Are we ready? >> Yes. >> You're recording. I'm just going to start over again. Okay. >> Yes. >> All right. Here we go. Thank you everyone for your patience. In compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act, PL1975, chapter 231. The notice requirements have been satisfied. The meeting dates
for the year are confirmed at the annual meeting, are posted on the public bulletin board in the lobby of the municipal center and published in the record within the first 10 days of the new year. Salute to the flag, please. >> I pledge algiance 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. Omar, can we have a roll call, please? Council >> member Cier >> here. Council member Dayton
>> here. Council member Michaels, >> present. >> Council member Dr. Okconor >> here. Council member Clark >> here. Council member Reri >> here. >> Mayor Zenna >> here. Okay. Thank you. Thank you again for everyone's patience tonight. Um, first thing on the agenda to be
considered is the Clinton Inn proposal. So, who from the Clinton in is going to come up please to the microphone? Just give us your name, not your address, and how you're uh connected to the project. >> Good evening, mayor, council members. My
name is Brian Jakowski. I'm an attorney with Clary, Jacob, Alfie, and Jacobs, and I represent the Creative Land Group LLC that has entered into a contract to purchase Clinton and will shortly have a finalized contract for the remainer of
the property. And just briefly, I just get the L. Um, >> good. >> Basically, what we're here for, and I know you've seen a number of proposals on this, uh, this group is ready to
proceed with redevelopment of the project. So what we provided is an outline of what we're proposing to do which is redevelopment of the hotel site which will include a hotel, a market and a restaurant. The original redevelopment
plan provided for assisted living. This proposal will provide for 125 residential units with an affordable housing set aside. So I have Conrad Ronatti, one of the principles here that will go through the proposal. I just
want to set the table and pretty much see where we want to end up here. Number one, if the proposal is acceptable, we're going to ask for amendment up to the redevelopment plan. Number two, uh we would like to be designated as
conditional redeveloper subject to that amendment and the entry into a redevelopment agreement. And number three, most importantly, is a cost agreement, mutual cost agreement to fund the cost that would be incurred for the redevelopment plan and going forward
with any agreements or planning work that is required. So I've said enough. That's my understanding that Mr. Roni can provide a reduced version of the presentation and it just has to go through it. >> Okay. Thank you very much.
Should we put it up on the screen if we have the electronic version? Y there you go. My name is Kan Rakati. I'm here on behalf of the developer for the Clinton Hotel and adjacent piece of property. So, I'm going to do a walk through quickly the presentation. If
anybody has questions during it, I'd be more than happy to answer. But I'm going to start here with the first part of the presentation. Just an overlay roughly. I believe everybody here is familiar with the site. Everybody's familiar with the
hotel, which is the northern lot on the property, and then the southern lot, which is currently vacant, which takes up the remaining area on this adjacent multi property. So, currently this is hotel building and the um parking lot
that's falling down is taking up this area here. So, we're proposing very similar to what was previously approved, a full hotel redevelopment the existing property and then a adjacent building that instead of being assisted living as was previously approved, we're looking
to do a uh multif family residential building. this multif family building we expect to have around 125 units and have a 20% carve out for the municipalities for Here's a initial concept rendering of
the hotel. So as you can see that hotel structure remains intact. We're going to do some light renovations to the exterior and we're proposing to build a 10,000 ft premium event space on the rooftop. This would be the only major addition to the property. everything
else happening inside the existing structure. The southern lot would be filled in with a multif family building that's built over a parking podium that would satisfy all of the parking requirements along with surface parking as you can see the picture here for the multif family as
well as parking for the hotel. So, as you can see graphically depicted here, this hotel building is three stories. We're looking to propose a small addition on the roof to add an event space. And then we're going to be proposing a sixtory residential building
with a high five floor over one floor of parking above grade and one floor below. This building is actually 12 seats lower than what was previously approved in the proposal for the assisted living facility. And the uh work plate of the
building is roughly the same. The gross square footage is slightly smaller because it is one last quickly first talk about the hotel. So currently the hotel is primarily made up of a ballroom on the ground floor with
conference space on the lower level and some hotel amenities and mechanical space in basement. Our intention is to build a roughly 17,000 foot spa in the basement lower level of the facility. That's going to be something that's
accessible to guests but as well as uh people visiting for the day. >> Sorry, just residents are able to >> residents will be able to come to the spots, use it as a day spa. Residents are more than welcome to come and stay
in the hotel, use the spa facilities, or this will be a publicly accessible spa facility that's open. >> I'm sorry. >> Go ahead. >> Basement space exist or you would have to >> this basement space exist entirely? So the entire existing hotel
>> currently is primarily used as conference space. There's a fitness center. There's some offices downstairs and then there's a lot of back of house extra space. A lot of it is mostly just empty storage space, but we plan on working with existing space. >> Thank you.
>> A question. So, will the spa be like your normal monthly membership sort of thing? >> Uh, the spa is going to be more like a traditional day spa. So, >> Oh, okay. >> You pay for the day offer spas, facials, most of the kinds of
things that you would expect to find at on the ground level. Currently, the main entrance of the hotel is here. It's a hotel lobby and then primarily conference space. We're looking to turn this into a much larger lobby and bar restaurant in the ground floor area. And
then we're looking to carve out what's the current Palmer's Crossing restaurant as a 4500T fresh market that's going to be a publicly accessible town. The hotel restaurant will be publicly accessible, but we intend for this to have a separate entrance on the north end of the property as it used to when it was a
restaurant. And then this would be a premium fresh grocery organic fruit, prepared foods, premium groceries, something that would be a big anchor for the town in this part of the downtown area. >> A Cinderella kind of thing kind of. >> Yeah, kind of like Dean Duca,
Cinderella, somewhere where you can buy prepared food, high-end grocery items. Most people could probably use it as their everyday shop and it's a slightly elevated shopping space. >> Uh there are hotel rooms on the ground level that we intend to keep intact. And
then on the southern end of the property, we would be building in a lounge entrance where historically there could been a second restaurant. And this would be the lobby entrance space to take you to a dedicated elevator that went up to the rooftop. >> And the restaurant would also be
accessible to res. the res the restaurant would also be accessible to residents. That's right. Everything in the lower level in the first floor would be available to restaurants to residents and then obviously the rooftop um event space would be something that would be you know able to be used by
residents for anything weddings, anniversaries or mitzvah mitzvah any kind of event. Uh we plan to keep most of the floors of the hotel the same two large rooms be two floors they have largely a small
room. We're contemplating reducing the overall number of units and charities but it would all be within the existing floor. >> Can you go back to the um second floor? Sorry. Yeah. So, we're showing another elevator here.
