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.”
Monday, September 27, 2010 (Afternoon)
NEWS
No more Economic Development Funds From Delaware River Port Authority (Panyard, The Bulletin) South Jersey
“The pot o’ gold at the eastern end of the Ben Franklin Bridge in New Jersey has dried up - at least for a while.”
OPINION
Replacing the Dinky is a very big mistake (Fisk, for The Times of Trenton) Princeton Borough, Mercer County
“Where does fiduciary responsibility begin? At some level, a public body must acknowledge that it cannot evade the obligation to the broader community to say “no” — and say so decisively — to something so wrong, so economically flawed, as the proposed obliteration of the Dinky, Princeton’s unique rail shuttle. The rejection is admittedly made more difficult, even painful, when the concept is so strongly advocated by so respected and as former Princeton Borough Mayor Marvin Reed.”
Facility renovations could spur growth (Pender, for MyCentralJersey) North Brunswick, Middlesex County
“Recently the North Brunswick Township Council passed an ordinance designating the Johnson & Johnson property on Route 1 as a redevelopment zone for mixed use with big box stores and rental housing above the stores in the first phase of the project. The ultimate goal is to attract a passenger train station to the site after which a build-out of the property would include some 1,800-plus housing units. The success of this project depends on many contingencies and at this time if this long term project will be boom or a bane for the Township.”
Monday, September 13, 2010 (Afternoon)
NEWS
New Jersey Halts Work On Tunnels To Midtown (Grynbaum, The New York Times) Statewide
“New Jersey officials have abruptly halted new work on an ambitious $8.7 billion plan to build two new commuter rail tunnels beneath the Hudson River, raising concerns about the fate of a project that had been hailed as a potential savior for the region’s overcrowded mass transit system.”
OPINION
Revitalizing Atlantic City benefits the entire state (Florio, for The Star-Ledger) Atlantic City, Atlantic County/Statewide
“Gov. Chris Christie’s advisory commission’s report on how to improve the economic environment in Atlantic City is thoughtful and balanced. The commission’s recommendations focus on how New Jersey can expand both its tourism and economy. This is a goal everyone can and should support, because the entire state will benefit.”
COURT OPINION
Cellco Partnership v. Zoning Board of Adjustment of Township of Lawrence (Appellate Division) Lawrence, Mercer County
The Township of Lawrence Zoning Board of Adjustment denied an use variance application for a 140’ telecommunications tower. Law Division upheld denial. Plaintiff argues that denial was arbitrary, capricious, and unreasonable, and that Law Division misapplied the time of decision rule. Appellate Division now agrees with Plaintiff on the time of decision rule and reverses and remands.
