A real grinch of a decision: a public hearing on December 23

Dear Editor:

The Hoboken Planning Board becomes the Grinch who stole Christmas when it gets around to hearing public comments on Monday, December 23 at 7 p.m. Yes, you read correctly; December 23 for a meeting to hear the comments of citizens with regard to the so-called Maxwell Haus project (so-called because there is no “haus” in the plan since all of the Bauhaus buildings will be demolished). In addition to the inconvenient date of this “intent to hear the public,” is the near impossibility of making informed and intelligent comment since the plan itself seems to be in a constant state of change.

A major part of future change could be the transformational of the Maxwell area into a redevelopment zone. complete with payments in lieu of taxes (“PILOTS”). On the agenda the same evening as the public hearing, will be a report concerning the creation of such a zone. In addition, there appears to be on-going negotiations between the city plannner and the planner for Maxwell.

I realize that the developers are making threatening noises about the need to get a board decision before the end of the year, but there are even bigger problems in doing that. The lack of the most current information makes a public hearing a mockery. Why not wait until all the facts are in, the impacts of a redevelopment zone fully reviewed by the public and all negotiations completed? Give the public the ability to make relevant comment.

And why not get a bigger room for public hearings? The last meeting saw people sitting on the floor or standing for hours with many leaving in disgust well before the public could even ask questions. This disregard for the public creates the impression that the more the inconvenience, the fewer the people that will have to be heard. If the city council chambers are not available on the dates of planning board meetings, either change the dates or use space at the Multi Service Center, or hire a hall at one of the local churches. If the public is truly to be heard, it needs the facts and the ability to sit down occasionally during the 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. events.

This Grinch doesn’t only come at Christmas.

Helen Manogue

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