MONTVILLE TOWNSHIP

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

AGENDA OF APRIL 18, 2012

8:15AM

I.            ROLL CALL

Deane Driscoll, Chairman                      Arnold Schancupp – alt #1 (AE)           

Ron Soussa, Vice Chair                         Kevin Seidel, Alt. #2

Jennifer Horowitz                                   

Alexander Kachmar (AE)

Margaret Miller – Sanders, Esq.                                                                                    

Ron Cain, Jr.    

Everett “Dick” Vreeland

Also present:

Liaisons:

Township Committee:                Jim Sandham; Scott Gallopo (alt)

Planning Board:                         Tony Speciale; Gary Lewis

Environmental Commission:        Monica Mianecki

Township Staff:

Meghan Hunscher, PP - Principal Planner

II.         BOARD LIAISON REPORTS

Planning Board - Tony Speciale / Gary Lewis

Board of Adjustment - Deane Driscoll

The board liaison reports were given.  There were no applications pertinent to the EDC.   

III.    SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

Business Retention - Maggie, Deane, Dick, and Arnold

Business Recruitment - Alex, Jen, Ron S.

Vacancy Listing - Deane, Dick, Ron

There were no reports from the subcommittees.

IV.    APPLICANTS / BUSINESSES

There were no applicants or businesses appearing to speak.

V.      SPEAKERS

Victor Canning, new Township Administrator

Mr. Canning was introduced by Mr. Sandham and gave a brief overview of his background as Manger in Belleville.  He indicated he will take a proactive position on economic development and meet with prospective and current developers.  One priority is to meet with state legislators to discuss the issues with Route 46 traffic patterns at intersections such as Hook Mountain Road.  Existing businesses have complained that the timing and configuration are a challenge to doing business in town.  He also sees development of the website as a priority as well as marketing materials.

Kevin Boswell, Boswell Engineering - Regarding GI Auto site

Mr. Boswell had been invited by Mr. Soussa on prior occasions to speak before the EDC and decided to accept at this juncture.  He gave the EDC an overview of status of development at G.I. Auto.  Lowes had backed out of the original arrangement to lease a portion of the property and will be locating to Route 10 in Hanover.  He gave an overview of the details of the site specifics and said the advantages of the site include that it is the only site within 5 miles of Willowbrook mall that does not flood. He indicated he has had a number of interested developers call wanting to develop either retail or mixed use condos with retail.  He expressed concern that the ordinance does not permit retail “by-right” and requests a letter from the EDC to the Planning Board and/or governing body to re-zone the property to allow retail.  Mr. Soussa requested that Mr. Boswell forward concept plans for the site and the approved plan for Lowes prior to supporting a letter.  The committee decided to take a poll in support of the letter once the concept plans were forwarded.

VI.    WORKSHOP

Strategic Plan and Goal-setting for 2012

Workshop was postponed.

VII.   MINUTES

Adoption of meeting minutes was postponed to May meeting.

V.   ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was unanimously adjourned at 10:10 a.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

_____________________________

Meghan Hunscher, Principal Planner

Adopted at May 16, 2012 regular meeting.