September 1, 2011
NEWS
Crossroads Developer Files Site Plan (Mazzola, Mahwah Patch) Mahwah, Bergen County
“The Crossroads Developers LLC, the company seeking to build a 600,000 sq.-foot shopping center at the intersection of Routes 17 and 287 in Mahwah, filed a preliminary site plan with the township building department, according to the developer’s attorney Jim Jaworski.”
Zoning Board Puts Final Stamp on Quick Chek Application (Levine, Howell Patch) Howell, Monmouth County
“Last Monday, the Howell Township Zoning Board spent a majority of their meeting hearing and approving an application for a new lot to sell new and pre-owned automobiles. However, this was not the only matter on the agenda, as the board still had a great deal to work on throughout the session.”
OPINION
Gov. Chris Christie’s campaign promise forgotten (Amick, Times of Trenton) Statewide
“I will provide New Jerseyans regularly occurring opportunities to petition for their government for action by amending the state constitution to include a provision whereby every 10 years, voters will have the opportunity to convene a popularly elected constitutional convention.”
Irene Winds Down, But Turbines Keep Spinning (Shields, Moorestown Patch) Statewide
“I wondered over the weekend how to craft a story about our newest neighbor—that blowhard Irene—while injecting some environmental message. With that storm in mind, what lesson did we take home, now that we know we still have homes?”
August 24, 2011
NEWS
Acting Gov. Guadagno signs bill suspending 2.5 percent fee on non-housing construction (Hester Sr., New Jersey Newsroom) Statewide
“Acting Gov. Kim Guadagno on Wednesday signed legislation that extends the moratorium on the imposition of fees on non-residential construction projects to help fund affordable housing until July 1, 2013.”
OPINION
Innovative Land Use Requires Work, Patience and Sacrifice (Ashmun, for NJ Spotlight) Statewide
“A small, densely populated state with an old industrial infrastructure and limited natural resources: that is New Jersey. How has such a state remained a successful economic engine and retained its nickname as the “Garden State”?
Friday, August 19, 2011
Gov. Christie, N.Y. Gov. Cuomo say OK to scaled-back toll hike (Strunsky, The Star Ledger) North Jersey
“Softening a proposal for unprecedented increases on Port Authority bridges and tunnels, the governors of New Jersey and New York have signed off on an agreement to raise tolls $1.50 next month, followed by additional hikes of 75 cents per year through 2015.
Shopping center proposal causes controversy in Bedminster (MacKenzie, mycentraljersey.com) Bedminster, Somerset County
“A narrow 10-acre strip of land between Interstate 287 and Route 202/206 in Pluckemin section of the township has for years housed a State Police barracks, along with a storage dome for road salt and a garage for New Jersey Department of Transportation vehicles.”
Morristown council introduces revised Speedwell plan (Coughlin, Morristown Green) Morristown, Morris County
“The vote was unanimous, but there were some bumps getting there.”
Zoning Board and Developer Clash Over Colors (Van Embden, Red Bank-Shrewsbury Patch) Red Bank, Monmouth County
“In Red Bank’s designated Antiques District, an area of town that may as well be renamed the ‘Hey, don’t forget about us,’ district, a developer wants to build a colorful, multi-use complex, complete with apartments promising modern living and a first-floor brew pub.”
COURTS
TSI Marlboro, Inc. v. Township of Marlboro Zoning Board of Adjustment (Appellate Division)
United Water of New Jersey v. Zoning Board of Adjustment of the Borough of Montvale et al (Appellate Division)
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Gov. Christie says he’s still undecided on Port Authority toll hikes and PATH fare hikes (Strunsky, The Star-Ledger) Statewide
“A day after public hearings on a proposed toll and PATH fare hike, Gov. Chris Christie said he had not decided on the proposal but told reporters ‘there were more people spoke in favor of the toll hike than against it.’”
Study: Stormwater Basins Harming Barnegat Bay (Nee, Point Pleasant Patch) Jersey Shore
“Stormwater basins built along the Barnegat Bay watershed may be harming the waterway, according to a new study.”
State has no power to block gas pipeline (Reilly, njherald.com) Sussex County
“The state Department of Environmental Protection has no power to stop the natural gas pipeline that is planned to cut through High Point State Park, a state official said Wednesday.”
Solar Farm planned in East Rutherford (Staff, South Bergenite) East Rutherford, Bergen County
“The Planning Board approved zoning changes on Aug. 8 to allow a solar farm east of Route 17 in order to allow Diamond Chemical company to harness its power.”
Rutgers graduate students to take a crack at Raritan waterfront (Cooper, Somerset Messenger-Gazette) Raritan, Hunterdon County
“The future of the town’s river front area is to be envisioned by a group of graduate students from Rutgers University Bloustein School of Planning and Policy this fall. The students will meet with borough officials on Friday to launch the project.”
