Thursday, February 14, 2013
Zoning Board Attorney urges board to use the applications that came before the board in 2012 to look at the future of zoning in New Milford.
The Zoning Board of Adjustment met a half hour earlier than usual Tuesday to discuss their annual report and to consider suggesting to the Planning Board modifications to the master plan that better reflect the future of zoning in New Milford. Board Attorney Scott Sproviero asked the board to consider the "big picture" while reviewing the types of applications that came before them in 2012. "The annual report should not just be a recitation of what we did," Sproviero said. "It should tell us why(we did what we did), tell us where you think we should go...(you should) begin to engage this thought process and discussion." Responding to this, Zoning Board Chairman Karl Schaffenberger said that while reviewing the applications that came before…
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
With the costs associated with the plan high, Polizzi urges BOE to stay apprised of any developments and opportunities that may arise in connection with the United Water property that is adjacent to NMHS.
One thing that Superintendent Michael Polizzi will not stand for is status quo. Since taking the helm three years ago, Polizzi examined every nook and cranny of the district and, with support and input from the Board of Education and his Central Administrative Team, began to prepare and implement a master plan for New Milford Public Schools that would serve "as a blueprint for the short-and long-term vision" for the district. The skeletal components of the master plan include refining existing educational programs, ensuring adequate instructional staffing to reduce class size, enhancing campus security, maintaining and repairing facilities and grounds, and developing a long-range technology plan. At the heart of the plan is this central …
Friday, August 10, 2012
If New Milford's COAH requirements can be moved elsewhere, does this debunk Hekemian's "inherently beneficial use" argument?
The crux of Hekemian's argument before the zoning board of adjustment is that the United Water property has been designated by the 2004 master plan as the location where New Milford will satisfy it's affordable housing obligations. Hekemian, currently engaged in a sales contract with United Water to buy a 13.61-acre parcel, has proposed developing a 70,500 square foot supermarket, 4,300 square foot bank with two drive-thru lanes, and a four-story 221-unit multi-family housing complex, that will include an affordable housing component, a 428-space multi-level parking garage and a pool. But a rezoning study authorized by the mayor and council challenges a 2004 Master Plan recommendation, which placed the town's affordable housing …
Friday, August 3, 2012
The birthplace of Bergen County is defined by the river that runs through it; looking at past master plans it's clear that the more things change, the more the concerns stay the same.
The allure of New Milford to its first resident, David Demarest, was the fertile land surrounding the Hackensack River--an ideal overland gateway to the markets in New York City. Soon after Demarest settled in 1677, others followed suit, creating a need for planning the community, a master plan for development. Master plans serve many purposes--they act as a blue print for a municipality by depicting current land uses, they make recommendations for desirable development, and guide decisions for both growth and conservation in a community. A master plan can provide a cohesive focus by outlining development goals and objectives for a community. It can identify suitable districts for commercial or housing developments; farming, open space, …
Friday, June 29, 2012
Draft amendment to the Recreation and Open Space Plan element of the Master Plan gone over in detail by the Planning Board.
The Planning Board reviewed the amendment to the Recreation and Open Space element of the master plan with Edward Snieckus of Burgis Associates at Tuesday's meeting. The borough retained Burgis to prepare an amendment to the borough's 2004 comprehensive master plan in order to address inconsistencies between the Recreation and Open Space Inventory (ROSI) and the other planning documents in use by the borough, such as the Recreation and Open Space element that is part of the master plan that identifies undeveloped land used for recreation or conservation. In 2004, the borough adopted a comprehensive master plan that included a land use plan and an open space plan. This plan underwent a review in 2010, resulting in the adoption of a …
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New Milford Borough Hall
930 River Rd, New Milford, NJ
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Sunday, June 24, 2012
Special meeting of the Zoning Board dedicated to United Water Property development dominates much of local news this week.
Hekemian's attorney says comments made by Joseph Binetti reflect a conflict of interest and asks that he be removed from hearings. Oradell heeds SOD's call and comes out to speak to negative impact of proposed development of the United Water property. Hekemian expert undergoes public cross-examination on prior testimony stating that there is no negative impact on residential sales in direct proximity to large commercial developments. First draft of the amendment to the Recreation and Open Space element of the master plan introduced at Planning Board meeting. Teaneck's Township Manager says the expansion plan for Sanzari's New Bridge Inn would create flooding and parking woes in the nearby township. Wednesday was graduation day for the New …
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Subcommittee is working on creating an ordinance that will conform commercial signage; discussion of master plan held over to June 19 work session.
In an effort to conform the signs that commercial properties may display in their windows, the Planning Board has formed a subcommittee charged with writing the ordinance that will ultimately be forwarded to the Mayor and Council to vote upon for approval. The intention of the ordinance is to limit the area and height of individual signs, address the use of LED technology, prohibit off-premises signs, and to establish other measures to reduce visual clutter. One question to be determined is this: if established businesses are grandfathered into the ordinance, should they be required to comply with the new sign ordinance if they renovate the front facade? The issue has been remanded back to the signage subcommittee for further work on the …
40.92383
-74.02719
New Milford Borough Hall
930 River Rd, New Milford, NJ
/articles/planning-board-studying-commercial-signage-master-plan-discussion-held-over-to-june
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Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Hearing picks up with public questioning of expert's testimony on flooding and drainage systems included in site plan to alleviate flooding.
Tuesday night's meeting of the Zoning Board will allow the public to ask questions of New Milford Redevelopment Associates' expert Michael Dipple, an engineer and principal of L2A Land Design in Englewood, who spent much of his four hours of testimony at the April 19 meeting alleviating concerns regarding flooding. New Milford Redevelopment Associates (NMRA), a company headed by Peter Hekemian, V.P. of Development for the S. Hekemian Group, is seeking preliminary and final site plan approval for the 13-acre United Water property. The application includes: Despite the hours of testimony thus far, the crux of NMRA's argument is cited in their letter dated Jan. 3, 2012 that accompanied the filing of the site plans with the the borough's …
40.92383
-74.02719
New Milford Borough Hall
930 River Rd, New Milford, NJ
/articles/united-water-property-hearing-continues-tonight-sod-makes-first-appearance
728213
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Michelle
8:48 pm on Friday, February 15, 2013
Thank you Scott. You are an asset and a blessing!! more ›