Make sure this is >> good morning David. >> It's a David in the >> morning from Kyoto >> and happy birthday. >> Yeah, happy birthday. Uh, thank you.
>> All right. If everyone join me in the pledge of allegiance to the flag >> to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible,
>> with liberty and justice for all. The future is now. >> The notice requirements of the open public meetings act as amended by public law 2025 chapter 72 have been satisfied with respect to this meeting of the mayor and councel of the bureau of
Glenidge. Specifically, the time, date, and location were included in the meeting notice posted on the bureau's official website at www. glenridgej.org at least 48 hours prior to this meeting. The agenda and public handouts for this meeting can be viewed online at
www.glenridgej.org. >> Uh, madame clerk, could we have a roll call? >> He's here. Lo is accent today. Sim >> here. >> Trianiano is absent today.
>> Mayer >> here. >> Moody >> here. >> Mayor, we have a >> Thanks so much. Uh, can I have a motion on the minutes of February 23rd? >> I'll make a motion to approve the minutes from February 23rd. >> You heard the motion from Councelor
Meyer. May I have a second? >> I'll second. Move the second uh by councelor Moody. Any discussion on the minutes? >> Uh seeing none. Um >> madam clerk, could you do a roll call? >> I zi
>> I may >> I >> Marshall car. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you, madame clerk. Uh do we have any written communications? No, >> no. All right. Um, just shortly welcome
to the council. Uh, we never get anyone coming. So, I will tell you just so you know if you are here about the affordable housing ordinances. Um, we always have what happens next is a public comment just in general. But for
each ordinance, there is a specific public hearing or comment period for that ordinance which is later in the agenda. So, if you are speaking on that specifically, that might make more sense to speak at that time. So, we'll open
that up. Um, and we'll be there shortly, so you won't have to sit through through very much. But at this point, um, if there are more general comments from the public, you are welcome to come. Uh, please state your name and address for the record, and please try to limit your remarks to three minutes.
have to wait, make sure people are shy. Okay. Um, with that, we'll close this portion of the public comments. Um, councelor Lefowitz, are you since he's remote, are you able to do the resolution for the bill or would you like that to
>> I I am. >> Okay, perfect. Thank you. >> I I am. So, um, uh, Madame Mayor, I have resolution moment. Um resolution 59-26
uh this is to authorize the payment of bills for uh this uh for this period. So I I move resolution 59-26. >> Thank you. You've heard the motion by council. May I have a second?
>> Second. >> Heard the motion by council. Seconded by councelor Zimit. Any discussion? Seeing none, madam clerk, could you please call the role? >> Leave >> I. >> Zimi, >> hi. >> Meer >> I.
>> Moody. >> I. >> Motion carry. >> Thank you so much. Thank you, councelor Lewitz. Uh, councelor Zimit is going to take on the public safety and committee. >> Uh, thank you, Madam Mayor. I have six resolutions tonight, which we're going
to do in one consent agenda. Um, is the season for all kinds of events and such. So, one is the Arts and Ecoair, authorizing the Arts and Ecoare on Sunday, May 17th. Uh authorizing the Ashenfelter 8K on November 26th. Uh the
Memorial Day parade and picnic on May 25th. The uh Rhino Rob at RAZ for the Port of Ed on June 4th. The uh Sunset Classic 8K that runs through Bloomfield and Glenn on uh June 25th. and the
community uh excuse me, the logger run uh that's going to take place on June 14th. So, I would uh like to move those six resolutions. >> You've heard the motion by councelor Zimit. May I have a second? >> I'll second. >> Heard the motion by councelor Zimit,
seconded by councelor Moody. Any discussion? Seeing none, madam clerk, please do the roll call. >> Leave. >> I zi. >> Meer. I >> Moody >> I
>> mayor motion carrying. >> Thanks so much. Um councelor Zimit anything from community affairs and public relations. >> Um just a couple quick notes uh just a quick Jney update and is that we're still working on alternatives and
investigating alternatives but just so everyone knows we have expanded uh extended monthly permits through April and May. So provider, you can buy monthlys through April and May. And we will keep you posted as uh we continue to uh look at solutions. And then the other thing I just want to let folks
know is that registration um with weather like today, registration is open for uh the summer camp, the Glenidge pool, and Freeman tennis. So everybody should go get ready for the summer. The weather's nice. That's all I have. >> All right. Thanks.
Councelor Tiano is not here for public works. Councelor Meyer, Parks and Recreation Committee. >> Um, I I think I just want to thank the GR came in today and met with the council during our workshop session uh to kind of update folks in order to keep
up the strong partnership that we've developed with uh GRA after their annual planning session. They come in um and kind of give us an overview of plans and uh ideas and thoughts they have about the upcoming year so we stay well uh connected and work uh collectively. I
want to thank them for their time this evening and for the the continued partnership and all the work they do for all of the youth um in this town around the sports. It's a no no small feed and it's a those who are familiar it is an entirely volunteer organization with
only a couple of employees. So it's a it's heroic work that those guys are doing. And that ends my report, but I'd like to offer resolution 6726 and this is for authorizing the 2026
field maintenance treatment contract. Um, so this is to kind of care for all the grass fields in town. And mayor, I'd like to move resolution 6726. >> You've heard the motion by councelor
Meyer. May I have a second? the motion by councelor Meyer, seconded by councelor Zimit. Any discussion? >> Seeing none, madam clerk, can we have a roll call, please? >> That was an I. >> Was that an I?
>> David. >> Yes, that was an I if it didn't come through. >> Hi, >> Mayer. >> I >> may motion carry. >> Thanks so much. Um, anything else, Council Meer? >> No, nothing, Madam Mayor.
>> Council Moody, Planning and Development Committee. >> Oh, we have a few things that people are eager to hear today. Madame Mayor, um, as many of you are probably here, we're here to, uh, address issues of, uh, our
obligations under the state law for affordable housing. and and I want to make that, you know, I want to say that before we go through the public hearing. I think we've tried to put out communication about this. Um, and we understand that change, any even
suggestion of potential change is hard for communities and we hear you and we take this stuff very seriously and very sensitively. Um, it we have a special community here and we all want to preserve and protect that. Uh just to
restate what I think some have already heard, but I think it bears repeating that the bureau is mandated to comply with the state process under March 24th state law for what's called the fourth round uh decade period of affordable
housing obligations. But beyond the law, I want to be clear that we also take very seriously that New Jersey has an affordability problem and that Glenidge in particular has an affordability problem and that housing costs are central to that problem in this state
and in this community. Uh and that puts a state strain on our first responders, on our essential workers, on teachers, on burough staff who we want to be close, adult children, first-time home buyers, seniors on fixed income. So when
we talk about affordable housing, I want to humanize that for a second. I also want to say that in order to meet this obligation, the board was burough was required to create and adopt the housing element fair share housing plan and to
meet the number of units for the state. >> Uh in creating that plan, we were charged with identifying locations and areas that are suitable for potential development. And I think that's really
important to stress that it's suitable for potential. It doesn't mean anything's happening doesn't necessarily it doesn't mean anything's necessarily happening immediately. Uh part of the framework and the lens that our professional planners both our staff
planner and our consultant planners were charged with was also looking at places that might be subject to land use changes anyway. whether it might be changing business trends, things like that's where the uh medical office
buildings come in, vacancy rates, uh what is going up versus down in terms of the tax base. So there was a lot of thought and sensitivity to some of this to all of this and so that is where we
land to the spots that we're discussing tonight. Um, I want to say that it's context appropriate sites and it is designed to ensure burough control in this process. Not everybody here was in
town probably for the Claris. We've had a lot of newcomers come to town. But when we don't follow these mandates and we we don't plan for this developers have the right in this state to have a builder's remedy
lawsuit is what the process is called. And then we lose all control. And then it goes to a court for a settlement. and the density the densities that might scare us in this plan will be dwarfed by
what is possible when it's mandated by a court settlement. So I I I think that context is important to and to let you guys know that we really are working. This is to allow us nothing happens then
without building permits and without HPC approval. This is to put everything that happens in this town through the lens of a process. So we really appreciate the input. We really appreciate the questions, but I wanted
to at least before we laid out this hearing, give you some insight into the values that were underneath this and the care that has gone into this process. Um, >> Councelor Moody, before you introduce it, I just want to add
>> it had to be meaningful, too. >> Yes. We had to go through the last 18 months the ability for this plan and these ordinances to be challenged by third parties to be challenged by the property owners and third parties including nonprofit organizations whose
mission is workforce and affordable housing. So, you know, sometimes I'll get an email, well, why didn't you look at this parcel like a sing like, you know, like a small parcel in another part of town or something that was not going to cross like the sniff test,
right? And also, we had to go in front of a judge. So, we went through a whole like arbitration process with a judge because we were our whole plan was getting stress tests. So, I I appreciate everyone, you know, thinking like what about this or what about that. I just
want you to know like it wasn't just us coming up with a plan in a vacuum. A lot of people had to go and look at this and say yes, this passes what we meant and the statutory intent of what we meant. So, I just want to give that context because it had to be meaningful and and I do
think it's it's meaningful and it's it's we think about affordable housing and and I think there's people have negative views on that, but this is really workforce housing, >> right? This is about our community and what we stand as a community values that make sense and how we're trying to plan
for the community. And it's it's very difficult and I understand there was a lot of questions and we delayed doing an adoption, you know, of this. So Eric, our planner, could meet with people one-on-one. A lot of questions were answered and we really tried to make
ourselves available to answer those questions one-on-one. I understand you still might have some. Um, but I will be very transparent. If we don't meet this deadline, uh, that the state has implemented, we are vulnerable to a developer's remedy. And I will tell you,
there's one property owner who would probably definitely sue us. Let's hope. Yeah. >> So, um, with that, I will turn it back over to councelor Moody. So, thank you. >> Thank you, Madam Mayor. Uh, so that is what we're here to do tonight. Uh the
housing uh overlay was part of the um HEFSP that was adopted in just for context again in June of 2025 uh and readdopted in February of 2026 by our planning board. So these documents
have been out in the community and have been uh we've been evaluated by members within the community prior to tonight as well. And what the counselor's role is tonight is to adopt and codify the
ordinances that are necessary to implement the zoning in this plan. And with all of that preamble, let's begin. Uh madame mayor, I have ordinance number 1831, an ordinance entitled affordable housing
overlay zone for final reading. Madame Mayor, this is to state to the record that this ordinance have been published and posted according to the state. I declare this meeting open for discussion of this ordinance and this ordinance only. This being the time and
place for the public hearing. If you wish to come up, please state your name and address for the record and please try to limit your remarks to three minutes. Noa, 955 Bloomfield Avenue. I'm in favor of affordable housing
planning in Glenidge. However, I am here to put on record that we feel that the process related to ordinance 1831 about zoning overlay of several private properties was not transparent at all.
As a homeowner of a property on the R5 zone, I received communication from the town only on Friday, February 20th at 2:30 p.m. the time a postman does his rounds for a vote scheduled the
following Monday on February 23rd. Zero days notice. In addition, this town council wanted to proceed with a vote during a virtual meeting where some homeowners would not
have been able to participate. It was only thanks to a historic blizzard and my personal complaints on social media that eventually we were afforded a few more days before this vote is cast.
Communication about this fundamental change in our property zoning has been appalling. Homeowners never were involved at any time in this process. Not consulted when a first decision was apparently made in
June 2025, nor informed through the proper channels. People need to be informed in their houses the same way that the letter came on February 20th. A letter dated February 11th and
delivered on February 20th for a vote on February 23rd is simply inexcusable. The way this process was conducted has done nothing else than erode the trust in this council. Thank you.
>> My name is Simone Price. I live at 103 First, I want to say thank you for clarifying a few things and humanizing the process because I think we all have our own personal stories and connections to the town and that's why we're all really passionate about what's going on.
So, I have three young children ages 22 months, four and seven years old. I grew up here. I went to Forest Avenue School and then I went to Ridgewood Avenue School and then I went to Blanch High. I came back my children because of the
small town feel and the educational system. When I was growing up, Central School didn't exist. >> I had to drive all the way down to Forest Avenue School. Central School was built to help accommodate the growing school age population and the residents in the
middle of town. Even with that addition, Forest Avenue has 22 students in the kindergarten classes and Lyndon has another 20 per class. Central only has 15 in the first
grade per class. For many parents, including myself, overcrowded classrooms are a serious concern along with all the other things that more population brings. As enrollment increases, the strain on school re resources and
budgets increases as well, which are funded by our tax dollars. Larger class sizes means higher teacher to student ratios, less individualized attention for students, and increased pressure on both teachers and staff and students. Ultimately, this impacts the quality of
our children's education. I just also wanted to say that it's really important in our modern times. Community isn't what it used to be. We're living in really isolated times and because of that, it's more important than ever that we work intentionally to maintain and strengthen our sense of
community. I want to encourage everyone listening tonight to remember that fostering that community starts with listening to our constituents, considering their concerns and finding solutions that support the needs of the entire town. If development is being considered or reszoning or whatever
words that we call it that is going to affect us, the responsibility should be shared by the entire town and not concentrated in areas where overpopulation is already a concern. Because like I said, when I was growing up, I was the only kid on my block. And
now with all the reszoning and the R5 and the all of the other buzzwords that we're going to be hearing tonight, the Clarence wasn't there and the The train station wasn't even there when I was a kid. So all of the collateral effects,
it's not about affordability. It's not about who comes into town. None of those things. It's about listening to each other and making sure that all of our voices are heard. Because I think coming into this, we felt like a little bit more adversarial.
But I think when we when we talk to you guys and humanize it and see what the process is, I we can understand a little bit more. I think we need to hear each other out because we all feel really strongly about this. >> Yeah. No, look, I'll just, you know, on these last two comments,
>> we're always striving to figure out how to get people to pay attention about what's going on in town, right? I told you this is the most people we've ever had at a council meeting, and I'm not joking. Right? We send out notices. We have an email list. We do social media posts. We
try to get things and Laura Counselor Moody and I I didn't interrupt you, ma'am. I took it because that's my job, my volunteer job. Okay, Council Moody, we spend a lot of time figuring this out. And I want to be
clear, all the notification requirements that we were required to do, we did. Can we and we went above and beyond that. You might not agree with that, but that's but the idea that we didn't follow the
law and what we were supposed to do is absolutely false and I will push back on that. I I also just want to say that it was important to us that the public be able to come tonight. I don't want you to
think that in any way, shape, or form that we didn't want to hear from you. And so there was a lot of discussion about how to meet our legal obligations in a timely manner while also engaging in this conversation and ensuring as you
can see by councelor Leoitz that we had a quorum necessary to pass these for for the for the law. So again this is very important to us to engage in this dialogue and it's important to us to continue to gauge this dialogue should
any parcel come available. This is not going to be something that happens all of the sudden to this community in any way, shape or form. This is going to happen over time and it's going to happen through processes that I hope we can make you all more familiar with like
the planning board, like the historic preservation. There are there and whenever anybody puts in for new a new development as Eric Deline can attest there are studies on the storm water there are sometimes traffic studies that are
triggered there's an review of where egress and entrance is so every step of the way we want your partnership we want your voice and we want you to understand the obligations also on the town. So with that said please
Next up, >> you guys can form a If folks want to form a line, feel free to form a line. >> I'm Morgan. I live at 24 Highland Avenue and I've lived there for 20 years. The back of my property in the driveway on
Excuse me. Can Can we hold comments? Thank you. >> Well, I understand the burrow's obligation towards affordable housing. I I'd like to just remind us that this is a wide obligation and the Glenidge Avenue neighborhood has already been
subject to high density development. In the time that I live there, I've seen two higher density developments added in the neighborhood. The townhouse development at 117 121 Glenidge Avenue and of course the Claris which displaced
at least four single family homes, one that had beautiful gardens. I'll remind us that Glenidge Avenue is one of the oldest streets in town with historic housing stock. The neighborhood does have a current mix of housing options, single family homes, a couple
of um a couple of um multifamily houses, some doctor's offices, along with the now three townhouse developments right on Avenue. It's a mix of multi-generational families who have called Glenidge home for decades and
newer looking for entry into Glen Ridge. The single family homes on Glenidge Avenue are already some of the most affordable in the burrow with higher density housing brings
higher density problems and Glen Island has already experienced the effects of this. Specifically, when you look at the traffic in the street, the street is not wide, right? One lane in both directions with parking allowed on one side. When
cars are parked, they protrude into the line of traffic. So, you can't have two lanes of traffic and a parked car at the same time. Um, in addition, there's a street um that we have many folks, you know,
uh, speeding along that and that speeding has led to multiple accidents. There's at least one year um of a car that misses misjudg the curve as you go from Glenbridge Avenue to
That street tree um has been replanted by the shade tree commission, I believe, three times and has been removed three times in accidents. There's no longer one there. Most uh you know, my neighbor's car was heavily damaged by the internet. My neighbor's car parked
in the drive. Um most of the accidents or or mishaps go unreported. You usually hear screech of tires in the night and see the tire tracks um on on building space. It it is already heavily trafficked. It became more heavily
traffic with the Claris and with the introduction of um the archive zone and the opportunity for higher density. It that will bring more traffic. Now this has been acknowledged because we've seen some changes in the traffic infrastructure. The blinking light was
made a four-way stop years ago and I believe it was last summer that um traffic markings, traffic markings were put along the roadway. There are ample signs that tell you there is a curve ahead, but no amount of paint or signage
is really going to compensate for the fact that the road just is not ready for or cannot accommodate the amount of traffic it had. It it already has. So once again, we see with this ordinance that it's the Glendridge
Avenue neighborhood that is being recommended to bear the burden of the burough's obligation towards affordable and high density housing. Again, we we already have that and it's already a stress to the existing infrastructure.
