“URBANIZATION” VERSUS SMALL, SAFE AND SUBURBAN RUNS AMOK WITH REPUBLICANS IN CHARGE!
Turning North Arlington into an extension of Harrison, Hudson County?
NORTH ARLINGTON – Wednesday night’ virtual Zoning Board hearing on an application to build 14 apartments on Park and Schuyler Avenues incited dozens of residents to condemn the project and to wonder how such an inappropriate proposal made it to the board for consideration.
The proposal from GCGS Associates LLC of Garfield, NJ seeks to squeeze 14 units into a lot that is about one-third of an acre. The proposed building would be 35 feet high and feature tandem parking under the building. Under current zoning the developer would be allowed to build just three units.
Residents blasted the proposal for its height, density and lack of parking.
Many noted that the proposed tandem parking (in which cars are parked behind each other) would be a failure and cause residents of the building to park on nearby streets.
One resident noted that the proposal includes no additional parking for guests of the complex, meaning more cars would be parked on nearby side streets, where parking is already at a premium. One resident said that the borough is losing its character with the proliferation of so many rental units. And many other residents said they were concerned about development adding more traffic to the area.
A nearby resident and former borough administrator Robert Landolfi called the project “the most ill-conceived, ill-timed project in borough history.” He pointed out that the applicant is seeking 8 variances, two of which are “D” variances, among the hardest to be granted in New Jersey and which require extensive documentation. He said the applicant is seeking a 450 percent increase in density over existing zoning regulations.
“This project calls for overturning the borough’s zoning code,” said Landolfi, who has years of experience serving on various redevelopment boards.
Landolfi rejected the applicant’s claim that the proposal is better then what’s there now. The site was formerly used for an industrial business. “That’s the oldest trick in the book used by developers with questionable projects and it lacks credibility,” said Landolfi.
Residents also rejected claims by the applicant’s attorney William Rush, that the developer needed the high density to make the project financially feasible.
“If he (the developer) overpaid for the property that’s his problem,” said Landolfi.
A meeting attendee, who asked not to be identified, noted that the meeting was attended by four councilmen and the mayor – which may be a violation of the local public meetings law. Council members Lynette Cavadas; Kirk DelRusso, Donna Bocchino and Brian Fitzhenry; and the mayor all spoke about the project via the internet. The attendee said the meeting probably should have been advertised as a joint meeting of the zoning board and borough council.
It is unclear if the Schuyler Avenue applicant will return with a different version of the development – one that is less dense.
But the fact remains that the Pronti Administration is inviting high density rental projects by supporting more and more of them throughout town, especially on Ridge Road where there is a project underway that features 49 housing units, and the former Ridge Lumber which is home to a 30-unit development.
The town will soon hear applications on another multi-unit complex at 108 Ridge Road – believed to be 20 units — and one on River Road, also for approximately 20 units.
NA Today will keep you updated.
Care to comment? Email [email protected]