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.”
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Gov. Christie says he’s still undecided on Port Authority toll hikes and PATH fare hikes (Strunsky, The Star-Ledger) Statewide
“A day after public hearings on a proposed toll and PATH fare hike, Gov. Chris Christie said he had not decided on the proposal but told reporters ‘there were more people spoke in favor of the toll hike than against it.’”
Study: Stormwater Basins Harming Barnegat Bay (Nee, Point Pleasant Patch) Jersey Shore
“Stormwater basins built along the Barnegat Bay watershed may be harming the waterway, according to a new study.”
State has no power to block gas pipeline (Reilly, njherald.com) Sussex County
“The state Department of Environmental Protection has no power to stop the natural gas pipeline that is planned to cut through High Point State Park, a state official said Wednesday.”
Solar Farm planned in East Rutherford (Staff, South Bergenite) East Rutherford, Bergen County
“The Planning Board approved zoning changes on Aug. 8 to allow a solar farm east of Route 17 in order to allow Diamond Chemical company to harness its power.”
Rutgers graduate students to take a crack at Raritan waterfront (Cooper, Somerset Messenger-Gazette) Raritan, Hunterdon County
“The future of the town’s river front area is to be envisioned by a group of graduate students from Rutgers University Bloustein School of Planning and Policy this fall. The students will meet with borough officials on Friday to launch the project.”
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
NEWS
N.J. appellate court upholds Highlands Plan to prevent housing development in environmentally-sensitive area (Spoto, The Star-Ledger) Highlands
“New Jersey’s plan to curb development in the environmentally sensitive Highlands can move forward despite claims it will hurt efforts to add affordable housing, a state appeals court panel ruled today.”
Pinelands report says Stafford Township solar project a bad deal for protecting forest (Weaver, The Press of Atlantic City) Stafford, Ocean County
“An annual report on the state of New Jersey pinelands gives Stafford Township a poor mark for its decision to support a solar panel project atop a landfill in the Stafford Business Park.”
Pipeline hearing will focus on plan for High Point State Park (Reilly, NJ Herald) Sussex County
“The public will have a chance to voice their opinion Wednesday about the natural gas pipeline expansion planned to slice through High Point State Park.”
OPINION
Christie’s beach tours / More walk, less talk (Staff Editorial, The Press of Atlantic City) Jersey Shore
“Gov. Chris Christie is not the first politician to take an oceanside walk as a demonstration of his environmental credentials.”
COURTS
In Re Highlands Master Plan (Appellate Division)
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, October 4, 2010 (Morning)
Middlesex, Somerset planners want fewer cars on Easton Avenue (Garlic, The Star-Ledger) Somerset/Middlesex Counties
“Somerset and Middlesex County planners are focused on getting motorists to slow down of even get out of their cars as they continue studying how to ease traffic and improve safety along Easton Avenue.”
N.J.-funded road construction to halt after Gov. Christie, Democrats butt heads over funding (Staff, The Star-Ledger) Trenton, Mercer County
“All state-funded transportation construction projects will be halted on Monday, as a high-stakes game of political chicken moves from the State House to the roads of New Jersey.”
Lafayette solar energy farm in the works (Sistrunk, NJ Herald) Lafayette, Sussex County
“Chuck Shotmeyer has taken the first step toward introducing the first large-scale renewable energy facility in Sussex County.”
Somerville’s new Kirby Avenue redevelopment plan ready for planning board review (Mustac, The Messenger-Gazette) Somerville, Somerset County
“The Kirby Avenue area redevelopment plan is ready for presentation to the borough Planning Board, which is likely to happen at its Oct. 27 meeting.”
Thursday, September 30, 2010 (Evening)
N.J Assembly approves extension of town master plan requirement to 10 years (Murray, The Star-Ledger) Trenton, Mercer County
“New Jersey municipalities would be allowed 10 years between reviews of their master plans under a bill approved by the Assembly today.”
Highlands compliance a ‘milestone’ for Byram (Bouchal, NJ Herald) Byram, Sussex County
“Byram Township has become the first municipality to have its petition for basic conformance to the Highlands Regional Master Plan approved by the Highways Water Protection and Planning Council.”
