Dear Editor:
Reading and hearing much about the SCC and Union City, blaming each other for what happened at a proposed school site (1501 Palisade Ave.), I would like to explain for those who do not know, the steps – as they are required – for any school construction.
First, it is the Bd of Ed/City that requests the building or renovation of a school from the State, the State does not go into a town and tell them to build school(s).
Then, the Bd of Ed, in concert with the Mayor and officials of the town make the proposal of where said schools should be built – the Mayor decides as to which ratables he is willing to lose in order to build the school as the property used will be tax-exempt once it’s school property. The State does not come in and say where the school(s) will go; they are given that info by the City.
The plans then go before the Planning Bd. of town, for approval – which of course they will give as it’s realized that that is the Mayor’s wish, to have the school at that location. There is then a process, by the State, for evaluating everything involved with “taking” that property to use for the school.
During the time between the “proposal” of the site by the City and the actual taking of that site by the State, any owners of property in these locations are still the owners, with every right of their property, including wanting to build, add to structures, etc., etc. It is up to the city officials during this in-between time to be sure not to allow any permits or variances for building etc. to be approved – they know better than anyone what is to happen with that property – they picked it! The State can do nothing to stop anything on these properties during this time – it is not theirs yet, only the City can stop it through denying applications for permits and variances for that site.
The suggestion of a town working in concert with a property owner by allowing them to build anything during the in-between time is, and should be, most upsetting to anyone who pays NJ State Income Tax; that is where the money to fund these projects comes from. The question of this being a big problem for town officials is only natural. Again, they are the ones who picked and approved the location for a school, not the property owner. And, they are the only ones with the power of not allowing anything to be erected on that site during the time the whole “process” is going on. The property owner has the right to request permits and variances; the city has the obligation to be sure none are given!
All of the above can be easily checked on-line by accessing the SCC.com site and looking up the procedures they are to follow, or, by looking up “Chapter 72”, the ordinance created to govern the SCC in how they are to do things. Reviewing one or both will help to clean up the “confusion” that’s created by realizing the accounts in the news of this problem.
Anonymous