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
NEWS
Gov. Christie Signs Historic Preservation Bill That Will Bring Over a Million Dollars to Jersey City Projects (Whiten, The Jersey City Independent) Jersey City, Hudson County
“Gov. Christie yesterday signed into law a bill that appropriates more than $1 million in historic preservation funding to four Jersey City projects.”
A Suburban Town Sees Housing Where Retail Rules (Duffy, The New York Times) Morristown, Morris County
“Jordan Eppolito has taken a liking to to his new house here in the Morris County seat, about 30 miles west of New York City. Mr. Eppolito, a 28-year-old entrepreneur who plans to open a pizza shop this fall on South Street, lives in a new condominium overlooking the Morristown Green, the historic park at the center of town.”
OPINION
Christie, deflecting anger, prepares toll deal (Ahearn, The Bergen Record) Statewide
“The melodrama that Governor Christie has been stage-managing with toll and fare increases on Port Authority bridges, tunnels and trains should fool no one. His fingerprints are all over the script.”
Friday, August 5, 2011
NJ Environmental Infrastructure Trust Fund to get $650 million as Chris Christie signs bill (Moore, The Asbury Park Press) Statewide
“With a fine summer day on the Barnegat Bay as his backdrop, Gov. Chris Christie signed legislation that will recharge the state’s Environmental Infrastructure Trust Fund with nearly $650 million, including $32 million for projects to stauch the flow of polluted storm water to the bay.”
Rumson OKs subdivision for Tredwell House land (Higgs, The Asbury Park Press) Rumson, Monmouth County
“The fourth time was a charm for the owners of the Ridge Road land that was the site of the historic Tredwell house, who won permission to subdivide the land for future building and will give the borough some historic artifacts from the site in the deal.”
Tuesday, December 21, 2010 (Morning)
NEWS
Affordable-housing bill pulled after Christie’s veto threat (Rao, The Philadelphia Inquirer) Trenton, Mercer County
“Efforts to overhaul New Jersey’s controversial affordable-housing rules by the end of the year crumbled Monday when a housing bill was pulled from the Senate voting agenda hours before Gov. Christie said he would veto it if it passed without further changes.”
Solar proposal advances in Pemberton Township (Comegno, The Courier-Post) Pemberton, Burlington County
“One of the largest solar proposals in the Eastern United States has overcome a major hurdle.”
JOB
Full-time Municipal Engineer — Borough of Princeton, Mercer County
Thursday, December 16, 2010 (Morning)
New Jersey May Get $128 Million Refund From U.S. for Canceled Rail Tunnel (McNichol, Bloomberg) Statewide
“New Jersey will get a refund of almost half that $271 million it owes the federal government for canceling a proposed commuter-rail tunnel once the money is repaid, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said.”
N.J. Senate panel approves tax breaks for historic building rehabilitations, limos, movie studios (Friedman, The Star-Ledger) Statewide
“Developers and homeowners who rehabilitate historic buildings would be eligible for major tax breaks under a bill approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee today.”
Residents Make Last Ditch Effort to Stop Development (Thorne, Cranford Patch) Cranford, Union County
“The plan to build 163 housing units along South Avenue is now one step closer to becoming reality.”
Tuesday, December 14, 2010 (Afternoon)
Christie likely to veto housing bill (Levinsky, Burlington County Times) Statewide
“New Jersey lawmakers approved legislation Monday to rewrite the state’s housing law to eliminate the much-criticized Council on Affordable Housing, but the future of the bill is in doubt because Gov. Chris Christie is likely to veto it for not going far enough to reduce municipalities’ often costly housing burdens.”
Thursday, December 9, 2010 (Evening)
NEWS
Gov. Christie announces plan to protect Barnegat Bay, close Oyster Creek (Staff, The Associated Press) Lacey, Ocean County
“New Jersey Gov. Christie today unveiled a plan to protect Barnegat Bay from pollution and environmental degradation.”
State OKs redevelopment designation for Town Center South (Degnan, The Messenger-Press) Robbinsville, Mercer County
“The State has approved Robbinsville’s designation of 90 acres of homes, businesses and vacant land collectively known as Town Center South as an “area in need of redevelopment,” allowing the township to draft a plan and appoint a redeveloper to revive stalled construction projects there.”
‘Built-out’ communities are growing (Portlock, The Star-Ledger) Statewide
“The rate of new construction permits in urban and older-suburban areas in the Garden State more than doubled this decade because of demographic shifts and a revised state building code, according to a new report to be released today by a nonprofit land use research organization.”
JOBS
NJ Highlands Coalition — Policy Analyst & Campaign Coordinator (Boonton, Morris County)
