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Previously, joint meetings of the Mayor and Council and Planning Board had been scheduled for Monday, January 23, and Tuesday, January 31, at 7:00 pm, in the Multipurpose Room at the Franklin Avenue Middle School, 755 Franklin Avenue, Franklin Lakes. There are significant changes in the content and scheduling of these meetings:
- Monday, January 23, 7:00 pm - This meeting will be an informational/educational session to provide the legal and historical context for the discussion of the developer’s concept plan. The developer, The S. Hekemian Group, has not yet provided a concept plan to the Borough and therefore it would be premature for the developer to make a presentation. Instead, the Borough and its professionals, including its affordable housing attorney, will make a presentation explaining important background for the decisions to be made by the Mayor and Council and Planning Board on the development of this property. The presentation will include an explanation of the Mt. Laurel doctrine, the Borough’s plan for meeting its constitutional affordable housing obligation as approved by the Court, and the effect of the Cigna site becoming available for development and its impact on the Borough’s compliance with its affordable housing obligation. The developer will not be presenting its concept plan. There will be time for public comment and questions, but there will be no discussion of the developer’s plan, because it has not yet been received. Information provided at this meeting will be critical to gaining an understanding of the decision-making process.
- Wednesday, February 1, 7:00 pm - This meeting, which was to have been held on January 31, has been rescheduled to Wednesday, February 1, at 7:00 pm, in the Multipurpose Room at FAMS. At this meeting, the developer will present its concept plan for review and consideration by the Mayor and Council and the Planning Board and for public comment. At this meeting the public will be given a sufficient opportunity to ask questions and provide their input to the developer and the members of the Mayor and Council and Planning Board.
As previously reported, the developer has proposed a mixed use development plan which includes 585 multi-family residential units, as well as an additional 55 units of Borough-sponsored affordable units on land to be donated by the developer. The plan to be presented has not been approved by the Mayor and Council or the Planning Board. Should the project move forward, there would be additional public hearings before both the Mayor and Council and the Planning Board.
If you are interested in this issue, it is strongly encouraged that you read the recent Buzz article which provides an overview of the property and the implications of affordable housing law on the development of the property. It is important context for discussion of development of the site.
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