This obligation by the bureau should not be limited to just the I I think the most reasonable request is to put that overlay over the entire town. There are many areas in town that
um developers might be interested in buying parcels, many larger parcels that might not displace as many families, many roads that are wider. Glen Bridge is a small town. We have at least 20 train stations that residents use on a
regular basis. So, it's easy to a transit hub and you know Glenidge Avenue already supports that neighborhood already supports the high density obligation. It's time that the rest of the burrow be
active in this as well. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Hi, I'm Moren Micah. I'm 270 Forest Avenue. I don't live in the area where the overlays are, but I have concerns the school concerns. I also went to grew
up and went to school here, but it's beyond that. Is our police department going to grow to cover this population? I know in the many years I've lived here, more than I care to say, I've had to call the police
department twice. Never for a crime, always for help. when I needed medical help from my mother, whatever, and they were there in minutes. I'm concerned that the more people we have, if we don't grow our support services, that
we, and I know this is down the line, I get it. That we are not going to be able to have that security. And then what about our fire services? We negotiate with towns around us. We already know we have a problem with that. If we have more bigger buildings, how's that going
to go? You know, there's a lot of things to consider. And poor Eric, I mean, I hope you never leave because there's a lot of work to be done here, but >> I'm here. >> The concerns are almost in every public
service and I get that this is a law. I think I would hope that if somebody comes and wants to buy and develop that we are a lot tougher this time than we were last time. >> I will tell you Moren, we did not have this in place when ClariS ClariS was a
builder's remedy. >> Yeah, I know that. >> I don't know if everyone knows that, right? And we actually have we've been looking at the numbers on this on the students as well, right? Enrollment's actually >> down >> down >> since ClariS has been built. So, we're looking at data. We take your we take
your feedback very seriously and we've been using this time to like look at the data. They said this. Can we what do we think? What happened here? And so, yes. So, I'll leave it at that. >> The other concern I have is when I look at the map, you know, I'm not good at
this, but it looks to me like it's all of our ratables. So, and all of our commercial and will there be requirements that they replace those commercial and those tax dollars because I know when we went with ClariS, which I
know was a different situation, there was a deal made and they they weren't paying real estate taxes for a number of years because they paid an assessment. >> No, they paid it's called a pilot, but we do we get a lot of revenue from ClariS. I just want to be clear about that. I don't want anyone to think we're
not getting Yeah. >> I I think what my concern is that we don't get enough revenue to support what we need in terms of our support services in terms of the police and fire contract and whatever road improvements we need.
We need to make sure that they fund us. They fund themselves and the population that comes. >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you. How you doing? I'm Alex Macy 28 Street. I've been here before. I just have a question. There's a little misunderstanding by me possibly about
proposed building area or the overlay. Is there going to be something on Bloomfield they have to buy Clark Street or not? Someone said yes, someone said no. Would that be the >> It's the King site and the Bank of America drive through site. >> Okay. Okay. And then my question would be, you know, I was there 15 years, no
flooding, and as I've been here before, the last five years, I've had nothing but flooding. So they are they going to take into account that are they going to change the footprint of the buildings there? Are they going to raise because on Washington Street among developments in Bloomfield, they actually raised the property about six feet in the air, which was a flood area. Yeah.
>> If they do stuff like that, I'm doomed. So I mean I mean the long an the short answer is it's to be to be determined because those are the kind of answers you get at site plan review. Um with state um being more stringent in
floodprone hazard areas, flood planes, things like that. A development that um like the bottle pin the way it got developed probably can't get developed the way that it is now because of these new changes. So any new development come
in would have to meet state storm water regulations, our municipal storm water regulations and probably if anything do more to mitigate the that those storms and the impacts of storms around this around the around the community. >> And I want to be clear that there were
certain spots that can't were not in the plant specifically because we're very sensitive to the storm water too. That's another thing that we really know is a problem in town. My other question, when would the when do you know definitely when these proposals are going to go through? Where they're going to build?
>> They could never happen. I mean, that's the thing. >> That's the >> that's that's the thing with the planning study. Um, you know, we we we do have the obligation, the statutory obligation to identify locations um under this law that are suitable for development or redevelopment. That
doesn't mean that there are any pending applications or any interest in developing, but through our planning process, we did have to identify sites. >> Okay. Once again, you said the B King area. What was the other one? >> The Bank of America drive-thru site. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Hi, I'm Maria Lord. I live on 30 Herman
Street. Madame Mayor, you had mentioned before that um the you know some of the councils in uh in town had gone um in front of court um before this meeting.
Um, I just want to know why we why the people in town were notified for that before then >> because we I mean not to just just in support of you um we really again we just got noticed like in the mail
>> on February 11th or whatever right before the storm. I'm just concerned that I I don't understand why we didn't get notified way before. Just say like, "Hey, FYI, they're sniffing around again." Just like the ClariS just to let
you know, you know, just kind of like a heads up instead of two weeks, three weeks before your council hearing >> before a zoning change. The the >> You're not going to like this answer. >> Okay, just be transparent.
But the the plan has been reviewed several times at the council and also at the planning board and it included the narrative and the map that shows the overlay >> that is noticed on our website that's noticed through our email distribution. It's Facebook.
>> We did a whole website page with a FAQ. We're very open to like hearing about how people get their information in town and and you know how to do that. But then once we get to the actual ordinance, then the requirement is to do a a letter. Okay.
>> Now, did the US post office do a great job delivering those letters? Absolutely not. >> Should it take eight days for a certified letter to reach the same mailbox in Glenidge? No, it should not. But that's, you know, we'll take that on the chin because that's that's that's
where it is. But um just on your court, the law required this time period after the plan was approved, the original plan um for a review by some entities that
are named under the law and they could challenge it as well as specific part, you know, property owners with that are identified in it. And that is um a mediation required under the law under a judge. Um it's not an open courtroom.
You know, it was a a mediation. I don't know, John, our town attorney participated in those. I don't know how else to say that, but it's not something you would have been notified about. And there's a court hearing. >> Yeah, I understand that that there obviously not everybody can can go to
court, but a nice heads up like a you know something. I'm not on Facebook because of >> Yeah, we don't I we use regular chat. >> It just would have been nice. >> Okay. Okay, I hear you on that. Thank you, >> Mayor. If you want, I mean, I might make one or two comments that might be
helpful. I don't know if you'd like me to. >> I mean, I I don't anyone if everyone can hear me. I I don't think it's going to come as any surprise to hear me say that what is happening in Glenn Ridge with this has happened throughout the entire state of New Jersey. I'm sure that you
all have read about all of the litigation that is going on in each of the towns. And how this all started was that the state of New Jersey opened up this issue by creating a round four,
what they call a round four requirement. we in Glenn Ridge because we had been involved with the Claris situation which was in fact a builder's remedy lawsuit that went on for five years. But as a
result of the Claris being built, Glen Ridge was able to enter into a period of what was called repose. And that went from uh 2015 to 2025. >> And that's basically an immunity from builders remedies.
>> And what the period of repose meant was that during that 10-year period, no builder could come into Glen Ridge and do what was done for the Claris site. Because what happens with this is that zoning under New Jersey law is
completely thrown out the window anytime there is a builder's remedy lawsuit. If you are not in compliance with New Jersey law, any municipality, you are going to be subject to a builder's remedy lawsuit on any parcel anywhere.
So at the end of you know 2025 or thereabouts you know all of the towns in New Jersey have to be involved with the round four obligation and it start started out with each town but particularly for Glen Ridge we received
a notice from the state of New Jersey telling us that our obligation was this number you know I don't I'm going from memory here maybe 178 units. >> But we were told
>> we were told that our round four obligation was that we had to find space for 178 units if we did not find space for 178 units. We would not be in
compliance with New Jersey law and we would be subject to the same thing that happened with Claris by anybody who had a parcel of land anywhere in town who wanted to go around the zoning laws and build whatever would be built without
regard to the number of units. Well, this this started, you know, again, these are all state mandates. They are all impossible hard stop dates that you have to comply by. We we disagreed with the state. We said that there's no way that we have, you
know, we wanted what was called a vacant land adjustment. And a vacant land adjustment means that well, maybe we have 178 units as an obligation, but we have no place to put them. Well, there's another statewide group, a notfor-profit group, Fairshare Housing, which
challenged us. And there was the New Jersey Builders Association which challenged us. So this happened well over a year ago and we were not alone. I mean this was litigation going on throughout the state. We were able to settle that
litigation by having that obligation reduced by I think it was 10%. >> So that became our new number and they went down to 171 >> 171. So our number went down to 171. So that was a little over a year ago. So
the next thing that happened was we say well now this is it. Um then the same builder, you know, the same builder who built Claris challenged us. This is a matter of public record, so there's no secret here. The same builder who built
Claris challenged us and the site was 200 Highland, which is the medical office building across the street from the hospital. And again, you know, I'm just going from my memory here and there were a lot of people who participated, but my recollection is he wanted to do
100 was what was the initial 98? Do you remember the >> It was It ended up being 100 dwelling units in the >> Yeah, he wanted to have a 100 units on what was essentially a 0.9 acre site. He wanted to put a 100 units on that site.
And that went on for maybe four or five months. And again, the state said to us, "You either have to settle this, and if you don't settle this, you're going to be subject to the builder's remedy." And what we did then, uh, I think we ended up settling that so that if and
when if and when that property is ever developed, it is he would be allowed to put uh 50 unit 50 units on basically a oneacre site. And that settled. But you know once that was done we were still
left with the problem of find and and that reduced our number by by saying that was 50 then we were left with what 121. >> I mean those are different numbers >> but we had to we had to find a place somewhere. And so what we then did was we said, "Well, you know, these are
potential sites that perhaps, you know, if down the road whoever owns those sites, if down the road they don't like what's there now, they can make application to Glen Ridge to change that." And what we did so that we would
not have a builder's remedy lawsuit and and based on what happened with Claris and based on us settling at 50 units an acre at 200 Highland, we were able to to limit the development in this overlay zone, I think it's to 30 units an acre
pretty much. So 30 units an acre compared to the density of ClariS and compared to the density that could be possible at 200 Highland. Those are those are really very very good density numbers for those sites. That does not
mean that does not mean that those owners will ever build it, but we had to come up with spaces to put that. And those were the most logical ones because they're already class 4. They're commercial properties.
Will this ever happen? As as was said, we don't know. But, you know, the fact that we did this, you know, we didn't do this in a vacuum because all of this had to be approved by the nonprofit group Fairshare Housing Center and they did not give us a blessing for this. And
this all had to be done by March the 16th. This was a state law. And when we settled the case, you know, I specifically said to the judge, "Judge, we it's going to be very hard for us to do this by March 16th. We need time. We
need time. And we put this in all of the settlement agreements and it went from our local judge to our regional judge. It's Judge Russo who was handling all this. And he wrote back he wrote back and said, "Well, I know what you tried to do here, but there's no way that you
have a day beyond March 16th. You do not have that day. And if you don't do this by March 16th, you are going to be subject to builder's remedy lawsuits in any >> 17th. >> Even if you even if you do this on March 17th, you didn't meet the statutory
deadline. I mean, that was my understanding. And we all saw the the order from the court and the order from the court was in bold to make sure that we understood what he was saying. So I think what everyone is saying here is is that you know we have been involved in
in this you know as normally happens you know in the normal course of litigation but we are not alone. All of these towns you may have read recently one of these cases went to the United States Supreme Court and and the town said to the United States Supreme Court this March
16th deadline is ridiculous. It's ridiculous. How can you expect us to do this? the US Supreme Court refused to hear the case. So th those towns that have not complied by the March 16th date are really out of luck. And what we're
trying to do with a March 16th date is identifying spots in town that make the most sense to plug in these hundred what whatever is left after the 50 for 200 island to plug these in
>> and it's going to get I'm not to cut John off. This is where Eric is the expert. The formulas are also a little bonkers because you get extra credit for a transit oriented development. You get extra credit sometimes for a parcel that
uh might be partially burrow on. So the credits that you get that's a raw number you're hearing. But that not only are we not saying these will definitely be built, not are we are we not saying that there is someone lined up to build them
tomorrow. let alone in the next decade. But it might not even be that number of units because it's really arcane, Byzantine, complicated, any goofy word you want to throw at this because of the
state laws governing this. And we're really trying to bring as much process to maximize. So, to some people's point about why certain sites were or weren't selected, we're also trying to maximize that. We're trying to actually use those
bonus credits to rightsize it for our community. >> Yeah. And and guess what? You know, even if we do this tonight, the state still has requirements for us. And some of the resolutions that are on tonight or the ordinance that are on tonight require us
to have spending plans and marketing plans for units that we don't even have. We don't have any of these units and but the state requires us to have those in place even if they have no applicability to us and if we don't have them in place
by >> I think today is the day for for those as well right >> you know we would be subject to builder's remedy lawsuits and and I think you know the mayor had had said this before and I think it's very important to say it once more is that at
the time of the Claris development we were not in compliance We we did we we had our head in the sand. And the reason why we had our head in the sand is that we felt that we had no vacant land. So why did we
have to spend all of this money to go through the round three obligation which was just as complicated as this? Why should we do that? It makes no sense to us. And then what happened is that whole section there was owned by the Pygatello
family and he had passed away and the family as a unit decided that they were not going to keep those houses. They sold it to a developer and because we did not have any repose, right, we had no repose. So we were we didn't comply
with round three. Um and that's how we ended up with Claris after five years of litigation where they wanted to put even they wanted eight of I think it's four stories or three but whatever it is >> they wanted another >> they wanted one more floor on top of that and you know again long story short
we said well you know if we have to do this you're going to have the same setback as the apartment buildings of Monontlair you're going to have the same height restrictions so that at least from a from a streetscape point of view that kind of blends in with that neighborhood otherwise it would have been it would have and higher and
bigger. So, you know, what's happening here, I think, is that the state is dragging all of us to this position. >> And and you know, it's either we do this or we just get subject to litigation and
each of these sites, if someone wanted to put 50, 60 or 70 units in there, we'd be fighting that. Now, what's happening is we're limiting this to the 30. You know, it's a Hopson's choice. Is that what is the west to whatever it is by way of density by way of density not
not not the goal of affordable housing but just by way of of of density it it's you know the best that can be done and I I hope that explains it better. I mean this is not the kind of thing that we're saying oh yeah we have nothing to do we're going to be doing this we're dragged into this by the state just like
every single municipality is being dragged into the state. >> Thanks John. All right. Well, let's get back to public comment next. >> Hi, I'm Eric Goldman, 25 Street. >> Um, I'm very cognizant that you are
volunteer government. I'm very cognizant you are friends and neighbors and I'm very cognizant from what I'm hearing that a lot of work fit into this plan and I want to thank you for that. Um, >> but >> I thought you were coming with a butt. Sorry, I'm joking. Sorry.
