Zoning, Planning Boards Meet This Week

I intended to write about two land use board meetings this week, but drifted away on the internet to musings on Imbolc, Brigid, Groundhog Day and other things that mark the quickening of the earth.

Snowdrops

Back to the original topic. The Zoning Board of Adjustment meets tonight (Wednesday,.Feb. 1) at 7 p.m. in City Hall Library, 515 Watchung Ave. and the Planning Board meets at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 2 in the same location. Agendas are online here.

Items of interest at the Zoning Board include the application proposing a laundromat at 400-406 West Front Street. A Google street view shows renovations at the former Sears Showroom, and a Union County Economic Development Corporation report describes it as a $1 million-plus project.for nine apartments  and retail use. I don't get around as much as I used to, so the Google image was quite interesting to me.

The applicant, Front Street Realty LLC, wants to install 32 washers and 18 dryers on the first floor.

Gavett Place Properties LLC (above) is applying to add a 400-square-foot studio apartment to 130-140 East Second Street, which has 12 apartments and ground-floor retail space. 

430-432 West Second Street

Judging by the date on the application, Alvin and Venus Hannah's case dates back to 2013. I wrote about their complicated situation in 2012, when they were seeking help from the community after a fire. The Hannahs are asking the Zoning Board for an interpretation of the city Land Use Ordinance regarding outdoor storage, in addition to other questions.

There are two other applications listed, but the list may change for various reasons. Last month, three of the five cases to be heard were carried to tonight's meeting.

On Thursday, the Planning Board agenda has no applications, but a Capital Project Review of the proposed Rushmore Playground Concession Stand and Restrooms Upgrade may be of interest. At the Jan. 17 City Council meeting, the project came into question. From a post on the council meeting:

Council members demanded more information about a concession stand and restroom upgrades at Rushmore Playground at a cost of $232,800. Toliver said it was "too much" and asked for details of the proposed construction.
The contractor is Hahr Construction of North Plainfield. Toliver asked what other concession stands the company had built and Rivers said she looked up the company online and didn't see where he built a concession stand.
City Administrator Rick Smiley said he could get the council "the schematics and what the contractor proposed."
The discussion included a mention of another concession stand (see details here) that cost $193,952.
"Maybe we should table this until we see what we are getting for our money," Rivers said. And tabled it was, unanimously. 

--Bernice