The Jersey City Planning Board granted preliminary site plan approval to the St. Peter’s Athletic Foundation’s proposed football field at the Tuesday night meeting. The decision regarding the undeveloped field, located at the corner of Marin Boulevard and Grand Street, met with an objection from an area landowner.
The collection of six lots, which are owned by St. Peter’s Preparatory School, will be consolidated into one lot, according to David Desley, a civil engineer connected to the project. Architect Tom McKinty explained that the field would be developed into a football practice field for students from St. Peter’s and Our Lady of Czestochowa School. Built on the proposed playing field will be coach tower, including a small office, bathroom facilities and locker rooms. Fencing and 10-foot, landscaped buffer zones are included in the plan so that the field will blend with the residential character of the neighborhood and cut down on noise disturbances during practice time.
Cheng Tan, who owns land next to the field at 195 Grand St., called for the Planning Board to deny approval to the football field, stating it would lower the value of his property. In addressing the board during the public comment regarding the proposed field, Tan said at an early meeting, Planning Director Bob Cotter mentioned condemnation of his property in connection with the construction of the playing field.
Cotter, who was at the Tuesday night meeting, stated that he was only explaining one of a number of procedures the city can take when it needs land.
“We don’t do this to make people unhappy,” Cotter said. “We do this for the good of Jersey City.”
St. Peter’s legal representative Francis Schiller informed the board that the construction of a playing field would only increase the value of Tan’s property. In addition, McGinty stated that Tan’s land would not be needed in the creation of the practice field.
In response to questions from Commissioner Jeni Branum about the time of field use by the students, McGinty estimated the field would be utilized between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
“These times will be curtailed as winter sets in and it gets darker sooner,” McGinty added.
Regarding a sound system at the field, McGinty said that would not be a major problem since the location would be used mainly for team practices.
“In the future, there is a chance the field may be used for freshman games,” McGinty added.
The two entry and exit points on the field will be locked when the areas is not being used, McGinty added.
Branum asked McGinty about any signage for the practice field. McGinty replied there would be one 3-foot by 4-foot sign reading “St. Peter’s Prep Athletic Facility.” In addition, banners for corporate sponsors will be displayed on the fencing around the field, McGinty stated.
The practice field will also be used in the summer for sports such as tennis and lacrosse, added McGinty.
The board granted preliminary approval for the practice field with a vote of 5 to 0.
St. Peter’s will have to go back to the board in approximately 20 days to get final approval for the plans. In some cases, the planning department can suggest changes to a plan before final approval, but that did not happen in this case.
Fourteen-story Newport building
In another matter before the Planning Board, Newport Associate Development Company was granted preliminary site plan approval for a 14-story residential building in the Newport section. According to the presentation made by architect Mark Mobens, the project, called “The Savoy,” will be located at 45 Fourteenth St., near the waterfront. The project will have 144 condo units and 95 parking spaces. The ground floor will have 7,772 square feet of retail space, according to Mobens.
“There will be a landscaped patio in the project,” Mobens said. “The building will also have two large meeting rooms for multipurpose functions.”
The project is slated to begin construction in 2004, according to Newport Associates legal representative Francis Schiller.
Schiller was asked by Branum why the developers had decided to build condominiums as opposed to rental units. Schiller replied the developers believe the condo market will make a comeback soon. Branum asked if there was going to be a walkway in the project and Mobens replied that there would.
“The walkway will lead to the waterfront,” said Mobens.