Undaunted in its attempt to build a $9 million 72-unit affordable senior citizen complex in Guttenberg, a Fort Lee-based development company planned to meet with local residents this weekend to discuss the problems and concerns they might have regarding the project.
The proposed 11-story high rise is tentatively scheduled for official discussion at the Planning/Zoning Board meeting this Thursday night.
Last year, the Alpert Group purchased property at the site of the old Sokol Hall, a former meeting and catering facility on 70th Street. That company, as well as the Guttenberg Affordable Housing Urban Renewal Associates, a partner in the project, decided to meet with residents Saturday, Jan. 20 at the township’s community center.
“This is an avenue that was offered to them in the past and they’ve finally decided to take it,” Guttenberg Councilman Javier Inclan said about the Alpert Group’s meeting with the local residents. “This way, the residents can have their questions answered outside of the township meetings and the developer can talk with the residents about their concerns. I think it’s a good idea.”
Earlier last week, the partners in the proposed project decided to postpone a scheduled meeting with the township Planning/Zoning Board because the developers prefer to wait until two new members of the board are sworn in at the next regularly scheduled Township Council meeting Monday night, Jan. 22. The plan will have to win approval from that board because it represents a change in zoning from the existing land use.
The project calls for an 11-story, 72-unit $9 million senior citizen housing complex.
The terms of two current Planning/Zoning Board members, namely Councilman Edward Huebsch and Construction Code Official Bob Rogers, will expire at the next meeting.
“They had a right to have a full Planning/Zoning Board in place, so actually, it’s a pretty smart move on their part,” Inclan said.
It marks the second time that the Alpert Group, a developer of similar low-income senior citizen complexes in the area, including two in North Bergen, and its new partner, have attempted to receive approval on their project. Last March, the Planning/Zoning Board voted down the project, citing several concerns about disrupting the character of the neighborhood. Concerns about parking, traffic, garbage collection and removal, elevator availability and location forced the members of the board to reconsider the project and it did not receive the five votes necessary for approval.
A new plan has been introduced that features two elevators and more available parking. But township officials, like Inclan, have serious concerns about the proposal.
“I think there are a few of us that don’t agree with the aspects of the project,” said Inclan, who also has support from Councilman David Delle Donna as an official against the proposal. “The location is very poor. The wind tunnel that a high rise of that size would create would be ridiculous. The rain sleeting off the roof is also a concern. What they plan to do with garbage is also a concern.”
Inclan added, “There are still a lot of concerns that conflict upon the residential zoning of the area.”
Some residents also feel that with a low-income housing project located directly around the corner on 69th Street, there may be too many such projects in the area.
Delle Donna’s concerns stem from the fact that such a large building will be built on a small area of land. The Alpert Group plans to erect the facility using the site of Sokol Hall, as well as the adjacent two-family home – both of which were purchased by the Alpert Group last year.
“Unfortunately, they’ve already purchased the land,” Inclan said. “We know that there’s not much available land in Guttenberg and I have absolutely nothing against senior housing. In fact, we need it. But I just think the current location is very poor.”
Joseph Alpert, who has organized the efforts in Guttenberg, as well as the 30-story building being constructed on Granton Avenue in North Bergen, did not want to comment on the proceedings until a formal ruling has been reached by the Planning/Zoning Board.
May come up Thursday
Alpert’s plan for Guttenberg is similar to the one he devised in North Bergen, utilizing a combination of federal, state and county funds, as well as a low-interest loan, to finance the project.
If the plan gains approval from the board, zoning variances would have to be given for building height, the number of units and parking.
Inclan said that the delay in the Planning/Zoning Board meeting, as well as the arranged meeting with residents, did not signal an end to the proposal.
“It’s not totally dead,” Inclan said. “They will apply to the board once again, regardless what happens. Maybe if they tone down the project a little, like making it smaller and wider and not taller, and [if they] made plans to take care of the concerns, it might get passed. But I personally think it will not get passed the way it is now. It has a possibility to get passed if it is scaled down.”