Here is the latest Take Five briefing from the May 21, 2024 meeting of the Mayor and Borough Council.
1) Community Meeting on Tract C Redevelopment Project on June 5 – Mayor Foster announced plans to hold a community meeting on Wednesday, June 5th about the planned redevelopment of the property referred to as Tract C in the 2021 Downtown Redevelopment Plan, between So. 2nd and So. 3rd Avenues on Raritan Avenue. The meeting will be from 7 PM to 9 PM in the Highland Park High School Cafeteria and will include a presentation by Borough officials and Garden Homes, the Borough’s selected conditional redeveloper. The meeting will then move into an open house format, where participants can visit different information stations to learn more and offer their own ideas.
2) Safe Routes to Schools Public Information Center on June 17 – The Borough will hold a Public Information Center (PIC) on Monday, June 17 for local stakeholders to provide input on the proposed intersection safety improvements being designed for Phase I and Phase II of the Borough’s Safe Routes to School projects. The meeting will be in Borough Hall in Council Chambers from 6 PM to 8 PM. The meeting will be in an open house format, so please come at a time convenient for you. You will have an opportunity to review exhibits, ask questions and discuss any concerns with Borough representatives and members of the consulting team from NV5.
3) Amendment to Stormwater Management Ordinance – The Borough Council held a first reading of an ordinance to amend the Code of Highland Park, 2010, concerning Stormwater Management to conform with the new rules that were adopted by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) on July 17, 2023. The ordinance follows the guidelines provided by the NJDEP in Appendix D of the NJ Stormwater Best Management Practices Manual. A public hearing and vote on the ordinance will be held at the upcoming Borough Council meeting on Tuesday June 18.
4) Engineering Services Related to So. 3rd Avenue Pedestrian Plaza – The Borough Council approved a resolution to authorize supplementary engineering and analysis services, regarding the creation of a pedestrian plaza on South 3rd Ave, to CME Associates. The work focuses on among other items, the evaluation of street lighting at the intersection to ensure that it conforms with current NJ Department of Transportation (NJDOT) standards. This work will support the Borough’s ongoing NJDOT Street Intersection Permit Application to enable the creation of a pedestrian plaza on a portion of So. 3rd Avenue.
5) Year Three of the Woodbridge Ave Neighborhood Preservation Program Underway - The Borough received confirmation from the Department of Community Affairs that the third year of funding for the Woodbridge Avenue Neighborhood Preservation Program (NPP) was approved for $125,000. Planned initiatives include commercial and residential façade grants, special community events such as a new vintage car show, National Night Out, and much more.
If you are interested in watching the May 21st Mayor and Council meeting, please go to the HPTV YouTube channel where the video of the meeting will be posted in its entirety. The next meeting of Mayor and Council is scheduled for Tuesday, June 18th , at 7:00 p.m.
