Friday, October 22, 2010 (Afternoon)
NEWS
Gov. Christie extends deadline to consider Hudson River rail tunnel (Staff, The Associated Press) Trenton, Mercer County
“It appears the deadline has been extended to determine whether to continue the biggest public works project under way in the nation.”
PSE&G unveils project to install solar panels at 5 Newark schools (St. Martin, The Star Ledger) Newark, Essex County
“Homes and businesses across the state will run off power generated panels on the rooftops and carports of a handful of Newark schools, PSE&G said today.”
Developer’s application denied (Bockmann, The Times of Trenton) East Windsor, Mercer County
“The township’s planning board this week denied an application by Enchantment at East Windsor LLC to remove age restrictions from a planned housing development, much to the relief of many who attended the board’s meeting.”
Monroe zoning board to decide fate of special-need haven run by “The Greek” (Prato, The Home News Tribune) Monroe, Middlesex County
“The word ‘closed’ has been draped over the Stone Museum and Greek’s Playland sign since February, when the wonderland for disabled children shut its doors as an indirect result of a use-variance denial. An upcoming hearing for the playland could decide whether it closes permanently.”
Glen Ridge board shoots down townhouse proposal (Corbett, The Star Ledger) Glen Ridge, Essex County
“Residents living on the oldest street in Glen Ridge say they want to preserve the character of their neighborhood, where modest, detached homes built in the 19th century sit on narrow but deep wedge-shaped lots.”
OPINION
Christie’s costly tunnel vision (Maraziti, Jr., for The Star Ledger) Statewide
“It’s anyone’s guess if Gov. Chris Christie will pull the plug on the Access to the Region’s Core tunnel project. If he does, the argument that it is the ‘fiscally responsible’ thing to do will not hold much water. Why? Because New Jersey’s coffers need ARC.”
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.”
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.”
Monday, August 23, 2010 (Afternoon)
NEWS
West Side Light Rail Extension Project Picks Up Some Federal Funding (Whiten, The Jersey City Independent) Jersey City, Hudson County
“Last fall, NJ Transit approved a study to explore the feasibility of extending the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail from the West Side Avenue station across Route 440 to the planned Bayfront development along the Hackensack River.”
40 acres preserved in Bethlehem Twp., next to Tower Hill, Jugtown reserves (Staff, Hunterdon County Democrat) Bethlehem, Hunterdon County
“Some 40 acres of forest and wetlands here have been preserved by the Hunterdon Land Trust, the New Jersey Audubon Society, the township and the New Jersey Water Supply Authority for a total cost of $285,000.”
OPINION
Mayors’ suit aims to protect communities (Fried, for The Times of Trenton) Robbinsville/Hamilton/East Windsor, Mercer County
“Earlier this month, Robbinsville, Hamilton and East Windsor took the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to court to block a classic bait-and-switch: Enticing us to turn over land to widen the New Jersey Turnpike with promises of $15 million in reforestation funds, then shipping the money elsewhere after the bulldozing had begun.”
COURT OPINION
O’Neill v. Township of Tewksbury Land Use Board (Appellate Division) Tewksbury, Hunterdon County
