This is a public notice that was published on July 27, 2015
CITY OF PLAINFIELD PLANNING BOARD NOTICE OF HEARING
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE
that the Planning Board of the City of Plainfield (the "Board") will
hold a public hearing on August 6, 2015 at 7:30 pm at the City Hall Library,
515 Watchung Avenue, Plainfield, New Jersey to determine whether Block 13, Lot
38.03 on the City Tax Map Sheets 74 and 79 (1252-1354 Randolph Road, 1241-1323
Moffett Avenue) qualifies as an Area in Need of Redevelopment pursuant to the
Local Redevelopment and Housing Law, N.J.S.A. 40A:12A-1 et. seq..
The Board has
prepared a map showing the boundaries of the Study Area along with a report
detailing the results of the Board's investigation regarding whether the Study
Area qualifies as an Area in Need of Redevelopment under the Local
Redevelopment and Housing Law.
The map and report are available for inspection
at the office of the City Clerk located at City Hall, 515 Watchung Avenue,
Plainfield, New Jersey, during the City Clerk's regular business hours.
If the
Board determines that all or any portion of the Study Area qualifies as an Area
in Need of Redevelopment, the Board will recommend to the City Council that the
City Council should designate such area as an Area in Need of Redevelopment.
Any interested persons will have an opportunity to be heard regarding this
matter at the public hearing on August 6, 2015 at 7:30 pm at the City Hall
Library, 515 Watchung Avenue, Plainfield, New Jersey.
My commentary
I am never sure I understand the Muhlenberg issues. I do know that Block 13, Lot 38.03 is the hospital site.
The lot was subdivided some time ago and the Satellite Emergency Department is being moved from the hospital site to the Kenyon House at the corner of Park Avenue and Randolph Road, leaving the big lot free for possible redevelopment.
The legal notice refers to a board investigation. I am not sure how that relates, if at all, to the city study by Heyer, Gruel & Associates. Sorry to be so vague. Attend the meeting Thursday if you are interested.
Background information from Plaintalker II posts:
Declaring the property "in need of redevelopment" is part of the process of designing a project that simply will not occur under normal zoning laws. It enables eminent domain. It also enables marketing of the whole site to a new owner or developer, for whatever purpose may be proposed.
ReplyDeleteI see no inconsistency with what Heyer & Gruel presented last year. There is also no inconsistency with what I want - for the City or the State to take the property away from JFK/Solaris, and sell it to one of those chains that have bought up most of New Jersey's hospitals, before it is too late. This is also a step that could be used for forms of development that most Plainfielders do not want - housing or a shopping center. But the Planning Board's declaration is a step absolutely necessary for any kind of progress. The status quo serves no purpose. Therefore, I really do not see a downside to finding the property in need of redevelopment.
I don't think you will ever be able to sell it to a single hospital chain. However, with the right mix of core services, and the right partnerships (i.e. several hospital groups, pharmaceutical companies, where the money is, and device manufacturers), we should be able to make headway pursuing a specialty hospital and research institute. The area of Chronic Kidney Disease is promising because it would be unique to New Jersey, and fit with our large minority community. CKD is much more prevalent in African-American and Hispanic populations, so it would fit well with our immediate needs.
DeleteA consortium of partners already invested in CKD prevention and research might find a single dedicated institution attractive from their perspective, and with an emphasis on collaborative efforts, such an entity would attract additional research funding through the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, a branch of the federal Department of Health and Human Services.
We must gather potential partners around the table to make our case and paint a picture. Offering a blank canvas to a single entity will most likely yield blank results. A successful outcome requires much more than a planning board redevelopment study and jiggling zoning laws. That may be a start, but it's inadequate. And including JFK/Solaris in the picture is a better means to success than declaring it the enemy who needs to be defeated.
Bravo, Bernice! Thanks...I have forwarded it out to the "savehospital" list.
ReplyDeleteHealthcare is the 4th largest industry in NJ. $30 Billion industry. Why isn't Plainfield part of that economic development? Because it was too good!
ReplyDelete