires demolition of historic train sheds.  Demolishing a valued historic feature of Montclair should to done only when necessary for greater public good….the loss is permanent.  Historic streets and landmarks are economic assets that attract new residents, businesses and visitors and are never replaceable.  Historic Church Street is a destination and the most popular street.  Come and speak to support our planning board and ask your representative to support  due diligence for all planning. See it on TV34 if you cannot attend but communicate with your representative.

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The Lackawanna Plaza’s story since 2012.
The mandated planning process for reviewing development proposals is established to provide for a comprehensive process and time to consider all implications of the project and to obtain the most favorable results for the town.   Short circuiting this process is a great disservice to the town.  The Lackawanna Plaza development is the only major opportunity to improve that area,  not to improve it... or worse.  It’s our downtown and a complex project and due diligence is crucial.  It’s not simply about a supermarket which is 4-5 years away according the developer’s schedule.  

Since the Pathmark supermarket closed in 2012 in bankruptcy, there have been a lot of reasons why there is still no supermarket or no approved plan.   First, the owner who is also the developer stated that he would not provide for any temporary market in the empty space because of insurance and other costs.  

This current 2018 plan is the only plan of all three considered acceptable and widely supported by residents and boards.  It also was proposed only this spring.  Between 2013 and 2015, town officials proposed and sought plans for a new city center be developed at Lackawanna Plaza to relocate city hall, police dept and Board of Education into one complex.   It also included apartments and parking deck.  In preparation for large scale development, Lackawanna Plaza with other sites were designated Redevelopment Areas so development could be built outside the zoning size restrictions.  This city center plan was met with resistance since it added extensive congestion to an already congested area.  After 2 years of board meetings and required public visioning workshops, the developer announced that this city center complex did not work financially for this firm.  

The second proposal was introduced last summer in 2017 with over sized development on both side of Grove Street including 350 apartments, offices, and supermarket and parking deck.   In this case, the Council required the Planning Board to approve this new plan after only one review,  not following the normal review process.  This proposal was met intense opposition from residents and board members alike.  Once again,  the developer decided the project was not financially sound for the firm and this third plan was proposed within zoning this last January and reviews started only this spring.

Reviews for this current 2018 plan moved quickly since the project size was within zoning restrictions.  Remaining details to review focus on whether or not a supermarket can be planned including the previously preserved historic train sheds.  In the 1980s Pathmark development the train sheds were enclosed as part of the mall/ skylight atrium still there today. 

Our board members should have the town's support.  Conscientious board members prepare for meetings and spending extensive personal time reaching for well thought out decisions or seek independent expert opinions  to weigh against opinions by those benefiting from the plan.

Planning Board members provide expertise in architecture, development, city planning, real estate law, municipal finance.  Some board members may be recruited because they have a proven service record in town.  Be thankful we have board members who care and for a process to do the best job for us.  

Planning board members are a combination of one Council member, town employees required to serve because of their position and several residents recruited and approved by the Council because they offer relevant expertise or valuable experience for planning decisions.   In recent years, new board members represent residents’ interests to control over sized, out of character development.   

Historic Preservation Commission members are selected by mayors according to a recent NJ law.  HPC members require relevant expertise in historic preservation and related experience.  HPC members may offer expertise in areas such as preservation or reuse architecture, landmark preservation commission, historian, land use law or related experience.  Again, HPC members provide a valuable service which benefits all of us.

Comprehensive review process is required for best plans.
Our boards are dealing with the same developer with a track record of poor construction and  out of character design such as Valley and Bloom and the coming hotel on Bloomfield Ave.  Sienna condo owners left rooms empty for years while litigating leaks they could not get repaired.  Board members complained Valley and Bloom started using the same faulty construction. 

The defined review process allows for due diligence with comprehensive reviews and public input at each step.   
Montclair needs the best traffic flow plan with the added density, the most attractive development possible for our downtown and a successful supermarket.  What is approved is permanent…congestion gridlocks on Bloomfield Ave or Grove St because traffic flow poorly planned, supermarket failure because deliveries can’t be made smoothly and safely or losing a historic asset which may be an attractive element of a supermarket.  

Let diligent board members try to get the best they can for the town.  Once the sheds are demolished they are gone forever. The 1980s developer used the train sheds to build the atrium mall.  The sheds are part of the “most handsome suburban train station in the country” and stated when it was built.  Train sheds in a suburban station are unique.  Lackawanna Station received historic designation by local, state and national authorities. 
Here is the Montclair Local article for more details. 

“Is it not cruel to let our city die by degrees, stripped of all her proud monuments, until there will be nothing left of all her history and beauty to inspire our children? If they are not inspired by the past of our city, where will they find the strength to fight for her future? Americans care about their past, but for short term gain they ignore it and tear down everything that matters. Maybe... this is the time to take a stand, to reverse the tide, so that we won't all end up in a uniform world of steel and glass boxes.”
— Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
 ***Please refer other residents to www.SaveMontclair.org and Like Us on Facebook.