Economic Development Corporation
Meeting Summary February 27, 2002
Present were:
| Mayor Barbara Cannon |
Roman Sohor |
Kiran Desai |
| Patrick Gillespie, President |
Alayne Shepler |
Charles Applebaum |
| Peter Davis, VP |
Kevin Calogera, Councilman |
Dave Merwin |
| Robin Rosen, Secretary |
Edward Testino, Councilman |
John Vincenti |
| Russell J. Azzarello, Director |
Larry Redmond, Councilman |
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Absent were:
| Mark Proudman, Treasurer |
Susan Gieser |
| Rocky Donatelli |
Michael D'Agnes |
The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m.
Salute to the flag was followed by roll call.
Statement was made that the meeting was held in accordance with the requirements of the Open Public Meeting Act.
A motion was made by Peter Davis, seconded by Kevin Calogera and unanimously agreed upon for approval of the January/February bill list.
A motion was made by Kevin Calogera, seconded by Peter Davis and unanimously agreed upon for the approval of the January 27, 2002 meeting summary and executive session.
A motion was made by David Merwin, seconded by Kevin Calogera and unanimously agreed upon to reappoint the firm of Fallon and Fallon to conduct the 2001 audit.
Tom Downs, appointed attorney for the EDC Board was present. Mr. Downs was asked by the board to review the option of Mr. Tom Norman on the Stewart vs. Planning Board of Manalapan Township.
Zoning Board and Planning Board members may want to recuse themselves so as not to taint the procedure. This would pertain to site specific as opposed to conceptual presentations. Notice would have to be given to people within 200 feet of the proposed area. If notice is issued the members of the planning and zoning boards can sit in on the presentation.
Mr. Azzarello stated that the outset of the EDC from its inception was always to see the presentations and then send something up the line to the appropriate boards.
Mr. Gillespie introduced Ms. Anne Babineau, attorney with the firm of Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer to speak to the board on redevelopment. Ms. Babineau, along with Mr. Dave Roberts of Schoor DePalma, teach a course at Rutgers University on redevelopment.
Mr. Gillespie stated that the EDC has been assigned the task by the governing body to develop a plan for the O&Y property, which has been named a redevelopment area.
Ms. Babineau has extensive experience in redevelopment and has been doing it since the '80's. She has done redevelopment projects in urban areas such as Jersey City and Elizabeth and as suburban as South Orange.
The statute provides flexibility about how one approaches the task of putting together a redevelopment plan. The statute permits bodies such as the governing body, planning board or the naming of another body to put together the redevelopment plan. Ms. Babineau feels there is nothing wrong with soliciting input from the private community on what are marketable uses. This helps make the plan more realistic.
The EDC should try to anticipate problems ahead of time. Preparing the redevelopment plan and adopting the plan is a public process. A good redevelopment plan takes into consideration input from different segments of the community.
The EDC should determine the role it wants to play whether it be marketing, planning or the implementation of the plan.
Ms. Babineau suggested that someone with a planning background would bring a sense of academic discipline to the process.
Ms. Babineau stated that the statute provides very little guidance in terms of what must go into a redevelopment plan. It does have to provide an outline of the uses that we want to see there. The plan can be broad or very specific.
The plan should be a living document allowing for amendments and will be adopted by ordinance by the governing body.
Tax abatement should also be looked at for the area.
Mr. Gillespie suggested that at the next meeting the EDC set aside a period of time to brainstorm as a group and figure out what disciplines we want to involve and how we are going to plan our plan.
Mr. Azzarello thanked the board for their support and also administration and various departments for their cooperation.
Mr. Azzarello reviewed his Director's Report. Meetings were held with departments on what they are planing to do, e.g., community center, YMCA, land acquisitions. All of these factors have some component of economic development because they offer amenities to the community that can then be sold to a prospective commercial enterprise.
Mr. Azzarello met with John Ciufo, New Jersey Commerce & Economic Growth Commission to discuss the possibility of grants or low interest loans which can be used towards the redevelopment area.
Mr. Azzarello also met with Carol Holland, Solutions - A Marketing Communications Company, to discuss marketing.
Mr. Azzarello has had extensive discussions with Brian Enright, tax assessor, regarding tax abatement and PILOTS. Our current tax abatement presently identifies two zones - the hospital zone and the parkway zone - and really should become broader.
Brian Enright will be invited to a future meeting to further discuss tax abatements and PILOTS.
Mr. Azzarello informed the board that Commerce Bank will be locating on Route 516 and Red Oak Lane (opposite from the Burger King).
The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 p.m.
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