>> The empty square, empty area, sorry. Yeah. And that's supposed to be accessible for like guests, >> like a rooftop. >> This area currently is above the lobby. It's a flat roof space that's currently above the lobby that's inaccessible, but we're contemplating potentially that this would be like a second outdoor
dining space for other restaurants. This would be another publicly accessible space. This is not something that we've written out here that we are looking to do immediately, but this is something that we have considered our initial discussions about layout. >> Aren't there windows that face that improved?
>> There are some windows here that are the reason why we had discussed potentially bringing some of these rooms together into suites to mitigate the fact that you might lose windows or we would do a like terrace that allowed guests outside and then there would be a a uh an area
that was publicly accessible here. This is a much bigger area than it looks graphically. We can nest it to fit on one sheet. So, this is actually quite a large outdoor area. But again, it's it's not a critical part of our plan. It's just something that we've been
considering while we've been concepting. There was the existing hotel floor and then there's the Lshave section on the southern part. We are proposing to build a rooftop event space on the lower southern roof. So these two roofs are about 8 ft apart. So this is much higher
than this side. We're looking to build this area outside on the lower roof. So we would still still stay well below the town's high requirements for those. This is effectively like a fourth floor, but it's at a really low level because this
is already >> So is the events mayor? >> Go ahead. Please getting emails from residents saying zoom sound is not working. Nobody could hear this presentation. >> I don't know just few people. >> Maybe it's because those things that disconnected.
>> Why would the speaker be the output audio >> microphone? Microphone. While while we're doing >> Sure. >> Does the event space and the roots terrace have separate entrances or you can go straight up from the elevator? >> Uh so currently we're planning that this
space would have a separate >> due to the volume of people that would most likely be going to events. We thought it best to put a second elevator floor into the building so that you could go directly from the ground level up to the roof and it wasn't stopping in people's rooms.
>> Okay. >> So, is the event space available for you know any resident to rent out for an event or is it just for hotel guests or >> No, it's it's not it's not like specific to hotel. It's an event space that we expect to continue the year. Uh we expect it to be somewhere that's going
to drive a lot of business and bring a lot of people into the town because there aren't very many places around here that can have an event in a space this size in like a non-denominational environment. >> Sorry. How many people do you think is going to be in the event space? >> It's going to be something between like three and 400 depending on ultimately
how big the space is. We think >> like sitting at dinner. >> Yeah. Like a seated bar. >> Yeah. Of course, whatever whatever is going to be the maximum allowable given the size. It's also the reason why we went to elevators. So, there's going to be a service elevator as well as
passenger elevator. Um, because of the size of the property and putting parking in the lower level of the apartment building, we've been able to accommodate quite a high occupancy in the hotel. >> Um, >> service elevator has a back entrance as
well, ground floor. Yeah, this I I mean it's not too difficult to hear, but the at the parking lot of the drive all the way all of the service for the entire hotel goes in the back over in this corner where Palmer's busy used to be. There's a service entrance. There's
actually a lower level garage that you can drive into in the back rear of the building that collects the cake deliveries and discreetly. It's set up very nicely service. >> Sure. the parking that you're discussing on the back side of the building. Are you expanding the existing right now or
is it as it is in the footprint? >> Uh it's as it is in the footprint and then there's going to be two level parking in a multi >> two levels for the hotel. >> It's both. It's going to be a combined parking park. So there's almost enough surface
parking for the hotel, but the multif family building the footprint of it is big enough. That's such that we can get all of the parking required for the both buildings in the two levels under the multif family building as well as the surface level parking. >> Yeah. >> And if we don't allow you to go below
ground, what is your option? I mean, we're next to a protected brook and there's an enormous environmental impact there of flooding on all surrounding streets. So, do you have an option to not go too below ground for both
properties? >> Sure. So, we've looked into this. So, th this property in particular isn't in the FEMA flood zone. It doesn't overlap with any overlay zones that would restrict access going below grade. But if we needed to make accommodations, we would
have to incorporate into the building on the to there's enough space on the site. We we've been pretty generous the setbacks on the property for the residential building. We could have a discussion about whether it was feasible within the existing building
envelope or if we had to make the the bottom of the podium of the multif family bigger to accommodate more parking spaces. We could look into that. >> Again, those are all things that we would look into as partenses to move forward as part of of the design for the
amendment to the redevelopment plan. your theoral engineers and planners should be looking at that. >> Of course. >> So, uh, one of the things that was brought up years back was that if there is an event that there wouldn't be
enough parking on the on the place that they would have to use parking from other places like possibly across the street places is you mentioned like 300 people in the ballroom. Would that be something that could fit there or
>> Yeah, we would also be able to um create a situation where we valley tars and that could alleviate some of the concern about momentary times when there's a lot of people at site. We expect that when we have events that size, a lot of people are either going to be staying at the hotel. So the event
space and the hotel guests are one and the same for a big portion of the people coming to the events or they're going to be people who live locally. We expect people to be car pooling or coming in Ubers or taxis coming to a large event in the evening a lot to drive. So again
that's something that when we get into the electrical parking feasibility there was a pretty detailed parking table in the presentation that you have that I could get to as well but I think that's something that we can discuss at another >> the whole entire is really the other building. I know we're talking about the
hotel, but the other one the the big ticket item. >> This part of the presentation is basically kind of over. I think everybody understands the intention of the hotel. It's a premium hotel. We're looking to bring something lively and modern and exciting that's going to be a
crowd jewel in the town. >> This is consistent with what came before us last time. >> Correct. >> So now, >> yeah. And the size and the scale of the project. And I think we we we're probably looking to do a higher level of finish and higher level of of brand
hotel motel than what's previously discussed here. Something that's much more likely to match the tenor and the sophistication of >> And now the the second part just some fuel stuff. >> Yeah. >> Same thing. Spa.
