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MONTVILLE TOWNSHIP
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF JANUARY 19, 2011
8:00AM
ROLL CALL
Ron Cain, Jr. Margaret
Miller – Sanders
Everett Vreeland Deane
Driscoll
Ron Soussa (AE) Kevin Seidel,
Alt. #2 (AE)
Jennifer Horowitz Arnold
Schancupp – alt #1 (AE)
Alexander Kachmar (AE)
Liaisons:
Township
Committee: Jim Sandham; Deb Nielson
(alt)
Planning Board Liaison: Tony Speciale
Township Official: Meghan Hunscher, PP - Principal Planner
REORGANIZATION
Margaret Miller-Sanders
was appointed temporary chair.
Ron Cain was re-appointed as chairman and Deane
Driscoll was reappointed as Vice Chairman was elected.
The committee agreed that the meeting dates would continue
to be the third Wednesday of the month at 8 a.m. and the meeting place will be
the municipal conference room.
OLD BUSINESS
Board of Adjustment – Deane
Driscoll discussed applications before the board, in
particular Lake Valhalla Club has parking problems that the applicant and board
will address.
Planning Board – Tony Speciale
discussed approval of Pine
Brook Plaza
façade improvements and a request for rezoning from Fogelson’s for property on
Route 202 adjacent to 287 from residential to commercial or mixed use.
Update on retail consultant.
Subcommittee reported that teleconference occurred and the consultants
agreed to come to Montville
to do a site survey in February. The fee
quoted as a base price for preliminary analysis was $60,000 to $100,000 which
is significantly more than the committee had in mind.
Deane Driscoll
spoke to developers and property owners who may be interested in meeting with
the EDC. These individuals have
suggested a “how to” session to educate the EDC on best ways to market the
Township. Deane will send them a copy of
the vacancy list.
Other speakers Deane suggested are Stan Omland of Omland
Associates who also serves on Hanover’s
EDC, Glen Buie of First Industrial, and Maggie Peters of the County’s EDC.
NEW BUSINESS
Mayor Sandham discussed his annual address that was made to
the Township Committee in January. He
included the importance of utilizing the resources of the EDC. The mayor also discussed the proposed
relocation of Bayer to a consolidated campus.
He indicated that based on his experience business decisions such as
these are in flux and could change. He
has arranged a meeting with Bayer to include himself, Frank
Bastone – Township Administrator, Debbie Nielson – Township
Committeewoman, and possibly Meghan Hunscher - Principal Planner, and a member
of the EDC. The final list of attendees
will be determined at a later date. Ms.
Hunscher will be preparing a fact sheet with the tax assessment and revenue of
the property, number of employees, and square footage of building. Mr. Driscoll indicated that the property was
originally a swim club and was vacant for many years. Further suggestions included hosting a
realtor open house at the property to discuss potential for future tenancy.
Ms. Hunscher asked whether Montville had ever had a slogan. There may have been one in the 80s or 90s
“where living is better,” but it has since gone out of use. Mr. Driscoll suggested that the Township
have a slogan campaign in the schools and Township-wide, as was done with the
Township emblem, to select a new slogan.
Mr. Soussa suggested to Ms. Hunscher that she make copies
for hand-outs of the New York Times article that featured the Township, as well
as the Money Magazine article that listed the Township as one of the “Best
Places to Live.” He also suggested
purchasing extra copies of the magazine.Mr. Soussa also suggested that the
committee visit real estate websites including loopnet and costar to consider
marketing the Township.
The Committee revisited the idea of a realtor event and
suggested that the fall, around October, would be an ideal time. A subcommittee
will be formed. Some suggestions for venue included First Industrial
properties, which currently has vacant space.
Mr. Seidel also offered space at the Chelsea.
Ms. Hunscher inquired as to status of comparison with other
EDCs. Alex is preparing that
analysis. Ms. Hunscher suggested that
the Chamber of Commerce and Township Committee reach out to existing businesses
Mr. Driscoll and Ms. Miller-Sanders mentioned the article
about Seabreeze in the Montville Messenger.
She also indicated that Gary Lewis of the Planning Board spoke at a
recent Chamber of Commerce luncheon and presented the master plan. Ms. Hunscher suggested that the EDC and
Planning Board collaborate to come up with target areas, which are highlighted
in the master plan, for development to market to realtors and prospective
businesses.
Ms. Horowitz suggested investigating sponsoring a farmers
market. Nearby communities including
Boonton, Parsippany, Hanover, and Caldwell each have farmers
markets. Potential venues include the
municipal building parking lot and athletic fields.
Ms. Horowitz asked Ms. Hunscher about tenants interested in
the pad side adjacent to the approved Lowes.
Ms. Horowitz suggested a grocery store such as Trader Joes or
Wegmans. Ms. Hunscher indicated that her
discussions with the developer revealed that many chains are not expanding at
the moment and that the Township’s desire for certain traffic patterns has
dissuaded grocery stores from locating at the site.
Ms. Hunscher suggested that the committee evaluate
wayfinding signage to help guide visitors to various key destination points,
including town hall. Ms. Miller-Sanders
suggested signage for business districts, including Pine Brook, Montville and
Towaco. In particular, it is difficult
to locate the strip retail center on Stiles
Lane and directional signage could improve
patronage of the retail stores. Ms.
Miller-Sanders also suggests improving the appearance of the traffic
island.
Minutes of the December 15, 2010 meeting were adopted. Eligible:
Ron Cain, Margaret Miller-Sanders, Everett
Vreeland, Kevin Seidel, Alt. #2, Deane Driscall, Alexander Kachmar. On motion made by Deane
Driscoll seconded by Everett Vreeland the minutes were
unanimously adopted.
Meeting was adjourned unanimously at 9:30 a.m.
Respectfully
submitted,
Meghan
Hunscher
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