Monday, October 11, 2010 (Morning)
NEWS
Frantic behind-the-scenes dealings could resuscitate Hudson River tunnel project (Staff, The Star-Ledger) Trenton, Mercer County
“The white, twin-engine Gulfstream IV jet lifted quickly off the runway, banking purposefully toward Trenton like a cruise missile seeking its target.”
N.J. has yet to revise its eminent domain rules (Jordan, Asbury Park Press) Statewide
“New Jersey continues to lag in modernizing its eminent domain laws, with dozens of other states having changed their rules in the five years since the Supreme Court upheld the government’s right to take land for private development.”
Nonprofit to return to Mahwah zoning board for variance to operate retreat (Boucicaut, Mahwah Suburban News) Mahwah, Sussex County
“Chai Lifeline, an international nonprofit organization, will be returning to the Zoning Board of Adjustment on Wednesday, Oct. 20, in its campaign to continue using a home on Ramapo Valley Road as a getaway for families with sick children.”
Chatham, NJ, seeks professional planner to discourage franchises (Duffy, The Daily Record) Chatham, Morris County
“Borough officials have looked into the future and decided they need quick help from a professional planner.”
OPINION
Settling infrastructure issues is key to economic prosperity (Medina, for NJ Biz) Statewide
“Only four states are smaller in size than New Jersey, yet the state ranks seventh in terms of economic size, and ninth in population. More than 100 million consumers with a collective purchasing power of $2 trillion live within a 24-hour drive of New Jersey.”
Wednesday, October 6, 2010 (Afternoon)
Local Environmental and Community Groups Reach Settlement with Newark Garbage Incinerator (Whiten, Jersey City Independent) Newark, Essex County
“Just a few miles west of Jersey City, in Newark’s Ironbound section, sits the Covanta garage incinerator. The facility, the largest in New Jersey, has the capacity to burn up to 2,800 tons of municipal solid waste every day; it burns much of Essex County’s garbage, as well as most of Manhattan’s.”
Chatham Borough to re-evaluate business district zoning (Ivers, The Independent Press) Chatham, Morris County
“Taller buildings, a drive-through restaurant or two, better signage for parking and a more clear definition of what a restaurant and what is an eating and drinking establishment could change the borough’s business district….after the zoning is studied.”
Thursday, July 15, 2010 (Evening)
Zoning Board says ‘no’ to housing for the mentally ill (Prochilo, The Montclair Times) Montclair, Essex County
“Following months of contentious hearings that drew large crowds to the Municipal Building, the Zoning Board of Adjustment denied a nonprofit’s bid to construct housing for its mentally ill clients along Orange Road.”
Residents urge council to stand firm on age restriction for Pinnacle, Visions (Prisament, Shore News Today) Absecon, Atlantic County
“About 20 residents, most living near the stalled downtown Pinnacle project, told City Council at its July 1 meeting that the town should stand firm on the 55-and-older restriction for it and other local developments.”
Planning Board OKs Master Plan Revisions (Loffredo, Wyckoff Patch) Wyckoff, Bergen County
“Revisions to the Master Plan, a document guiding land use in the township, has been adopted by the Planning Board.”
Stop & Shop Objects to ShopRite Hearings (Loffredo, Wyckoff Patch) Wyckoff, Bergen County
“Hearings on Inserra Supermarket Inc.’s proposal to build a ShopRite at the site of the old A&P on Greenwood Avenue began Wednesday night over the objection of an attorney representing Stop & Shop.”
Chatham NJ aims to keep tattoo, piercing businesses off Main Street (Duffy, The Daily Record) Chatham, Morris County
“The borough council on Monday intends to vote on an ordinance that would restrict adult entertainment and businesses that offer tattoos and body piercing.
July 2, 2010 (Morning)
NEWS
Another Courtyards Plan Wins Variances (Staff, redbankgreen.com) — Red Bank, Monmouth County
“Less than a year after a new zone was created at Red Bank’s train station to encourage a mix of high-density housing and retail activity, the borough zoning board last night greenlighted a plan that could put even greater density, but no stores, on a vacant Monmouth Street lot.”
Chatham lighting law OK’d despite protest (Robinson, The Chatham Courier) — Chatham, Morris County
“Despite still more protest from a small contingent of Madison neighbors, Township Committee members last Thursday unanimously adopted a controversial ordinance that sets standards for lighting at parks and athletic fields.”
OPINION
As long as you’re green, you can grow (Lowry, The Record)
“First of all, let’s get something straight: The ruinous oil spill spreading all manner of havoc in the Gulf of Mexico is not just President Obama’s problem, and it’s not just BP’s problem.”
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.”
