Improving our Central Business District
JULY 11, 2014 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014, 8:04 AM
Deputy Mayor Albert Pucciarelli
to the editor:
I had the privilege of serving as a member of the Zoning Board of Adjustment and Planning Board for almost 24 years. I enjoyed that service. I am grateful for the opportunity. I was, however, disappointed in one aspect of the work, particularly on the Planning Board.
The Planning Board is not a forum where our community-at-large can engage in a discussion of a broad vision for our Central Business District (CBD). The “planning” role has become buried in a mountain of complex applications, including applications to amend the Master Plan by applicants who pursue this route rather than trying to obtain hard-to-get variances. That has placed the Planning Board in a reactive mode. Its generous and very capable volunteer members have no choice but to devote the time required to deal with these applications.
As a quasi-judicial body, in the best of times the Planning Board is not suited for an open exchange of ideas. Instead, our citizens who desire to be heard typically are allowed only to react to testimony of an applicant or an expert. Citizen remarks during the comments period are brief monologues that are respectfully listened to, but unfortunately, this is not an opportunity for open dialogue with our Planning Board.
I was elected on a promise to seek a new vision for our CBD, insisting the status quo is not an option. Lack of parking, poor traffic flow and traffic volume, underutilized parcels, haphazard signage, few desirable residences and the shabby appearance of Franklin Avenue and Chestnut Street. Surely we can do better. Even with these issues, our CBD is the pride of residents and a magnet for new residents. Our business community enhances village life not only by the quality of goods and services, but also by many programs sponsored by the Chamber and Guild. Our home values are dependent in part upon the CBD’s vibrancy.
(Editor’s note: A forum on the CBD will be held from 7:30-9 p.m. on Wednesday, July 23 in the Village Hall courtroom. A follow-up session will be announced at the July 23 forum).
– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/opinion/opinion-letters-to-the-editor/letter-improving-our-central-business-district-1.1049965#sthash.IbU6Mp7c.dpuf
You go BIG AL THE DEVELOPERS FRIEND.
Shameful dissembling.
Dear Mr. Deputy Mayor:
What then is your vision for the CBD?
While you raise some good points I think it’s time for you and the Council to get specific. I understand that you are under pressure from two or more corporations that have a special interest in getting their projects approved. Each of these projects is now well documented and each one requests a Master Plan amendment, or in other words, is much too large to be approved with simple variances. What is your stance on each of these projects? Do you believe that as they are proposed they are good for our Village?
It is also public knowledge that you have met with these interests with your two running mates but without the rest of the Council and without providing notice to the public. You were even the guest of one company at a fundraiser for Governor Christie. Do you care now to share what was said at those meetings? Is what was discussed at those meetings part of your current plan?
I agree that it is time for the Village to take control of the agenda to improve the CBD. I am anxious to hear your vision and to know where you stand on the current projects before the Village.
So basically he is telling residents that they can speak but he will ignore them.
Repeal ordinance 3066. Let redevelopment happen, within the current Master Plan. The current CBD – as it stands – is a shadow of it’s vibrant, former self. Blog posters here are deluding themselves – or just don’t spend any time or money in the CBD – if they think values are enhanced by empty store fronts, gold pawn shops, decrepit old auto dealers and the old Town Garage, not to mention the horror of North Maple in to Ho-Ho-Kus. There is a lack of parking, parking meters need to be modernized to allow for credit card payment, flow is bad, and many retailers just don’t want to come here because our building department is legendary for sitting on permit approvals that kill the economics of their business.
The VISROY has spoken so heed his words or there will retributions.
Simple solution – disallow applications for changes to the master plan where a variance application is an option. Of course there should be open dialogue. Why should 5 or 6 volunteers get to make unilateral decisions affecting the entire town? We don’t even vote for them.
The building dept. is a separate problem.
Pooch will be out of office before this is resolved.
#8, from your mouth to God’s ear. The opposite is my big concern. Mayor too.
Will these public hearings have the same clout as the three such meetings about the future of the Schedler property, during which many residents (not all of them in that immediate neighborhood) pled for the area to be kept natural, and after which the amusingly named Open Space Committee recommended that the entire thing be turned into a giant baseball field as if nobody but the sports interests had spoken?
These should be TELEVISED, transcribed, and posted–not only, but including, because it’s happening in the dead of summer when countless people are on vacation, busy with kids out of school, etc.