|
MONTVILLE TOWNSHIP ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Minutes
of May 19, 2010
8:00AM
ROLL CALL
Ron Cain, Jr. - present Margaret
Miller – Sanders - present
Everett
Vreeland - absent Kevin Seidel, Alt. #2 - present
Ron Soussa -
present Deane
Driscoll - present
Jennifer Horowitz - present Alexander Kachmar –
absent
Arnold Schancupp – alt #1 -
absent
Liaisons:
Township
Committee: Jim Sandham - present
Township
Officials: Linda White, Land Use Administrator - present
Planning
Board Liaison: Tony Speciale -
present
OLD BUSINESS
BoA & Planning Board applications update – not discussed
due to presentation from Rail Steakhouse
Master Plan Update – discussion ensued on what may happen
along Changebridge Road/Rat. 46, Old Bloomfield resulting in a request to
contact Master Plan subcommittee relative to economic development &
redevelopment along some of our corridors.
Mrs.White to talk to Master Plan subcommittee to see if when
the EDC can meet to discuss common economic goals and what may happen to zoning
along Changebridge, Rt. 46, Old Bloomfield, Stiles.
Website Development – Mrs. White summarized the various
ideas EDC presented on changing the EDC website. Mr. Driscoll will meet and address whatever
changes can be made in house by Adam Brewer to have at least these changes
made.
NEW BUSINESS
Temporary Sign Policy Discussion
Mrs. Horowitz indicated that the subcommittee met and that
the general consensus is that some additional areas can be changed and/or
enhanced, especially as it relates to banners signs which some felt should be
strongly discouraged or re-addressed.
Mrs. Horowitz is preparing a draft that will highlight these ideas and
will send out.
Presentation Scheduled – Rails Steakhouse
Present: Jim Stathis,
owner/applicant
Reviewed the development a restaurant and six retail units
and six rental apartments above consisting of two one bedroom units with 4 two
bedrooms which will be marketed as upscale rental. He indicated the theme is consistent with the
Towaco Master Plan as to architectural and design parameters. Summary consistent of reviewing the various
elevations and how he has addressed the elevations to have two fronts, one
facing Whitehall,
the other facing Rt. 202, that he is working with NJ Transit on possibility of installing a
bridge from his property to rail station, that he has designed this building to
accommodate this concept with the walkways all covered.
He hopes to be able to start construction before frost. This is no set tenant at this time. He will own but not operate the restaurant,
and he will look for high end quality type tenants. He reviewed the restaurant plans and outdoor
areas, as well as the lower level uses.
He intends to promote the continued historical background in
this area, and will at some time in the future, have a website that will
address items on his site and how they relate to the history of the community,
noting the important of responding to the Morris Canal and surrounding
residential uses.
EDC members were supportive of the concept and hoped that
should this go to fruition, that this would promote the in fill of some of the
other lots/properties within the Towaco center, noting that both this and the
LaSala buildings, if built, would be an asset in moving forward.
The site encourages pedestrian circulation and will certain
enhance our economic base, and reflects the community taking special note to
the sensitivity of developing in this area and to the history of the community.
Although he did meet with adjacent vet use, who was pleased
that the site would be developed since she also experiences parking needs, she
was not interested in cross easements to enjoy site.
When asked how his experience has been with this filing, Mr.
Stathis indicated he has had all positive reactions, and the only issue that
was of concern to him was the sewer and water connection fee. He indicated his engineer is double checking
this numbers but that the fee for connection was out of line with past
practices, noting that the fee is calculated by number of houses, and that his
fee was calculated for a 22 sf unit development. He expressed concerns that some of the
sustainable features and upgrades he anticipated for this site may suffer as a
result of the unexpected cost. General
discussion ensued as to possibility of available grants, etc. Mr. Soussa indicated that he may want to look
on NJ Clean Energy.org since he sits on Sustainable Energy Committee. This committee is involved in looking at that
very subject: sustainable energy/construction
techniques, etc. Discussion
continued. It was indicated that this
subject would be taken to this committee who may have some input that would aid
the municipality in addressing the current fee ordinance in place.
Mr. Stathis left.
EDC members moved to endorse this project and forward their
recommendation to the Planning Board.
Discussion continued and members thought also moved that the applicant
be permitted to access certain members of the EDC when or if he needs
assistance on this development.
MINUTES
Adoption of EDC minutes of 4-21-10 – Eligible: Mr. Soussa, Mrs. Horowitz, Mrs. Sanders, Mr. Vreeland,
Mr. Schancupp, Mr. Seidel and Mr. Kachmar - adopted unanimously in a Motion made
by: Kevin
Seidel, seconded by Ron Soussa
Meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda M. White
|
