In anticipation of tomorrow’s meeting with the potential developer, Belleville resident Frank Fleischman III has written a follow-up letter to the Mayor and Council regarding the Northeast Redevelopment proposal for the Jacobs/Kidde property, which is now being called the “Second River Station” project.
For those of you who are starting to get confused by the sudden flurry of land development deals materializing in this area lately, the Second River Station project is the massive proposal that includes the possibility of bringing multiple residential highrises to Belleville, up to and including 50-story towers, along Washington Avenue. The clearly stated intention of the developer is to turn suburban Belleville into a city.
Here is Mr. Fleischman’s letter to the Council:
Dear Members of the Township Council,
A recent notice on the Township website stated that at the next Township Council meeting on February 24th, the pre-meeting would include hearing from the developers of the Second River Station proposal, which involves the Jacobs/River Run and possibly the Finkelstein/Walter Kidde Property. In October 2014, when the proposals for this development were still being considered by the Planning Board, I wrote to you outlining my concerns, and apparently those concerns are shared by at more than a few of our fellow Belleville residents. I won’t belabor this letter by reiterating the content of my first; I simply wish to follow up on them in writing, although I fully intend to attend Tuesday’s meeting.
While the notice did state that no action would be taken at the pre-meeting, at some point you, as a body, will be responsible for acting upon the development proposal the Planning Board readily approved, with few or no modifications or stipulations. I am hopeful that, before it comes up for a vote, each and every one of you will deeply and carefully consider the impact this development would have on our town.
I understand that, like many towns, Belleville is facing financial challenges. Property taxes are high, our tax ratable base is not as robust as it once was, and as Town Manager Kevin Esposito said at the last meeting, you are waiting from a presentation from the fire chief to assess whether or not it is financially feasible to maintain a fully-manned fire department. (I am hopeful Belleville can.) The Board of Education’s financial problems probably have not helped property taxes either.
In such challenging times, it might be easy to think that Belleville can “develop itself into prosperity.” But that is risky thinking. Development proposals are always presented in the best possible light, promising tax revenue, employment and beautiful aesthetics. Experts and marketers come and tell us how beneficial their development will be for the town. That is their job, so I don’t begrudge them that. But it is up to you, as representatives elected by the residents of Belleville, to separate the proverbial wheat from the chaff in determining how a development will fit with the historical and municipal character of this town.
Concerning this proposed development, I think we can do better with something else, something less ambitious and more in character with our town.
As I said before, Belleville does need something to reinvigorate it. I think we have the rough materials already at hand. What people crave is a sense of place, something special about the town, something that people all over the county and state can look at and say, “So that’s why people want to live and do business in Belleville!” Will a 50-story high-rise in a town of 3.2 square miles and 35,000 residents do any of those things? I doubt it.
There is much work to be done in Belleville without wondering how it will accommodate such a large-scale and uncharacteristic development. Belleville has a long-standing parking problem, which must be addressed if we want new residents and new business in town. Quality of life issues, from derelict houses to litter on the sidewalks, mar the beauty of our town. Residents and good businesses are being taxed right out of town.
There are those in Belleville who wonder if there are political forces pushing for the approval of this development. I try not to concern myself with such rumors or wonderings because I am hopeful, despite any political party affiliations you may have, that the best interests of Belleville are your primary concern. However, Town Council seats for Belleville’s four wards will be up for election next year, and I think approving such a radical proposal will not help incumbents keep their seats.
Please do the right thing for Belleville, and vote to return the Second River Station proposal to the Planning Board.
Sincerely,
Frank F. Fleischman III
Tomorrow’s Council meeting (Feb 24) begins with pre-meeting conferences at 5:30 PM, at which time potential developer Tony Regan will come before the Council to be heard on this project. The regular business meeting begins at 6:30.
A copy of the Maser proposal originally presented to the Planning Board is now available in our Document Library for your review. You can find it under the heading “Planning and Development”.
In the chance that the Council plans to take action on this proposal one way or another tomorrow night, I would encourage everyone with an opinion to come to Town Hall and voice it now, while there’s still an opportunity to do so.
Update (2/24): NorthJersey.com has published an article ahead of tonight’s meeting:
Belleville council to consider Washington Avenue, Kidde property development
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