>> We all love great hotels. >> All right. So, uh this is a initial concept rendering of the multif family building. This is something that we just put together to kind of speak to the vernacular of what we're looking. This isn't something where colors and finishes have been fully dialed in
selected, but this is a pretty good graphic representation. We expect that it's going to feel consistent with the rest of the town. It's going to even feel feel consistent with higher end quality multif family projects that are coming up in towns around here that have
done the job and graded well. Um, and we're looking to, you know, make sure that we connect with the wooden areas behind it. They make it feel like it's a streamless part of the So, as you can see here, this first level would be dedicated to residential lobby space,
light amenities, and then parking all along this level. And then it would be five stories above parking of multif family residential set back from Here's a graphic depiction of the first floor showing mo multiple parking spaces
on the ground level, some tenant storage, light, package, anything like that, residential lobby, and utilities. Our intention is that this building is going to be lightly amenized because we're going to have a tie-in with the
hotel to allow residents of this building use the hotel amenities as part of their package to feed residence. So, we're looking to create a symbiosis between the two properties and make the hotel feel like something that's almost an expansion of the residents here
living. >> So, I'm sorry, I'm going to ask the same question. You know, we have a protected brook in this area and it looks like you guys have the parking over it. Again, is this this parking doesn't exist right now. So, the distance
between this building and the brook. Do you have that? Because all I see here is the railway. There's a brook that runs parallel to that. >> So, I don't believe the brook is on our property. So, we've stayed within the existing footprint of what's existing.
There's a brook and a covert that connects >> but it's not on this >> sheet because it's beyond the property what um the council want >> how far away have you have you mapped how far away it might be >> I don't have that number although I know
when they sign >> these are engineering questions right >> okay I'm just saying right now it looks like there's a parking lot over >> no the everything that's on this map report says Conrail is part of the the square of these three I think it's three
lots. >> It is three lots and but most of what's depicted is already cleared for the most part. Like the parking lot I know has been gone through various stages of being it was a restaurant and then it was demolished and it's been vacant or whatever but mo most of what you can see
that's clear is where this is and then this existing parking which is the end of where the >> hotel >> the hotel space is now. So just graphically where this dotted line is here, this is the existing parking structure. It takes up basically like
this dotted line. I know it's kind of hard to see, but everything from here over is this existing hotel with the the parking lot with the the spaces in it. And then this is just following the building of what's there already with
running the parking all. And it's our intention to take this easement in the back here and incorporate it into a nature trail that could extend into downtown Tennifly that we would build, develop, design, and then maintain so that residents could use it as a thoroughfare between the residential
neighborhoods on this side and the downtown area, helping for greater connectivity to the downtown space. >> Sorry, where was that? I wasn't I was >> the uh we there's an easement back here where the railway is. That's like a concentation on the other side of the
veil that we would use as a >> gota this would just been a lower level area. So part of this because of the slope of the property is accessible above grade from the backside. The property slopes pretty go
this way and then the rest of it would be below grade and not visible from the street. It's a little easier to see. Here's a initial schematic layout of the multif family building with a proposed unit mix. Our intention in the unit mix
is just to show what the maximum capacity could be of this building. Given the gross square footage, we're still considering the specific unit mix of the property. We have made sure that we've left an allocation in the unit mix to meet the town's code requirements for
20% affordable units. So some of unit mix in the initial design was aimed at make sure we met that requirement, but it's something that as we get further into the planning process, we're probably going to look into a little further and kind of get a taste
>> on that. How are you going to determine the unit mix? cuz I noticed that there are very few three-bedroom units in this. And one of the things that we do need to address is that we want empty nesters to have a place to go as well. And I think a lot of empty nesters might
not be able to go from a house to just a one-bedroom unit. So, >> Sure. So, that's a big part of >> how do we Yeah. How are you going to determine the unit? >> Sure. >> I think I could answer that question. the number of three bedrooms that are designated as the concept
or the minimum number that would be required to meet affordable housing. So in terms of the overall redevelopment that's something that would be worked out with the planner Mr. Novak planning board attorney Mr. and of course Miss
Cora as we go forward with developing the brand right here. Typically you don't want to see a lot of three bedrooms, but it's up to this path, >> right? We we have been speaking with local real estate brokers to get a sense
of where the biggest hole in the town is in terms of two bedrooms, three bedrooms, one bedrooms. I think internally we would like to see a lot of three bedrooms. We know that sometimes there's community push back about the implications of that, but in this town specifically that the the demand for
those is empty nesters and people looking to downsize but still stay in the community. That's something we would definitely go. >> Are you leaning towards uh for sale units or rentals? >> Rentals. Good. >> You considered 55
>> uh for this property? We have not. >> Is that something that would be considered? >> Uh we have some other properties in the town that we've been speaking about that are going to be 55 and older that we hope will satisfy most of what the town's demand for that specific unit
type is. But we expect that these units would be free market units. >> So families, children. >> Yeah. >> Unrestricted. >> Unrestricted. Thank you for that term. >> Thank you. The board above it. I mean, it's a it's the same floor plate as the floor below
it. So, floors two through six would all have the same floor plate, but slightly different units. Here's an elevation depicting the the proposed multif family unit. As you can see, the parking is one level below grade, one level above grade. You can
see from here how the street side the is at grade with the first floor parking but when you get to the rear of the building it's a little bit slopes down here that will give us access now into the lower level. And then this is a proposed unit mix that currently shows
125 units. But as we discussed, if this went down, if we change the unit mix and we went to more three-bedroom units, this number will go down and even see a an influx in trees and probably an increase in the number of that's for us
going to be entirely based on where we think the market is going to be the have the biggest demand. >> Which slide is Dean Street on on this picture? >> Uh this side. So, um I guess I'll you're done with the presentation, right?
