Landmark Up for Conditional Designation

Tonight's City Council meeting may include conditional designation of Landmark Development Corp. as developer of a West Front Street site that includes the Appliance-Arama warehouse and two lots. Although not on the agenda, the project was presented at the Sept. 29 meeting and is apparently up for fast-tracking through the approval process.

The meeting is 8 p.m. in Municipal Court, 325 Watchung Ave.

Landmark already has an agreement with the city to redevelop the North Avenue Historic District, but there has been no recent update on that project or on the North Avenue extension, which includes the PNC Bank building. Landmark received the initial conditional designation for the North Avenue project in August 2006. After some extensions, Landmark was named developer and an agreement was approved in April 2007.

The new project, on the Tepper's block, is outside the boundaries of the prior one. According to Landmark principal Frank Cretella, the parcels involved are Block 249, lots 5, 6,and 7. Lots 5 and 6 were previously supposed to be the site of Heartstone's 12-condo development. Most recently, a pocket park was created on the Heartstone site.

A press release on the new Landmark proposal appeared on the city web site. Click here to read it. The approval mentioned is just the conditional designation. The developer must still apply to the Planning Board for site plan approval.

The change of focus from North Avenue to West Front Street calls to mind the switch by another developer from East Third and Richmond to South Avenue. In that instance, George Capodagli's company was formally released from developer designation at East Third and Richmond before submitting plans for the new project on South Avenue.

These moves bear watching. I missed the Board of Adjustment meeting at which I hear the South Avenue proposal received approval for variances. (Correction: This application was not approved.)The project is for a four-story, 33-unit apartment building.

I still have some church publicity work hanging over my head but will try to update my redevelopment files. Those seeking re-election in 2009 need some redevelopment showpieces to point to, but the public needs more facts.

--Bernice Paglia

Don't Squander Good Will

The administration that took over Jan. 1 received many concessions in its first several months.

The governing body granted residency waivers to top administrators, approved a new “confidential aide” position for the mayor and changed its historic meeting schedule. After Finance Director and former city administrator Norton Bonaparte left in March, the council permitted City Administrator Carlton McGee also to be acting director of Administration and Finance for more than the allowed 90 days.

By mid-year, the council’s good will seemed to be fraying a bit.

In June, council members probed costs and plans for the annual July 4th celebration but overcame hesitation to put redevelopment in the hands of the Union County Improvement Authority. In July, quibbles arose over last-minute appointments requested by the mayor and then-Council President Ray Blanco used his power to withdraw them, admonishing McGee to “get this administration in order.”

A week after confronting McGee, Blanco died of an apparent heart attack at the age of 50. Many people said Blanco’s intense desire to see the city succeed was his true legacy.

In August meetings, the council agreed to endorse several major redevelopment proposals, but in September appeared to be blindsided by fast-tracking of the process. Both the Planning Board and the council ended up holding special meetings on the plans.

McGee described a quick $12 million bond note issue that took place in September without prior public discussion, prompting council members to ask how it happened without the governing body being informed until after the fact.

A flood damage control ordinance also caused consternation when the council was asked to approve it with assurances that required Planning Board approvals would take place later.

A Sept. 23 emergency council meeting to vote on a redevelopment plan took place without public notice. The notice was published more than a week later.

Last week, Councilman Rashid Burney said the Historic Preservation Commission did not have enough members to make a quorum and asked the administration to submit nominees. Plaintalker notes that many of the previous appointments to new boards and commissions don’t add up to quorums.

Also last week, McGee took it upon himself to cancel a City Council budget meeting, even though only the council president has the right to cancel a meeting.

Surely the city does not need a throwback to the enmity between the council and administration that stalled redevelopment and much other progress in past administrations. But there is a limit to how far this administration can stretch its good will with the governing body. Late submissions, shortcuts and missteps will only force the council to take a stand against such disrespect of the governing body’s powers and responsibilities. It’s not just about personalities. It’s about checks and balances and the letter of the law on fiscal or land use decisions.

--Bernice Paglia