However, >> you know, starting nicely um and and I am learning a lot. I I didn't know a lot of what you said. Um I wanted to share in terms of communication. I found out about this plan through Facebook. Uh email is not great for me. Emails just
get lost at Facebook, especially if there's comments. That's really where uh there are a couple of groups in town. So, if you're thinking about effective ways to communicate, Facebook worked for me. Um just offering that up. Um I one
of the things I learned tonight is that uh my concern is some what someone else mentioned that it seems that all of the properties listed are our rateables and you know that I'm very concerned about the the changing economic reality and
how smaller homes are bearing a larger portion of property tax burden and the thought of losing ratables kind of makes me cranky especially when it's a conversation about affordable housing. Oh, and I should say I am absolutely in favor of meeting our affordable housing
obligations. I think it's something we should do. Uh I I don't have any concerns about that. Um and I was hearing when I saw that the medical buildings were targeted. I didn't realize that there were vacancy rates in there, that we weren't getting as much
property taxes out of them as we could. Um, please don't take my Starbucks. But you know, >> or my bottle can. >> Nobody's trying to put the >> I meant bottle king people. >> I'm going with the bottle after this.
But so, >> well, if we could get delivery, I'd appreciate >> Drizzly. Here you go. Um, learned that during co. Um, I I So, I I'm hearing that this plan is going to pass tonight because you don't really have any choice. And so this is really just a
conversation so you can hear people's concerns and I think that that's great. My concern, you know, you know, my concern is the impact on property taxes. And I would hate to see that we the way we're meeting our affordable housing
obligation is by increasing the property taxes on the smallest homes in town. But I'm pretty sure based on what I've heard that you've already thought of that. >> Yeah. and and you know we just obviously had the rebal um and this is what's happening in Glen Ridge commercials
going down so like when we think about readables I always think oh commercial readables but it's down here and our residential values are up here >> right >> so ideally we get a mixed use what's called a mixed use in that area so you'd have the commercial on the ground yes
>> with the residential I mean that's what our vision is and that would be part of that process should any property owner want to come and say, "I want to redevelop my property." We'd be like working in a conversation with them in a public way through the planning board or
the zoning board or something like that to to move that forward. So, we hear you on the commercial space. We certainly love our commercial space, but there's this aspect of having more of a mixed use. >> Well, that was really all I wanted to say. Okay. And um
>> Thank you. >> much more invested people here. So, I'm >> Okay. Thank you. Steamas 30 Bet Street. I have more of a question. Um so when a developer for example declares they built over 100 units a really small percentage that was
actually low housing to my knowledge >> 20% >> 20% that's the overlay is 20%. >> So in these other areas where the potential for development controlling the development. Do we also
control the number of housing units that would be low income? Like for example, the 50 that you mentioned at 200 Highland. Would all 50 of those be low income? >> No. The state requirement knows better than >> Yeah. So, I mean the everything is set at a at a minimum of 20%. Okay. And the
reason why I mean, trust me, it would be a lot easier if the if the town could turn around and say 200 Highland Avenue, you're allowed units and 100% have to be affordable housing. Economically for a private developer, it's not feasible. Sort of the rule of thumb that everybody
has to go off of is for every one affordable housing unit, you have to build four market rate housing units. So really 50 50 dwelling units permitted at um Highland Avenue would yield um 10 10
affordable units >> and we have to come with 171. So yeah. So yeah, there's a lot of >> but that's where I was getting >> there's a lot of mixing of numbers because >> right >> there's there's the the the top number 171 that the burrow has this obligation
to provide for and then to John's earlier point we did undergo a vacant land analysis as everybody knows who lives in Genidge we don't have any available vacant land but what changed from the third round to the fourth round and that used to be the end of it and used to say we have no vacant land we
have know what's known as a realistic development potential. Everything goes into this other bucket called unmet need. And you kind of like the third round we had I mean we met our present need obligation which is another number by the Claris getting constructed but
then we kind of pushed everything as much as we could to if such a day should come that the Glenidge Country Club should shut down you're allowed to build um affordable housing there again at 20%. Right? So that's sort of the unmet
need. But what changed from the third round to the fourth round is the state said, "We're recognizing that New Jersey by and large doesn't have a whole lot of vacant property. If you're first strange suburb, if you're, you know, a lot of these other towns, you're pretty much
built out generally." So they created a new mechanism um called properties likely to redevelop. Okay? And 25 of your topline number had to had to be identified on properties known as likely to redevelop.
So our number fundamentally went from 171 to where we had to do a planning exercise for 43 affordable housing units. Um and so that's where 200 Highland the identification of 200
Highland Avenue came in. 123 Highland, the Bottle King and and the Bank of America site next door and then the municipal lot and the arcade. All of those had to be identified as properties likely to redevelop. And intermixed with
that 43 is another number and it's these bonus credits that that councelor Moody mentioned. So if you build near a to which essentially every property in Glen Ridge is within half mile of either a transit station or a bus route, which
also counted, you get half a credit for every unit you're building. So now you go from 43 units and you really have to build or you really have to identify location of 31 physical units, you ultimately get a credit of like another
12 to 13 units. Um something like that. So that's where this this whole exercise came in. Um, so but we did have to at least find as much as as much as a realistic possibility for at least 31
units at 20% again 20% of the total number of units that could be built on those sites. And that's why generally we ended up at a density of 30 dwelling units an acre. And then we had to kind of figure out where the rest of this unmet need was. and we carried forth the
country club allowance and then we designated the R5 zone and we added the building topology of multifamily at 18 dwelling units an acre in that section of the R5 zone. >> And Erica, correct me if I'm wrong, what we're doing with these particular
properties now is very similar to the overlay we did with the Glenn Country Club as part of the other situation that we were involved with with Clar. >> Yeah, I mean we still had to reszone it. Um but again I think we you know when we started this process we had to take a more realistic look at you know what are
properties um fund functionally obsolete medical office buildings um commercial buildings on properties that are relatively underutilized. The arcade kind of functionally obsolete. It's got a lot of vacancies over time. It comes in and out. The Bottle King can more or
less although it's completely filled is an underutilized site for the purposes of development and especially its location along Bluefield Avenue makes it sort of an opportune site for a mixeduse multif family development um you know at at that density.
>> Okay. So we I'm sorry one last question. So we we we try to um locate these areas and then the developer has like the property actually just has to become available. Nobody can come in and just take property.
>> There's no there will be no eminent domain. No takings. No. >> Thank you very much. >> I am George Merlin Glenbridge Avenue. So I'll skip the preamble that everyone else is heading. jump straight to the butt part and just take this all in the
spirit of constructive criticism. It's not meant as anything more than that. I think going forward we need to think our going forward. I mean the organs has to pass. We get that going forward what can be done. One I think better communication. It's I think you would acknowledge that we need to have more
proactive communication and frankly some of us can help with that. So we can talk later about >> Yeah, I'd love to hear very specifically what you're talking about. >> Yeah, >> perfect. I think legal standard is one thing, certified mail is one thing, but there's communication in a broader sense of reaching out to the community and
bringing us into a process. Which brings me to my second point that I think a lot of us feel this came out of the blue. I know there was president and priority, but I think part of the feeling it came out of the blue is that there's no
overarching plan like the Nolan report was done a century ago for the town. This was a response to a specific legal requirement and it's done around 9 out. We're we're need a vision for the town for how do we balance these affordable
requirements with concerns about service schools traffic was brought up. So there needs to be some kind of articulation with the inclusion of the community in a longer term plan. I hope that the council maybe not tonight but at some point can formally set up some kind of
process. You have expertise here. You've certainly got we've got lawyers here. We've got an affordable housing expert. We've got lots of enthusiasm, lots of commitment. We we can we can help. Really reach out to us. Reach out to me. Reach out to our leader. We can help in
that kind of process moving forward because I think we need to be looking what's the next thing coming, the next round coming the next obligation. How do we preserve what Glenidge is? >> Okay. Thank you. Appreciate that. And the only thing I and this is I defer
again to Eric on this is we do have a master plan. When we to the reason we call it a housing element is because it is a comes in and slots in to a master plan. The master plan was >> well the last time we did we adopted the
reexamination report in 2020. >> Was my was my first job. So when I first got >> Yeah. So to that point I I actually you know one of my my consermations of this entire process and again I I don't want to blame the entire process completely
because even as you're speaking and as we are things I'm like we could have done this a little bit differently and I agree with you with that. But one of one of my issues with this process, although it's designed to as intended to get all
these municipalities in line at the beginning of this 10-year thing, is it it's done at a break neck speed. And and and to provide a little bit of context, we got our our number of 178 units at at
late October of 2024. By January 31st of 2025, the council had to redo re review that number, do an analysis based on how the Department of Community Affairs came up
with that number, and either adopt that number or provide a revised number based on our study, which is what we did, and we got the number down to 163. From that time period, there's sort of like a sitting and waiting period because the state allowed for a two-month process to
for anybody challenged that adopted number and then the New Jersey Builders Association came in at the end of the proc. They challenged that number and said, >> "Okay, well that's fine, but like you didn't reallocate these 15 units across
the entire region. You didn't give them to Monontlair, Bloomfield, whoever. Um, so we're suing Glen Ridge because we actually do think that you should do 178." So then we went through a mediation process with New Jersey builders association and we settled at
171 units. We basic fundament basically split the difference. So that was that was midspring of 2025. By June 30th of 2025, we had to develop and adopt a housing element fair share
plan to be adopted by the planning board and and and approved by the council. So, we had two months to do that plan on top of everything else. And then from there, again, we sat and waited because we had a two-month period where we had to wait
to see if anybody challenged our plan, which we received two challenges, one for a developer and one for Fairshare Housing Corporation. That happened August 31st. From there, from basically September 1st through December 31st, the
burough was in negotiations and settlement agreements back and forth in court between the developer and fair share to arrive at the number and everything else that was agreeable. >> So then that gets us to January 1st of
this year. So from January 1st of this year, finally settling with these groups, we had to then readopt the housing element and fair share plan based on the terms of the seller home agreement. And we we had to um we had to
basically create zoning to meet what that housing element fair share happened. That's two and a half months. You have to go through two meetings. You have to go to the planning board. You have to do the actual work of planning it. Right. Um, as an urban planner myself, educated urban planner that's done a lot of community engagement and I
actually worked on the 2020 re-examination report. We had a whole survey. We did a ton of work. Uh, we had an online website for the burrow, everything like that. And I've done a lot of community engagement for other master plan work. It's it's actually a little unsettling how fast the process h
happened because to your point the other resident's point, it really did not provide an avenue or enough of a time period for thoughtful engagement with our residents and we got kind of stuck in that process of do we do something like that. Meanwhile, we're up against this deadline to make sure that we stay
in the driver's seat when it comes to these developments and this planning process. And I think we all in the room appreciate the work and the a rock in a hard place. >> Yeah. The court would not extend that date. I I I know we put that in the papers that, you know, I was afraid of a
blizzard would happen. I was afraid that other things would happen. uh and the court said no, >> but let's commit to moving forward of a more inclusive long-term plan into which affordable housing can be plugged into which >> and that's why I was mentioning the
master plan and all of the outage >> that up with I mean >> so listen so yeah so I hear you the the vehicle for that is the the master plan and uh that is something every town needs to do. Um, also councelor Zimit
did a survey to to get feedback on um ways to communicate separately. I urge everyone to please sign up for the emails. I know some folks that doesn't work. Sign up for Nixl. That's on our website and also please follow our Glenidge Facebook page. Look, I'm going to be honest. I'm not going to like the
the community Facebook pages I know are amazing sources of information, but please sign up for the specific burrow channels as well to get to get our information that we push out. I can't keep up with the community Facebook pages. I have a family. I have a full-time job and I do this in addition
to being on the planning board and I I just can't. So, I'm urging you guys one way, but we will continue to work on that. But if anything coming back that you guys get information like we we started an Instagram page like we absolutely want to meet you guys where
you are, but we need to hear that where you guys are. Absolutely. Yeah. And when this meeting's said and done and your three kids are taken care of and everything is handled, let's sit down. Let's come to our We've had some really good community meetings. Come to the meeting. Let's work together.
>> Okay, perfect. Great. >> I'm Matt S. I'm at 551 Belleville Avenue. um just kind of an interesting place to live given all these sort of zoning and development plans right kind of by the arcade and where it's being reszoned on uh on Glenidge Avenue. So,
you know, kind of uh interested in what happens obviously um from that perspective. Uh I haven't lived here too long, like eight years. My wife and I just kind of randomly were looking for places to live and picked this train line and stopped here and I got off the
I was like, I didn't know a place like this existed. >> Mhm. >> You know, it's a little train station, a little bank, you know, some community buildings. Um, now I grew up in like a overgrown suburb uh in a different part of the country, you know, with no character, no
community, nothing. Um, which ironically, I looked it up and has less population density than Glennidge does. Uh, it's already an incredibly dense place. I think I think you made that point. Um, you know, plenty of traffic, uh, crazy drivers on Belleville,
Glenidge Avenue. Um, so, and you know, obviously it kind of sounds like the context and the history, this is sort of a beta comply, right? It's going to pass. Um, so I guess my my question at this point is when it passes, well, what's the
process, you know, in nuts and bolts of of of, you know, say the Glenbridge Arcade owners, whoever they are, >> who, as I understand, pretty much like kicked out the auto body shop, um, which we kind of enjoyed having, I think. Um,
it seems to me logically that they're probably would be would love this news. Uh, commercial property isn't nearly as lucrative as it used to be. And as we all know, real estate speculation and development is a it's a money thing. Um,
and developers, I'm sure, would have a lot of value. Uh, revenue in terms of building, uh, with all their tax credits for, you know, affordable houses. Um, uh, you know, not to dump on them too much, but you I was walking here from my
house and I was kind of visualizing it because I'm a lawyer, so I'm cursed to kind of read everything and interpret it. So, you know, when I heard about this, which really was kind of the Friday, I'm not going to pile on on the timing. I know everyone obviously is
doing the best they can. Um, so I was like, you know, took out a pen and paper and, you know, I looked at like the arcade, the the the bakery, that area, those kind of houses. And, you know, like based on my understanding, they
build like 80 units on >> isn't it about like two and a half acres? >> No, the the arcade and the >> Well, then the h the parking lot houses. No. So there's no there's no residential houses on Herman Street that are included. It's it's the arcade. It's
that that back commercial building. It's the which is actually all part of the one lot. So if I pick talk about >> how big is you know how big the area is? >> Well the between the municipal lot and the arcade lot itself. It's just barely over one acre which would yield 30 acres. >> Okay. That's helpful context. Like I
said, it's helpful to kind of hear the back and forth from people who've been dealing with this obviously for for years now, which you know was not context I didn't have and you know I could have sought it out. I suppose >> there is the there the the plan which is
online includes mapping and um acorage and everything like that if you're really up at late at night and you want to fall asleep but interesting demographics like it's the whole thing. >> Yeah. And I mean from a from a selfish perspective, I don't want to have a bunch of construction tearing down. I
think fair to say historical building, right? Um which is plan would would certainly open it up to um and just kind of have I don't know. I don't be too porative like an eyesore one plus two or three, you know, the same kind of buildings you see everywhere.
>> So I think your question was what's the what's the mechanics? And from my perspective, I had to I did some work on my house and had to go in front of the historic committee. >> Yeah. >> And I don't I I don't foresee a universe in which the historic committee would
approve anything on that lot. But then what happens? Would the developer have a cause of action against could they compel the historic committee to approve something? >> Are you sure? >> If they're complying with their Sorry, I'm looking at Christine. They're complying. Right. Eric. Well, Eric, you
take this. Right. Yeah. So I mean any so there there R5 is you know the Glenidge Avenue is wholly in the historic district. >> Say that again. >> The R5 is entirely in the historic district. >> So Glenidge Avenue all those properties
along Glenidge Avenue are in the burough's historic district. The arcade and is in the historic district. Even the bottle king for whatever reason is in the burrow's historic district. So going back to ClariS, ClariS, all those
properties on Baldwin Street were in the historic district, but because we were not compliant with the law of the third round law, the developer essentially got to supersede the historic preser commission. >> Is that something they would be able to do?
