October 18, 2011
NEWS
Walmart Goes Green With Solar, Wind (Piniat, Lacey Patch) Lacey, Ocean County
“Walmart has confirmed that the company is pursuing a solar energy project at the Lanoka Harbor location in addition to its plan to install wind turbines in the parking lot as part of its renewable energy initiative.”
Warehouse boom in Robbinsville is just one part of regional trend (Clerkin, The Times of Trenton) Robbinsville, Mercer County
“A new flurry of activity in Robbinsville’s warehouse sector is turning the township’s industrial parks into major employers, as a spate of businesses that have recently settled in the area have generated nearly 500 local jobs in the past two years, township officials said.”
OPINION
Zoning denial for N.J. medical marijuana facility is classic NIMBY case (Staff Editorial, The Times of Trenton) Maple Shade, Camden County
“The zoning board in Maple Shade last week turned down a plan for location of a medical marijuana facility in the township.”
September 1, 2011
NEWS
Crossroads Developer Files Site Plan (Mazzola, Mahwah Patch) Mahwah, Bergen County
“The Crossroads Developers LLC, the company seeking to build a 600,000 sq.-foot shopping center at the intersection of Routes 17 and 287 in Mahwah, filed a preliminary site plan with the township building department, according to the developer’s attorney Jim Jaworski.”
Zoning Board Puts Final Stamp on Quick Chek Application (Levine, Howell Patch) Howell, Monmouth County
“Last Monday, the Howell Township Zoning Board spent a majority of their meeting hearing and approving an application for a new lot to sell new and pre-owned automobiles. However, this was not the only matter on the agenda, as the board still had a great deal to work on throughout the session.”
OPINION
Gov. Chris Christie’s campaign promise forgotten (Amick, Times of Trenton) Statewide
“I will provide New Jerseyans regularly occurring opportunities to petition for their government for action by amending the state constitution to include a provision whereby every 10 years, voters will have the opportunity to convene a popularly elected constitutional convention.”
Irene Winds Down, But Turbines Keep Spinning (Shields, Moorestown Patch) Statewide
“I wondered over the weekend how to craft a story about our newest neighbor—that blowhard Irene—while injecting some environmental message. With that storm in mind, what lesson did we take home, now that we know we still have homes?”
August 23, 2011
U.S. transportation secretary moves to protect $450 million in Northeast Corridor upgrades (Frassinelli, The Star-Ledger) Statewide
“As a longtime — meaning long-suffering — commuter on America’s busiest rail line, John W. Nabial Sr.’s trip to work depends on a chain of events outside his control.”
Court upholds board’s decision to deny pumping station (Schwartz, Pascack Valley Community Life) Mahwah, Bergen County
“The appellate division the Superior Court of New Jersey has ruled that United Water did not establish sufficient reasons as to why Montvale’s Zoning Board should allow the utility variances to construct a pumping station in a residential neighborhood.”
Planning Board Rescinds Re-Zoning of Crossroads Property (Smith Jr., Mahwah Patch) Mahwah, Bergen County
“The council chamber rang out with applause at the Planning Board meeting Monday night, as nearly 100 residents cheered the Planning Board’s decision to overturn the Council’s three ordinances that allowed property near the Shearton Mahwah Hotel to be rezoned as retail space.”
Friday, August 19, 2011
Gov. Christie, N.Y. Gov. Cuomo say OK to scaled-back toll hike (Strunsky, The Star Ledger) North Jersey
“Softening a proposal for unprecedented increases on Port Authority bridges and tunnels, the governors of New Jersey and New York have signed off on an agreement to raise tolls $1.50 next month, followed by additional hikes of 75 cents per year through 2015.
Shopping center proposal causes controversy in Bedminster (MacKenzie, mycentraljersey.com) Bedminster, Somerset County
“A narrow 10-acre strip of land between Interstate 287 and Route 202/206 in Pluckemin section of the township has for years housed a State Police barracks, along with a storage dome for road salt and a garage for New Jersey Department of Transportation vehicles.”
Morristown council introduces revised Speedwell plan (Coughlin, Morristown Green) Morristown, Morris County
“The vote was unanimous, but there were some bumps getting there.”
Zoning Board and Developer Clash Over Colors (Van Embden, Red Bank-Shrewsbury Patch) Red Bank, Monmouth County
“In Red Bank’s designated Antiques District, an area of town that may as well be renamed the ‘Hey, don’t forget about us,’ district, a developer wants to build a colorful, multi-use complex, complete with apartments promising modern living and a first-floor brew pub.”
COURTS
TSI Marlboro, Inc. v. Township of Marlboro Zoning Board of Adjustment (Appellate Division)
United Water of New Jersey v. Zoning Board of Adjustment of the Borough of Montvale et al (Appellate Division)
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.”
Monday, December 20, 2010 (Morning)
County planning board approves waterfront plan for Edgewater (Almenas, Edgewater View) Edgewater, Bergen County
“The Bergen County Planning Board has voted unanimously to adopt a plan that will develop the Hudson River walkway in Edgewater.”
Bound Brook Planning Board OK’s Urban Design Plan (Levoy, mycentraljersey.com) Bound Brook, Somerset County
“The Bound Brook Planning Board has incorporated a Downtown Urban Design Plan into the Master Plan, laying the foundation for the borough to think concretely about its future, while also inviting surrounding communities to get involved in their economic futures.”
Monroe zoning board considers allowing homemade amusement park to remain open (Stirling, The Star-Ledger) Monroe, Middlesex County
“In what could be a protracted battle, the Monroe zoning board is weighing whether to grant the owner of Greek’s Playland and the Stone Museum a variance that would allow the quirky landmark to stay open.”
Roseland introduces two rezoning proposals (Burke, The Progress) Roseland, Essex County
“The Borough Council introduced an ordinance change Tuesday, Dec. 14 that would rezone two parcels — one on Eagle Rock Avenue, the other along Eisenhower Parkway — in response to recommendations from the Planning Board.”
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.”
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.
Thursday, December 16, 2010 (Morning)
New Jersey May Get $128 Million Refund From U.S. for Canceled Rail Tunnel (McNichol, Bloomberg) Statewide
“New Jersey will get a refund of almost half that $271 million it owes the federal government for canceling a proposed commuter-rail tunnel once the money is repaid, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said.”
N.J. Senate panel approves tax breaks for historic building rehabilitations, limos, movie studios (Friedman, The Star-Ledger) Statewide
“Developers and homeowners who rehabilitate historic buildings would be eligible for major tax breaks under a bill approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee today.”
Residents Make Last Ditch Effort to Stop Development (Thorne, Cranford Patch) Cranford, Union County
“The plan to build 163 housing units along South Avenue is now one step closer to becoming reality.”
Tuesday, December 14, 2010 (Morning)
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NEWS
NJ Transit requests $75M from killed ARC tunnel funds for new train cars (Staff, The Associated Press) Statewide
“Money meant to build a new rail tunnel under the Hudson River might be used to purchase new train cars.”
Proposed Lawrence drug rehab center back before zoning board (Staff, The Trentonian) Lawrence, Mercer County
“On Wednesday night, the Lawrence Zoning Board will resume its hearing into developer John Simone’s application for a use variance that would permit him to lease part of his vacant medical office building at 100 Federal Point Blvd. to Sunrise Detox to run a 38-bed residential treatment facility.”
COURTS
Devito v. Zoning Board of Adjustment of the Township of Middletown (Appellate Division) Middletown, Monmouth County
Zoning Board rejected fence. Applicant appealed, trial court ruled that the Zoning Board acted in an arbitrary, capricious, and unreasonable manner. Appellate Division reverses trial court.
