Planning Board members are correct in taking a very close look at the seven projects proposed by developer Frank Cretella. An entrepreneur with considerable success in hospitality operations, Cretella comes across as a creative type with big dreams for Plainfield. This may put him a bit at odds with those charged with upholding the city's land use regulations. The planners deal in hard facts and cold realities as they consider how projects fit in with the master plan and zoning rules.
In recent hearings at a variety of boards and commissions, Cretella has casually revealed changes in projects that have left officials scrambling to square things with prior discussions or approvals. The result has been a polite demand for him to stick to the established process and not come up with surprises, although officials recognize that works in progress may change.
Over the past couple years, Cretella has shown somewhat of a disregard for regulations that has resulted in stop-work orders at a couple of sites for lack of permits. A broken street-level window at one location went unboarded for about a year. These may be petty things to someone looking at the big picture, but the city can't (or shouldn't) excuse individuals from obeying the rules.
All land use officials are asking is for a developer to say what a project entails, be it offices, restaurants, stores, residences or special uses.
The latest piece of news, as revealed in Mark Spivey's very comprehensive Sept. 3 report on the West Second Street project, is that it hinges on a "payment in lieu of taxes" (PILOT) agreement with the city. This is a matter for the administration and governing body to decide, not land use officials, but if it will make development moot, maybe it should be publicly discussed sooner rather than later.
My report on the Planning Board meeting was delayed. To read it, scroll down past the post on "Late Summer Color." Again, planners are correctly asking for more details on the traffic impact of the proposed project at one of the city's busiest intersections. Planners will resume the hearing at 8 p.m. Sept. 16 in City Hall Library, 515 Watchung Ave.
--Bernice Paglia
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Great post, Bernice. I have no problem with PILOT for a period of time. We need to jump start the community with viable projects that will bring in people who are willing to spend money in Plainfield. The current business landscape does not foster that. However, we should learn from the Monarch, that giving away the ranch is not the way to achieve a thriving Plainfield.
ReplyDeleteIn a perfect world, they would find huge uranium deposits under city hall and the annex . . . the uranium would bring untold wealth to Plainfield, and at the same time, the radiation would get rid of all present non funtioning government officials!
ReplyDeleteDidn't I read several articles and at least one blog post about people having to leave downtown cretella owned properties because of very poor maintenence? Is he in the same league as mr. connoly?
ReplyDeleteTo Blackdog:
ReplyDeleteNone of the properties are occupied, so I think you are mistaken.
My bad!
ReplyDeleteThat's one on the chin for me!
My apologies to Mr Cretella.