>> Yeah. I mean, the the rest of it is just kind of like a look and feel of the multif family unit and then there was a parking assessment to just verify that the number of hotel rooms and the number of units if we went for the highest number had the appropriate number. So
you mentioned earlier that the uh hotel even with that rooftop space is all within our code of four stories. Right. >> Right. The existing hotel is only 3 in. >> Right. And um so this you're proposing six stories. So
>> um I I can't support something that high. Um it creates a massive shadow on the streets behind it. So, we're not talking about dean, but we're talking about the ones behind it. And also the difference between the original proposal
we got with this with the senior living facility was um we also were told that there wouldn't be that much traffic because they would have these two shifts of or three shifts of workers and that
basically the people inside there aren't even they're they're kind of like uh homebound if you will. Um, so this the fact that we had well the majority of the council voted to allow six stories last time, it was a very different
scenario. So this is housing and it it wants this incredibly much taller than any building in the area. So for me the height is a real um detriment. Uh, additionally, another change is that
this hotel as it has been in the last couple years has been operating and renovating at a fair clip. I I think everyone would like to see, you know, a lovely hotel as you have laid out, but
it for it to come at the expense of something so high is is something that I don't think would serve the residents who currently live in our town very well. So, for me, the height is a real issue and the shadow that it would create and the invasion of privacy for
all of the of the houses behind it. who now would be having people peer into their yards. >> So, I I hear your concerns. We we've made a we've had a handful of discussions in the planning stages about what we can do to help with the height
issue given that it's a fifth floor residential over the podium which would be higher than is typical in the town. Um the reason that we I was referencing the previous approval is because that approval at the same number of stories was 75 ft and we are confident that we
could build this building at 62 1/2 ft because we can go to a port concrete superructure here and limit the space between the floors and limit the superructure of the building and significantly reduce the height of the building relative to what other may have
proposed in the past about the height of a larger building. So, >> so their building is shorter than the other one. >> This building is 12 1/2 ft shorter than what was previous approved, which is more than a floor. So, this is a pretty significant drop down from what was
previously approved. I appreciate that it's higher than most of what's been approved in the town, but because it's on the southernmost tip of the commercial district because there's another multif family building behind it and there's some commercial properties across the street and our intention is
to create it in a way that it feels natural with the surroundings and we were hopeful that it would create a situation that wasn't quite as dramatically different than >> but I think it would be because if we take our our tallest building in town is
really four stories. I I think even the Kabad House, which is on one of the other streets, is pretty much our tallest building, that's four stories. Um, this is thick, so I appreciate that it might be shorter than what was previously discussed, but it will still
be significantly taller than anything in the surrounding towns even. So, it's it's really quite quite a dramatic difference. So I just, you know, I I can't support something that's so tall. And I want to say currently, like, so
you're coming to us and asking for, you know, effectively a variance because currently we only allow up to four stories. Sure. >> So I just want everyone to remember that if if we did nothing, it can only go up to four stories. And whether that makes
economic sense for you to revitalize the hotel with it being up to four stories, I understand that that's a calculation you have to make, but that's currently what our what our code would be. >> Sure, we appreciate that. We understand that we're coming in asking for
something that's above what is typically granted in the town of what's currently for us. We see these two properties as a combination and not two separate, you know, uh development properties. We're looking at them like a symbiotic relationship. The the hotel uses the
residential building parking requirements to some extent. The residences can use the hotel as an expansion of its amenities. And we're looking something that's, you know, a joint development in the town. And I can appreciate your concerns about wanting
not wanting to approve something that might be out of character with the town. But we think we can come up with a way through our initial concept and some discussions with the the planning committee and the planner to how we can get to this side project in a way that will feel seamless.
>> Sure. >> So questions for either of you. You had three asks in the beginning. You want an area in need to be reestablished. You want to become >> the area need is in place already. What about an amendment to the the redevelopment plan? Just just by reminder, there is a redevelopment plan
in place as an overlay zone which requires the all the properties to be linked and it would require and it would still require I don't think I haven't heard anything different the hotel to go first on the renovation before you would be able to do the other property to get
their cos. The only difference here is assisted living use versus residential use. So my question is >> yes, but I'm saying as far as what they're asking for, the only thing that that would be different is is the use.
>> You can still reduce the height based on on the design. Yes. >> So and this Wendy, you can chime in here on this as well. I want to talk about the interim cost agreement that's requested. >> That would be to fund the professionals in order to have these discussions with the developer so that the burough is not
incurring any cost as part of this due diligence. So it's not the bureau laying out the money. Correct. >> Correct. >> I want to clarify that for the public that this request is that all costs are covered for us.
