Looking Forward to Bicycle Races and Fireworks

With so many worrisome things to think about now, maybe we can look forward to some fun things coming up.

Among items up for City Council approval at Monday's meeting, for the second year the State Bicycle Race Championships will take place in downtown Plainfield.

The races in several categories will start at City Hall, go north to Front Street, then down Park Avenue and across East Seventh back to Watchung Avenue.

The event, on Sunday, May 7 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., will include a free bike giveaway and a "Taste of Plainfield."

Initially on my block of East Seventh the races were a surprise to many apartment dwellers, who then came out with friends and family to watch the fast bikes speeding past in packs. I recall one young boy who was thrilled at the sight of these highly trained athletes and their many-colored bikes. He waved excitedly and I'm sure went to bed that night with exciting memories.

It's Resolution R 137-17, if you want to talk about it in public comment

Another memorable event will be the annual July 4th fireworks display at Cedar Brook Park. The governing body will be asked Monday to authorize payment of $14,000 to Garden State Fireworks for the event, which will actually be on July 4th this year. Another resolution up for approval, R 165-17, is for fees in the amount of $8,305.71 to Union County for use of Cedar Brook Park.

Projected expenses for the 2017 Independence Day parade are listed in the introduced budget as $54,000. Monday's agenda includes a public hearing on the $81.5 million introduced budget, which has a local tax for municipal purposes of $55,520,325.72.

A reminder: Budget deliberations start Tuesday with the City Council and the Citizens Budget Advisory Committee reviewing the Department of Public Affairs & Safety budget for Police and Fire divisions. Wednesday's deliberations will be on Administration & Finance and Thursday's will be on Public Works & Urban Development. All three will be held at 7 p.m. in City Hall Library, 515 Watchung Ave.

--Bernice

A Whirlwind Week Ahead

Meeting mavens will be busy next week.

On Monday, the City Council holds its regular meeting at 8 p.m. in Municipal Court, 325 Watchung Ave.

Tuesday has three meetings:

--Plainfield Municipal Utilities Authority, 6 p.m. at 127 Roosevelt Ave.

--Citizens Budget Advisory Committee reviews the Department of Public Affairs & Safety budgets (Police and Fire), 7 p.m. in City Hall Library, 515 Watchung Ave.

--Plainfield Board of Education Work & Study (action may be taken), 8 p.m., Plainfield High School Cafetorium, 950 Park Ave. Agenda includes transfer of Anna Belin-Pyles.

On Wednesday, CBAC reviews the budget for the Department of Administration & Finance, 7 p.m. in City Hall Library.

Thursday's meeting is also CBAC budget deliberations, on Public Works & Urban Development, 7 p,m,, City Hall Library. 

Repairs Dragging On

Where is everything? I don't know. We had to move stuff out of the kitchen for repairs and the front room is next. The super has missed several appointments he made, due to other demands on his time. I keep reminding myself that millions of people are worse off than my first world self, but it's still annoying not to have my stuff at hand when I need it.

This all came about, as previously mentioned, on Friday, Jan. 13, when a deluge from the apartment above mine wrecked the ceilings, soaked paperwork and household items and generally added to the misery around here.

Meanwhile, I have some daffodils in a plastic cup and my Breezy Singer warbler to cheer me up!

--Bernice

Spring Has Sprung in the PNW

The PNW is in bloom and I'm envious!


Cherry blossoms, photo by Audrey

Seattle is in Zone 8, similar to the U.S. South, so the growing season begins earlier than ours in New Jersey. They can also grow Calla Lilies and Camellias, which are too tender for the Northeast.

This weekend should give our flowering crops a boost, though we will never catch up to the Pacific Northwest - unless climate change really kicks in.

The seed catalogs are now upon us. I am grateful for the growing space behind the building and will be looking through the seeds I saved from last year and deciding where to plant. Good luck to all gardeners, whether seasoned or just getting started!

--Bernice

County Plans Netherwood Bridge Repairs

Union County officials gave the Planning Board a "courtesy review" Thursday of a $3.2 million project to replace the Netherwood Avenue bridge over the Green Brook.

County Supervising Engineer Paul Leso said the center pier will be removed in the new bridge to prevent build-up of debris, otherwise it will mostly similar to the present design. The project includes $1 million in state funds and Leso said there should be no cost to the city.

The Green Brook divides Plainfield from North Plainfield and four properties in all will be affected by the work, Leso said. Traffic will have to detour for the duration of the project, which is expected to start in late summer. Completion could take nine months to one year.

