Here is the latest Take Five briefing from the November 22, 2022 meeting of the Mayor and Borough Council.
1) Woodbridge Ave Neighborhood Preservation Program (NPP): Councilman Hale reported that the first year of the Woodbridge Ave NPP effort is coming to a close with a flurry of activity. Among the latest is the purchase of new, high-quality street furniture (trash/recycling receptacles, benches and bike racks), the installation of electrical outlets to allow for holiday lighting along Woodbridge Ave, and the creation of street art along Benner Street from So. 6th to So. 9th Aves that enrich the street aesthetic but also help to calm traffic. The Borough will be applying for a second year of funding in early 2023.
2) Court Dismisses Cannabis Lawsuit against the Borough: In May of this year, a group of individuals filed a lawsuit against the Borough, the Mayor, and Borough Council members in response to the decision to opt-in to retail, medical, and delivery-related cannabis businesses in the Borough. On Friday, November 18th, the Honorable Bina K. Desai, J.S.C. delivered an oral opinion granting the Borough’s motion to dismiss the case with prejudice. The written opinion should be published in the coming weeks.
3) Ordinance to Establish a Pedestrian Mall/Public Plaza on So. 3rd Ave: Council introduced an ordinance to establish a Pedestrian Mall on So. 3rd Ave at Raritan Avenue to a point approximately 150 feet south of the intersection (the same location as the temporary Town Tables last year). The passage of the ordinance is one of the steps required by the NJ Department of Transportation (NJDOT) along with an approved Street Intersection Permit. We have published a Frequently Asked Questions document on the Borough website to address some of the common questions we’ve received about the creation of the public space and the related permanent closure of So. 3rd Ave. A public hearing on the ordinance will take place at the Tuesday, December 6th Council meeting at 7:00 p.m.
4) Vision Zero: Borough Council passed a resolution in support of Vision Zero, which seeks to eliminate all motor vehicle fatalities and severe injury crashes while providing safe, healthy, and equitable mobility for all. The Middlesex County Board of Commissioners has recently adopted a Vision Zero pledge and the Borough looks forward to supporting and implementing policies and programs that help reduce traffic crashes, deaths, and injuries.
5) Conditional Redeveloper Named for Tract A: Borough Council authorized a resolution to designate Tantum Fidelco HP LLC (a partnership between Tantum Real Estate and-Fidelco Realty Group) as the conditional redeveloper for the property identified as Tract A in the 2021 Downtown Redevelopment Plan and conduct an interim cost and conditional designation agreement. With this designation, the Borough and Tantum-Fidelco may pursue pre-development activities including, but not limited to, review of the conditional developer’s proposal, negotiations, and preparation of a redevelopment agreement.
If you’re interested in watching the November 22nd Council meeting, go to HPTV’S YouTube channel where the meeting will be posted in its entirety. The next meeting of Council is scheduled for Tuesday, December 6, 2022.
