October 4, 2011
Maple Shade proposed for medical marijuana dispensary (Walsh, Courier-Post) Maple Shade, Camden County
“A nonprofit organization wants to open a dispensary for medical marijuana here.”
Signs of hope stretch beyond the boardwalk (Kitchenman, NJ BIZ) Atlantic City, Atlantic County
“Atlantic City Cruises President Jeff George said he saw one sign of immediate improvement from state-initiated reforms intended to improve the city’s economy: his neighborhood became cleaner.”
Planning Board to Make Green Village Redevelopment Recommendations (Chirls, Madison Patch) Madison, Morris County
“The Planning Board is scheduled to put its official stamp on its recommendations for a major borough development project.”
Upcoming Energy Ordinance Receives Planning Board Scrutiny (Kyriakakis, Manchester Patch) Manchester, Ocean County
“Manchester’s planning board reviewed an upcoming renewable energy ordinance, discussing its implications before the final version makes it to the township council for a vote at a still undetermined date.”
Apartment complex sign of Newton’s renaissance (Reilly, NJ Herald) Newton, Sussex County
“A renaissance is taking over Newton, from the opening of the Newton Theatre to the proliferation of gourmet eateries along Spring Street.”
September 20, 2011
Planning Board Discusses Flood Recovery (Giasone, Parsippany Patch) Parsippany Troy-Hills, Morris County
“With just one item on the agenda on Monday night, the Parsippany Troy-Hills Planning Board meeting was brief.”
Hamilton Township renewable energy plan waits for New Jersey approval (Landau, The Press of Atlantic City) Hamilton, Atlantic County
“A firm hoping to build a renewable energy plant in the township’s Industrial Park is waiting for approval from the state before it will decide to redevelop a former landfill.”
Branchburg could allow “age-restricted” development to become market-rate housing (Cooper, Somerset Messenger-Gazette) Branchburg, Somerset County
“Whether the developer of an approved age-restricted project known as Fox Hollow II can convert the development to market-rate housing could be decided tomorrow, Wednesday, Sept. 21 at a Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting at 7:30 p.m. in the Municipal Building.”
August 22, 2011
Amended Speedwell Redevelopment Plan Introduced (Dunphy, Morristown Patch) Morristown, Morris County
“It wasn’t a public hearing, but several audience members still expressed their opinions on the newest version of the Speedwell Redevelopment Plan, which was introduced by Town Council Thursday night.”
Ringwood on track to adopt Highlands Act (Fallon, The Record) Ringwood, Passaic County
“Seven years after the Highlands Act was passed, Ringwood is poised to adopt the strict land use regulations that block major developer and allow only limited redevelopment.”
No hotel in Morris Twp.: Honeywell cuts plan, lowers height, number of townhouses (Staff, Morris NewsBee) Morris, Morris County
“A large hotel that would have greeted drives coming into the township on Park Avenue as part of the new Honeywell housing/office project is no more.”
Appleview hearing continues (LaMarca, Hudson Reporter) North Bergen, Bergen County
“The Hudson County Planning Board’s hearing on the proposed Appleview condominiums in North Bergen, near the Guttenberg border, will resume Sept. 21. Their second meeting Wednesday continued with questioning of the project’s engineer by an attorney for opponents of 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.”
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Hunterdon among counties offered $3.248 million for Highlands land preservation (Staff, Hunterdon County Democrat) Hunterdon, Morris, Warren, Passaic Counties
“The New Jersey Highlands Development Credit Bank (HDC Bank) has made offers to preserve another 130 acres of land in Morris, Warren, Passaic and Hunterdon counties, providing up to $3,248,000 to landowners in the Highlands Preservation Area.”
Zoning Board rejects plan for drug, alcohol rehab facility (Staff, The Hammonton News) Hammonton, Atlantic County
“The Zoning Board voted 4-3 to reject a use variance that would have allowed an impatient drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility to open on the White Horse Pike.”
Public on Master Plan: Protect Neighborhoods, Promote Business, Keep It Simple (Bergen, Ocean City Patch) Ocean City, Cape May County
“Ocean City’s Planning Board invited the public on Wednesday night to share their thoughts on the future of the island — and about 20 people answered the call.”
Bike and walking studies gear up in Monmouth, Ocean (Higgs, The Asbury Park Press) Monmouth, Ocean Counties
“As Red Bank goes, so goes Monmouth County, at least when it comes to using the same interactive online and in-person format the borough used to gather information for the borough’s Bike and Pedestrian report.”
Middle Township Committee Gives Nod to New Master Plan (McGuire, Cape May County Herald) Middle, Cape May County
“They grew a proverbial line in the sand, as well as the streets, the woods, and wetlands, too. But at the end of the day, Middle Township Committee unanimously passed Ordinance No. 1392-11, Chapter 250 Zoning, which officially adopted the township’s new master plan.”
Officials Call On Residents To Help Fight Proposed Development (Antonelli, Cranford Patch) Cranford, Union County
“It’s going to take more than a legal appeal by the Cranford Township Committee to prevent 360 residential units from being built on Birchwood Avenue. The entire township must come together in opposition, officials said during a special meeting Tuesday night.”
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
N.J. allocates $157M for preservation of state land, natural resources (Gibson, The Star-Ledger) Statewide
“Almost a week after it was initially planned, Gov. Chris Christie signed legislation today to allocate money to green space preservation projects.”