Resident Nancy Piwowar asked for traffic notifications to include cautions around Barlow School to watch for children, as detours will lead to Farragut Road where the school is located.

The board also received an update on plans for intersection upgrades on West Seventh Street at Central, Grant and Plainfield avenues. County Project Manager Ray Sullivan said the intersections will receive new curbing, ADA ramps and "brand new signals." The intersections were identified as having high incidences of vehicles striking pedestrians and presently have antiquated systems dating back to the 1970s. The goal is to increase safety, Sullivan said.

Resident Brian Price asked whether any bike lanes were proposed for the bridge or intersection projects. Sullivan said bicycles were cited in the intersection study, but lanes were not dedicated. He said he saw all kinds of traffic at the intersections, from trucks to motorized wheelchairs. Bey suggested use of "Complete Streets," a concept the board explored in 2014.

The intersection work is expected to start in the Fall. One or two parking stalls may be eliminated, Sullivan said.  Planning Board member William Toth asked for drawings, but Nierstedt said the discussion was informational and not a capital plan requiring approval. Sullivan said a public informational session was held in April 2016, but he could provide a Power Point summary to the city.

--Bernice

Read Federal Joint Statement on Group Homes

Regarding concerns over possible uses of the Muhlenberg campus, Nancy Piwowar has provided a link to a Joint Statement of The Department of Justice and The Department of Housing and Urban Development. Click to read in its entirety.

No group home is proposed for the Muhlenberg site. There will be more discussion on April 20 at the Planning Board meeting.

Draft Muhlenberg Report Raises Questions

Planning Board members took a five-minute recess Thursday to review a draft document on redevelopment of the 10-acre Muhlenberg site before half a dozen residents peppered the board with concerns, the main one being any residential uses at the site.

Both Planning Board Chairman Ron Scott Bey and Planning Director William Nierstedt stressed the preliminary nature of the report by Heyer, Gruel & Associates and said it will be further discussed at the board's April 20 meeting. Nierstedt said the report will be available to the public Friday, possibly on the city website.

Although medical-related residential uses are mentioned in the draft plan, resident Robin Bright objected to having a facility for veterans with PTSD, but Bey said it was "very possible." He said housing occupants will have to "be able to maintain themselves." He said there would "not in any way or fashion" be a group home and he did not want residents "walking down the street in their bathrobes."

Although the report included a long list of medical-related permitted uses, resident Elizabeth Faraone said, "We need a real hospital."

Faraone cited shootings and maternity care as needs that a hospital could serve and called it "criminal" for JFK Health "to say we can't have a hospital."

Bey said the only restrictions for the site are on "things currently provided" on the campus adjoining the 10-acre site, which include an emergency room, a dialysis center and a nursing school.

Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center closed in 2008. Resident Rowand Clark recalled it as the city's largest employer, offering valuable medical services and having many doctors nearby. He said it was "taken over by a for-profit" who decided to close it. (Resident Nancy Piwowar said later it was not-for-profit.)

Clark further characterized JFK as accountable to shareholders "to make as much money as possible" but said the starting point in future plans should be "what's best for Plainfield." He said there is a "woeful lack" of small single-family homes "because builders can make more money on Mcmansions" and suggested building 120 affordable new single-family homes on the 10-acre site.

Nierstedt said the lots would be below the required size for a single-family home and Bey said developers are shying away from building homes of that size.

Piwowar, one of the original "Save Muhlenberg" activists and a close watcher of JFK's actions, stressed the need for caution in setting restrictions on future use of the campus. She cited expensive litigation when the city tried to bar a home for recovering alcoholics on Evergeen Avenue and also mentioned recent attempts to bar a mosque in Bernardsville.

"We follow the land use laws, which are federal laws," Bey said.

Piwowar also mentioned a possible "non-compete" situation, but Bey said the only non-compete issue is with "just the things that exist there now." She also suggested inclusion of holistic medicine, saying alternative medicine advocate Deepak Chopra did his internship at Muhlenberg.

The news that Heyer, Gruel & Associates would be writing the redevelopment plan for the Muhlenberg site came out at a joint meeting of land use boards last month.

Anyone interested in attending the April 20 meeting should check closer to the date to confirm the location. Meetings are normally held in City Hall Library, 515 Watchung Ave. After the meeting adjourned, Bey and Nierstadt were discussing how best to handle an anticipated crowd on April 20.

--Bernice