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The Township Council previously said it would review a final Redevelopment Plan created for Lackawanna Plaza this Tuesday, July 25th. However, only about a month ago, the Council asked our Planning Board to review and make recommendations about this newly written Plan -- which meant only 1 to 2 meetings. However, this stage of the Plan approval is most important as it really determines the footprint, heights and bulk of the project. One or two meetings is hardly enough to understand and decide what works best for the town and finalize the level of detail needed in a redevelopment plan of this scope and magnitude.
In addition, this current plan was written by the consulting firm hired by the Council. Unfortunately, it reflects what the developer wants, not what residents had told town leaders they wanted in previous meetings and visioning sessions. It’s hard to excuse or justify why our Mayor and Council want to bypass the full due diligence process for Lackawanna Plaza, but a badly needed supermarket which is years away does not begin to explain it. Full Planning Board reviews provide the opportunity for residents and board members to review and respond to protect and enhance neighborhoods and seek the best for our town’s future. During 2013 and 2014 planning board meetings reviewing drafts of the master plan, it was clear most members of the planning either board kept quiet or were supportive of the mayor’s and town planner’s quest to increase zoning heights all over town. At that time, development was approved with little consideration for concerns of residents asking to preserve the quality of life people chose to live here for. Residents complained then, as they do now that development focused on bringing in lots of new residents and not enhancing neighborhoods or caring what current residents wanted. State required “ visioning workshops” were set up to allow residents to voice concerns for what they wanted. Officials claimed few new kids will use the already crowded schools and that the new residents don’t want cars. Promoters and NJ Transit talked about lots of amenities in new “ Transit Oriented Development” but actual plans just show 100s of new apartments, very little commercial space and more justifications for too little parking. Each of the previous developments meant more public parking spaces sold as “permit only”. During the last three years, the Council approved new planning board members that residents asked for, with a more pro-quality of life viewpoint. Our new Planning Board today has worked conscientiously to better understand and negotiate with developers more of what residents wanted: less bulky structures with more tasteful designs fitting the neighborhood character. However, this takes months of back and forth reviews -- especially in cases like those developments from Hampshire and Pinnacle, since their initial plans have little consideration for a neighborhoods and start with massive oversized footprints and heights. Pinnacle built Valley and Bloom which was initially approved by the earlier planning board members and final plans approved by this same Council as reported here. We need to keep asking our Mayor and Council to let our Boards and Historic Preservation Commission to do their job and not bypass those due diligence reviews and procedures that can protect our town, our property owners and residents. This Council has now helped provide a planning board that finally cares about our neighborhoods and residents -- so let them to their job. The town website Council page provides the agenda and as of Saturday morning, Lackawanna Plaza is not listed however public comments are scheduled. Speak out Tuesday night ( 7PM at town hall) during public comments. Tell them to let the Planning Board and HPC do their work. Ask them to represent their constituents and not just the developer. Call (973) 509-4901 for your representative’s name. Mayor Robert Jackson: [email protected] 1st Ward Cllr. Hurlock: [email protected] 2nd Ward Cllr. Schlager: [email protected] 3rd Ward Cllr. Spiller: [email protected] 4th Ward Cllr. Baskerville: [email protected] At-Large Robert J. Russo: [email protected] At-Large Rich McMahon: [email protected] Ask your mayor and council representatives to explain what reasons they have to push their own Lackawanna Plaza plan against overwhelming opposition.....why do they only support what the developer wants who brought us the highly criticized Valley and Bloom project.... and once again an over sized, bulky plan. This first stage of approval ( Council could vote very soon) of the Redevelopment Plan will determine the height and bulk of any construction for Lackawanna Plaza. Later stages or site plans will determine the details of design, circulation etc. It takes 4 votes of the 7 member Council to approve this. Mayor Jackson and Rich McMahon have been historically been open about wanting large scale development in Montclair. That said, individual ward representatives are key to what happens in their ward. Its not what you say....”its what you do...or how you vote.” Mayor Jackson told residents that “the town will have more control” when he proposed “Redevelopment Area” designations in town. Is “ the town” a few elected officials?? Now instead of listening to what residents wanted during the Plaza“ visioning workshops” and Master Plan reviews, the Mayor and Council push a plan for 350 new apartments in Lackawanna Plaza...adding to another 1075 apartments planned in our downtown, according to a planning board member, Carmel Loughman. Residents have consistently complained about adding congestion and higher density and about wanting open space. A Council vote may be imminent in coming weeks for this unwanted plan. DO WHAT YOU CAN BUT ....DO SOMETHING Ask Council members to meet with you in a small group. Write to your representatives and Mayor Jackson. Attend a meeting below, speak out or hold a sign up. We all need to tell our officials to: 1.Stop bypassing the Planning Board and let them do their job for the town. 2.Stop ignoring what residents overwhelmingly want. 3.Stop ignoring what our Historic Preservation Commission recommendations for this nationally, state and locally registered historic Station which made Montclair into the nation’s early commuter town. 4.Stop ignoring Montclair’s Master Plan’s official land use guidelines. 5.Stop pushing for only what the developer wants. This can be a wonderful opportunity to enhance our downtown with a development to be proud of and the Station at the center piece. Important Meeting Schedule. June 26 Planning Board was required by Council to review and provide recommendations for a Plan supporting what the developer wants and written by a planning firm hired by the Council. An alternate plan which incorporated what residents and HPC wanted had already been rejected by the Council. Mon, July 10, 7:30 Planning board finalizes Council Resolution with its recommendations after just one review meeting as Council required, short circuiting the normal process of several months of reviews. Tues, July 11, 7PM Council Conference meeting in town hall, 2nd floor. Residents normally may speak on any topic. See town site for agenda. Tues, July 25, 7PM Council Regular meeting in town hall. Residents may speak during public comment. See town site for agenda. **See the town site’s appropriate page for meeting agendas and changes which are usually posted just 1-2 days before. Call (973) 509-4901 if you need your representative’s name. Mayor Robert Jackson: [email protected] 1st Ward Cllr. Hurlock: [email protected] 2nd Ward Cllr. Schlager: [email protected] 3rd Ward Cllr. Spiller: [email protected] 4th Ward Cllr. Baskerville: [email protected] At-Large Robert J. Russo: [email protected] At-Large Rich McMahon: [email protected] |
Links:
Details of Redevelopment Area Proposals Council Email addresses, Meeting Agendas and Minutes HPC Meeting Agendas Planning Board Agendas Archives
March 2024
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