Friday, August 12, 2011
North Jersey towns hail extended timetable for master plan revisions (Harris , northjersey.com) Statewide
“Locals officials in New Jersey and planning experts are lauding as sensible a new law relaxing the requirement that towns undertake master plan revisions every six years.”
Along the Jersey Shore, a Struggle to Get to the Sand (Perez-Pena, The New York Times) Jersey Shore
“If you find the rare parking spot here, and climb one of the few public stairways over the seawall to a crowded patch of sand, you might notice a nearly empty expanse of beach nearby, beyond a ‘no trespassing sign.’”
Friday, July 29, 2011
Keeping public access public (Oswald, The Asbury Park Press) Jersey Shore
“Anglers are anxious.”
60-unit condo plan under consideration in Burlington City (O’Sullivan, phillyburbs.com) Burlington City, Burlington County
“A plan for a 60-unit condominium development in the Yorkshire neighborhood has raised concerns about density, parking and environmental impact.”
New Development for a Tired Industrial Town (Martin, The New York Times) Harrison, Hudson County
“Starting leasing next month beside the PATH station here: 275 new rental units with an attended lobby, a fitness center, an outdoor pool and volleyball court, a residents’ lounge, and garage parking — all within walking distance of a major-league soccer stadium.”
First phase of Pleasantville’s City Center Project would add 300 condos, retail space (Spahr, The Press of Atlantic City) Atlantic City, Atlantic County
“The city is close to acquiring the last properties it needs to begin the first phase of a roughly $150 million downtown redevelopment project.”
New Jersey sets new record for solar energy (Baxter, NorthJersey.com) Statewide
“The state hit a new record in June for solar energy installations and the resulting electric generation capacity compared to any prior month, according to state environmental officials.”
Residents Voice Concerns Over Walmart Windmills (Piniat, Lacey Patch) Lacey, Ocean County
“Lanoka Harbor resident Peter Zarycki thought it was a joke when he received a certified letter notifying his neighborhood that windmills might be installed on top of lighting fixturs in the Walmart parking lot.”
North Jersey religious groups fighting zoning laws and winning (Yellin, NorthJersey.com) North Jersey
“Religious groups across North Jersey are challenging local zoning laws with plans to put houses of worship on dwindling taxable land, and if legal precedent is any judge, city boards and unhappy neighbors don’t have a prayer.”
Morristown may form shade tree commission for public education campaign (Coughlin, MorristownGreen.com) Morristown, Morris County
“Is it time for tree-age in Morristown?”
Town Council Passess Ordinance to Add Riparian Zone Protections (De Bellis, Berkeley Heights Patch) Berkeley Heights, Union County
“Residents opposed to an ordinance that amends the township’s code on flood damage prevention to include riparian zone protections continued their protests to the town council on Tuesday night.”
Planning Board clears way for gentleman’s club (Prisament, Shore News Today) Galloway, Atlantic County
“The Planning Board cleared the way for a ‘gentleman’s club to open at the Vienna Inn on the White Horse Pike on Thursday, July 21.”
Tuesday, November 30, 2010 (Morning)
Cherry Hill rejects affordable housing proposal (Walsh, The Courier-Post) Cherry Hill, Camden County
“The township planning board has rejected an affordable-housing proposal for the Short Hills Farm neighborhood, but an almost decade-long fight over the issue seems far from over.”
Plans to build on beachfront lot in Ocean City benefits charity but disturbs neighbors (Miller/Dineen, The Press of Atlantic City) Ocean City, Cape Map County
“A gift by the estate of late candymaker Helen Shriver Schilling is stirring controversy over one of New Jersey’s rarest treasures: an undeveloped beachfront lot.”
Wednesday, September 22, 2010 (Morning)
N.J. top court rules Long Branch couple will not be paid for beach taken by eminent domain (Spoto, The Star Ledger) Long Branch, Monmouth County
“Beaches created through sand replenishment projects are public property and do not become part of adjacent private lands, the state’s highest court ruled today.”