>> And to be fair, that's our request. >> That is already made. >> Get on the record and making sure all parties understand >> the borrow is not spending any money on this. It's >> we go forward. >> Correct. >> Correct. >> And should it not get approved, you know, that's a risk that the developer is taking. >> I Yes. Okay. Thank you. there's no harm
that would happen to delve into this further. >> Yeah, I I did want to clarify that. Um, you know, one of the things that the planning board is looking at is that we do have significant flooding in and around our downtown. And, you know, with these hundred-year storms coming every
year, uh, it is a consideration and my questions remain about the underground parking. I would like to see some options to not have that underground parking to be really considered. I also would like if we're moving forward to understand water retention or water flow
in the area. What we had required or requested from the last project was a significant capture of water and water runoff. The building for example one down from you on Dean Drive um floods enormously into their first floor
businesses. Uh the homes on the backside and the businesses on the backside have flooding in those properties. So this is an enormous amount of imperous coverage. Um one of the things I didn't hear is any green uh infrastructure, any water capture and those are details to be
>> I just want to also point out that >> you know there's this thing called the time of application rule and since this last redevelopment plan was approved the storm water requirements have become even more stringent. >> Absolutely. >> And they would have to meet the mo the the current requirements at the time
that they would apply to the site plan. >> Yeah. Sure, we we we would absolutely do whatever was going to be in the best interest of the community and the surrounding areas to mitigate any kind of storm water runoff, help with water retention, whatever, you know, is going
to be required from an engineering standpoint to make sure that our buildings not only not negative on the flood plane in the area, but a positive. We do have some green roofs at lower levels. The outdoor space on the rooftop on the hotel has some green room space
on the outside. We are looking to as much as we can make it look and feel like it's it's an extension of the wooded area and the and the tree line streets that you already have in town with enough shade trees all along the property. So, we're absolutely willing
and that that we can move forward to bring in the engineers and have a lengthy discussion about what we can do about wateration for for our property and for this. >> And the second thing is, you know, we are reviewing all of our traffic right now. This hotel is on the corner of a
very fundamental traffic intersection where numerous traffic lights have now come together. We're going to be, as this council has made a priority, um improving all of our traffic flow. And so one of the things we at least I'd want to hear on this council is what volume of traffic do you expect at those
intersections? Um you know what volume of traffic do you expect? Uh you know school pool school times, commuter times, all of the things. >> I would very much like to see an analysis. We fully anticipate bringing on a traffic consultant on our side to
do a full feasibility study in the area. We would be more than happy to contribute to traffic signals or any other kind of signage of fire in the immediate vicinity of this spot for you to make it so that it's an easier transition to a higher volume here. >> So I guess the question Mr. Mayor, so as
I understand it, the question is, is this something worth investigating further? Again, we're not making any decisions tonight on what it looks like and the color ideally purple, but um the question is today we have a blight
of sorts. >> Yes. >> Can >> the question this it's this sixtory plan? That's the question. >> So this is what's in front of us, right? >> That's so what we're looking the ultimate goal for tonight with this
conversation is to get a consensus from the council. uh if the council wants the B attorney to put together an escrow agreement to begin working on amendments to the redevelopment plan where the details of the questions that have been raised get flushed out and just to
reiterate there's it's up to the developer to fund all this there's no money coming out of the burrow's pocket >> any other I'm putting that just as one thing because to to Julie's point you're not necessarily looking for this as the
final product. >> But the question becomes, are you willing to change the use? And if you're willing to change the use, then the discussions about storm water um retention, what green standards come in, all of that will happen with the professionals before it would come back
to you. At the end of the day, you'll get a redevelopment plan, which is an ordinance just like any other zoning ordinance for which there'll be a first reading and a second reading with a public hearing. So the the public will have the opportunity to participate as well. And that's when you actually make a decision on what the plan will look
like. Current use is the assistant. >> Correct. Correct. Because you know, just as as they were noting, we don't know how many units. You don't know what the the unit counts, but all of that will be before you before you'd have to actually take a vote on an ordinance. You know, maybe the parking can get moved around
so the hike can come down. We don't know. But it's if you're amendable to it, you'll have a resolution on for the next meeting that would authorize the execution of an escro. >> That also include an analytic around the financing for the project to ensure there's sufficient financing in place
for completion. >> No. >> When does that happen? So the times when the town would get involved in the financing, um you'd need some kind of just idea before you would designate a reveloper, but generally the
the boots on the ground down and dirty review of the numbers come with a a request for a financial aid. >> Yes. >> Can I um ask the council that we actually discuss this and close? Um there's something else I want to
discuss property before we get a vote. >> So that's not on the agenda. So even have a closed session. What >> we don't have any concept of a close session issue with this. >> So
it's it's a public conversation. It's not a closed session behind the behind the doors discussion. >> Just just to be clear, >> we're voting to pass something. We're not voting. establishing our consensus to have somebody at their expense logically
renovating a hotel that has been brutally underutilized for decades. was just asking what >> nobody specifically about residential for res if we change if we go ahead. It is only
with this applicant that we are considering a change. >> So we then open it up. >> Yeah. So just for clarification, >> right, hold on a second. >> You know, when you did your area in need of redevelopment designation, it's not
with condemnation. So really, the person coming forward can only be the person who has control of the property. >> Okay, thank you for clarify. >> Um, how do we establish consensus or >> So I'm just going to go around the table
as we normally would, Laura. So, so, so a yes is to move forward to put together a yes grow agreement to begin working on the amendments and development. >> Come back to >> that. I would love to hear discussion amongst
us before we did this, but >> well, you mentioned you wanted to open to the public in case there was any question. >> Oh, okay. So, on this particular we'll make it acceptable here because it's important. Any members of the public want to make a comment on this this question only? Just come up to the
microphone, please. >> Hello. >> Just give us your name. >> My name is Pamela. >> Um, I have a question as far as for all the residents in the building, where will all the kids go? >> Where all the what? >> Where will all the kids go? You mean
which school? Yeah, because the schools I know are already overflowing and a lot of the >> So, so my kids go to Smith, >> right? >> So, we have a lot of Stillman kids, >> right? >> Oh, you do? >> So, the school population I had a
conversation with the school today. The school >> the school population over the past 10 years is actually down by 250 students. So, and that's spread out through the school district. I can't speak to, you know, none of us really can in terms of
which school has which kids in it. >> It all depend on the grades. >> It all depends on the grades. Yeah. >> Before they'll open another classroom, let's say at Smith, if there's space at Stillman, they'll have someone go over to Stillman even though they live in the Smith area. So, it all dep depends on numbers and spacing. And in generally in
these projects, it's not like every child is going to be at the same rate, >> right? So, I know mom that her she just moved. They have four kids and they didn't have enough room in the elementary school. So they split the
first grader and the fourth grader into two different schools. So she basically had to carpool three children, four children and go to work. She doesn't have a nanny and she's like, I don't know what to do. I went to the superintendent. They can't help me. I'm
not in the zone for buses. So then there's like things like that that happen. So those are are oneoffs. I mean it doesn't happen to everybody, but just keeping in mind that not it it's not that there's not space in the school cuz a lot of these
elementary schools have gone down to two classrooms for the kindergarten, first and or second grade. You know, when my child went through the school, there was three classrooms, right? >> But not all the schools are. So, it's just a matter of working with the the board of ed to try to get the spacing
appropriately done. >> Yeah. I'm just worried cuz like the class sizes are so great and that how much bigger can they get, right? So, like I moved from Brooklyn cuz all the classes were like 25 30 kids and it you worry about the attention and education
that they get. So when it's a smaller class size and that's why we moved here might be better because it'll give enough kids to meet that third class. >> No, I don't think so. That that that's not ideal for me. >> I'm saying that then that would open up another classroom. >> But then but like our school was like we
don't have room for another class. We have to build onto the school. >> Yeah. This is uh so my oldest child is uh is 35 and we lived in she lived in the Smith district at the time. >> Yeah. and she wound up going to
Stillman. So, so 29 years ago. So, the balancing in the schools has gone on. >> So, imagine it's going to get even more. Now, we have like 60 new families just in our school this year. >> Well, well, so like I mentioned, the school population has been down over the past 10 years, which which brings with
it its own >> state aid questions and all kinds of money issues with that. >> Um, so there's a lot of details in your question. I mean, they've also recently passed the referendum to give me a lot more access to capital. Hopefully,
I say hopefully because I'm not qualified to tell you, but I hope it was the best case. And I went to public schools here 40 some odd years ago and watched >> where we had a multi-aging kindergarten enough kids and to your point, it's a very difficult your concern is
incredibly valid. Yeah. I mean, I get it. However, it's just something on a balance. It's very difficult to to navigate. It's been consistently down over the last 10 years. Um, but it's >> okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. Would anyone else like to
speak on this topic only? >> Name. No addresses anymore. >> Jenny Jackson. Okay. So to Julie's point, I'm actually very curious about this because behind where this is proposed, this proposed site is all businesses along Franklin Street, right?
