Thursday, December 23, 2010 (Evening)
Stalled Xanadu project still has a pulse (Brennan, The Record) Meadowlands
“The final meeting of the year for the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority board came and went Wednesday with no news about a new operator for Meadowlands Xanadu.”
Meadowlands board conditionally rejects plan to allow 800 housing units in Rutherford (Lamendola, South Bergenite) Meadowlands
“The New Jersey Meadowlands Commission (NJMC) conditionally rejected a plan last week that would have amended the Highland Cross Redevelopment Area in Rutherford, which would have made up to 800 housing units a permitted use on the approximately 26-acre property as well as 923,000 square feet of non-residential development divided between office, retail and hotel space.”
Wind turbines could be constructed on Atlantic City’s Steel Pier by this spring (Lemongello, The Press of Atlantic City) Atlantic City, Atlantic County
“As soon as the spring, the Steel Pier — once home to diving horses, giant billboards, and diving bells — could become the site of a new Boardwalk landmark: giant white windmills, designed to convert sea breezes into usable energy.”
Delsea Drive-In plans to tap solar energy (Funderburk, The Courier Post) Vineland, Cumberland County
“To keep admission prices affordable, the Delsea Drive-In will soon rely on solar power.”
Friday, December 17, 2010 (Morning)
NEWS
High Tension Surrounds Jersey City High Line (Klayko, The Architect’s Newspaper) Jersey City, Hudson County
“A battle over Jersey City’s 6th Street railway embankment — a half-mile long, stone-walled city landmark that some are calling Jersey’s answer to the High Line — has pitted preservationists against smart-growth advocates in a complex row over development rights that has landed in the U.S. Court of Appeals.”
How to Save Main Street (Tracy, Newsweek) Vineland, Cumberland County
“After the housing bubble burst in 2007, the Wells Fargo mortgage office became yet another dead-weight property along the main drag in Vineland, N.J.”
‘Mary and Joseph’ seek affordable housing at N.J. Statehouse (Hester, Sr., newjerseynewsroom.com) Trenton, Mercer County
Mary and Joseph, joined by leaders of New Jersey religious communities, made their annual visit to the Statehouse Thursday to call upon elected officials to make room at the inn for thousands of struggling New Jersey families.”
COURTS
Loori Bus Company v. Township of Middletown (Appellate Division) Monmouth County
Appellate Division upholds Law Division’s ruling overturning Zoning Board of Adjustment’s denial of a use variance for a bus storage lot. Agrees with Law Division’s finding that the Applicant’s successfully demonstrated that bus operations are an inherently beneficial use.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010 (Morning)
NJ Transit Unveils Second Version of Downtown Plan (Moses, Hoboken Patch) Hoboken, Hudson County
“New Jersey Transit presented a new vision of its $250 million plan for the Hoboken terminal on Tuesday night.”
Borough wants to send governor a message about light rail plan (Gemignani, Northern Valley Suburbanite) Tenafly, Bergen County
“Borough officials are leaning toward sending Governor Christie a letter stating local opposition to New Jersey Transit’s plans to re-establish passenger rail service in Tenafly accompanied by a companion resolution.”
Dealership gets OK to build solar car canopy (Funderburk, The Daily Journal) Vineland, Cumberland County
“Rossi Honda plans to build three canopies with an array of solar panels to cover new display vehicles and customer cars at its Delsea Drive dealership.”
Monday, October 4, 2010 (Evening)
OPINION
Revitalization projects would provide boost (Staff, The Daily Journal) Vineland, Cumberland County
“Two Vineland projects, one a near certainty and the other a tantalizing possibility, would be perfect fits for the city and provide an economic boost to the area.”
COURT OPINION
Market Street Mission v. Zoning Board of Adjustment of City of Asbury Park (Appellate Div) Asbury Park, Monmouth County
Appellate Division reverses the judgement of the trial court (affirming the denial of a use variance—inherently beneficial use) and remands the matter to the Zoning Board to set reasonable conditions.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010 (Morning)
Bradley Beach to build wind turbine with $10G energy grant (Gladden, The Asbury Park Press) Bradley Beach, Monmouth County
“Officials say a $10,000 Sustainable Energy Grant will be used to install a small wind turbine that will generate electricity for the borough’s sewer pumping station at Evergreen and Ocean avenues.”
Millville details wishes for Wawa tract development (Van Embden, The Press of Atlantic City) Millville, Cumberland County
“It’s been nearly two years since the city began discussing what to do with nearly 400 acres of environmentally sensitive land sandwiched between Union Lake and large-scale commercial development.”