>> Yeah, we're maintaining control. So there there there's a little bit of a yes and a no, right? they have to be willing to work within the opaces of our historic preservation requirements which we updated this past fall um to be a lot
more prescriptive and and address some things and actually HPC's done some great work on that. Um, so it doesn't look that that doesn't allow them to just jump over the HPC and say, "Well, we're going to go straight to the planning board or board of adjustment depending on how they want to approach
the development." But it doesn't necessarily empower the HPC to say no under any circumstance either because there's still this component of affordable housing being inherently beneficial use which the state has defined under the municipal land use law
as saying this is a reason really tough to say no to it. And now we've created a >> even if it's just a fraction of the total building. >> Even if it's a fraction kind of Yeah. It's the kind of game that developers love to play. Yes. The cynic
number. >> Yeah. I And I've dealt with a lot of these developers in my previous life. They they like to wield and I met with a bunch of Herman Street residents last week and I use the exact analogy. they like to wield that that affordable housing tool as a sword and saying well
if you don't allow my development and I'm providing affordable housing which every municipality has to do it's going to be really it's going to be a difficult situation but what we at least are trying to maintain the control in the the form the design um the density
and everything like that >> in as much as we can by getting ahead of this process as well >> and and just in terms terms of you know after this is it possible that like what ordinances are there any ordinances contemplated that would kind of
constrain the the bill like you know could I look at Montlair right they they vote on there's a you know everyone in town gets to vote on whatever right resolution is is is there any way >> referendum referendum
>> sure I don't mind not having the right you guys are the experts >> it's a different mechanism >> that becomes difficult because Again, we have to adopt this plan and for the next 10 years, we have to essentially swear by this plan. If we pass ordinances or have referendums or anything like that
that would somehow um you know basically take away from this plan and what we're saying that we're going to do, I think we then I mean I'm going to leave it to our lawyer. We probably are make ourselves subject to our plan and our zoning become be
declared null and void and then we're back to another >> susceptible by all just wanted to get some more color. >> No, I appreciate the question. >> Yeah, thanks. >> Hi Alexander 151 Highland. I I don't know if council was aware but
a number of people got together And we talked very quickly after we got the notice as a male and the discussion was about approximately like this. Is it incompetence or corruption or both? >> The feeling was somebody trying to pull
the fast one. >> Is that the question? >> Um this meeting is it seems after I've heard everything said pretty useless because nothing can happen really. Can we put it on hold? No. Can we change
something in the due diligence that you've described? Probably not. This meeting should have taken place way before that nonprofit was engaged to give them blessing. The plan was
designed and put forward. And I mean I think the process failed in the most basic element of it. People don't get information from whatever is legally prescribed in small print and something gets published
somewhere. People get information from that from that letter that we got and that's a big problem. The communication has failed completely like not a little bit just
so it would make sense in practical terms to just put brakes on the process and go through it. But now we're the wall with this deadline and you described so nothing can be done so this meeting is largely useless
>> but it's helpful for us to hear from you we hear that you didn't but to the mayor's point we are trying to communicate I hope you're signed up for the burrow emails I hope you read the burrow emails >> I mean the planning board we
>> we presented this plan a year ago in our council meeting I don't the impression that we've been hiding the ball on this is really insulting and I understand you're like I heard it from a letter but I mean you're calling us corrupt and
incompetent >> when I've been through sitting through at least three or four meetings where we've talked about this plan >> and nobody could bother to show up. So the professional planner come and present it and put their own
>> but yeah but like I hear what you're saying but like >> this idea that we're trying to hide this. I just again we will take a lesson here and like
figure out how to address it. But >> I mean, >> do you have any I guess the question is what what >> what could have like went like >> constructive it would be great if you could send us an email with some constructive suggestions on how to
improve the communication around this process. I think that is what is most useful to us. >> Yes, please. We would welcome that. We would welcome that. We 100% would welcome that. I'll give you I'll give you an example. We there was some
information, right? It was emailed out about the J, right? That >> about the JD, right? I'm going to just use an example. We heard the feedback from the community and within three weeks we had a public meeting set up to have a conversation. So, we we hear you
and we respond and we communicate. So, if you have suggestions about a process for how you would like this improved next time, we're we're all ears. We respond to that. That that I think I want to echo what the mayor is saying here. We're not weren't trying to hide anything with the Jitney. We weren't
going to pull the rug out from anyone else. Right. >> So, sorry. >> No, I'm not. >> But we didn't get any other >> We hear you. We hear you. >> And I fill it up. Although I don't even use the Jney, but I got a survey. It
came into my >> Okay. That That wasn't a survey about the Jinny, first of all. That That was >> That's what she said. >> No, it's it's that wasn't a Jney survey. >> No, it wasn't that wasn't talking about a technique. >> Listen, just in in the to the point made earlier, I think I think we're at a point where yes, things could have been
done better clearly. Okay, we're at this point. So the point made earlier about moving forward and being constructive and I'm not trying to diminish what anybody is feeling or and we want to hear from everyone. But I I think yes, lesson learned letter whether it's a certified letter or just something in your door. That's that's when so we put
we post this we put it out. It's been in millions of meetings and until you're like oh I live at one 123 Apple Apple place and so that's that's where that's me. So yes, clearly we need to like knock on your door and bang you over the head with it.
>> Um And so that >> you guys, we can't >> I'm sorry I don't mean that to be insulting. I'm sorry. I don't mean that in a condescending way. No, I'm I'm saying like many people will get it through Facebook, but to make sure that everybody knows about this and I'm sorry if that was if you took that as a
if if we put it out there. We need to make more specific outreach in a situation like this just so you're aware of what's going on. >> So I heard >> lesson lesson lesson learned lesson heard. So please send us notes and feedback and we're happy to host conversations.
>> I think the feedback is already here. There's no need to send it out. The the problem is when this came up. >> What are your suggestions? Sorry. >> Okay. Suggestion is this. So when it comes up something as important as this, which is clearly going to be important especially after the Claris when the
town kind of roll over and things happen. When nobody shows up for the critical meeting mid last year, isn't that a warning signal? Isn't that the question? >> Unfortunately, that's the rule on most
of the things and much of what we put out. I I will say this agenda is sent to everyone on our email list. >> It's on our website. >> It's on our website in the newspaper. >> It's and published in the newspaper. We've so I I know that that sounds like
a bare minimum, but you know, we we do really want people to pay attention to the things. I wish there were local I'll tell you honestly, I wish there were local journalism. I wish we still had a front page of the paper that interviewed
the mayor about this. >> It's not where we are right now and we know that. And so to the point that we have done surveys, not a Jitney survey, one of them was particularly about communication because we know in the
this era, this media moment, it is incredibly difficult to reach the public and we want to reach the public. We're no one's hiding the ball. We're sorry that people didn't know. We posted, we
emailed, we posted on the website. We wish that you felt informed and we want you to feel informed. >> Excuse me for one second. So, >> can we got to you need to come up and say your name and your address >> and we also have a line? >> We have a line of people who
>> have an injury. That's why I'm just sitting here. I think you can stay in the line. But to the point that he made is very important. If we have these meetings in the council meeting, this seems like it's one of the biggest changes in the last 10 years for this for this area. So if nobody shows up, that's when he's saying the red flag
should be maybe the communication is not right. Let me put a letter. We had a meeting about this. Nobody showed up. There's no community concern. So let me just put another a letter in the mail. >> Okay. >> All right. That's helpful. Thank you. >> I just said that because the point that
he made that >> we need to plan uh for to remedy the situation, right? Because we're cornered now. Nothing can >> remedy which situation? >> The fact that we have to decide we as a town represented by you, the council, we
have to decide on this proposal which a lot of people find here publicly unacceptable. So, do we have to do it now? Change it >> according according to the lawyer. >> Wait, let's just finish. Just go ahead
and finish. Focus. So >> here we go. >> The remedy to the situation will be to put brakes on the proposal at the minimum cost at the time. If we collectively as a town fail to follow due process >> we did not. >> No by fact. So
>> we just finished. Go ahead. Just let it all out. >> Y >> we were just unlucky to have a number of unattentive residents all over the town. Somehow the process was great but the people are fault. So sure, but the
remedy here could be put brakes on this. Uh, and if not breaks, then we need a detailed plan how we're going to handle the downside of this unacceptable proposal after it goes um and gets approved in
the minutes. So how do we do that now? So again, if we put the brakes on this, we lose control over what happens in our town. Point blank.
So that's really an unacceptable situation for me. And so I don't think that's a reasonable answer. So you think right so someone could do anything they want in town and not have to rely on the
historic preservation commission or zoning or anything. So that's it's not just a hard rock. I mean that's that's the reality. There is a plan out there that describes what is happening. Um that's again on our website. We've
described the process that should any property owner decide to redevelop that would have to happen. So there's a number of hoops that still would have to happen with a public process and listening to what we heard. So let's say someone comes in front of the planning
board and it's a property around like on Herman Street or not the Herman Street because there's no residence there but somewhere else. We're okay. It's not enough to just say this planning board and here's the agenda. We have to do a round of knocks on
doors. Like we hear that. Okay. So, but I don't think it's a it's a reasonable and and a good solution to say stop stop this because then we're finding out where are we going to do this in town. You're you're going to say
we'll do it over here and someone else is going to say we'll do it over here. do it over here and do it over here so then I'll have a whole you know like and it's like how's that a solution? How do we how do we get to a solution by
everyone saying, "Well, not by me, not here." I mean, we heard we we've zoned the country club in case they ever sell. They're going to, you know, that's zoned. That's included. So, it's not like an us them. We looked with a professional planner at
the town and said, "This is what makes the most sense. This is and we understand there's residents and community there, and we don't want to disrupt that at all." So we tried to find a balance and we heard you on the outreach and the communications and we're going to work on that. That's a
fair criticism. >> So when if when and if this goes through so the proposal is to figure out I don't know you call it a poison pill any kind of kind of protection against development that we do not want to have.
>> We we can't do that. >> We cannot put a poison pill in this. I don't I I >> that's the term I use because it's just easy to understand. I know what a poison pill is and we can't do >> anything that we do to potentially detract from what this zoning is that
would stop a developer from developing you with affordable housing everything like that again brings the burrow sub makes the bureau subject to a lawsuit. Okay. One of the things unfortunately again this has been an imperfect process
for an imperfect law but this is where we're at. Okay. But one of the things that we we've had to push this ahead because we've had to maintain control because one of the things I don't want the bureau and all our residents to do is put behind the eightball make us
subject to lawsuits. No offense John. Spend more money on attorneys and and and end up with something that nobody in the community wants. Okay. and and things that are much worse than what we think that we're seeing on paper tonight. And that's what we're trying to
avoid tonight. And there's and if we do things like we make it too difficult to develop these sites or anything like that, we're right back to square one. >> Strike the poison pill. >> Okay. Thank you. >> But we would like to feel protected by
town so that if there are different ways to to comply with the New Jersey law, we would like to know what those are and we would like to have confidence. >> This is the best way. This is the best way. >> Well, sure you're saying that. >> Well, no. I mean I mean these are your
elected representatives. We are the people that show up at Burough Hall every day answering calls, responding to to resident concerns, doing the work to keep our town beautiful and looking the way it does. It's our volunteers on our HBC. It's our volunteers on our planning board. It's
volunteers on our board of adjustment. Everybody that makes this town go on a daily basis, we're personally invested on a daily basis. So we are the protection against a developer doing those kind of things. That's what we've been elect the people have been elected to do. That's what we've been hired to
do and we take we take that. We would just like to see what it is. >> Well, that's that's what we have to protect >> the options that exist. So we have options option one two three four etc. >> How to comply?
>> So let's just >> how to comply with the regulations with the law. >> There is the plan to know what those options are and to be able to input into those options. the the plan is on the website that reviews reviews the options
but that we and like what we considered but I we do not those are you know it's not like we're reopening that tonight we just can't >> I just >> and I think what I hear you saying I
think and and I want other people to get we said we'd limit it to three minutes we want to again I I want the fact that we're willing to have a dial dialogue. A lot of meetings the council would just sit listen to you for your three minutes. We want to
engage you and we want you to understand where we're coming from. And what I hear you saying is that when this passes because I think we've told you why we feel strongly about that. So again, I don't want that to make you feel like this dialogue was invalid.
What we want is as this plan executes, if this plan executes, I I I keep using that about the suitability and creating possibility. Not all of this is going to be achieved. Maybe one site might be more immediately
achieved. As that happens, we have a duty to communicate and you have a duty to participate and we're going to meet in the middle. That's where this comes together. We put the message out there that things are happening. And I will
only say in some other towns that are adjacent to ours, they put their town plans up on the website and had their hearing and land owners came at the identification phase last summer. So it
did happen in some places. So but because of the level of engagement in this town, I just want you to know it's not a red flag for us when people don't show up. So but we hear you. Please follow us
and please come and participate at every stage of our planning so that we can shape it together. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Hi everyone, my name is Jennifer Karnney. I live at 26 Laurel Place four
years. Um I have neighbors with Sasha actually and I think we have a lot of passion about this topic because two of the sites are within 200 feet of our homes. Um so we're talking about 80 units very very close to each other, very very close to where we live. Um I have two young kids. I have a almost
one-year-old and a three-year-old. So, some of these comments about like, oh, maybe it'll happen in a decade. That's not comforting to me because my kids are going to be here. I'm going to be here. I can't afford another house in town, right? Like, we're this is where we are. Um, so I am concerned about having 80
units within 200 feet of my home. I have concerns about traffic. I have young kids playing outside. Um, I'm concerned about impact on public transit. My husband takes the uh the Bay Street into work multiple times a week. I I I'm
hoping and I'll I'll go check the website out. I'm hoping these things were kind of taken into account when selecting new sites. Um I also the greenway access point is going to be near Bay Street. So already we're anticipating additional traffic, additional concerns with parking, like all of these things.
>> Um again, I would hope this went into the process of selecting these sites. Um and if it did not, I would, you know, love to know what that's going to be when we get closer down the line of someone developing how that works. Is there traffic audits done? Are we going to put up more stop signs? Are we going to do traffic light traffic lights etc?
Because I have genuine concern for the safety of my kids living so close. My driveway is on Highland Avenue directly across the street from one two three high. >> Um so I just wanted to you know express those concerns. I appreciate that you know we're avoiding this builder's
remedy. Agree that would be like the worst case scenario for everyone. But yeah, I just wanted let me check my notes if there's anything else I wanted to talk about. And um oh the other just reassessed for taxes. My value went up
66%. Yay. My taxes are going to go up. My value is going to go down if things happen. >> Well, the taxes >> even that that's to be determined, but we're working hard on on keeping that low. So we're working really hard. But yeah.
>> Yeah. So, so I guess just can I ask like if one of these sites is going to move forward like what's the process figuring out traffic? What's the process figuring out public transit infrastructure like? >> Yeah. >> So there there's so this is the zoning and this is sort of that that high level look at what could happen in those
locations. But when you get to the project level, a developer comes in and they propose something to be built at 200 Highland. Let's I want to use 200 Highland because this is what the process already was in some ways because settle with the developer and yes like
traffic will be looked at, services will be looked at, the impact on um you know on water and sewer will be looked at. All the thing all of those things get addressed at what's known as site plan review and they'll go in from the
planning board um and say this is what we want to build and there's usually a little bit of this is why we can make this work or you know we'll take a look at and say well no that doesn't actually work and 200 Highland is actually a really good example because right now it's a two-story medical office
building. We again identified it for 30 dwelling units an acre. Same same way as these other sites that are that are in our plan. The developer um who the the property owner who's the same developer as a Clara site challenged our plan at
the end of August and said no. Yes, no, I can build much more than 30 dwelling units an acre. I can build a 100 dwelling units an acre and I can build this building six stories um and accommodate it that way. parking and all this other stuff. And we went back and
forth. We said, "Well, >> maybe you can, but you know, what's the effect on 3,5 and 7 Bay Street, which is in our historic district? What's the the quality of life impact on um the houses across the street on Little Avenue? What
shadow does it cast?" So, a lot of and I'm using this as example because we had a lot of these conversations to narrow the scope of that building and we would do the same for like 23 Highland and 855 through the Avenue and all these other >> where can the egress and ingress be like
what makes more logical sense all of that >> and and so we fought against 100 point we're now at 80 like not 100 but 80 >> I don't know I think what she's saying is 123 plus 200 >> okay got it thank you
>> okay >> this all goes to planning board as well >> yeah I mean be noticed right as well through that communication channel, through that process. >> And and one of the things and and I I described this to when I met with the
residents at at um on Herman Street is there's there's two types of planning review and development process. And one is the traditional you go in from the planning board or you go from the board of adjustment most likely the planning board because you need site plan
application and they review the application. people get notified, things like that, and then they do the application and the project gets approved or uh denied in some fashion. >> But what happened with the Claris and
probably more likely what would happen at 200 island and my guess in all of these these issues or these locations is what some what what the state has is called uh redevelopment zone and you have to do multiple studies and multiple processes as part of this. you do an
area redevelopment study in which case the the affected property get notified that we're looking at this thing but then you go into what's known as a um a redevelopment area and when you do redevelopment areas it's like a reszoning. So then again once again you
will get notified of the potential process and there's multiple steps or a town >> mult multiple steps of yeah multiple steps of public >> public notification and public process especially with redevelopment designs.