>> Half the street is built to business and half, >> right? So you have the you have the plumbing place, you have like professional buildings and so does this actually cause a shut on the opposite side of the street. But
>> if you go past the buildings and jumafit and all those there there are multi family apartments uh two two or three stories I think the marorrow >> here. Yeah, >> over there. But that's not that's not behind this. Marco is on the other side of directly behind
>> between doctor. For the record, for the address record, I live two blocks from here, so I'm very familiar with that. >> Go ahead. So basically, I was just wondering if that actually is a major concern for those specific buildings
right there because it's not residential like tangentially right there. That's what I would ask you guys if that if you understand like what how the the shadows are over there. I think that it seems that you're not you don't have residents that are getting um overshadowed right
now. So to your comment about shadow, when we went through this exercise five years ago, one of the things the council required was that the developer produce what uh like there like shadow uh elevations. So it showed like at at 8:00 a.m., at noon, and at 400 p.m. where the
shadows would fall so that over the course of a day, uh the develop was able to demonstrate what that would look like. So as part of this process, they're going to be required to do the same thing. >> Okay. So lucky for you, there's some data already for that. Great. >> So that's great. >> Yeah.
>> And then on top of that, I do want to talk about the need in the market for this type of development. Um I know you'll love me, Miss Councilwoman Okconor, but um I used to be the one vote. >> The last time I was one of three, this
time I'll be >> all good. All good. I just want to talk about the fact that you know there is a big gap in the market for uh aging population different things like different needs and I think that a valid point is that this better serves the
residents that are here already for example I have an aging mother my father passed away she wants to live near me there are not a lot of options in town we've had to invest a huge amount of money so to bring her closer to us here in town in Tennifly she wasn't
comfortable being anywhere else there if there was this type of apartment living I would have we would have rented this you know we didn't have to buy we this kind of option is not really available in scale enough I don't think that we're
at the tipping point of like not serving our residents by adding this type of development in the town um also I had something else oh yes I have multiple uh friends residents people I've interacted with that have the
problem of wanting to stay in the community, are strong members of the community, are active members of the community, and they want to downsize, and then they're actually like a week before not sure where they're going because they've sold their house because the price they can't turn away a buyer.
They they just can't turn those offers away. And I three different families I know of in the last six months who've had this problem. This would be a great opportunity for those types of members of our community. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Any other members of the public here that would like to speak?
>> Can I just clarify something? There is an apartment building right behind the >> Omar. Is there anyone on Zoom who wants to speak? >> Anyone on Zoom, please raise your hand if you wish to speak. >> See no hands. Mayor, >> no hands.
>> Okay. Okay. So, we're going to go around the table to ask for a consensus to have the borrower attorney put together the escrow agreement to begin working on the amendment to a redevelopment plan. So, Lauren, you want me to come back to you? >> Let me answer. >> What about John? Why are you skipping
over John? >> Because we've been asking this question. >> So, well, I don't want to I don't I don't want to prevent anyone from asking questions. John, >> I'm grateful for this. So, yes. >> Adam, >> yes. >> Jamie, >> yes. Julie, >> no. >> Dan,
>> yes. >> I'm a Yes. But I, like I said, I'd like you to actually address some of the concerns you heard tonight >> and maybe come back with something that >> I think we got to come back with working with the burrow to create a
building in a development that's going to meet our needs, meet the burough's needs, and make this area specifically, but the town at large and much better. So, so Brian, I think you've heard, you know, the team, your team has heard all the questions raised by the council. So, >> I have a lot of notes.
>> A lot of consider >> Okay. >> When is the next meeting then? >> December. >> December 9th. >> December 4th. >> 9th. >> December 9th. >> December 9th. >> Brian, the next meeting is December 9th. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you for uh taking
the time to come before us tonight. >> Anything else? Let us know what you have. I'll be in touch with >> Wendy will be in touch. >> Just deal with it. You have a concept now. It has to be. >> Okay. Thank you very much. >> Okay. Now we're going to u move into
public comment. Audience members wishing to speak will have a threeminut time limit to address the governing body on items on the agenda or off the agenda. Large groups are asked to have a spokesperson represent them. Would anyone from the public like to come up to make any public comments on any topic
that's on their mind? >> No. All right. Anyone on Zoom would like to make public comment? >> Omar, >> if anybody would like to make a public comment, please raise your hand on Zoom. >> Did you want to make a comment? >> No.
>> You want to present something? >> So, this is public comment time. So, come on up. Yes. >> Sure. Back in August, I was here. >> Just just wait. Get to the mic. Just give us your name, please, but not your address. >> Sorry about that. >> I was here last August been presented by
the committee to have the cage name on sale. >> Right. >> So far, I haven't gotten back feedback from anybody, but when I was at a meeting last time, there was a young man that was here and he wrote an article about the meeting that's transpired and he published it onto his blog. And uh
>> there's two pages. >> So last time we got together, you had mentioned that you had to get in touch with United and then uh I don't know where that ended up. And then you know I've been I can text the mayor once in a while and say, "Hey, how's it going?