Another Solar Energy Farm Coming to Manalapan? (Gandolfo, Manalapan Patch) Manalapan, Monmouth County
“Kenneth Pape, partner at Heilbrunn Pape, is expecting to seek approval for plans to develop Manalapan’s third solar energy farm at the township Zoning Board meeting on Thursday, August 4. Pape recently gave a full presentation on plans for the farm to Manalapan’s Environmental Commission.”
Morris seeks commuter rail study for Rt. 23 corridor service (Staff, The Daily Record) Morris County
“The Morris County freeholders and the county’s Board of Transportation are calling for a study into the feasibility of re-establishing commuter rail service on the New York, Susquehanna, and Western Railway along the Route 23 corridor in Morris, Sussex and Passaic counties.”
Rumson neighbors fight cutting of trees (Higgs, The Asbury Park Press) Rumson, Monmouth County
“A Navesink Avenue coupled started to make their case Monday night against a builder who they alleged clear-cut 77 percent of the trees on the lot next door to their home, in violation of the borough’s ordinance, which allows a maximum of 40 percent to be removed.”
Thursday, December 16, 2010 (Afternoon)
NEWS
NJ Supreme Court rejects Rockaway Twp. appeal of Christ Church exemption (Jennings, The Daily Record) Rockaway, Morris County
“The New Jersey Supreme Court has declined to hear Rockaway Township’s appeal of Christ Church’s exemption from the state Highlands Law.”
COURTS
Cortesini v. Hamilton Township Planning Board (Appellate Division) Hamilton, Mercer County
“This appeal involves the grant by defendant Hamilton Township Planning Board (Board) to defendant Wal-Mart Real Estate Business Trust (Wal-Mart) of land use approvals for the proposed renovation of an existing Wal-Mart store. The primary argument presented by plaintiffs, who are property owners in Hamilton Township, is that the Board’s resolution authorizing this renovation is invalid because the approvals did not include a bulk variance authorizing the nonconformity of parts of the existing Wal-Mart parking lot with the parking area setback requirement of the Hamilton Township zoning ordinance. We reject this argument because the nonconformity with the parking area setback requirement is a feature of the existing Wal-Mart parking lot that was authorized by the subdivision and site plan approvals granted by the Board in 2001 and 2002, and the proposed renovation will not increase or otherwise affect that nonconformity. Therefore, plaintiffs’ challenge to the land use approvals granted by the Board for this renovation constitutes an untimely collateral attack upon the land use approvals the Board granted in 2001 and 2002 for construction of the original Wal-Mart store.”
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)
Thursday, December 9, 2010 (Morning)
N.J. environmental groups say ‘urgent action’ is needed for Jersey Shore pollution (Mascarenhas, The Star-Ledger) Ocean County
“As the Legislature considers sweeping changes to the state’s environmental policy, leading green groups warned in a report today that “urgent action” is needed to address a rising tide of pollution and ecological damage along the Jersey Shore.”
DOT gets behind move for Dinky (Knapp, The Times of Trenton) Princeton, Mercer County
“The commissioner of the state Department of Transportation has expressed support for Princeton University’s plans for an arts and transit neighborhood on the western edge of its campus.”
Honeywell development plan discussed; experts layout concept for 147-acre tract (Lent, Morris NewsBee) Morris, Morris County
“Honeywell International Officials came before the Planning Board Monday night to outline concept plans for the redevelopment of its headquarters that would include a hotel, office buildings and options of either townhouses or senior housing.”
Proposed zoning revisions modified, public hearing on Dec. 15 (Zimmer, Suburban Trends) West Milford, Passaic County
“A significant component of the township’s planned rezoning effort was recently scrapped. However, the Township Council is moving to enact some changes that will eliminate unsupported high-density zoning in the town center area before the year’s end.”
Friday, November 26, 2010 (Morning)
NEWS
North Arlington introduces redevelopment plan for industrial area (Anderson, South Bergenite) North Arlington, Bergen County/Meadowlands
“North Arlington took one step closer toward its redevelopment future after the mayor and council formally introduced the updated Porete Avenue Redevelopment Plan at the special meeting of the mayor and council on Nov. 15.”
Subway Extension Draws Support, if Not Financing (McGeehan, The New York Times) Statewide/New York
“Extending the No. 7 subway line to New Jersey is an idea that seems to pick up support among government officials with each passing day. But the $5.3 billion question is: Who would pay for it?”
Woolwich development credit plan gets its first project (Forand, The Gloucester County Times) Woolwich, Gloucester County
“A general development plan for the Auburn Village project, the first project under the township’s lauded Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) plan, is up for approval with the Joint Land Board.”
Honeywell to describe Morris Twp. development plan (Daigle, The Daily Record) Morris, Morris County
“The public will get a first-hand look at the proposed redevelopment of the Honeywell International headquarters site at a special planning board meeting Monday.”
OPINION
Added role for COAH homes? (Staff Editorial, The Gloucester County Times) Woolwich, Gloucester County
“There’s a new affordable housing development in Woolwich Township. The Oaks at Weatherby opened this week, featuring 86 rental units of one-, two-, and three-bedroom townhouses.”
RFQ
Redevelopment Attorney, Professional Engineer, Landscape Architect, Professional Planner Atlantic City, Atlantic County
Municipal Planner, Planning/Zoning Board Engineer, Environmental Engineer, Planning/Zoning Board Attorney South Plainfield, Middlesex County