>> Um so you know again this is not the the last stop for public knowledge and public input. Okay. Um and there's going to be many more to come as if and when the development >> and the redevelopment zone would come before like again stacks before a site
review plan which is gets you you just go from global an overlay zone to a redevelopment zone to a site specific so that there are these multiple points of study and review. >> Okay. Thank you for that.
>> Yeah. Thank you. I'm Helen Goldberg. I'm at two Clark Street right next to Bottle King. Um, I just have a question about the math of it all. So, if it's 20% of affordable housing units in each unit, does that mean that it's a total of 870 something units in total that we're looking at?
>> Uh, the 171. Is that what you're basing? >> Yeah. So, the potential I mean again you use that top level number >> and you multiply it by five. Yeah, you get 800 something. I didn't do the math exactly, but again, the number more likely to keep in mind because we have
specific development sites is that 43 number that we had to identify. So, but even then, >> yeah, I mean it it's probably close to the 200 units in total, although it's probably going to be a little bit less because we have the development credits.
So the 43 is really a 30 number. >> So really it's like 150 units total between these four sites there. >> Okay. And the four sites were over by the hospital. >> There's there's two sites by the hospital. Um there's the Bottle King site and then there's the arcade across
the street. And those are the four main sites. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Hello. Uh 72 chat. Um just real quick to top off what you
said. So with the following those four sites if those four sites get developed would the other areas kind of be protected from? >> Not necessarily. Um and and and to to a point um no I mean those sites were
specifically identified for four house >> this section of the archive zone along avenue. We really did two things because you can actually potentially develop affordable housing anywhere in town within a certain thing because if somebody acquires a property and they
wanted to do development, there's still that requirement of 20%. But I mean, there's a whole lot of things to get into, but with the R5 zone, we did really two main things. And we added we added two family homes as a permitted use within that zone. And primarily
because we're rectifying an issue that for whatever reason there's five, six, seven instances of two family homes along Glambridge Avenue and it didn't make any sense to legislate those out in the zoning. So we added that back in and then we added the building topology of a
multifamily housing. So, we just said in the R5 zone, in addition to town houses, which already existed as a permitted use to develop um in addition to single family homes, in addition to public parking garages for whatever reason, you can also potentially develop multif
family housing at a density of 18 dwelling units an acre. So, it was a little bit of taking a look at what was existing on Leonard Avenue and thinking about how that area could potentially develop because tomorrow if you and your
neighbors sold your properties to a developer and that developer came in and wanted to do townhouse development, >> they could already do it. >> They could already do it. So, you know, it's not and and you know, I understand again it's a type of change, but we were very thoughtful about the kind of change
we're permitting and again, it's a much lower density than these other sites that that we we identified to meet our obligation on this plan. it the R the change the R5 zone in a lot of ways is closer to again taking all the leftover
numbers from the 171 to 43 and how last time we kind of shoved it underneath the couch in the in the country club we were kind of doing the same thing to a lesser extent along Glenidge Avenue like in R5 >> and again trying to make I mean something that hopefully again from a
historic preservation or what neighborhood characters the way I'd like to phrase If someone came in today and it's already a permittable use to take a couple lots, co-join them and turn them into town homes versus, as I say, mult a few multif family homes that would fit
with the streetscape. So again, it's a sensitivity to community character that we really are striving for while we get also to our goals. >> Understand? Well, and I assume I know more properties have been noted on there than the required amount because development is not going to happen on
all of them, >> right? Okay, real quick. Yeah, 72 Rich has been in my family for over 60 years. I remember what the I lived around the corner in Montlair, born and raised in Monair. So, I don't think they've been doing in that town. I don't want that to happen in this town over development.
They're doing it in Bloomfield. We are a burrow. >> We're not a city. We're not a town. We're a burrow, which is not supposed to have highrises and developments like that. Again, I'm a developer, so uh I'm against the whole Fair Housing Act
because it's a bunch of BS in my opinion and just a scam to line people's pockets and they're picking wrong municipalities that they shouldn't and forcing them to do it. Um with that said, uh grew up as a kid walking down a never had a double
line, never had any line in the street, not had never had the town houses. It was a quiet road. The blinking beacon was not was a yellow pass through just asking that we keep that area you know preserved as it is and try to focus more
on the other aspects if we can obviously and obviously withever whatever development comes in that asset they you know obviously as planning historic I had to do that as they keep the character and try not to build a class monstrosity
which I know why we have to push this through is to prevent that because of the you know the builders they all succeed the same amount everywhere. >> Okay. >> I appreciate the >> good evening. My name is Neil Titus. I
was out at 40 chap. Um 21 years ago we were shopping around as to where we would like to raise our family and build our history and Montlair came into consideration as Bloomfield. We had already owned a house there, but we wanted better schools for
the kids. That was one of the attractions to this town. >> My wife, okay, who is a fabulous visual and set designer, she can make a barn look like the St. Maritz.
She taught me to appreciate um old architecture >> and this town has a whole lot of them. And when I get to the train a little early, which isn't often enough and I go into that train station and I look at
some of the pictures on the wall, I remember why we moved here. When I walk the halls of Glitch High School and I see every one of my four kids up there and I look at the success they're having now
one of the UN won some Emmy awards and what have you this now we chose this for the attributes that means a heck of a lot to us it would really be a nasty negative turn
off if simply dollars and cents is the driver behind every decision It may not be. >> Let me let me back up and say something I wanted to say first. >> When I hear you say you have a full-time job and you do this, you have a family and you volunteered. Thank you to all of
you for making it happen. I sure as hell couldn't do it. I I don't have the time. I don't have the patience. I just don't have what it would take. So, I appreciate that you guys are stepping up and making it happen. I just don't want us to forget why most of the people call this town
home. some people for 60 years plus. Sebastian just said, we realize a lot of our kids, their parents went to the same school that they're going to and their grandparents
and and and that's that's I can't say that, you know, we could say, well, Mon did this or that. We know what Mon and Verona and Cedar Grove and everywhere else offer. We live in Glenn Ridge. We know why.
We are here for a purpose and it's not just about trying to see how much we can get our home value to go up. Yeah. For most of us, our home is our most expensive ever will be our most expensive investment.
And like somebody said not too long ago, we don't want to be, you know, we don't want to get the double whammy with the increase in property taxes and the potential decrease in property value. Right now, I'm given a couple more days to respond to the fact that my taxes are
going to go up. I don't know who else in here has that situation, but I know we do. My point in all of this is and I know for instance I have a very close relative that live in whose property taxes is not that far from us
and my wife and I was talking the other day. What they're going to get for the money this know we can say what we get. I love to go for walks in this town and I love to go for bike rides when I can and I now have 20 grandsons.
So my legacy is going to live on and I would like that for as long as possible to begin. I feel like I belong here. I know that I belong here. I just don't want us to take that away.
I don't want to lose it because I think if we lose it, we're not going to get it back. And the kind of people Most of us are resident here. There's a reason why it attracts who we are. That's not who it's going to attract. Every time you look around something like the Clarence
is going up and I know I understand state mandates. You have a job I'll never want. >> And I don't want to see our claris. >> No, none of us do. >> None of us do. >> I just want us to understand this thing about high density is real. And I'll end
by saying this. You guys can go look at your own government records in the police department. Cars come down avenue. Right now, as I'm speaking to you, I have an embedded wheel imprinted on my lawn. They run up that curb
constantly. If you guys don't know, I am positive I have the unfortunate unique set of circumstances where somebody run up my sidewalk at least two or three times every sidewalk and I remember when
that cur wasn't there and I remember when the belt extension was there >> but that is an area if we can't fix that after all these years of that road being closed what are we going to do when we are going to get more people we are going to get more cars we are going to get more traffic and I know at some
point we're going to have to provide resources to the people who are coming in but our current situation some parts of it are pretty dangerous and I would say this much my wife could tell you about somebody who were pushing their kid in a cart stroller and a car came up
on the sidewalk and hit the stroll. I want us to please not wait till someone dies. Please not wait till someone dies before we fix that traffic pattern and what's going on there. That is one I didn't
come here specifically for that, but I just said a couple minutes ago I have twin grandsons. They mean the world to me. I I you know my kids are surprised to know I wait for those kids to breathe out so I could breathe in. They mean everything to me. I would like somebody
to please take a sincere effort at making where I live and my family call home a little bit safer. But we don't get to choose that a car's going to run up there. I was there not that long ago clearing snow and Mercedes came right up on the driveway right up on the
sidewalk. The car was facing straight and the back right wheel was facing that way. The cops are usually pretty good at responding quickly. >> But the problem happens over and over. I can tell you the twins mom was the was
the catalyst for why that road closed. She used to go to uh Ridgewood Avenue Elementary and almost got hit. And I started with with with uh Caputo in Essex County. I forgot his name, his uh title. No, it wasn't a councilman, but
took it that Glenidge Avenue extension closed and that's how we end up with that block. >> Say again. >> Assemblyman Caputo. >> Yeah. And that's how we we ended up with that that block. >> Oh, >> well, it's >> Yeah. A lot of signatures. >> Okay. Got it. >> Yeah. So, so all I can tell you here is
that has happened a long while ago, but the safety of not and not because I live there. There's a lot of people that go back and forth to catch a train, to go to school, kids. I I don't understand why they didn't even have a crossing guard up there. I know the flashing yellow light
is now flashing red and now it's a forward intersection that everybody has to stop. Thank God. But um that little problem in particular is going to be exacerbated with our soon to be new residents. If we haven't fixed it now
with who we have in town now, I can see that that's going to be something that's going to go. I can only see that it's going to get bigger and I'm not here to drop every complaint of you. Like I said, thank you guys for what you're doing. >> No, we want you fight to preserve.
So, here's the thing. >> I'd like you to remember >> us, too. >> We live in Glenidge. We came to Glenidge for a reason. We're your neighbors. >> We love Glenidge. We want to keep the community and the character. We I completely understand what you're saying. Like, >> we are aligned with you on the values
and the characteristics of Glenidge. So, that's what we're trying, you know, we're we're trying to do while also balancing and complying with the state mandate. Don't I don't want you to think that all of us are like we can't wait to ruin Glen Ridge, you know, like that's not that's not where we come up. But on
the traffic issue, you know, within the last couple of years, we have dedicated a a traffic officer uh reorg within the police department that is solely designed to handle and manage complaints, do a lot of traffic detail because we know that's a huge huge
issue. I will bring this back up to the police chief. I mean, you know, um, we can do that and bring it back to our public safety. We've been working to try to figure out that intersection, doing a lot of improvements, including enforcement, which is because it's a
cutthrough, let's be honest. And so, um, we're going to continue to work on that, but I appreciate you bringing that up. >> Thanks. Well, look, from Michael Roal to I forgot the name of the lady that used to run the police department there. >> Uh, uh, Chief Y.
So, so I mean this is that situation I'm saying has been in town for almost as long as I've been in town. That hasn't gotten better. And I pray >> because something tell me if somebody got failed something isn't going to be done right away. >> No. Well, that would not that's no
that's absolutely not how we operate. >> That's how you operate. >> You're telling me it's a problem. So, I'm hearing that and saying, "Okay, we're going to look at it again." Like, I don't need someone to get hit by a car to have to believe it's a problem. Like, that's I none of None of my poor kids
none of my poor kids have ever >> not came close to getting hit by a car by playing in the front yard. >> No, I hear Okay. >> So, just you know what I'm saying is real. Just >> No, we believe of course. Thank you. >> Thank you guys. >> Thank you. Thank you.
>> My name is uh Emanuel and I live at 957. So I echo a little bit of what my neighbors have said regarding improving communication because if we're all here it's because we got the letter this time and you know before but I totally understand that you guys are under a
deadline that's being imposed on town and every town as someone who works in architecture I understand a little bit of all these issues. So I think like what I just wanted to express was um where maybe the grievances lie with us and the neighbors are we feel like we're
being we're shouldering the burden of this responsibility on our area and if this is a townwide um effort every maybe we need to take a holistic approach and divide the town in three zones where
each zone for a future uh prospective development excepts like okay this zone will have this this development at a future date if the stars align you know um so I think a lot of us feel you know
um we would like to see maybe not make us feel like we are all taking on the new development that's in the works uh and um you know I I like to be constructive and productive you know are there efforts
underway to maybe existing multif family, multi- dwelling units and maybe saying uh let's accept building allowing another floor, another two floors. The issue with a lot of these developments is the parking requirements. Are we taking efforts to
say let's try to condense where we can build this and maybe we we can reduce the amount of cars that we allow to kind of meet the quotas that the state is asking. >> You know, you can think of um are we looking at maybe have an asphalt parking
lot and maybe we can build over it but still leave the parking. So different strategies. I just hope that moving forward we can kind of opinion and those of us who maybe are immersed in those kind of issues can kind of give feedback. Um to we understand things
change and um you know Glenbridge is one of those towns that kind of is uh in the past in a good way. Uh but I think um We're a small town, but we should use the fact that we are surrounded by larger towns that have more resources to
our advantage. An example would be why do I say let's >> rethink our or um the overlay is because I also use the orange train station. If you're on that side of town, >> you have that option. If you're on that side of town, you have access to
parkway, but also watch a train station if you need to use that. I think the watch app station might be closer to residents on that side of town than the station. So there's different things that we should consider how the town exists within the ecosystem of other
towns and how to use the other towns to our advantage to >> I can't we can't send our our obligation to other towns that used to be you used to do it you used to do it regionally so I just want to be clear like I can't but I understand we do a lot of shared services and stuff
>> I think the even just the square footage square mileage of the town >> okay >> very >> and that transit oriented development to your point including Bay Street. >> Yeah, there's so I think like hopefully >> the proximity isn't to Glenidge Station necessarily.
>> I just hope that you know moving forward we think of how we exist amongst other communities and use that to our advantage. Just think how you know we have to really squeeze everything in this little zone. We should try to think okay what could fit on that side of town as well if we need to increase the
housing. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. Good evening. I'm Frank Moss. I'm a 38y year resident of 70 Glimmeridge Avenue when Rich 38 years. I remember when we parked on both
sides of Glenidge Avenue. >> I remember when we had the Ford plant on Bloomfield Avenue, Ford dealership >> and we had we had meetings to discuss. Now you've got people smelling hamburgers behind Smashburger. I remember that. We came for that. I thank
you for the effort that you did because we didn't know you were doing all this because of the communication. Now, when I looked it up, it said based on the fourth ward affordable housing plan, we had several opportunities to provide input before tonight's meeting. There
was the original adoption June 16th in 2025 where the planning board first adopted uh the housing element and fair share plan. There was a 60-day challenge from July 1st to August 31st, 2025 where
this was the mandated window for interested parties to file formal objections to the barrel's overall plan. Uh that didn't happen. We didn't know about that. >> Are you reading that from our website? >> No, it's not.
>> Okay. just >> it's not this is my own research >> uh based on the ordinances and I know that you introduced it back in February 9th uh as a 30day public review window
and then the planning board met February 18th and uh we adopted the plan and here we are tonight. >> Okay. >> Um several of our residents did not get that certified letter in time. Um, I did
recall that somebody got an email or yeah, an email saying that the Zoom meeting was the day of the snow. So, that somehow got pushed out. We didn't want to do this by Zoom. So, we're here. We thank you for what you did. But, you know, and also I I found out that
there's also if the plan is adopted tonight, there's like a 45day uh what are they called? Some RIT. Let me let me go here. I'm forgetting my legal trend in here. >> Well, you surpassed mine. So,
>> surpass say that defer to John for that. >> Let me see if I can pull this up. Uh, I just lost it. These new phones are Anyway, let me tell you about my daughter. She went to uh Lynen School. She went to Forest School. She went to Ridgewood and she went to Glenidge High.
Now, we were concerned when we initially had her in London when they had to move her to Forest. So I came home and I said, "Well, how did you do today? Did you like Forest as opposed to Lyn?" She said, "Yeah, they got something new, Dad. It's called recess." So we knew she'd be all right.
We knew she would be all right. Um, also, you know, my church is in Montlair. Montlair is very active. Now, one of the things that happened, and I'm going to give you as an example that you might use, we have something called a blast. It's a telephone blast. It has
all our members on the phone and you say, "Hey, there's a meeting down in there's a meeting in the town hall that's going to be very important. It's going to be about zoning in your area. You need to show up because if I have a meeting and nobody shows up, that's a
red flag to me. We got to do something differently." So, I think that would be good if you if you got that telephone call that says, "Hey," or put up a sign that says, "Hey, this is important. you know, we're all busy, but tell us this is important,
you know, come to the meeting. So, uh, that's that's kind of what I Let me see if I I'll find that. But let me tell you about JMF. >> They are a wellresourced, aggressive developer.