Raritan Planning Board likely to lift Willow Walk 55-and-older age restriction as result of court ruling (Mustac, Messenger-Gazette) Raritan, Somerset County
“The Planning Board at its next meeting will likely lift much of the 55-and-older age restriction originally placed on the Willow Walk condominium development when it was approved several years ago.”
O.B. looking to change house of worship zoning (Ciraulo, Suburban) Old Bridge, Middlesex County
“Township officials are considering zoning changes that could affect pending building applications for houses of worship.”
Lawrence mulls continued fight against Verizon cell tower (Galler, The Trentonian) Lawrence, Mercer County
“Is the Township Council considering appealing the latest twist in Verizon’s cellular tower lawsuit in the New Jersey Supreme Court?”
Homes for All to build 82 affordable-housing units in Manitou Park (Sastrowardoyo, The Asbury Park Press) Berkeley, Ocean County
“Just past the intersection of Seventh Street and Fifth Avenue in Manitou Park is a new stretch of blacktop, cresting up a slight hill before continuing into the distance as far as the eye can see. The new pavement, as well as two new houses on it, are emblematic of the new road that Manitou Park is taking.”
No decision on Enchantment (Gaffney, The Times of Trenton) East Windsor, Mercer County
“Both sides in the battle over the second phase of the Enchantment age-restricted housing development dug in their heels Monday during the township’s planning board meeting.”
Wednesday, September 1, 2010 (Morning)
NEWS
Jersey City Zoning Board meets tonight to hear developer’s renewed request to tear down Sixth Street Embankment so he could build condos (Hayes, The Jersey Journal) Jersey City, Hudson County
“Developer Steve Hyman is again asking the Jersey City Zoning Board of Adjustment to let him tear down the Sixth Street Embankment to build condominiums.”
City To Meet With NJ Transit About Potential Redevelopment Plan (Moses, Hoboken Patch) Hoboken, Hudson County
“New Jersey Transit has reached out to the city to talk about a potential new plan for the downtown tracks, Mayor Dawn Zimmer said Tuesday night.”
OPINION
Editorial: A better beach balance (Staff Editorial, The Philadelphia Inquirer) Jersey Shore
“Given New Jersey’s varied Shore communities and the recession-driven stresses being felt on town finances, it may make sense for Gov. Christie to scale back the one-size-fits-all approach to promoting public access to the state’s beaches.”
Monday, August 23, 2010 (Evening)
Senate approves legislation to turn landfills and quarries into renewable energy farms (Staff, New Jersey Newsroom) Trenton, Mercer County
“A bill would permit the development of solar, photovoltaic and wind energy facilities on closed New Jersey landfills or quarries was approved 34 to 0 by the state Senate Monday.”
New Jersey may ease rules on beach, waterway access (Miller, The Press of Atlantic City) Statewide
“New Jersey municipalities will have more power to enforce curfews or otherwise restrict public access to waterways under a state proposal.”
Friday, June 25, 2010 (Morning)
NEWS
Haddon Heights mayor’s development plan stirring debate (Osborne, The Philadelphia Inquirer) — Haddon Heights, Camden County
“Haddon Heights is the kind of town where residents remember their neighbors’ roof repairs and give visitors directions like “Turn right at the big canons - you can’t miss it.”
Bayonne Local Redevelopment Authority approves negotiations to sell Port Authority a third of the former MOT; likely use will be port facility, not housing and commercial development (Hack, The Jersey Journal) — Bayonne, Hudson County
“The board of the Bayonne Local Redevelopment Authority voted 6-0 last night to authorize the agency’s executive director to negotiate the sale of 128 acres at the Peninsula at Bayonne Harbor to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.”
