Present were:

Mayor Jim Phillips	Robin Rosen, Secretary	Joseph Arena
Patrick Gillespie, President	Russell J. Azzarello, Director	Laheri Mehta
Peter Davis, Vice-president	Edward Testino, Councilman	Larry Redmond
Mark Proudman, Treasurer	Michael Jacobs, Business Administrator	Michael Spina

 

 

 

Absent were:

Raj Patel	Nick Smolney	John Vincenti, Township Engineer
Kevin Ruffler	Michael D'Agnes

 

 

The meeting was called to order at 6:45 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 Larry Redmond and unanimously agreed upon for the approval of the December 2004 Treasurer's Report.

A motion was made by Peter Davis, seconded by Joe Arena and unanimously agreed upon for the approval of the January 2004 Bill List.

A motion was made by Mark Proudman, seconded by Peter Davis and unanimously agreed upon for the approval of the December 15, 2004 meeting summary deleting "IFF" in the third paragraph on page 2 and changing it to read "a new major tenant."

Russell Azzarello gave his Executive Director's Report.

Mr. Azzarello reached out to Verizon. Verizon is looking for 600,00 sq. ft. and would like the building to be already built. They are already looking in other areas of the country.

Heath Net will be having their grand opening and ribbon cutting on January 20, 2005, and have extended invitations to everyone.

Meetings were held with Old Bridge Regional Hospital and Thomas Partners regarding the property adjoining the hospital for a 15,000 sq. ft. office/medical facility.

Mr. Azzarello stated that the YMCA made a presentation at the redevelopment meeting. Our involvement with that will be to the extent of offering whatever guidance we can.

Mr. Jim Murray, who was with the YMCA, is now retiring.

Stanbury Associates, the developers of the proposed Lifestyle Center on Texas Road and Route 9, have a slight dilemma - the area is currently zoned residential. This area was in the package of the COI at the time it went before the Town Council. If Stanbury starts at the zoning board level to get the variance and then the COI zone is approved, they would essentially need to start over again because the Zoning Board cannot give them a variance on something that does not require it.

Mr. Azzarello is working with them to quickly decide which course they should take because they are ready to move forward.

Michael Alfieri had a GDP that was approved many years ago for the area at exit 120 of the Garden State Parkway. The plan calls for 1.6 million square feet of commercial, and 100 residential units. The plan was purchased from the former developer, Ed Rondinelli.

A motion was made by Joe Arena, seconded by Mike Spina and unanimously agreed upon for the acceptance of the Executive Director's Report.

Mr. Redmond informed the Board that the Woodhaven application consists of approximately 3,000 units - 370 are already approved and 299 certificates of occupancy have been issued. The plan calls for 100,000 sq. ft. of commercial before they can receive the 500th C of O. This will be reached in the next section and there is still no plan for the commercial.

Woodhaven was also supposed to have the Texas Road and Englishtown Road improvements completed before they received 100 building permits. They have already received 299 building permits and none of the improvements have been done. The sewer and water was put in, but the other infrastructure has not been done. Meetings have been held with Woodhaven's attorney and the Planning Board to resolve these issues.

Woodhaven will return before the planning board in March.

The Brunetti application has been sent back from the court to be approved with reasonable conditions. The Planning Board attorney will be reviewing the testimonies to come up with the conditions.

Mayor Phillips wished the board a Happy New Year, and thanked everyone for their dedication and hard work. The Mayor explained that there will be workshops held in February regarding the COI zones. Wetlands issues will be looked at. The Mayor will try to spend time with the Open Space Committee, the Environmental Commission and the Historic Preservation Commission.

The Mayor stated that the first year was marked by putting our financial house in order and setting our sites on future ratables.

Mayor Phillips stated that, although the Cottrell parcel is slated to be developed as commercial, he will try to make a pitch to preserve it as historic preservation.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m.