Judge to decide Wednesday whether Galloway must allow parole office to be built (Previti, The Press of Atlantic City) Galloway, Atlantic County
“A court decision this Wednesday could thwart efforts to keep a parole office building out of Galloway Township.”
Board recommends smaller development on Roselle golf course (Caroom, The Star-Ledger) Roselle, Union County
“A major apartment development proposal for the Roselle Golf Club, the borough’s largest remaining open space, could be downsized after the planning board recommended significantly reducing the size of the development this week.”
Suspension of N.J.-N.Y. tunnel project may put federal funding at risk, proponents say (Sherman, The Star-Ledger) Hudson County
“Proponents of the $8.7 billion trans-Hudson rail tunnel warned today the 30-day suspension imposed on the massive project could put its federal funding at risk.”
Friday, September 10, 2010 (Morning)
NEWS
Vineland sued over Landis project (Funderburk, The Daily Journal) Vineland, Cumberland County
“The owners of the Crown Fried Chicken property on East and Landis Avenues have sued the city and state, claiming the city improperly designed their property as being in need of redevelopment.”
OPINION
Cranford development needs scrutiny (Campbell, for the Cranford Chronicle) Cranford, Union County
“As many of your readers are probably now aware, the Township Committee is currently considering an agreement to settle a lawsuit brought by the owners of 555 South Avenue. The owners of this property, Leigh Acquisition, LLC, have sued Cranford pursuant to the Mt. Laurel decisions (COAH), contending that Cranford has failed to meet its (NJ) constitutionally mandated affordable housing requirements, and thus Leigh Acquisition should be able to use the ‘builder’s remedy’ on their property. This ‘remedy’ allows a builder to build a lot more residential units on their land than would be allowed by the zoning ordinance, provided some of the units would be dedicated to low and moderate housing.”
COURT OPINION
Elegant Properties, LLC v. Township of Hazlet (Appellate Division) Hazlet, Monmouth County
Law Division granted a builder’s remedy to plaintiff to permit a 48 dwelling condo complex with a 25% set-aside. Township appealed. Appellate Division remands so the trial judge “can make appropriate findings of fact and conclusions of law in connection with all aspects of the matter.”
Wednesday, August 18, 2010 (Morning)
Millville tables ordinance to limit Motorsports Park noise as officials consider larger issues (Van Embden, The Press of Atlantic City) Millville, Cumberland County
“City Commission voted to table an ordinance Tuesday night that would have required New Jersey Motorsports Park to make some concessions. The reason: to consider asking the track for more concessions.”
Developer gives University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey 90 days to join Vineland medical school project (Barlas, The Press of Atlantic City) Vineland, Cumberland County
“The developer trying to create a medical school here said Tuesday he will give one of the state’s prominent medical teaching facilities 90 days to decide whether it wants to be part of the project.”
Developer said NJ Transit committed to additional Light Rail stop in Jersey City (Hayes, The Jersey Journal) Jersey City, Hudson County
“A developer seeking permission to build an interim parking lot at Grove and 18th Streets in Jersey City said NJ Transit has committed to building a Light Rail station there.”
Tuesday, August 10, 2010 (Evening)
Planning Board: AT&T Should Make Call or Leave (Kuty, Hopatcong Patch) Hopatcong, Warren County
“Soon AT&T will have to make a call.”
Scaled down Foley Square grows from 18 to 22 units (Neavill, Independent Press) New Providence, Union County
“For the developer of a proposed townhouse complex near the Murray Hill train station, August marks the end of a long journey often punctuated with roadblocks and potholes.”
Director unveils final draft of trails plan to Cumberland County Planning Board (Davis, The Daily Journal) Bridgeton, Cumberland County
“This section of South Jersey is looking a little more scenic under a draft plan the Cumberland County Department of Planning and Development has for gradually creating a system of trails leading around and out of the area.”
Wednesday, August 4, 2010 (Evening)
Fairfield passes first step in solar project (Adomaitis, nj.com) Fairfield, Cumberland County
“The first step toward the first, large-scale solar energy project in the township was passed unanimously Tuesday night.”
Judge reverses board approval of Hillsborough office building (Deak, The Courier News/The Home News Tribune) Hillsborough, Somerset County
“Citing a number of factors, a Superior Court judge has reversed the Planning Board’s approval of an office building in the township’s Neshanic section.”
N.J. to create panel to ‘overhaul’ public land leases for private firms (Murray, The Star-Ledger) Trenton, Mercer County
“The state Department of Environmental Protection said today it is creating a panel to ‘overhaul’ the leasing process by which private companies run pipelines, cables, electric lines and towers on public land, in the wake of controversy over a $45,750 flat feet that had been proposed for gas-line through northern New Jersey.”
