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MONTVILLE TOWNSHIP
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF MAY 18, 2011
8:00AM
ROLL CALL
Ron Cain,
Jr. - present Margaret
Miller – Sanders - present
Everett Vreeland - present Deane Driscoll - present
Ron
Soussa - present Kevin
Seidel, Alt. #2 (AE)
Jennifer
Horowitz - present Arnold Schancupp – alt #1 - absent
Alexander Kachmar - present
Liaisons:
Township
Committee: Jim Sandham - present; Deb Nielson (alt)
Planning Board Liaison: Tony Speciale - present
Environmental Commission: Monica Mianecki
- present
Township
Staff:
Meghan Hunscher, PP - present
Also
in attendance: Russ Lipari - Planning Board chairman
OLD BUSINESS
A. BoA &
Planning Board applications update
a. Deane Driscoll - BOA
Lake Valhalla Club is on-going.
b. Tony Speciale - Planning Board
HPRC presentations at last hearing for grant & Morris Canal
Park at Emery Lane.
B. Master Plan &
Zoning Ordinance Update
On-going
C. Subcommittee
Reports
Nothing to report
D. Speaker - STAN
OMLAND, PE, PP, LEED AP - President of Omland Engineering, member of Hanover
Township EDC, Montville Planning Board and Zoning Board Engineer
Mr. Omland
presented to the committee at the request of Mr. Driscoll as part of the 2011
“Speakers Series.” Mr. Omland’s
resume had been circulated to the members.
He is active as a businessman and volunteer on the Hanover EDAC, which
was formed in 2010 to address business retention and recruitment in the
Township.
Goals of EDC should be to “attract, retain, stabilize.”
Mr. Omland
presented a prepared speech that emphasized certain actions that the EDC could
take as an advisory committee to support the economic base of the Township. These
included:
- Host
an open house at Town Hall and invite local businesses. Anticipated attendance rate is 25% of
invited.
- Host a
brokers open house to showcase properties identified as needing to be
redeveloped
- Solicit
information from local businesses as part of outreach initiative including
input on signage, design standards, and use.
- Important
to allow for efficient government with access by residents and developers
- Suggests
municipalities evaluate their standards to see if they are too stringent
and deter development
- Pay
attention to trends, especially environmentally friendly movement, and
have speakers address these issues (e.g. USGBC)
- Utilize
free resources of Morris
County including
“Listening to Business” survey and State resources of EDA
- Inventory
blighted properties, map and post on webpage with data sheet.
- Meet
with property owners to discuss ways to improve property
- Designate
an Ombudsman within the Township to liaison between the EDC, PB and
Township Committee
Mayor Sandham
indicated that historically the Township has had a focus on residential areas
and not on businesses. He asked Mr.
Omland if he recommends a monthly or quarterly report to the Township
Committee. Stan suggests well researched recommendations. Mayor Sandham asked Stan for his honest input
on the land use process in Montville. Stan said that it is fortunate that Montville has a
knowledgeable welcoming person such as Linda White
and Meghan Hunscher. This is not always
the case in other towns. He said that
the economic boom in the 2000’s created a back log on agendas that killed the Morris County
economy. He emphasized the importance of
getting the zoning ordinance and master plan revisions completed this year in
anticipation of a turnaround.
Other issues:
Mayor Sandham indicated that the Township Committee is
having a discussion regarding open space and that more money has been
received. He indicated that some parcels
may be sold to purchase different open space parcels.
E. Other
initiatives
a. Follow-up strategy to Rick Vanderbeck’s suggestions
Two new subcommittees formed:
Business retention - Alex, Maggie, Ron
Business recruitment - Deane, Dick, Jennifer
b. EDC business inventory list and outreach
Intern updating business inventory
NEW BUSINESS
A. Introduce
Sarah Franklin, Planning intern
Ms. Hunscher introduced Sarah and Andrew, planning interns
for the summer
B. Proposal
from Community Insights
EDC requests more specific information prior to making a
recommendation to the Township Committee. Sources of funding and other free research
should be investigated.
Other issues:
Deane Driscoll
indicated that a speaker from NJ Choice is a possibility.
APPLICANTS
None scheduled to appear
MINUTES
Adoption of EDC minutes of 4-20-11
– Eligible: Ron Cain, Jr., Margaret Miller – Sanders, Everett Vreeland, Deane
Driscoll, Ron Soussa
Motion to adopt: Deane Driscoll
Second: Dick
Vreeland
Carried unanimously on roll call
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was unanimously
adjourned at 10:00 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Meghan Hunscher, PP
Principal Planner
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