Public access to N.J. beaches may see setback with revised state regulations (Spoto, The Star-Ledger) — Jersey Shore
“When Shore communities were ordered to improve public access to beaches three years ago, state environmental protection officials hoped the changes would yield a double benefit: More visitors to the oceanfront and more beach replenishment projects.”
Proposed New Jersey Light Rail Expansion Moves Forward (Roman, Metro Magazine) — South Jersey
“The Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) and Port Authority Transit Corp. (PATCO), a subsidiary of the DRPA, in close cooperation with the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), are pursuing new transit service between Glassboro and Camden in Southern New Jersey.”
Changes in N.J. affordable housing near impasse (Rao/Lu, The Philadelphia Inquirer) — Trenton, Mercer County
“Lawmakers on Thursday appeared to be moving toward an impasse on proposed affordable-housing changes, one week after Gov. Christie’s administration pressed the Legislature to approve changes by the end of June.”
Wawa, CVS slated for Maple Shade (Bishop, The Burlington County Times) — Maple Shade, Burlington County
“The convenience store and pharmacy business should get even more competitive along Route 73.”
OPINION
Embrace the energy value of the wind and the sun (Staff Editorial, The Home News and Tribune)
“Energy from the wind and sun will not end our addiction to fossil fuel. But it will help ease the consequences.”
Monday, June 21, 2010 (Afternoon)
NEWS
N.J. Assembly approves bill to sell 15 acres to Woodbridge for $1 (Hutchins, The Star-Ledger) — Woodbridge, Middlesex County
“A bill that would allow the state to sell more than 15 acres of land at East Jersey State Prison to Woodbridge for $1 passed in the Assembly today.”
Westfield Planning Board Postpones Vote on MetroPCS Application for Antennas on the Roof of 264 Prospect Street (Pisauro, The Alternative Press) — Westfield, Union County
“The Westfield Planning Board postponed a vote until next month at the earliest on an application by MetroPCS to install six antennas and related equipment on the roof of a garden apartment building at 264 Prospect Street, because of a lack of necessary information concerning the proposal.”
Shore towns in N.J. go to great lengths to keep outsiders away (The Associated Press) — Mantoloking, Ocean County
“Some shore beach towns have plenty of ways to keep outsiders off their sand: Limit on-street parking, prohibit food and drink, and have no public bathrooms.”
OPINION
If New Jersey were a country, here’s how it would rank (Evans, New Jersey Future, published in The Press of Atlantic City)
“In some key areas, the Garden State - if it were the Garden Nation - would perform well in comparison to other countries. For example, New Jersey’s per-capita gross national income would be the sixth-highest in the world.”
Friday, June 18, 2010 (Morning)
Chatham Twp. field light regs no comfort to Madison neighbors (Robinson, The Madison Eagle) — Madison, Morris County
“While a proposed playing field light ordinance before the Chatham Township Committee is getting one more review before it comes to a vote, any changes are likely to placate Madison neighbors who call the ordinance’s provisions inadequate to protect their properties from glare.”
Berkeley Heights Planning Board Skeptical of Town Houses Proposed for Sherman Avenue (Ver Hoven, The Alternative Press.com) — Berkeley Heights, Union County
“A plan for building 11 town houses on Sherman Avenue in Berkeley Heights was proposed at the Berkeley Heights Planning Board meeting Wednesday Night.”
N.J.’s oldest traffic circle celebrates 85 years of confusing motorists (Frassinelli, The Star-Ledger) — Pennsauken, Camden County
“Eight and half decades ago — before it became the nation’s most congested state and drivers confused right-of-way with “get outta my way!” — New Jersey gave America the highway traffic circle.”
New beach-access rule / Sensible compromise (Press Editorial, The Press of Atlantic City) — Atlantic City, Atlantic County
“The state Department of Environmental Protection made a muddle of the simple concept of public access to the beaches and bays with its overreaching 2007 rules. A state appeals court ended up slapping down the agency in a ruling that severely undermined the DEP’s authority over the state’s beaches.”
