October 13, 2011
Maple Shade bars medical pot dispensary (Walsh, The Courier-Post) Maple Shade, Camden County
“The township zoning board Wednesday night unanimously rejected plans to open a medical marijuana dispensary here.”
Board just says no (Levinsky, phillyburbs.com) Maple Shade, Camden County
“The township Zoning Board on Wednesday night unanimously denied a request by a nonprofit group for a medical marijuana dispensary at a former furniture store off Route 73.”
West Milford officials rebuff proposal to assit developers (Zimmer, Suburban Trends) West Milford, Passaic County
“The Township Council has voiced its opposition to proposed state legislation that would provide relief for developers facing prohibitive economic conditions.”
Age-restricted development will not be converted in S.B. (McLafferty, Sentinel) South Brunswick, Middlesex County
“More than 100 homes in South Brunswick will not be converted from age-restricted to market housing after the Planning Board denied an applicant’s request to do so during its Oct. 5 meeting.”
Ewing developer cuts back on housing project near GM site (Karas, The Times of Trenton) Ewing, Mercer County
“A developer withl long-running plans for an unpopular affordable housing development off Parkway Avenue has offered to cut his housing total by half to ease concerns about the project.”
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.”
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.”
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
2 Wanaque residential developments do not need to comply with 2004 environmental standards, court panel rules (Baxter, The Star-Ledger) Wanaque, Passaic County
“Two residential developments in Wanaque Borough do not need to comply with environmental rules under the state Highlands Act, a Superior Court panel ruled today.”
New Golden Triangle deal moving forward (Russell, mycentraljersey.com) East Brunswick, Middlesex County
“A negotiated agreement has been worked out between the township and Toll Brothers for the property known as the Golden Triangle that will bring retail space, including a big-box store, and 200 to 400 residential units to the site bordered by Route 18 and Tices Lane.”
Board Pushes Aquatics Center Decision to September (De Bellis, Berkeley Heights Patch) Berkeley Heights, Union County
“Residents appealing the zoning approval for the proposed Berkeley Aquatic Center’s new 51,000-square foot facility on the border of Warren and Berkeley Heights argued that the facility would not be consistent with permitted use under municipal ordinances at the zoning board meeting on Monday night.”
Friday, December 17, 2010 (Afternoon)
Judge orders Clifton zoning board to hear synagogue proposal (Petrick/Yellin, The Record) Clifton, Passaic County
“After months of legal wrangling, a state judge Thursday ordered the Clifton Zoning Board of Adjustment to hear an application by a Passaic-based synagogue on whether its proposal to build a house of worship in Clifton meeting zoning parking conditions.”
Tewksbury Twp. Committee adopts ordinances about development, land use board applications (Shupe, Hunterdon County Democrat) Tewksbury, Hunterdon County
“Several ordinances pertaining to development regulations were adopted after public hearings at the Dec. 14 Township Committee meeting.”
Newark Man establishes nonprofit agency, builds 35 homes on vacant lots in old neighborhood (Carter, The Star Ledger) Newark, Essex County
“The empty lots Uriel Burwell skipped through as a kid were nothing more than shortcuts from Newark to Irvington.”
Monday, December 13, 2010 (Afternoon)
NEWS
N.J. Assembly approves bill abolishing Council on Affordable Housing (Friedman, The Star-Ledger) Statewide
“The state Assembly has passed a controversial bill that would abolish the Council on Affordable Housing, but neither Republicans nor affordable housing advocates are happy with it.”
Roselle council members say they support apartment at Roselle Golf Course (Caroom, The Star-Ledger) Statewide
“Roselle’s council member pledged this week to support an ambitious development on the city’s largest open plot of land at the Roselle Golf Course, a project that has encountered vocal opposition from residents.”
A 40-story building for Newport (Kaulessar, Hudson Reporter) Jersey City, Hudson County
“Newport residents will probably see a new 40-story building rising in their neighborhood next year.”
Cell tower project can move forward after Lakeland Regional High School district receives letter of approval from DOE commissioner (Kolton, Suburban Trends) Wanaque, Passaic County
“Lakeland Regional High School’s planned cell phone tower is ‘ready to rock and roll,’ said Chief School Administrator Anthony Riscica at the Tuesday, Dec. 7 meeting of the Board of Education.”
JOB
Principal Planner — Borough of North Wildwood, Cape May 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.”
Thursday, November 11, 2010 (Morning)
Planning Board plans on opening door to more businesses (Braff, Pascack Valley Community Life) Westwood, Bergen County
“In an effort to draw more businesses into zone outside of downtown Westwood, the Westwood Planning Board discussed different types of uses they would like to add to the zones on Thursday, Nov. 4. The board is expected to vote on an amendment at its next meeting, scheduled for Nov. 18.”
Village of Ridge exemption obtained, still pending water permits (Zimmer, Suburban Trends) West Milford, Passaic County
“A 50-home development project slated for the town center was given a new lease of life by the Planning Board last week. By a one-vote margin, the Village on Ridge subdivision that was originally approved by the board in January 2005 was given another time extension — valid through Nov. 4, 2011.”
Zoning Board approves Seton Hall Prep field plans (Appelbaum, The Star-Ledger) West Orange, Essex County
“After a two-year battle between Seton Hall Preparatory School and its neighbors, the West Orange zoning board unanimously approved a $7 million construction project at the school this week”
Thursday, November 4, 2010 (Morning)
NEWS
Christie: Don’t even bother with housing bill (Rao, The Philadelphia Inquirer) Trenton, Mercer County
“As Assembly bill that would bring substantial changes to how affordable housing is regulated in New Jersey won’t have Gov. Christie’s support. The governor Wednesday vowed he would veto the measure, which would phase in a 2.5 percent fee on nonresidential developments to subsidize low-cost housing, if it were passed.”
West Milford councilman backs repeal of Highlands Act (Adfely, The Record) West Milford, Passaic County
“Councilman-elect Luciano “Lou” Signorino wants to step up the township’s fight to revise the state’s Highlands Act, which restricts local development to protect the state’s drinking-water resources.”
OPINION
West Amwell residents don’t want a solar farm (Hurley, for the Hunterdon County Democrat) West Amwell, Hunterdon County
“Over six years ago, our family moved to West Amwell. We fell in love with its rural beauty. The backyard of our home abuts the most gorgeous farmland. There honestly has not been a single day that I have not looked out at that splendor and felt gratitude.”
