Land Use Boards Hear Redevelopment Updates
At their first meetings in 2007 this week, both the Planning Board and Board of Adjustment received updates on redevelopment in the city.
On Wednesday, Public Works & Urban Development Director Jennifer Wenson Maier outlined major projects. Planning Director Bill Nierstedt did the same Thursday for the Planning Board.
The key trend is transit-oriented development, or increasing density around the train stations. Proposals on South Avenue would take advantage of proximity to the Netherwood station and North Avenue plans are centered on the main train station. Wenson Maier said the city will make a new application to the state for transit village designation now that a re-examination of the master plan includes TOD goals.
Almost all the current proposals call for condo development.
Plaintalker has covered a number of the redevelopment proposals offered last year and reader can look up the stories by using the “search” function in the bar at the top of the blog. For example, key in “Maxim” and you will get all the stories on the South Avenue developer or “Landmark” for the North Avenue project.
The city made an agreement last year with the Union County Improvement Authority to put that agency in charge of redevelopment, that is, to perform studies, work out redevelopment agreements with developers and many other tasks. (Key in UCIA.) Each action step along the way is to receive city approval. A couple of projects, such as the new senior center/condo plan and the South Avenue projects, are not under the UCIA but will be privately funded.
One plan closely watched by downtown merchants is Landmark’s North Avenue proposal for hundreds of new residential units and an entertainment center in the historic district adjacent to the main station. On Thursday, the Planning Board saw a proposed expansion of the redevelopment area to include the PNC Bank block and the current Municipal Lot 6 that provides parking for East Front Street stores off Park Avenue.
The expansion is only in the talking stage, but when the city brought up using the lot in 2005, merchants were concerned about losing parking and therefore customers.
New North Avenue business owners are also worried about eminent domain causing them to shut down.
The city may also be expanding the transit village radius around the two existing and two former train stations from a quarter-mile to one-half mile. That item was withdrawn from the City Council agenda Tuesday.
Plaintalker will strive to keep the public aware of the status of all the many plans. Any citizen can attend the meetings where they are discussed and public hearings are part of the redevelopment process. Plainfield is up for a lot of changes if even some of these plans go through and it’s important to pay attention.
--Bernice Paglia
On Wednesday, Public Works & Urban Development Director Jennifer Wenson Maier outlined major projects. Planning Director Bill Nierstedt did the same Thursday for the Planning Board.
The key trend is transit-oriented development, or increasing density around the train stations. Proposals on South Avenue would take advantage of proximity to the Netherwood station and North Avenue plans are centered on the main train station. Wenson Maier said the city will make a new application to the state for transit village designation now that a re-examination of the master plan includes TOD goals.
Almost all the current proposals call for condo development.
Plaintalker has covered a number of the redevelopment proposals offered last year and reader can look up the stories by using the “search” function in the bar at the top of the blog. For example, key in “Maxim” and you will get all the stories on the South Avenue developer or “Landmark” for the North Avenue project.
The city made an agreement last year with the Union County Improvement Authority to put that agency in charge of redevelopment, that is, to perform studies, work out redevelopment agreements with developers and many other tasks. (Key in UCIA.) Each action step along the way is to receive city approval. A couple of projects, such as the new senior center/condo plan and the South Avenue projects, are not under the UCIA but will be privately funded.
One plan closely watched by downtown merchants is Landmark’s North Avenue proposal for hundreds of new residential units and an entertainment center in the historic district adjacent to the main station. On Thursday, the Planning Board saw a proposed expansion of the redevelopment area to include the PNC Bank block and the current Municipal Lot 6 that provides parking for East Front Street stores off Park Avenue.
The expansion is only in the talking stage, but when the city brought up using the lot in 2005, merchants were concerned about losing parking and therefore customers.
New North Avenue business owners are also worried about eminent domain causing them to shut down.
The city may also be expanding the transit village radius around the two existing and two former train stations from a quarter-mile to one-half mile. That item was withdrawn from the City Council agenda Tuesday.
Plaintalker will strive to keep the public aware of the status of all the many plans. Any citizen can attend the meetings where they are discussed and public hearings are part of the redevelopment process. Plainfield is up for a lot of changes if even some of these plans go through and it’s important to pay attention.
--Bernice Paglia
posted by Bernice at 8:22 AM
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