Their strategy is to buy, sue the town, and get a favorable varance for zoning. Then what they do is they lease it up and then they get full. Then they sell to an industrial institutional investor
who has no concern about Glen Ridge as a resident. They don't care. Once the affordable housing when they sell to somebody else, I don't know if that affordable housing applies to them. >> Yes, it does. >> Okay. But but the point is they don't
really have the same idea what we want to do. They don't have the same feeling about Glenn Ridge. You know, there's Clarises all over the state, Morristown, Berkeley Height. There's Claris, they they've got a they're well they're wellrounded. They know what
they're doing. They're aggressive. So, I'm sure that 200 Highland Avenue is going to be We've got a planning board meeting on the 18th. >> No, there there's nothing planned. There's nothing in an application for 200. >> Okay. Not yet. Just I just want to be
there's a plan. But that is that is what they're waiting. I'm sure they didn't buy for nothing. They they they that's their plan. >> They they they're playing the long game. >> They're playing the long game. So they'll wait and they'll sue. >> No, that was the developer that challenged.
>> So the other thing is why why weren't we involved in the negotiations in the and the mandatory periods? Why why wasn't the town informed of this that we we had the opportunity to speak? >> No, the there was no opportunity for residents to speak in the court hearings by
>> after the court. Yeah. After the court, there's a there's a u once it goes to court, it's confidential. There's like private meetings, but prior to that, there was like a window, 60-day window. >> You're talking about the challenge period. >> Yeah. Yeah. The challenge >> I mean I mean it gets posted every anybody can challenge you and that's
what other >> That's how people challenge you. It's >> that's how we got challenges is during >> we're just to the same point we're not going to JMF properties and said hey just so you know we just finished this plan so if you want to challenge us it's
a good time to do it you know so >> but there is a there's there's an option here too for um and I don't want to take up too much of your time but let me see if I can find this thing but so it hasn't come there's a planning
meeting on the 18th. >> Yeah, but that that there's >> that's nothing >> nothing to do with any of this. >> Okay. >> If you're interested in the country club, >> no. And their kitty pool, definitely come to the planning board. >> Actually, you missed the three-hour meeting about the kitty pool at the
country club. But yeah. >> Yeah. >> It's called a um >> when we talk about site review, >> we mean site review. There's something that has a 45 day. >> I don't know. We're thinking about what
that might be. >> It's like it ends with RIT. It's like a prerogative uh >> or prerogative red. Yeah. 45 days after whatever happens tonight period for people who are unhappy with the result to bring an action in court. It's called
an action in lie of >> right. An action in L for Yeah. So if we want to go to court, you got 45 days. >> Okay. >> After the night. >> Yeah, >> that's right. It's a 45day window.
>> Yes, there's a 45day window. >> That's it. >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you. >> Hi. >> My name is I live in 100. It's actually a townhouse community. So, um, >> sorry.
>> Um, I'm sure we thank you for your services, especially mayor for your volunteer time for >> Well, we're all volunteers. Your time is taken up tonight. Thank you for coming. Yeah. No, you know, we're all taking our time. >> Many have stressed this already. I want to keep it brief, but I promised myself
I say something because um uh I think you tried ahead to try to communicate and make a known to the town about the plan. Right. But we still find that you know for some reason as a stakeholders >> not enough like you know um transparency
of the decision making process right and the rationale behind why you picked certain area over another area. I mean certainly you haven't you you articulate really nicely but we didn't know right I mean the only recognition I got was this post stage was posted on February 13th
which I got on the 20th or 21st. I'm like what's that right? So my friend who from another part of town called me uh like two days before I got this and told me about you're going to be affected and we don't I don't know of course but I I don't check social media of course I
don't have time and I try to send them email for some reason I couldn't receive you know that issue but um I think you know as people's livelihoods are on the line because there the houses take years to buy so to know that could be nobody
it's not clear people we understand the uh the implications of this thing. You said one maybe it never happens if or one nobody knows but it doesn't take away the fact the home address are on that list people are scared >> of course
>> right right of course so I think you know in the hindsight you know I would have I could have paid more attention to what's going on in town right because it's such a nice town we trust you guys and do thing so let's learn but also you know if you guys we don't want you to
knock on the door but a simple letter telling us to say this is what's happening regarding pay attention bold letter your property is is on going to be list of course it generate a lot of buzz and also reaction maybe that's not what you want but still it's the right thing to do
>> so that's that's basically just a from a you know you know fouryear-old resident that's basically what um want to say thank you again for your service and it's not easy to do you guys are you know pretty much are under a lot of pressure you know so but knowing the Um,
you know, people support you, but we also want the transparency and knowing that how far you work for us. >> No, you want to know, we want to know how you want to know how we got here before before the deadline, >> right? Like here, why not the whole town? Like you said, like the whole town, it's such a small town.
>> Just just do it. Everybody can afford affordable housing. So, and also to the point that the we're making affordable housing. What about the affordability for the people who already live here? >> So, you know, if you take the house, We're going to buy a house. You know what I'm saying? So, of course, that's
not what's going to happen. We don't know what's going to happen. So, I don't know what's going to happen to like the town houses there. We're going to tear down maybe count. It's just it's just we are not we don't have the knowledge. We need your guidance and your help. So,
>> okay. >> Thank you. >> Hi, I'm Stephanie Thon. I live at 16 Sherman. Um, so I guess I'm just a little bit confused about the numbers in the end. I don't want to go through the whole 178, 63, 71, whatever. But in the
end, what I what the number that it boiled down to was 43. And but the number in the table that includes the R5 reszoning is 135. So you actually get to 48 of those units if you just use the
public and you don't do the resoning of R5. And I don't understand PR at all, so I wanted to bring that up. But um so I guess I'm a little bit confused that the R5 is necessary
when we can get to the 43 and beyond without using the R5. >> Well, again, there's still the 171 number still exists. We have to meet the 43 and they're likely to redevelop. Okay. So the delta between 171 and the
43 goes into the unmet need. So whatever that number is 128, right? >> So 128, we still have to try and find space for 128. And we're doing that in the country club in the country club location and then the potential for
multifamily using that number 1820 units an acre in the archive zone. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, so then the other question that I had in the R5 was um, something that I just heard in the meeting, it kind of sounded like the R5
was being reszoned to protect from if there was a sale, you could build like a bigger townhouse. And now because of this zoning and the 18 per square per acre, um,
protected to have less? >> No. No. Um, >> okay. >> So, if say the R5 zone just continued to exist as it was, we made no changes tonight with the R5 zone. >> The R5 zone again right now as of today permits single family homes,
um, townhouse developments at varying densities, uh, public parking garages, and then technically the area any properties that have frontage along Bloomfield Avenue, also on Glenn Avenue could new office actually as a conditional use.
>> So if a development I don't want to use anybody's address because they'll probably make people more angry than they are now. But if if somebody or a series of residents sold their properties to a developer, okay, and nothing has changed as of today,
>> that developer could come in and they can build townhouse developments. >> Okay? The only thing that's really changing tonight in with respect to that is that same series of properties a developer could come in and build
multifamily dwellings in rather than just townhouse development. >> I see. So we've added something that they can build, but we haven't taken away any of the like parking lots or anything. >> No, nothing like that. >> I see. Um, and is that zoning where you
can do town homes and and offices on Bloomfield um unique to the R5 zone or is that something that could happen elsewhere in um >> we we we typically the multifamily
developments that have occurred in in Glen Ridge for whatever reason have been sort of discrete sites the Claris >> through its process um 85 Park Avenue on the corner of Park Avenue Boomfield and and um That's not High Street. Um,
Hillside, I'm sorry, Hillside. Um, Matchless Metals over by the pool, things like that. And then Glenidge Manor along along um Avenue. So there hasn't the burrow in a lot of ways.
and and I know obviously Glenidge Avenue and the R5 zone sort of bearing the brunt of this thinking, but in in a lot of ways what Glenidge lacks is a diversity of housing stock. >> Um there are you go around the burrow
it's primarily single family homes and most of those homes are located within the the historic district. Okay. And you know speaking of people's you know talking about their their children or their grandchildren and things like that. We the the state, the country,
Glen Ridge at large is missing what's known as middle missing housing, right? There's not a whole lot of areas of saying my kid just graduated from Glenidge High School. Now, where do I live if I want to stay in town or they just finished up at, you know, TC&J or
something like that? Were they they were at the place? The Claris, for all its faults of process actually did give us a little bit more diversity and so that's what we were looking to do is provide a little bit of an opportunity for diversity of housing stock in the
>> Okay then sorry. So my last question is um we had to attempt to get to 171 but we only got to 135. Does that is that okay? >> Yeah. I mean ultimately they they want
to see what is a um I'm trying to think of the the word a good faith effort to try and get to that that number and everything like that. So, we looked at the bur holistically and if other places made sense um you know again it doesn't
stop somebody from developing affordable housing someplace else. But this was the planning process we undertook when we got to 135 and we kind of said, "Well, this is where these kind of developments make sense in our burrows to put it other places is really kind of like you
almost cheating a little bit because you could you could take a whole bunch of single family homes in in Glenn Ridge and designate that for multif family. What's the likelihood of something like that happening?" Pretty low. So, we had to be realistic and thoughtful about the
other areas that we did as well. >> And because of the townhouse development, R5 sort of that section of R5 also stood out as an area that we could add an additional building type without, you know, without that could
accommodate that kind of thing. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Hi, Jennifer Jones, 21 Herman. I have a question. most specifically around the municipal lot and the arcade. Um, is there parking regulations mixed into the
zoning requirements or the state law? And in that specific site, what is the town planning to do with all the vehicles and the parking in that spot? Is there any >> Sure. I mean, again, that is something that would get addressed more at the site plan review level, but I mean,
we've we've had these conversations even as we you know, we thought about adding the missile letter or not. So, the the state has something called residential site improvement standards and it sets a series of parking per unit based on the
number of bedrooms in each area. So, it's 1.8 for one bedroom, 2.1 for two bedroom, 2.3 for threebedroom. And so that's sort of the standard of really boards can inflict a maximum parking
requirement, but boards can also um sort of lessen that impact. So we can drop it to 1.5, 1.3, 1.0, whatever it is. Um so there will be a parking standard equip
for any of these developments. Um, specifically for the municipal lot, our police department relies on the municipal lot. Our employees rely on the municipal lot. I know there's a lot of residences on Herman Street that don't have driveways that rely on the municipal lot. So any theoretical
development that could take place at that location, we'd have to take all of that into account and probably even provide a little bit more supply >> for other people because I even heard from someone from at the Glen at who works at the Glen Public Library saying our patrons don't have any parking. So
that again that kind of gets fleshed out at the project level, but it's certainly something that we're thinking about, but we don't necessarily bring that up in the the zoning. >> Right. So the limit on the height in that site and all I think it's three stories. >> It's it's 35 ft which is pretty it's
pretty standard in our burrow in in so it for a flat roof building it's about three stories for a residential home. One of the things that we've made it 35 ft even at two and a half two two stories is it allows for some pretty
dramatic um roof lines. Um and that's something we've carried forward. So we haven't changed the the height of any of the buildings of any of the zones except for 200 Highland Avenue um because again that was a result of a settlement agreement and we settled at four stories
and 48 ft there. >> And then is there I mean I know this is all hypothetical but underground parking in those >> Yeah. Again site plan I mean there's a whole lot whole lot of stuff that engineers that are much smarter than me
have to figure out. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Matt Ducha, 60 Highland app. Um, two questions. One, it's been bounced around tonight with regarding the math. Is there a way that you could send us an email maybe to the town or give us some
access that says here's 171, we came back with 135, they pushed 168. We're we have credits. It's actually 43. 43 is a huge difference. the entire town than 171. >> How you bet you talked about a little
bit, but I don't I wanted to see the math. >> Yeah, we I mean we we had our web page and we've given a lot of information on >> I was going to say the FAQ's page. >> Yeah. >> You get the So, it says 43 there. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I mean, there's some I could probably work with our our affordable
housing planner and and lay it out so it's, you know, people aren't glazing at the eyes trying to figure out. >> It would be helpful, but talking about it tonight, I it's great that it's 43. That's a that's a game changer. >> Not great still, but it's better than 171.
>> Oh, that was the first question. Thank you if you could get provide that or I'll look at that document, >> but we probably need to update. >> Yeah, we need to based on the feedback tonight. Yeah, totally. Next one is just a comment. Um a pilot agreement with a company like the ClariS the issue typically I don't know what the numbers
are with Glidge. I know it's probably public but I didn't look but um whatever revenue you're getting from Claris 200,000 more 400,000 is 95% of that going to the municipality 5% to the county and zero to the school. >> Yeah. So I I think there's a little bit
of a misnomer with that because it's the improvement on the property itself that gets the pilot. It's not. So, it's it's a the improvement on the property that the pilot goes to. So, the school district is always going to get what the
school district needs to get. I think people look at their individual property taxes and they say 60% of my taxes go to the school district. And so, this property that normally would send school like 60% of its property taxes to school district isn't doing that on the
improvement. But if the school budget, school district budget is $20 million, let's say >> the they send actually send the bur the bill to the bur and we have to make sure that they're they get all 20 million. how we get there can be a variety of
ways and yes like any improvement on on the on a pilot if John can explain that part better but any improvement that happens on the property gets 95% of that agreed upon revenue and 5% goes on the county and yes nothing is dedicated to
the school district but the school district is not robbed of its budget by new development and if anything they continue to get sort of that underlaying payment so the the properties that um that were on Baldwin Street that got torn down and redeveloped. Let's just
say they generated uh $20,000 a year to the school district. The school district's still getting $20,000 a year in some manner related to those properties and the value of what they need, but it's the the improvement on the >> But that's a big improvement. >> It's a big improvement. Absolutely.
>> We were lucky with the CL you mentioned earlier. It didn't increase uh attendance at school. >> Well, I don't know if it's attributable. We looked at the number of school kids enrolled in before the Claris and then last what was the latest data from the state >> the 2024 2025 enrollment year.
>> Yeah. So I don't want to say it's just attributable to Claris but >> in this case it might be that it didn't happen but if it happens again there's a pilot agreement that may not be as lucky especially going from 20 let's say 60k for Baldwin for across those houses of revenue to the whole all their taxes and some going to the school. If the
improvement is $380,000 and that's not going to the school, but there's 40 more kids going to the school, that would be a problem. But are you saying that you would provide them the additional budget they need? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. If they need more money and they raise property taxes or they raise taxes
according to the 2% cap and everything else like that that they can able, we still have to make sure that they get all that money regardless. >> Yeah. The school comes up with their budget and then they they tell us what they need. >> Understood. And then something came up with a parking question earlier. A
builder can push back on the town's ordinance and say, "Hey, you're prohibiting me cost effectively to build this building because you're making me do 1.5 parking spots. I'm only agreeing to one." And they can they can sue you and probably win. >> Not necessarily. Because I think there's
still a a rational nexus to you can't say, "Well, I I can only provide one unit per or one space per unit because otherwise it doesn't pencil out. Okay, but it's also like, well, if you've got two people living in a unit and both people drive, the parking's got to go
somewhere. So, either the site works or it doesn't. And if the site doesn't work because you don't you don't have enough parking, guess what? You need to reduce the number of units because you can't park it properly. So, there's still that that push back on it, too. >> And then, okay, thank you. Uh, last thing is on that topic. How many spots
are in the Clar's 110 units? Do we have an idea? Do you remember the number? >> No, that came up. >> One bedroom, two bedroom. >> No, we might have He's renting them out because he's not using all of them. >> Yeah, we can follow up with you. That that did come up.
>> Well, so there's there's 100 there's 116 units in >> there's not enough. >> There's more than enough. >> It's a tried situ. You're not just telling me something that's not tested. It's correct. Okay. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
But yeah, he's actually >> Excuse me. Can you guys hear me all the way? >> Yeah. >> Okay. I I just wanted to put in a a comment because I I do recall um you know, when we were first uh sued
by uh by Forom, the developer of the Claris. Um and you know, we looked at what the possible impact on the school system would be. Uh and at the time with the considering the multif family units
uh that existed at the time before the ClariS um it was generally the case that you had one school child for every 10 units of multif family housing in Glen Ridge. Um so in other words the number of
children that would be introduced to the school system by a building the scale of the ClariS and I admit I don't know how many school children actually live in the ClariS but the number that you would expect based on the statistics that we
had at the time would be about the same number that would exist if the elderly homeowners of the homes that were demolished to make way for the ClariS had sold to young families, it would be
about the same, but the revenue that would come into the town would be several times larger. So, it seemed like a pretty clear win. Um, and that's been borne out by the actual experience.