Russo makes presentation before Meadowlands for suitability of Meadow Crossing (Anderson, South Bergenite) Lyndhurst, Hudson County/Meadowlands
“Land use and planning officials from the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission (NJMC) heard testimony from Russo Development about the suitability of their proposed apartment complex in Lyndhurst, called Meadow Crossing, on Sept. 22, but no formal determinations were made and it could be months before the project is ultimately approved or denied.”
Monday, August 9, 2010 (Morning)
NEWS
Bayonne condo developer gets Planning Board approval to switch to rentals before 96 units are built (Hack, The Jersey Journal) Bayonne, Hudson County
“With the real estate market still in the doldrums, the Bayonne Planning Board recently approved a developer’s effort to kick-start a stalled Bergen Point development by allowing the project to be rentals instead of condominium units.”
Valley Expansion Decision Heads To Village Council (Scavuzzo, Wyckoff Patch) Ridgewood, Bergen County
“The Ridgewood Planning Board on Tuesday approved a resolution of memorialization for an expansion at Valley Hospital—putting the project’s fate in Village Council’s hands.”
Morris County NJ development dips to historic lows (Daigle, The Daily Record) Morris County
“The new towers in Morristown are up, awaiting restaurants and residents.”
Natural gas line plans detailed (Molnar, NJ Herald) Vernon, Sussex County
“El Paso Corp. representatives detailed their plan for the newly state-approved Tennessee Gas Pipeline — which cuts through 16 miles of some of the most environmentally sensitive and restricted lands in the Highlands — at a public forum at the Vernon Senior Center last night.”
COURT OPINIONS
O’Brien v. Borough of Point Pleasant Zoning Board of Adjustment (Appellate Division) Point Pleasant, Ocean County
Law Division upheld Zoning Board’s approval of a use variance for a nonconforming duplex. Appellate Division reverses application since the Board erred in determining that the Applicant established positive criteria for the use variance for the duplexes.
Village Supermarkets Inc. v. Planning Board of the Township of Union (Appellate Division) Union, Union County
Law Division upheld Planning Board’s approval for various bulk variances for a supermarket, finding that the Board did not abuse its authority and did not act in an arbitrary, capricious, or unreasonable manner. Appellate Division affirms Law Division’s decision.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010 (Afternoon)
Former Andover Borough farm may remain open space instead of growing 590 homes (Augenstein, NJ Herald) Andover, Sussex County
“A big developer received an extension for its embattled plan to triple the population of this tiny municipality on Monday night.”
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.”
Tuesday, July 6, 2010 (Morning)
Princeton Divided Over New Charter School (Resmovits, The Wall Street Journal) Princeton, Mercer County
“A charter school planned for Princeton-area children has hit a roadblock on a zoning issue, prompting a debate in the affluent community over whether charters are even needed in high-performing districts.”
Andover Borough housing project hits another roadblock (Augenstein, The New Jersey Herald) Andover, Sussex County
“The 590-home development once proposed by Beazer Homes has hit another stumbling block, though this time it’s state water rules, not outright opposition, that could stymie the long-planned but unfulfilled project.”
PATH stations to receive $200M in upgrades to better commuters’ train rides (The Associated Press) North Jersey/New York
“Get ready for extreme makeover, mass transit edition.”
Some oppose new apts. near gas line (Tirella, The Hudson Reporter) North Bergen, Hudson County
“The North Bergen Planning Board began hearing testimony June 24 from a developer who wants to build 60 residential units near a high-pressured Transco gas pipeline and near the Galaxy Towers Condos in Guttenberg.”
Legislators pledge vigilance in fort reuse plan (Davison, The Atlanticville) Monmouth County
“With the bill that would create the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority approved by the state Senate and Assembly on June 28, 12th District legislators look toward the next steps in the property’s rebirth.”
PATH says $1B makeover can keep riders off the roads (Davis, The Record) North Jersey
“Benches, posters, pavilions and retail shops will soon beautify the bleak, cramped and pale PATH stations that commuters say make for some of the worst train rides in the region’s transit system.”
Turnpike to consider advertisements on toll plazas (Rouse, The Record) Statewide
“The New Jersey Turnpike Authority plans to explore corporate sponsorships at rest areas and toll plaza advertising, among other proposals, to generate transportation revenue.”