How's it coming along?" And haven't gotten much feedback from that also. So, what I wanted to get is uh you know, I've presented to you guys Sam's achievements, what he's done, how he's represented the time of 10 time. Um so,
we're just trying to get the plaque, you know, I'll take care of the expense for the plaque to name it after Sam, whatever you guys want to do. But, uh I just want to get some feedback on where we stand on this. Are we moving forward? you know, to me something that again
only one kid has ever played professionally at 19 years old in the top 10. So I think in any sport. So >> how's he doing by the way? >> What's that? >> How's he doing by the way? >> He's doing very well. Good. They just picked up his option for the second year. So Chicago.
>> So all very good and we're just trying to you know reward a kid who put in a lot of work in Tennifly was a great student as you guys all know. He went to the University of North Carolina on a full scholarship. He's got that for life. So he left early as his junior
year. He does plan on going back to get his degree and he's also started a new business. His honey is conference. So he's also producing something along those lines also. So he's a huge asset for the town. Uh when he does come back,
he does show up at events. He's already held three trains with local towns for teams he used to play for. 40 kids came to each of them, took pictures, autographs, and stuff like that. So, he does give back to the community at no expense on his part, and it'll be no
expense on your guys' part to take care of naming after. >> Go ahead, Lauren. Denn. So, so we've had numerous people ask about naming things after different people, which is all good, but there's
been a lot of it. So we developed over the past few months u a process to actually get it done. Okay. And I think which involves getting some signatures of people who support the idea and all that kind of good stuff. All right. And then that gets presented to the council for approval. So I don't think we
probably haven't communicated that. Right. So maybe we should do that is that you have a conversation with David. David will give you all the details of the process. And it's actually it's it's pretty good. It it it moves it out of we
know each other so therefore you get to name it and but I don't know her so she doesn't get to name it and it's very objective and you get resident support and it can move forward. >> How many signatures do you need? >> It's 100 signatures. >> Okay. >> Which actually which actually is not bad at all.
>> I want to apologize if we hadn't gotten back to you but I do promise you that we were there was a lot of discussion about it since your last comment just to make sure that it was following the right procedure. >> Yeah. >> So yeah. >> All right. asked um about 10play United. Were they
not getting back to you? >> No. >> You guys weren't going to get in touch with them. I had nothing to >> Yeah. But if I had to, I would. >> That's fine because they they did fund the soccer page. >> Yeah. So,
>> it might not be another thing. It might not be a bad thing to me if something soccer with the World Cup coming up. >> No, no, there's a lot to be said about that. There's a lot to be said. And in the article, you'll see that, you know, the young kid wrote it did a nice job >> capturing the meeting that took place and, you know, thinks it would be a
great thing for Tennifly to honor one of their own. Again, three players have only played professionally in the town of Tennifly. And he's the first one to ever play at 19 years old in the 400 some thousand people that grew up in Tennifly. I think that's pretty darn good. >> Yeah, it's pretty good. >> Yeah.
>> All right, John. So, I have your contact information. I'm going to give it to David. Unless Omar, you have it. You have >> Oh, David's card. >> Give her David's card for sure. >> And then we'll get this underway. >> All right. >> Okay. >> Thank you very much.
>> All right. Have a good evening. >> You too. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Anyone any other members of the public would like to make any public comments here? >> No. Anyone online who would like to make a public comment?
Anybody on Zoom would like to make a public comment, please raise your hand. >> Okay, I'm going to close public comment. Is any members do any members of the council have questions for the administrator on the administrator's report?
No correspondence from Rabbi Shane Monura Lighting. He wants to he's asking to do it on the uh 14th >> 15th 15th. >> 7:00. >> Okay. So, just to put it out there, Rabbi and I had a conversation today and he was kind of thinking whether it was
going to be the 14th or the 15th. >> Oh, okay. What >> he was doing? >> Well, he he was thinking about it. So, I don't want to speak for the rabbi, of course. I just want the c is the council okay with either day doesn't officially start till the 15th,
>> right? But it's the the rabbi indicated that that was actually the second night to me, but I I'm no expert on that, so I'm not getting in the middle of it. >> Winter effect is on the 14th. >> Is that okay? >> The thought was >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, >> you have to come up to the
>> young lady, you have to come up to the microphone >> and do 10. >> Yeah, that's the >> And just give us your name into the microphone for the record. It's ready. Um, so we wanted to do it for sundown on Sunday at the 10:00
holiday fair. So at the end of the holiday fair, we left an opening on the performance schedule to have the Hanukkah the the manura lighting as closing out the 10 holiday fairy's preference. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So why don't we answer our question? >> So So my question is, so the council is
good with either the 14th or the 15th >> and our preference is the 14th. >> Understood. Okay. >> You'll get a crown on the 14th. Well, the crowd will already be there. >> Oh, yeah. In addition to anyone else who wants to come. Yeah. Wonderful. Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right.
>> So, we just wait. Yeah. The confirmation. >> Yeah. As soon as I have an answer, which should be tomorrow, I will share it with Excuse me. >> Okay. We have new business. Introduction of ordinance. Ordinance 25-32, affordable
housing overlay zone district. Um, >> this is Franklin Street. >> Pardon me. >> This is on Franklin. >> Okay. This is the Wells Fargo. >> Correct. Right. Correct. >> Um, Councilwoman Dayton, would you like to make the motion?
>> Sure. I move to introduce on first reading ordinance 25-32 and set the hearing for December 22nd, 2025 at 7:30 p.m. or soon thereafter. >> Could I have a second, please? Omar, could you please read the title of the ordinance and conduct the roll call
for >> Ordinance number 25-32, an ordinance of the burough of Tennifi County of Bergen, state of New Jersey to amend chapter 35 entitled land development regulations, article 8 entitled zoning regulations to create a new AHO-9
affordable housing overlay zone district. Council member Corsair, >> yes. >> Council member Dayton, >> yes. >> Council member Michaels, >> yes. >> Council member Dr. Conor >> K. >> Council member Park. >> Yes. >> Council member Rol. >> Yes. >> On the Thank you everyone. On the
consent agenda, could I get a motion to approve resolution R25-550 through R25-557? >> Can I hear a second, please? >> Second. >> Mark, could you please call the RO? Council member Corsair? >> Yes. >> Council member Dayton.
