TOWNSHIP NEWS WHAT’S GOING THERE? New Construction Projects in Town
JTOWN Magazine | April 2014
TOWNSHIP TARGETS ABANDONED PROPERTIES WITH ORDINANCE
UNSAFE STRUCTURES COULD BE RAZED BY TOWNSHIP UNDER PROPOSED LAW by Phil Stilton On the early morning of April of 2013, a fire destroyed a two story home on Emory Court. Nearly one year later, the home remained in the same condition as it had last April. “For quite some time the township has been suffering from several abandoned properties that is detriment to the surrounding area, homes and community at large,” Business Administrator Jose Torres told the township council. “There are two statutes that provide some relief, one is in the long term and one is in the short term. I’m looking for authorization to proceed on the one that will suit or fit us, or a combination of both of them to address certain things.” Township attorney Jean Cipriani said there are several laws on the books that would apply to give the township the legal authority to begin legal actions against those properties. Newark recently amended an ordinance to combat the city’s growing inventory of abandoned structures. The city recognized that abandoned properties place a bur-
den on resources and pose a significant fire risk, including police disturbance calls and heightened criminal activities. That ordinance allows the city to levy registration fees against owners of abandoned properties. In Torres’ home city of Paterson, where he once served as mayor, a similar law has been on the books since 1998 according to the city code book. Penalties range between $500 and $1,000 per offense. Cipriani advised Torres that another state law provides the township with the facility to create an abandoned property list. That law would allow the township to identify properties which have been abandoned for a period of six months, not being maintained and not engaged in a foreclosure proceeding to take action. Owners of those properties would be served notice and have the right to appeal their inclusion on the list. The township would then have two options, one being to either hold a special tax sale on the property to sell the property to an owner who is capable of rehabilitating the property.
The other option would be for the township to exercise eminent domain under blight laws. The municipality would have to have the property appraised, which would also include the cost of rehabilitating the property, according to Cipriani. The township could either take on ownership of the property or to pass the property to an entity who can maintain and resell the property. Torres said he is seeking authority from the council to move forward on the issue. In Torres’ testimony, he referred to the property on Emory Court. He said the town allocated funds to demolish the home. That demolition will take place under laws that permit the township to demolish unsafe structures. The cost of the demolition will become a lien against the property. “A lot of times, these are foreclosed upon properties that are owned by banks and there are so many of them and for whatever reason the banks are not moving forward. The intention is that these steps will move that forward,” Cipriani said. ”Sometimes these individuals simply lack the resources to do the steps that are needed, but that does not mean that the municipality does not have the means to remove the blight.” Cipriani said she will prepare draft a ordinance and submit it to the council. Once enacted, the township, she said would designate an employee to oversee the process.
PARK AND RIDE FEE INCREASES; SOLAR PANELS AT LEGLER LANDFILL
A second reading of a proposed ordinance to increase the fees charged for out-of-town park and ride permits could see an increase of $160 if passed. The current fee for out-of-town residents using the park and ride facility located on Progress Place is $40. The new proposed fee is $200. • The township council has authorized the bidding process for the construction of
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solar panels at the Legler Landfill, which in the 1980’s was deemed U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Superfund site. Although the township is seeking to build the solar farm adjacent to the former landfill, residents in the surrounding neighborhoods expressed their worries to the council. Councilman Ken Bressi assured residents that necessary steps have
been taken to ensure the safety of nearby residents. The council also said that the construction could relocate an airstrip used by the remote controlled airplane club. • The Ocean County Board of Freeholders has approved the resurfacing and reconstruction of East Veterans Highway between Whitesville Road and Sienna Drive as part of a multi-year project.
Six Flags Great Adventure has applied to the township council to initiate a place to place to place transfer of two liquor licenses to be placed at the Tiki Bar in Hurricane Harbor and one at the Movie Town Festival area, according to a public notice filed by Six Flags on March 30th. Blackfish LLC has applied to the Jackson Township planning board for a one year extension on an approved 17 acre development on Ridge Avenue. Attorney for the applicant, Ray Shea stated the application shall include a request for any and all other variances and waivers as may be required by submission and discussion of the plans. Quick Chek is seeking to build a second location in Jackson Township. On March 28th, the company applied to the Jackson Township Planning Board for a conditional use site plan approval of a convenience store and gas station to be built at the intersection of New Prospect Road and Bethel Church Road. The site is 3.9 acres in size. The company is requesting several variances in the application including a smaller than required handicapped parking area and the inclusion of free standing signs in an area where none are presently permitted. The first meeting on the application will be held April 7th. Attorney for the applicant Ray Shea also is requesting larger than permitted signs and a gas station canopy. Lakewood Township heard testimony from the public on April 8th to discuss amending the township’s master plan to allow for the development of a mixed R-12 and R-40 zoned property adjacent to Jackson Township, located near Cross Street and James Street. Ground has been broken on East Veterans Highway near the southern entrance to Jackson Liberty High School on a new Burger King fast food restaurant. Construction continued at the intersection of West Veterans Highway and Leesville Road of a bank and retail stores. One of those stores will be All-Star Bagels, which occupied the corner prior to construction.
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