September 21, 2011
NEWS
Court tells board to try again on project decision (Davis, Shore News Today) Middle Township, Cape May County
“The Appellate Division of the Superior Court has told the township zoning board to reconsider granting variances to a commercial developer that wants to build a 90-unit affordable housing project.”
COURTS
East Windsor Group, LLC and TR Liquor, LLC v. Township Council of the Township of Toms River and Township of Toms River et al (Appellate Division, Ocean County) Toms River, Ocean County
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Affordable-housing advocates back Princeton Junction transit village (Costa, The Times of Trenton) West Windsor, Mercer County
“As the long-debated InterCap transit village at Princeton Junction nears final approval by West Windsor officials, groups that advocate for more affordable housing in the state have joined supporting the 800-unit project.”
Jersey City Planning Board to have public hearing on redevelopment of McGinley Square (Staff, The Jersey Journal) Jersey City, Hudson County
“The Jersey City Planning Board will meet tonight to hear public comments on the controversial McGinley Square Redevelopment Plan, The Jersey Journal reports.”
High marks for Pier Village (Williams, The Asbury Park Press) Long Branch, Monmouth County
“Crack houses, a rat-infested water slide and boarded up arcades. This was the setting where the Pier Village retail and residential complex was built in a city that had endured decades of decline.”
Affordable Housing Proposal Inches Further (Lee, Bloomfield Patch) Bloomfield, Essex County
“In an unanimous vote with all seven members approving, the Bloomfield Township Council approved creating a pilot program Monday night for a proposed affordable housing complex for senior citizens and people with disabilities.”
Lower Township tells woman, 79, to get rid of six chickens she is raising for eggs (Degener, Press of Atlantic City) Lower Township, Cape May County
“When Claire Nagel heard about a national movement toward locally grown foods, she planted a big garden and got some chickens.”
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Hunterdon among counties offered $3.248 million for Highlands land preservation (Staff, Hunterdon County Democrat) Hunterdon, Morris, Warren, Passaic Counties
“The New Jersey Highlands Development Credit Bank (HDC Bank) has made offers to preserve another 130 acres of land in Morris, Warren, Passaic and Hunterdon counties, providing up to $3,248,000 to landowners in the Highlands Preservation Area.”
Zoning Board rejects plan for drug, alcohol rehab facility (Staff, The Hammonton News) Hammonton, Atlantic County
“The Zoning Board voted 4-3 to reject a use variance that would have allowed an impatient drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility to open on the White Horse Pike.”
Public on Master Plan: Protect Neighborhoods, Promote Business, Keep It Simple (Bergen, Ocean City Patch) Ocean City, Cape May County
“Ocean City’s Planning Board invited the public on Wednesday night to share their thoughts on the future of the island — and about 20 people answered the call.”
Bike and walking studies gear up in Monmouth, Ocean (Higgs, The Asbury Park Press) Monmouth, Ocean Counties
“As Red Bank goes, so goes Monmouth County, at least when it comes to using the same interactive online and in-person format the borough used to gather information for the borough’s Bike and Pedestrian report.”
Middle Township Committee Gives Nod to New Master Plan (McGuire, Cape May County Herald) Middle, Cape May County
“They grew a proverbial line in the sand, as well as the streets, the woods, and wetlands, too. But at the end of the day, Middle Township Committee unanimously passed Ordinance No. 1392-11, Chapter 250 Zoning, which officially adopted the township’s new master plan.”
Officials Call On Residents To Help Fight Proposed Development (Antonelli, Cranford Patch) Cranford, Union County
“It’s going to take more than a legal appeal by the Cranford Township Committee to prevent 360 residential units from being built on Birchwood Avenue. The entire township must come together in opposition, officials said during a special meeting Tuesday night.”
Monday, December 13, 2010 (Afternoon)
NEWS
N.J. Assembly approves bill abolishing Council on Affordable Housing (Friedman, The Star-Ledger) Statewide
“The state Assembly has passed a controversial bill that would abolish the Council on Affordable Housing, but neither Republicans nor affordable housing advocates are happy with it.”
Roselle council members say they support apartment at Roselle Golf Course (Caroom, The Star-Ledger) Statewide
“Roselle’s council member pledged this week to support an ambitious development on the city’s largest open plot of land at the Roselle Golf Course, a project that has encountered vocal opposition from residents.”
A 40-story building for Newport (Kaulessar, Hudson Reporter) Jersey City, Hudson County
“Newport residents will probably see a new 40-story building rising in their neighborhood next year.”
Cell tower project can move forward after Lakeland Regional High School district receives letter of approval from DOE commissioner (Kolton, Suburban Trends) Wanaque, Passaic County
“Lakeland Regional High School’s planned cell phone tower is ‘ready to rock and roll,’ said Chief School Administrator Anthony Riscica at the Tuesday, Dec. 7 meeting of the Board of Education.”
JOB
Principal Planner — Borough of North Wildwood, Cape May County
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.”