>> Yes. >> Council member Michaels. >> Yes. >> Council member Dr. Okconor. >> Yes. >> Council member Park. >> Yes. That's my role. >> Can I have a motion to approve the minutes of November 10th, 2025, the mayor in the council meeting, please? >> I get a second. Second.
>> All in favor? >> Any opposed? >> Okay. Committee reports. Uh Council Park, >> I have none. >> None. Councilwoman Dr. Okconor. >> Yes. I'd like to talk about my board of health meeting. Um, so, uh, first is
the, uh, we'd like to get the date as soon as we know of when the spring fling is going to be because we'd like to have a blood donation tribe truck for that. >> Uh, that would be something we think we could maybe get a lot of uh, donations
that >> and in corporate teac they do it often, too. >> Oh, great. Okay. Um now uh so Mid Bergen does our our health servicing. They've had a 5% increase. So so things are going well. They ran their flu clinic.
Uh I am going to mention what was talked about was the dangers of lack of vaccination. Uh what our health educator was talking to us about was that um we in Bergen County have had a doubling
of religious exemptions from vaccination. And that's concerning because um we were given an example that in South Carolina there was a a measles outbreak. it is there were 150 uh kids
that people not vaccinated in this school and 150 of them actually had to stay home from school for 21 days because of exposure for measles. So I really do want to um promote the importance of getting your vaccination
and following those guidelines. Um >> before you move on I'm just going to share a little personal story. So my father's father, my that my uh paternal grandfather, I think he was born in like 1905 or 1906. He was one of seven
children. Three of them died in childhood because they had no vaccines. >> Oh. >> They had no vaccines for them where they were living. They were poor, whatever. So three of the seven died in three of the seven died in childhood from whatever dtheria, measles, whatever, you know, chickenpox.
and and there's been an environment the board of health is concerned about just people really avoiding vaccines and and we want to relay that. Um thank you for sharing that Mr. Mayor. Uh and and lastly uh the food drive that uh I've
spearheaded but um have been very happy to do. Uh I am going to continue it through the holidays and people can continue to bring food over to the library location and also the uh senior center. Uh and people continue to be
very generous and I found out I didn't realize this before but uh you can also bring pet food. They accept pet food. So >> um yeah. So that's that's my update. >> Okay. Thank you very much, Councilwoman Corsera. I have nothing.
>> Um, Councilman Michaels, >> um, super quick, we had another, uh, senior center meeting, uh, last week. You know, just they're doing an amazing job. Over 630, uh, members, alltime high. But was really interesting. They were telling me someone reached out, been living in town
for 33 years, and was shocked to learn that we have a senior center. >> Are they 33 years old? >> They are not 33 years. Well, I would I would implore I ask the uh the executive committee of the senior center. Let's continue to talk about it
particularly in the new year. I'd love the mayor if he could help and uh provide messages. But it's just a great uh service that >> clearly we're not articulating well enough and people are still learning about which is a positive >> but uh but yeah, let's just keep getting
people going. It's pretty cool. >> Okay. Thank you, Councilman Rolieri. Um it's the worst possible time of the year for those continues to commit our town. >> I want to thank the fact that it is the
lightest in terms of collection. We know DPW is doing something very very right. >> They're doing an excellent job. >> They're doing an excellent job and I want to recognize that we're doing that because it is appreciated at this time. That's it. >> Councilwoman D. >> Sorry, apologies. That's also just a
reminder, I apologize. The uh winter festival is Sunday, December 14th. As I just said, please get out there. >> I was going to say the same about our leaf collection. Um you know, I think uh this time of the year, a lot of residents calling me. I'm I'm really
thrilled. I think our streets are are great. Um they're very quick to you, if someone's from what I understand, if someone's calling in even to the admin at the DPW, they're sending the guys over right away. So, um I will say potholes, we could use a little bit more pothole filling, you know, before it
gets too cold. >> Um but anyway, DBW is doing great. Um I do want to announce in the planning board, uh we do have the application for Starbucks coming up back >> that if uh residents want to come and weigh in on the Starbucks, what's the
date? December. >> Oh, now you're putting me on the spot. >> Sorry. >> December 10th. >> December 10th. It's Wednesday evening. Um, you can come in by Zoom or in person if you want to weigh in on that application. Nothing is decided yet. Um, I do want to talk about the Tenny Nature
Center. They're doing incredible programming for Thanksgiving and they are doing an end of the year push. It's a matching drive for anybody who's looking for uh stocking stuffers. Um, you know, you could adopt a a trail, you could adopt an animal for your child.
There's all sorts of things you could do. You can name a bench, trees. there's some really wonderful opportunities for gift giving and matching donations to the nature center. So, please keep that in mind. Um, and then in the new year, we're always looking for members for our
pride committee, which has yet to officially meet this year. >> It's been a strange year. >> Um, that's it. >> Okay. So, for mayor's comments, mayor's remarks, two things. We've been having uh the vendor who handles our emergency messaging and the Friday mayor's message
has been having problems nationally. Uh so uh we've been having problems getting some messaging out through voice. Hopefully that'll get resolved this week and uh David's looking at alternatives to back up the systems. Okay. So that we're working on that. >> Just to be clear, for true emergencies,
it is getting through. >> So for true emergencies, it'll go to home phones. >> Okay. >> Right. not sell numbers. We have a whole list of so we're working through this to get it resolved. It's it's the vendors having a problem nationally. >> Um the other thing is happy Thanksgiving
everyone. >> Happy Thanksgiving. >> That's it. That's my message for the day. >> Um okay. Can I get a motion to adjurnn? >> I get a second. >> All in favor? >> Any opposed? >> Okay. Have a great night everyone. >> Thank you everybody.
>> Thank you for the public for coming tonight.