>> Thank you, David. Someone who is actually >> Hi, my name is Marian. at 92 Avenue. Um, actually it's my mom and dad's house. Um, I live in Ducky, but I am the only
child and, um, it is my plan to move back to Glenidge when I come. So, um, and just to say when I grew up at my house, my grandparents bought it in 1952. Our house was built in the 1880s, and
we're only the third family that's owned it. So, we've been there for like 75 years. Sebastian lived down the street. My dad and his dad were friends. My grand my great grandmother lived next door with my two aunts. My cousin still lives across the street. And my other
cousin used to live in her house. So, my whole family was there plus friends from town. We're all together. Just my little background. So, um I'm just concerned
and just to clarify, so I have one of the largest properties on the block. So, under that R5, no one can build my on my house if I don't want to sell it. >> 100%. That makes
>> no neighbors have an interest in selling that it could be an issue. >> Correct. The burrow is never going to use eminent domain to acquire properties and then hand it off to a developer for that kind of >> Absolutely.
>> So it's only if we choose to sell and we all happen to be next door to one another that chooses to sell. >> Correct. That is >> you want to bring >> council council president has to sit in from the mayor when the mayor the mayor
>> walks out. >> I'm Keith Binnie at 32 Herman Street. I first like thank you for your patience tonight and like thank you for the work that you're doing. I think you got the balancing act with the state. I think you have the right science and you're doing a good job. So, so thank you. My
question is just rather specific to uh municipal lots. Does does B >> Yes, it does. >> Does the requirement to identify sites like with a likelihood of development mean that the borrower is committed to
seeking development? >> No. Of the we don't have to we don't have to our site and even if it was just our site by ourselves, we the bureau is not required to go look for a developer to develop the site. >> So it's so in terms of control in terms
of control of the site >> and and and the site by itself really by itself isn't really developable. >> Um I'll use other examples like what site is this? the municipal part of the municipal parking. >> Verona um had I you can if you want to
but I don't think our site is by itself is developable. So Verona um has had a lot of large sites and they have the same obligation and probably many more units um than than Glenidge does. and
they proactively sought developers to do affordable housing on the sites that the bur. But you don't have to and I don't think we have any properties like that. And and any property that the burough owns are soccer fields and I wouldn't be
here tomorrow if I suggested anything like that. And that's never going to be consideration. >> My assumption because I'm struggling to find like land ownership records. They're not like easily easy to find online private ownership. >> Yes, it is.
>> So, yeah. So for something to be viable, it sort of feels like you would need to take both of them >> without I was I was almost wanted to and but yes and the to to the and to the character of what could happen there
quite frankly the fact that it's more developable only if you use municipal property is what gives again we're looking for maximum control leverage and flexibility in this. So that kind of gets to the heart of it there.
>> The the last thing I say the you know the arcade is in keeping with the character and we go through it. So no thanks for >> Thank you. Thank you. >> She's going to speak next but I just had a question. >> Can you go the mic so everyone online
can hear the lot right next to my house? 40 Glender Avenue. Is that big enough that I'm going to wake up one day and >> so you're it's the the Well, there's So, no, because because that that old um >> road >> that old extension, right?
>> It's still technically county road. It's just it's a paper street. >> So, that's under control of county. The next lot where the trees are is a missile lot. That's a very small lot and we didn't >> in other words potential way for any building to go up there.
>> No, I don't believe so. No, >> it's a very small lot by itself. So, >> my name is Moren Jackson. I live at 24. That's the front of our house. If you walk around to the back of our house, our our driveway exits onto Glenidge
Avenue. We spent two nights recently meeting a whole lot of our friends on Glenidge Avenue with whom we hadn't had much um uh spent much time together. Um before
that we talked about this meeting tonight. You've already heard the story about about the the information. I'm not going to go over that again, but my point is we spent two nights with our neighbors
planning what we would say when we came here tonight. Every one of us got a different topic with specific details, information to add. Mine was to be the one uh that started out with
we're all on your side, but I don't feel like saying anymore experience here tonight. >> First of all, first of all, that this meeting wouldn't have had to happen. I mean, you would
have had to have your your regular meeting, but the animosity The anger, the the criticisms would not have occurred had there been a meeting open to everybody which we knew
about and could have attended even two years ago. Now, we're all, I think, suffering PTSD from the Claris debacle. I'm sure you have
nightmares about it, and we do. which is one of the big reasons why we're so concerned about this latest effort to um to to take care of affordable housing. My second sentence was to be we are all
in favor of affordable housing and we all are. That hasn't changed. As a matter of fact, one of us made the suggestion that uh the um the layover should be extended so
that we would have burwide affordable housing. You accused us of not making any suggestions, but you didn't hear that most important one. Apparently, that's really insulting. You
also accused us of saying what what was it? Um that that you were corrupt. We don't we Who accused you of being corrupt? >> That happened tonight. That I'm sorry, but that did happen tonight. I heard it. >> I didn't.
>> Okay. But I But I just want to be clear. So that someone told me that to me. >> Uhhuh. >> And I look, I'm pretty patient, but I also would just want to, you know, be clear about my values as well. Please continue.
>> You're interrupting us. I don't feel welcomed here tonight, but I have a vested interest in that as do all of us. So I do have my email of suggestions for
you. I'm going to say it to you. First of all, the town website, although it's been changed recently, it's not user friendly. If you would simply put, you have to take about four steps before you finally get to the meat of what's on the
agenda. And that's very discouraging. If you would just right up there as soon as you uh uh open the the website, a little headline there saying important um information about affordable housing.
Please attend meeting on whatever. That would be an easy way to get our attention. Another way is um to do one of those fast emails that goes to everybody in in
town or that test. Put it in there. Meeting on whatever date. Be sure you attend to get information if you're interested in affordable housing. No, we don't expect you people to go doortodoor. I find that remark very
insulting. However, two of us spent the morning going door todo to all of the um neighbors in who were included in this in this mailing that came. We would have gone a whole lot sooner
had we been informed sooner. So, mailing letters or getting a pub scout or Girl Scout group group who's looking for service uh projects, get them to deliver those things to the doors in town.
Most of all, you shouldn't do the minimum legal requirement if you want to avoid listening to people like me vent. And I don't happy that I'm doing this. I was so excited to have the positive part
of our conversation tonight. I'm really at any rate, if you had um mailed letters to us sooner, we would have had that information. We could have come to the meeting.
>> I know. I know you're rolling your eyes. >> I'm sorry. I am tired. I'm I'm tired. Please don't judge my facial expressions. >> All right. Thank you for your comments. >> Thank you. >> Well, for now, it's fine. >> We got one more. Okay. Um, I'm Susan
Link. I live at 515 Belleville Avenue, right at the end of Herman Street. I am an architect. I am a longtime trustee of the Glenrich Historical Society. Not speaking on behalf of the society. I'm the one that works in the archive. If you go pull your house folder, I'm the
one that d I'm one of the people that digs it out for you. I know a great deal about the old road, which is what Glenidge Avenue used to be called. I don't know if George, did you cover any of this? >> There's an extraordinary history of that road and and that for that reason, the
historical society had not only one but two walking tours of that of the houses on that street, the houses that these neighbors live in. So, it's it's a significant part of our story, as is the arcade building, which if you look on the Glenrich Historical Society website,
you will learn was um was uh financed by some of our town's founders for whom streets are named after. So, they wanted a vested interest in creating that structure as a commercial dedicated commercial center as opposed to a multi-story building that rises four
stories from the street. Okay. Um three points. community visioning session. That's kind of what this is. That's kind of what we had the last two meetings. I just want to um shout out Emanuel's thought about why don't you divide the
town into three zones and each bears a third of the brunt of the affordable housing. Ideas like that I think are very smart. Uh your hired planner may or may not not Eric but the other group that you worked with may or may not have thought of that. So these are seeing
things through the lens of the citizens and the neighbors as well as the professionals is always a good idea. I work in affordable housing in New York City. I've run community visioning sessions for 800 people at Nicha Developments which always has a heckler
who will take the meeting down. So I'm just saying there are people you can bring in to for people to feel heard, but you can direct it so that it's not chaotic. So I would suggest as a next step should any of these properties move
to the next level consider that tool a community visioning session. I think that would have gone a long way tonight. >> Um I believe that not all our five lots were are being u overlaid. I believe
that's the case. Is that right? >> And so just consider that these are five owners are unhappy. There's another group of R5 owners that aren't here. Why were they not selected as opposed to these? Just just something to consider.
So, if you had said that R5 universally were being overlaid, that would feel a little more uh democratic. >> Yes. >> Yes. Or less targeted. Um I'm a fan of the townhouse. This is why I'm a fan of
the townhouse and the town houses that exist on Glenn Avenue. They are lower scale. They have porches. They have bay windows. They have recesses. They have some character which much more closely resembles the houses that are there.
Now, as an architect, there are ways you can create townhouse developments with open space pockets in between them that has a completely opposite overall effect of the ClariS style big box facade. It would be lovely if you could include and
you may not be able to in your language for this particular move that you're making that town houses are favored over true fourstory multif family. There are things there are levers you can pull maybe not at this stage but in the
future you that you can write into the the rules for development. The last one of those I would like to to suggest is you guys are putting a lot on the HPC. The HPC is a formidable body. I've presented to them multiple times in this
room. Um but with that said, there's a lot hanging on the HPC here to do to to require the proper historic character for any developments wherever they happen at 200 Highland first or the arcade first or wherever. I feel like
that's maybe giving an undue burden on them. Um, and it's not because I don't like them or trust them, but I would love for you to amend the language that it's the HPC in coordination with the Glenrich
Historical Society and the town historian >> because Sally Meyer is like knows more than any of us about the town and and whoever would replace her someday would hopefully have the same knowledge, right? But the significance of Glenidge Avenue
may not have been fully appreciated by the folks that put together the big plan because there's a great significance. The sensitivity and the scale and the history. That's what's completely missing at this point. Of course, it's a it's a legal document. That's what we're talking about, right? But what we want
to avoid is what I saw when I stood at the top of Apple Road at the corner of Hillside and Apple looking down the hill. What do you see? You see a wall of Bloomfield big box housing.
>> That is not what Glenidge is. And that's not that would that would be a thing that would diminish our property values. Talk to the realtors in town. They'll let you know. They don't want to see big box in your backyard. So, and it's not just enough to landscape it. It's it's
it's modeling the masses. I've actually working at a firm where Eric and I have a common history. I did I did a schematic design for a multif family housing in Morristown right off of the town square, the Seeing Eye Dog, George Washington historic plaza. Morristown
has a restriction that you only can go up so far and then you must step back from the facade and then you go up again and you step back. Can you consider adding that kind of language into your resolution which will mitigate the
everyone's collective fear that we're going to have another big box like the Claris? >> Thank you. >> Thank you. So, my name is Kelvin79 and like the reason why we're here tonight and the reason why
was saying we kind of feel like adversarial because of how things came across and we just in our area of women's avenue not I think you spoke well to it doing the surveys and the research into
why these was chosen. But it does feel targeted when you get a letter and you see that out of the whole town, this is the I haven't lived in Columbia's home, but from talking to the neighbors, they're saying the Clarvis is right around the corner. What's next for our area? Why is it always our area that has
to bear the brunt of, you know, meeting the state requirements or whatever? So, that's why people feel this way and we just want to know what's coming next and It would still better if all the R5 housing zone was included in the overlay. You still have control. As you
said, this is just an overlay. You still want to have to go through the site plan and all the other things. So, there's still other controls in place, but we just want to be on record to saying what's next for our area, what's next for the town. We don't want to be the ones that I haven't left and just from
talking to people. It feels like this is kind of the part of town that always gets overlooked or like not it doesn't feel like we are 100% Glen Ridge residents when it comes to these types of things. That's just the feeling that I'm getting from talking to the neighbors. So, I just want y'all to
carry that forth going forward. What's next for us and make sure that we're paying the same taxes and we want to have want to be equitable. We're paying the same taxes. We want to get the same level of service and we want to have the same level of representation. Of course. 100%.
>> Any other comments? We're still in the uh public portion of ordinance 1831. Okay. Uh with no further comments forthcoming, I declare this public hearing closed.
Uh, madame mayor, I move that the ordinance be adopted. >> May I have a second? >> I'll second. >> Heard the motion by councelor Moody, seconded by councelor Meyer. Madame clerk, please call the role. >> I
Mayor, I declare this ordinate to be adapted. >> Thank you. >> All right, madame mayor. I also have ordinance 1832. It's the uniform housing affordability
control for final reading. Madame May and this is to state for the record that this ordinate have been published and posted in according with the status. >> I declare this meeting open for discussion of this ordinance and this ordinance only. This being the time and
place for the public hearing. If you wish to come speak, state your name and address for the record. This is on ordinance 1832. >> 1832. >> Okay. With no further comments forthcoming, I declare this public hearing closed.
>> Madame Mayor, I move that this ordinance be adopted. >> May I have a second? >> Second. >> The motion by councelor Moody, seconded by councelor Zimit. Madame clerk, please call the role >> I >> Zimi. >> Hi,
>> Mayer. I >> I >> mayor, are I clear the ordinance to be adopted? >> Thank you. >> All right, madame mayor. I also have ordinance number 1833. Uh this is pertains to affordable
development fees uh and repeals and replaces chapter 16604 uh which establishes and regulates fees for affordable housing. for final reading. >> Madame Mayor, this is to state for the
record that this ordinance have been published and posted according to this status. I declare this meeting open for discussion of this ordinance and this ordinance only, this being time and place for the public hearing. Please come up to the mic if you have comments.
Okay. >> Uh with no >> if the public is not sorry if the public is not coming up to the mic. Um I would just add that uh we've heard a number of uh comments a number of concerns this evening. Um and although we are passing
the ordinance as as indeed we must um and I I think this has been well prepared and well thought out um that uh going forward uh in the process that we will follow. Um, we should certainly
continue to engage and certainly should continue to um consider uh all of the uh concerns that have been uh mentioned uh this evening. And um I I'm normally one to
uh look a scance at nimiism, but I don't think that uh the comments that were made by the Glen Ridge uh Avenue residents are just that. So uh so we
should uh continue in mindfulness of all of the comments and concerns that we've heard this evening. >> Thank you, Council Lewitz. And I want to I was going to wait till we passed all of them, but I want to thank also thank
the public for coming out tonight. And I believe communication really does matter. I I'm wish uh this dialogue had started sooner and I wish that you had seen the earlier
notices and I take the note that we've got to find better way. I mean, again, the comment I made about the news and the clutter is a problem because we can't be talking past each other. And the last thing that we want is for you
to feel like something happened to you rather than with you. And I take very seriously that that is how many of you feel. >> Uh, it's still public comment period. >> I think it's Yeah, we wait, let me open it. Uh, let's see. I thought you did.
>> Yeah, we did. This is the public comment period. >> This is the public comment period. >> I just want to say that actions speak louder than words. So, we'll know whether or not you really want to hear from us when you make some changes and when you the onus has to be on on you.
The onus has to be on the person who wants people to attend. >> So, you have to find a way to to notify us. And we're telling you now, we would like to at the beginning. At the beginning, not when it's too late for
anything to be done. That makes all the time that that we spent as well absolutely fuel and it wastes your time at a meeting like this and does not foster good relations. >> Thanks. Any other comments? Please come up.
>> I have one more question about real. If I were to redevelop my home like you know it needs work a couple years down the line am I going to be required to make it affordable housing because I'm in this zone now? >> No. If so you would have to generate at
least six new units to be required to provide one affordable housing unit. >> Um however as we do have and one of the ordinances I think we're actually on the ordinance to be to be passed is there's
a develment So 20 million, which is a vacant lot on near East Orange, um is getting a new single family, there's an affordable housing development fee associated with
the development of that lot. It's 1.5% of the assessed value of that. So if you were to de demolish your house, HPC allows you to demolish your house and you build a brand new house on that lot for you have
or multiple units being townhouse development. You would though be subject to that development fee, whatever it would be associated with that that development over six six units a month. >> Yeah. You you wouldn't have to do both.