Tuesday, October 26, 2010 (Morning)
Towns to seek review of housing decision (Staff, Courier Post Online) Trenton, Mercer County
“The New Jersey League of Municipalities says it will ask the state’s highest court to reconsider how the state decides how much affordable housing each municipality must provide.
Stone Harbor adds historical preservation to master plan (Leach, The Press of Atlantic City) Stone Harbor, Cape May County
“As new development springs up along the New Jersey coast, Stone Harbor has been able to maintain a number of historic buildings that reflect the borough’s sleepy origins.”
Glen Ridge planning board says no to Plofker (Roll, Glen Ridge Voice) Glen Ridge, Essex County
“The borough planning board rejected a request Wednesday night for a new townhouse development on Glen Ridge Avenue.”
Lawrence OKs Quaker Bridge Mall expansion (Galler, The Trentonian) Lawrence, Mercer County
“The owners of Quaker Bridge Mall got the green light to expand the Route 1 retailing complex from the Lawrence Planning Board.”
Thursday, October 14, 2010 (Morning)
NEWS
COAH application deemed complete, then COAH rules invalidated (Zimmer, Suburban Trends) West Milford, Passaic County
“The township’s third-round Housing Element and Fair Share Plan application was recently deemed to be administratively complete by the state’s Council on Affordable Housing (COAH).”
State agrees to give big buck$ to Hamilton, Robbinsville and East Windsor for tree replacement (Abdur-Rahman, The Trentonian) Mercer County
“The state finally saw the forest for trees in Hamilton, Robbinsville and East Windsor.”
Robbinsville: Council eyes smoother path for Town Center South (Degnan, The Messenger-Press) Robbinsville, Mercer County
“The Township Council is set to vote tonight (Thursday) on a resolution aimed at jump-starting the long-stalled development of 90 acres on the south side of Route 33 collectively known as Town Center South.”
Avalon considers affordable housing plan (Leach, The Press of Atlantic City) Avalon, Cape May County
“As the state continues to debate how affordable housing requirements will change in New Jersey, the borough is beginning to work on its own plan to meet the needs of a barrier island community.”
OPINION
New Jersey cannot afford to cancel rail tunnel project (Bressler, for the Times of Trenton) Statewide
“A little more than 24 hours after canceling New Jersey’s commitment to help pay for a second rail tunnel connecting New York and New Jersey, Gov. Chris Christie met with Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and agreed to rethink his decision. Although the hour-long meeting did not resolve the governor’s concerns about how the tunnel should be funded, it did emphasize one important point: New Jersey has options beyond simply walking away.”
Thursday, September 23, 2010 (Morning)
Congressman: Christie ‘a hammer’ in seeking solution to Bayonne Bridge height problem (Kitchenman, NJ Biz) Bayonne, Hudson County
“At a news conference announcing the dedication of funding to solve the Bayonne Bridge problem, Gov. Chris Christie said he would consider the raising or replacement of the iconic bridge marking the port’s entrance a priority for his administration.”
Judge approves settlement between TMB and Livingston (D’Onofrio, The Item of Millburn and Short Hills) Livingston, Essex County
“New Jersey State Court Judge Dennis F. Carey III approved the affordable housing settlement between TMB Partners, LLC and the township of Livingston, Sept. 22 in Newark.”
Committee under fire from environmentalists, developers on zoning (Linehan, Shore News Today) Middle, Cape May County “Are plans for zoning in Middle Township too restrictive for development, or not restrictive enough.”
Emerson council opposes Paramus development (Superville, The Record) Emerson, Bergen County “The Borough Council has adopted a resolution opposing a proposed residential development off Solider Hill Road in Paramus, asking that the site be protected and preserved as open space.”
Tuesday, September 21, 2010 (Afternoon)
Refuge Group Challenges Middle’s Master Plan (Hart, Cape May County Herald) Middle, Cape May County
“Some friends met at the Middle Township Committee meeting Mon., Sept. 21 to voice objections to the few pieces of the municipality’s master plan, which they claim will adversely affect protected open space in the Township.”
Windmill farm limits churn up mixed reactions (Murray, The Star-Ledger) Statewide
“Though he’s publicly embraced energy-producing windmill farms, Gov. Chris Christie has literally drawn a line in the sand restricting them from being built on certain sections of New Jersey’s coastline.”
Wednesday, August 25, 2010 (Afternoon)
NEWS
Wyckoff Planning Board chairman skewers design of proposed ShopRite (Nesi, Suburban News) Wyckoff, Bergen County
“Wyckoff - How many towers is too many? For Planning Board chairman Richard Bonsignore, the answer may be one.”
Jackson council supports proposed state legislation (Morton, Tri-Town News) Jackson, Ocean County
“Members of the Jackson Township Council have joined a growing list of municipal officials who are voicing their support for legislation that would change the face of affordable housing development in New Jersey.”
COURT OPINION
Gold Coast Properties, LLC vs. Ocean City Zoning Board of Adjustment (Appellate Division) Cape May County
Involves defective serving of notice. Appellate Division affirms Law Division’s summary dismissal of notice complaint, asserting the Plantiff’s claim was filed late.
