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 19, 2011
New construction offers hope in blighted park of Asbury Park (Shields, The Asbury Park Press) Asbury Park, Monmouth County
“On an avenue where blight has reigned for over four decades, the new 27,500-square-foot Springwood Center remains on schedule to open next spring.”
Asbury’s master plan is debated (Shields, The Asbury Park Press) Asbury Park, Monmouth County
“A decade after beachfront master developer Asbury Partners first showed up in the city, a committee of stakeholders have reported to the public their recommendations to amend the city waterfront redevelopment plan.”
What’s next for Fort Monmouth? (Bowman, The Asbury Park Press) Fort Monmouth, Monmouth County
“The colors have been struck, laboratories have been moved and gates padlocked.”
Tuesday, December 21, 2010 (Evening)
CRDA funds study to transform parts of Atlantic City into art and medical education districts (Previti, The Press of Atlantic City) Atlantic City, Atlantic County
“The New Jersey Casino Reinvestment Development Authority voted this afternoon to spend $70,000 for feasibility studies and other preliminary work for the transformation of more than two dozen city blocks into arts and medical education districts bounded by Florida, South Carolina and Baltic Avenues and the Boardwalk.”
S.B. making strides in affordable housing (Slaughter, Sentinel) South Brunswick, Middlesex County
“As another year wraps up, South Brunswick once again has made strides in affordable housing.”
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.
Friday, December 10, 2010 (Afternoon)
Downtown Trenton working on a comeback (Jany, newjerseynewsroom.com) Trenton, Mercer County
“To the naked eye, it would seem that Trenton’s retailers are continuing to slog through the economic downturn, as vacancy rates in Mercer County have soared from 11.6 percent to 17.2 percent since 2007, according to analysts.”
Master Plan calls for retro Kenilworth (Murray, Cranford Chronicle) Cranford, Union County
“In looking towards the future, Downtown Kenilworth could look like a blast from the past. Well, at least in terms or architecture.”
Wednesday, October 13, 2010 (Afternoon)
Hoboken’s own Washington Street dubbed one of Top 10 Great U.S. Streets (Colaneri, The Jersey Journal) Hoboken, Hudson County
“The American Planning Association has dubbed Hoboken’s own Washington Street as one of the Top 10 Great Streets in America for both its strong sense of history and its embrace of the future — an exemplar of urban planning.”
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.
Monday, July 26, 2010 (Morning)
NEWS
World-class ShopRite proposal to be heard by Somerville planning board (Staff, The Messenger-Gazette) Somerville, Somerset County
“The developer of Somerville Town Center will be in front of the planning board next Wednesday, July 28, to unveil plans for a “World Class ShopRite Supermarket” that is to be built on the site.”
Hotel construction begins in Millvile (Landau, The Daily Journal) Millville, Cumberland County
“A year ago, the city was anticipating a host of new hotels coming to the area.”
Bedminster Township officials to review redevelopment concept for state maintenance yard (Coombe, The Bernardsville News) Bedminster, Somerset County
“Today, it’s 9.75 acres of property along the Route 202/206 corridor, soon to be abandoned, and with a long history of pollution.”
N.J. Office of Smart Growth gets a new name, new boss in Lt. Gov. Guadagno (Staff, The Star-Ledger) Trenton, Mercer County
“The Office of Smart Growth, created to coordinate growth in state agencies, will be named the Office of Planning Advocacy, and control will be given to Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, according to a report by NJSpotlight.com.”
New Brunswick’s rebound could be model for Atlantic City (Clark, The Press of Atlantic City) Atlantic City, Atlantic County
“As in today’s Atlantic City, officials in New Brunswick found their city at a crossroads about four decades ago. A new incarnation of the organization and structure that saved that central New Jersey city could be coming to rescue this ailing gaming resort.”
Gov. Christie’s proposed takeover of casino industry may be last chance for Atlantic City revitalization (Staff, The Star-Ledger) Atlantic City, Atlantic County
“It seemed a simple enough idea: Turn Atlantic City’s two main drags into one-way streets so traffic would flow better around the casinos.”
$500K for ‘six points’ clears hurdle (Frankel, Bloomfield Life) Bloomfield, Essex County
“The township is one step closer to receiving a large chunk of change to help improve the notorious ‘six points’ intersection in the center of town, courtesy of New Jersey’s top federal legislators.”
OPINION
Want to stimulate home construction? Repeal the Highlands Act (Mulshine, The Star-Ledger)
“A number of Democrats are upset that Gov. Christie vetoed that $100 million home-buyers tax credit program, among them state Sen. Paul Sarlo.”
AFFORDABLE HOUSING: Bill eliminating COAH would only make matters worse (Walsh, in The Asbury Park Press)
“New Jersey’s housing market is broken. Unfortunately, the Legislature is proposing to make things worse. It is considering legislation that would eliminate the Council of Affordable Housing without providing any alternative way to ensure adequate housing is provided for working families, seniors and people with special needs.”
Tuesday, July 13, 2010 (Evening)
Council to discuss possible light rail referendum tonight (Gemignani, The Northern Valley Suburbanite) Tenafly, Bergen County
“The council will consider a nonbinding referendum on New Jersey Transit’s plan to bring electric light-rail service to the borough.”
Remsen Avenue in New Brunswick focus of revitalization plan (Kaltwasser, The Home News Tribune) New Brunswick, Middlesex County
“Plans to give a face lift to the city’s Unity Square neighborhood are beginning to take shape.”
New setback for redevelopment (Frankel, Bloomfield Life) Bloomfield, Essex County
“The township has endured another setback in its quest for redevelopment downtown, with a judge ruling last week it can not use eminent domain to seize private property.”
Tuesday, July 6, 2010 (Evening)
Judge takes Helmetta’s side on snuff mill plan (Donahue, The Sentinel) Helmetta, Middlesex County
“Helmetta has won at least the first round in its legal battle with developer Kaplan Cos.”
Wawa sues county Planning Board (Augenstein, The New Jersey Herald) Andover, Sussex County
“The Wawa corporation of convenience stores is suing the Sussex County Planning Board, claiming its delay in approving a Route 206 location is a needless wait of time for unspecified approvals from the state’s Department of Environmental Protection.”
Revitalization project in works for Berlin Borough (Shamlin, The Courier-Post) Berlin, Camden County
“Berlin Borough is working to revitalize the downtown business corridor along the White Horse Pike.”
Hillsborough studies way to control development, preserve farmland (Peterka, The Messenger-Gazette) Hillsborough, Somerset County
“Hillsborough officials are considering using a tool called ‘transfer of development rights,’ abbreviated TDR, to control growth in the township.”
