The North Bergen Board of Commissioners recently authorized the Planning Board to undertake a redevelopment study to determine whether an uptown stretch of waterfront property could meet the criteria for redevelopment. The approximately seven acre area extends from roughly 73rd St. to 79th St. between River Road and Boulevard East, across from the Palisades Medical Center.
Last month, the commissioners passed a resolution awarding a contract to the firm of Phillips Preiss Grygiel, LLC, to prepare the study. The contract is “not to exceed” $30,000.
An area of a town can be designated for redevelopment if it meets several criteria, including if it contains unsafe or dilapidated properties. If the study concludes that all or some of the property meets the criteria, the Planning Board can move forward by scheduling a public hearing notifying all property owners within the considered area.
Following the hearing, the Planning Board makes a recommendation to the Board of Commissioners, who can then move forward on the plan.
According to North Bergen Planning Board attorney Brian Chewcaskie, the Planning Board will most likely schedule a public hearing by next month.
“North Bergen is committed to smart growth development,” said Mayor Nicholas Sacco. “We’ve asked the Planning Board to study this area, which has been vacant and unused and sits within the River Road corridor, and determine whether it can be classified as an ‘Area in Need of Redevelopment,’ which would help encourage an appropriate use.”
Chewcaskie said that the study will also determine the recommended zoning plans for the area, such as whether or not residential or commercial properties, or a mix of the two, would be most beneficial to the area.
According to Chewcaskie, the town will decide which properties to develop based on the results of the study. The area is currently zoned for residential development.
Chris Pianese, township administrator, said that the area consists of entirely undeveloped property.
“I believe the area [being considered] has not been developed,” said Pianese. “That’s the issue. It’s empty land,” said Pianese.
Chewcaskie said that property owners in the area should not be concerned about eminent domain.
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Is eminent domain possible?
Municipal redevelopment initiatives often require the acquisition of property, whether through purchase offers or eminent domain. Chewcaskie said that property owners in the area should not be concerned about eminent domain.
“It is my understanding that the township does not want to use eminent domain to acquire any properties,” said Chewcaskie.
“What they would like to do is spur private development,” Chewcaskie added.
Pianese also said that he does not foresee the town having to make offers to acquire property.
“As part of the redevelopment, that isn’t really a consideration,” said Pianese.
Chewcaskie also said that several developments had been approved roughly ten years ago, but the plans never came to fruition. He also said that the area contains open lots due to previously demolished properties, such as a warehouse.
Reasons
Chewcaskie said that the redevelopment initiative hopes to foster ratables, as well as encourage development in an underutilized section of waterfront property.
“The purpose of this study is to hopefully spur some sort of redevelopment of the area,” said Chewcaskie. “This property has been vacant for a long time as waterfront property.”
Chewcaskie also said that the area was selected because it had formerly been a developed area.
“You’ve had projects that have been approved for that area that never came to fruition,” “It seems appropriate that it should be developed.”
Stephen LaMarca may be reached at slamarca@hudsonreporter.com.