If you generate if you provide one affordable housing unit, ultimately you don't have to pay the development fee. But if you're doing something that falls under the under the requirements of the development ordinance, then you would have to pay into the the affordable housing trust fund.
>> Thank you. >> I think this meeting has clarified a lot for all of us, but it's also pulled a lot in directions. From what I from what I'm gathering,
some of us feel that a lot of the questions that we have have been answered and some things have been now that we understand more about the process, some of our concerns have been mitigated. But on the other hand, I
feel like some of us um still have kind of feel blindsided by all of this that is going on, which is an understandable thing. Uh you know, our our entire lives, our money, ours, everything is invested in these countries. But I just want my
neighbors and also and also you guys, everyone to know that, you know, the communication thing was an issue but those of us who can understand I'm stay not that I have any time
because you know being >> I couldn't >> we're going to ask on the best that we can to kind of round up our concerns we're going to send out emails we're going to meet back at the like we have been doing because that's what we've been doing
>> wonderful >> and we're going to get all of our concerns will email the appropriate people so that whatever communication gap is happening whether it be on our side or yours it doesn't matter at this point the fact that is that we need to move forward and
>> you guys are residents too so this united front that we have going on that we have created everybody needs to be included so I just want everyone to rest assured you guys and my neighbors we're we're going to do the best that we can to create all the emails that we can
we're going to continue to send outers Everything everything is >> How do we get on the town that you said? >> Well, when you're done, I'll I'll go ahead. >> No, I just want I just wanted to kind of act as an in between so that we all feel that we're going to be in the loop
somehow. I want to make sure that our neighbors feel connected, that we we're all on WhatsApp. Um we're going to make sure, you know, we have all all the email addresses and the websites and all those things like the same way we're doing. And you guys can feel that you
know somebody's out there trying to bridge the gap a little bit too. >> We really appreciate that. I mean, we're a burrow, but we're we're neighborhoods, right? And so, it's very much we saw that with something else around the country club and and this and so we we
do appreciate that we are working hard. Our professional staff is always available to you guys for questions. Please don't feel like you have to just come here and and take your time from your evening to to do that. You can shoot Eric an email. We are really trying to make our on this or any other
issue you have in town. Can you recycle styrofoam? Yes, you can. So, um on our web page and we can make this maybe we should work on this and make it bolder, but down on the right hand corner it says sign up for emails. >> Okay. >> And you just put your name in there. I
would also urge you to sign up for NIXL which is the texting service which we only use for police purposes really. >> Yeah, that's just public emergencies, >> public emergencies, road closures, you know, power outages, things like that. So that's more urgent in nature. So we that's where we use the text, but we'll
look into other I know councelor Zimit's trying to look into other opportunities to to communicate, but we appreciate that >> and there is no substitute for neighbors supporting neighbor. When we went through the mountainside reszoning, it I met people I had never met before. So,
>> I will say invite us to those Panera conversations. >> Yeah, we're we're your right. We're your elected officials. We're here to serve you, to meet with you. I know counselor Leftwitz has met with at least half a dozen to a dozen people on the Jity
right in town to hear people's concerns and understand what's going on. So, we are available for those kinds of conversations, right? We like you said, we're your neighbors. I mean, I've had those conversations. So, please, you know, it's >> Yes, I I'm I'm very interested in your
ideas and we're willing to have those conversations. And again, >> I like Starbucks. I like bottle I don't know if I like Bottle King better, but um happy to meet you. Happy to meet up with >> It's a more public comment. I just to know that you wanted
Same thing like one of the productive things I can take away from this meeting is that you made a a very important point that resonated with me. You said it's normal for us people not to show up. That's why it wasn't a red flag. To me that's saying I can do a better job.
You know if I come every now and then or something. So that's a productive point that I'm taking from this because it it works both ways and I really appreciate what you guys are doing and I can say I've spoken to Eric on the phone like in
this town. I live in a few other towns and if you do call if you have an issue, people actually try to help you if you get them oneonone, you know. So this the way that this turned out is not indicative of my normal experience with you know the township. So that was a very important point when you said to me
that like what it rang the balance to me like that shouldn't be the case. So that's what we can do better and that's what I can do better. >> Well, no and I will tell you like this this what we've been working on has is a is one of the biggest issues we'll be working on in the town over the last
year and a half. >> Right. Normally we're approving liquor light like raffles and you know so I don't want you to think we're like you're like missing out on a bunch of >> exciting stuff. >> Yeah. Yeah. Um but >> but yeah, look at the look at that agenda. And
>> I do want to comment on that though because I'm signed up for the town emails. I follow on all the socials. I get the nixels. And part of the issue um well I would say one of the reasons that the letter although it was legally required but it was um so helpful to
everyone is it was fairly plain language. >> Right. I'm not a zoning expert, an ordinance expert. I I do read all the agendas and I I have to say I've noticed within the past decade used to get everything in the agenda. I used to get
all the uh communication back and forth and so on. It's really sort of slimmed down to the essentials. And sometimes that's a good thing. You know, I don't need to know who's appealing their property taxes. But when you get to things like zoning, it's very very technical. And that's really where I
think part of the was not seeing that this is triggering a large change and having something in plainer language than just the ordinances themselves. So, >> and I give counselor Zimit a lot of credit because he's trying to move the
needle on that not just for this but overall. >> So, I'm a dumb one who doesn't understand planning. So Eric put something together like I don't go in this meeting. Nobody cares about the board whatever ordinance like what. So I I think it's it's a very valid point and
>> you know town council meetings ages ago when we were talking about parking you know those parking restrictions that were in I wasosed really care but it's language >> this is one of the most important issues facing the world because it's about our
future and and this future and legal ease and state statutes and acronyms, >> right? >> Yeah. I think one of the things I learned this evening is, right, it's one thing to send out the email and say we have this plan coming and these but like
put a big arrow if you live in this area of town, please pay attention. So like I hear that because you know we didn't do that. So we're understanding that better in those notices that came out like a year ago, right? Just >> Yeah. >> And I think we all Listen, there's a
responsibility as constituents to stay informed. >> Um, and I think that is a very valid point that if one hasn't signed up to follow the town um on uh on any social outreach, if one isn't checking the website or if someone hasn't set up
their emails, well, they put themselves at disadvantage. But um I feel like I really try to follow the town in all the communications possible. I do sometimes watch the town council meeting you place on the YouTube channel. >> Thank you. Thank you.
>> It's tough to get through. >> You can watch it on double speed. That's what I did before I was >> when you don't understand. So, all right. >> Okay. That's really helpful. >> And just to add to what the mayor said to what you're saying in terms of I I do think and and apologies to anyone who was when I said knock on your door that
was not meant as as to be condescending or anything like that. It's just that hey, it doesn't affect you until you realize that you get the letter in the mail or you get something >> or not. >> Yes. Whatever whatever it is that oh this is me, this is my house. >> And so, yeah. So, so I think to your
point about keeping things in plain language and to making sure that residents who will be very much impacted by this, I mean, obviously the entire town will be, but if you're on Glend Avenue or wherever, it's it's more of a priority for you. And so, again, we we could have done a better job of
>> geographically targeting with you earlier making it clear to you that this this is going to impact where you >> have a marketing budget, right? >> No, >> no, no, no. We don't have a comm's person. Um we're pretty light on staff
because we want to keep your budget down. So, we're working on it. We're working on it. Um any other comments? >> Yeah, come on up. No, we don't get a recess, but I was gonna make a joke.
>> Hi, Rosa Moss, father and daughter of Frank Moss. Um, long beverage residence. Thank you again for your time this evening. I was just more so concerned about what the next steps are, like what happens next. I didn't know if we were going to discuss that, so I've been sitting patiently.
>> I mean, not much. I mean, we adopt this ordinance and the plan and then We see what happens. >> No, I mean, >> we're not calling anyone. >> We're not calling anyone. No. Are they lined up or what?
>> I think the only one and this is the developer who challenged um and uh is the the 200 Highland. >> Yeah. >> But honestly, I don't know because the other thing we heard is he's looking for new tenants. So, >> apparently, he's getting new tenants >> and he's getting new tenants. So that,
you know, he put up a big fuss and I, he's like, I need more, more, more. And then now he's looking for tenants. So that's really it. Um, you know, I don't think anyone's ready to go apply to the planning board. We haven't heard anything. And, um, you know, just some
inquiries from the property. No one's like, "What does this mean?" You know, like the other Highland and um I think >> the owner of Bott >> and the owner of Bottle King. Yeah. Like what is this? So, >> so 50 units might not be cost effective for him. >> You don't know.
>> Well, that's what he settled at. So, that's what he got. >> That's what he settled at. So, it's not my job to make him money. >> That's my opinion. >> Appreciate it. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. But keep well like look, we we will like let you know. I mean that but
like definitely, you know, keep Eric on speed dial because he's going to be the first first to know. Um, any other comments? >> No further comments. Um, forthcoming, I declare this public hearing closed. >> Uh, with no Oh, that's you.
Ma, Madame Mayor, I move that this ordinance be adopted. >> May I have a second? >> I'll second. >> Heard the motion by councelor Moody, seconded by councelor Meyer. Madame clerk, could you do a roll call? I >> see. >> Hi, >> Mayor.
>> Hi, >> Mury. >> Hi, >> Mayor. I declare this ordinate to be adapted. >> All right. Thank you. Um, you have some resolutions. >> Yes, we do. Uh, three. Uh, madame mayor, I have resolution
6826 authorizing the affordable housing spending plan. Madame Mayor, I would like to make a motion to approve this resolution. >> You've heard the motion by councelor Moody. May I have a second? >> I'll second.
>> The motion by councelor Moody, seconded by councelor Zimit. Any discussion amongst the counselors on this resolution? Seeing none, madam clerk, please call the role. >> Zimi. >> Hi. >> Mayer. >> Hi. >> Moody.
>> I. >> May your motion carry. >> Thank you. >> And madame mayor, I have resolution 69-26 which authorizes the affordable housing marketing plan. Uh, madame mayor, I would like to make a motion to approve this resolution. >> Heard the motion by council Moody. May I
have a second? >> I'll second this. >> Approve the motion by councelor Moody, seconded by councelor Meyer. Any discussion? >> Seeing none, madame clerk, please call the role. >> Zim. >> Mayer. >> Hi.
>> Mury. >> I. >> May your motion carry. >> Thank you so much. >> And now for something completely different. >> Sort of. Uh I have resolution 7026 which is a historic preservation appointment. This resolution appoints
Tessa Nesa as a second alternate member of the Glenidge Historic Preservation Commission. And we are very lucky to have Tessa uh who has worked on numerous projects uh is by trade a historic preservation consultant and is an
architectural historian. So, uh, Madame Mayor, I would like to make a motion to approve this resolution. It's the other architectural historian we have on it. Yes. Uh, you've heard the motion by councelor Moody. Um, may I have a second? >> I'll second. >> Heard the motion by councelor Moody,
seconded by councelor Zimit. Any, um, further discussion. And we do appreciate um Miss Neesa um volunteering and sending over an application and the chairwoman for um shephering that that through and and making the recommendation and us vetting it
through. So thank you. Uh madame clim. >> Mayer. >> Moody. >> I may motion carry. >> All right. Thanks so much. Councelor Moody, are you done? Well, another thing. No, I'm done this evening. Thank you, Madam Mayor, and
thank you to the public. >> Thank you. Um, councelor, uh, comments from the administrator. Uh, I don't know, Eric, if you're subbing in. >> Oh, well, >> oh, I apologize to the virtual public.
>> We just replaced our TV station and we're broadcasting in black and white. I don't know why. >> Okay. And I also apologize for about an hour and a half going in pictures of paintings of cats started coming up and I don't know why I but >> that's that's on the TV station not on
Facebook. >> Okay, but we got the meeting. >> Oh, okay. >> Okay. >> So, thank you. But I just want to remind the two weeks ago there was a blizzard >> and I just want to thank our public works department for just a the championship job they did um for for the
work they did during this time. And I also well everybody just left but the public coming out having people out meeting interacting with us is you know something we don't get to see very often and um
Lieutenant Manley sorry the chief such a good meeting and I just want to thank uh Eric uh again for for just the the the effort Eric and gentlemen going through to try to meet this timeline work work with the public, work with the mayor and
council on the planet and keep >> Yes. >> Kudos. >> And then I will just be quiet because I know nobody wants to. >> No. >> Can I have one more counselor left who is from his vacation historic
>> Thank you. Thank you. >> Um John, >> I get to look at him. The only thing that I I would add is that we've all lived with this for the last year and a half, two years, and I I think that the state of New Jersey put
not only Glen Ridge, but every other municipality in the state in a very very difficult position with deadlines that were very unrealistic. And I think that the reaction that we had from our residents here really
mirror I think the reaction that many >> residents as citizens of New Jersey have because this is going on in every single town in New Jersey. >> And basically the state gave us deadlines that were almost impossible
to fulfill. And I remember, you know, we had a deadline that had to be done by the end of the year. And, you know, we struggled to meet that for a December 23rd meeting, I think it was, otherwise we were required to have a special meeting, right? >> And the hammer that the state had over
our head at every single time and moment was that if we did not comply, we would not be given any repose and we would be subject to builders revenue litigations. And you know the choices that were made uh were choices that had they not been
done uh we would have had litigation like the Claris popping up in different places anywhere. So I mean it I understand I understand the frustration at our level. I understand the frustration at the resident level and um
I do know having lived with this I mean you know the Eric, Mike, the entire council I mean the amount of work that you had to put in attending mediation sessions with that judge uh several times negotiating you know with uh the
claris for 200 highland. I mean, you know, the amount of time and effort and dedication that went into it. I mean, the public didn't see. These are all the things that you're elected to do and these are all the things that you do that are I don't want to say behind the scenes, but the work a day work that
goes on and um you know, it's just unfortunate that that the public didn't have a mirror to see that because I know I know the effort that went into it. >> Thank you for your comments. Um, Lieutenant, >> just uh thank you for having me.
Never invite me again. It was a great first meeting uh on behalf of Chief Court. >> Madam Clerk, >> I just wanted to say that I'm very proud of the mayor, president, counselors, and
representative of the Bum. The way everyone handled the residents and were able to answer all the questions. Good job. >> Thank you. >> She's she's our newbie. She's friend. >> Um, all right. We do not have any new or
unfinished business. Correct. Okay. Uh, we have a second uh general public comment period if if anyone still would like to give comments. Anything else? >> All right. Just this can be about anything. >> I just want to be able to say something real quick. >> Oh, Eric,
>> I'm sorry. Um I you know as John said and I'm not going to you know I I want to thank uh John uh Graham Pedro our planner from topology um the members of the planning and development committee that again I think put a lot of
thoughtfulness and effort into the locations that we did have to identify. And finally, I do want to thank the the mayor and the council for your leadership um through this process, but especially on a night like tonight when you you know when there are a lot of
upset people and are pushing against this again imperfect process. Um sometimes it's easy to sort of, you know, say, okay, maybe we should take a step back. Um but this is the right course of action. We do need to protect ourselves, the bureau, and especially
our residents against the kind of developments that we experience to that. So, you know, um adopting these ordinances was the correct course of action. Adopting these uh resolutions are the course correct course of action. And even though this has been a breakneck year and a half to meet these
these deadlines, the state, you know, I think established without thinking about the actual process itself and what would happen when we did inevitably see um the challenges and what it meant for public participation in our residence itself. Um and they ignored all that in their
legislation. Um for me, at the very least, um we're in a 10-year period. So this is not the end of this process. this is sort of the the phase one and we're we're moving into the next steps and we're going to be here until 2035
and then you know we'll look we'll worry about round five then um but we're certainly going to be living and breathing it in some capacity for the next eight and a half years. Um, and to that point, you know, and and the same thing is because I'm going to be living
it for the next eight years, I am always going to be available for our residents by email, phone call, or inerson meetings to continue to discuss this even as we've adopted these ordinances and sort of gone into now like a more of an implementation phase.
>> Well, thank you again. Everyone worked on this. We really appreciate it. >> Um, okay. Do you have something for us? Councelor Zimit, >> somebody want for us. >> It's at your doorstep right now at home.
Yeah. >> Uh, Madame Mayor, I'd like to make a motion to adjourn. >> All those in favor? >> I >> We're ging you out. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> Bye, everybody.
>> Thank you, David. >> Thank you, David. >> Next time. Thank you, Sandra. >> Thank you, Sandra. >> Goodbye. >> OH, SHE'S RIGHT THERE. >> THANKS, SANDRA.
>> Have fun.