10/22/18 Caucus
Councilman Jelmin Caba
PERTH AMBOY – Annie Hindenlang from the Redevelopment Agency again was called on to give an update on the plans for redevelopment of the business district and waterfront areas. She reiterated what was said at previous meetings. The transit village, parking, overcrowding, infrastructure, and improvements, especially on Smith Street and the surrounding area were still at the top of the list of concerns for everyone.
The most important outcome from the discussion involved the Transit Village and the Waterfront District.
When it came to the Transit Village, Hindenlang explained, “All the plans that are shown can be changed. The Planning Board and Council have to approve any plans presented, and you have many options to choose from. Larger property owners raise rents.” This was in response to Council President William Petrick asking why a lot of businesses are leaving. Hindenlang then went on to explain, “Some businesses lost their properties to parking lots. Small Business owners can only make so much money if they have small rental spaces. Big developers can benefit because they have the money to build parking.”
Councilman Helmin Caba stated, “We can still use the rezoning presented, but tone it down so we don’t over populate. Be careful what we implement, but we should concentrate on expanding the Waterfront.”
Hindenlang went on to explain that the Waterfront property owners don’t want expansion. The downtown seems to be of more concern and the Waterfront is off limits.”
Councilman Caba then stated, “The Mayor said they would put the Waterfront on the backburner to look at later.”
Hindenlang responded, “As far as I know, the Mayor said that the Waterfront is off limits.”
During the public comments, Resident Ken Balut said, “There were 10 people coming in with projects that the Council knew nothing about. You can’t even drive downtown and we need a traffic study. The government is giving out loans to help out with businesses. Does the Council know about this?”
Hindenlang responded, “I didn’t inform them about this. It is not part of my responsibilities.”
Annie Hindenlang
Balut then continued, “The Transit Village has been talked about since 2002. The train station should have been done in 2008. New projects are great, but all that’s being done are studies. The biggest problem with Smith Street is because it is being done piecemeal. Businesses with apartments above them have no recreation for those residents.”
Resident Vince Mackiel came up and was concerned about what’s being done with the Brownfield areas (government properties).
Hindenlang answered, “We are building a park on the old junkyard on Second Street which will be fully funded by the State.”
Councilman Fernando Gonzalez then spoke up, “This is a lot to take in. Were there any other analysis’s done to improve the downtown area. We can start with the lighting. Nothing has been done for years. Not much has been done by the BID to improve the façade. The UEZ has $1 million which could be used for the downtown. This (planned rezoning) is being thrust upon us. Let’s do small items first that are within our reach.” He then asked, “How many meetings have you had with the downtown business owners?”
Hindenlang responded, “The BID has hosted several events to help bring traffic to the downtown area.” She went on to explain to the Council, “We have a lot to build on, but you have to fix the codes to start work on the Transit Village. You need to rely more than on small events.”
Councilman Joel Pabon asked, “When was the last traffic study? We have at least 60,000 people in this City and parking should be on top of the list. If we don’t take care of the traffic patterns and parking issues, we’re not going anyplace. The Transit Village has been talked about constantly and all the other towns have had their train stations upgraded but us.”
Hindenlang explained, “I know we need to address parking, especially since we have more people. At night, the parking lots are empty and dangerous.”
Pabon spoke again and stated, “We need to start with the parking lots in the train station, especially with people who do unmentionable things. I know about a couple who recently moved here from Pennsylvania and the woman was afraid to use our train station.”
Hindenlang explained, “The parking (cost) will fall on the residents.”
Pabon said, “There was a developer that was interested in building parking at the train station. The Police should take care of the situation (conditions and conduct of people who are breaking the law at the train station).”
Councilman Helmin Caba then spoke, “In 20 years, all parking decks will be obsolete according to studies. We have to be sure those parking decks can be converted. We are overdue to update the Master Plan to be in compliance with the State. We need to make demands from the government regarding our train station.”
Council President Bill Petrick suggested, “We should put out an RFP to see who will be available to build a parking deck at the train station with private funding.”
Hindenlang responded, “We can do that.”
Petrick then went on to address the lighting situation or lack thereof. “At last year’s League of Municipalities, there was a company there who had information regarding LED lighting which we should look into.”
During the public portion McClellan Street Resident Iris Benzan-Diaz, who is also the owner of C-Town Supermarket on Maple Street talked about trouble that she and her neighbors (on McClellan Street) had during windy conditions. “We lose electricity.”
Councilman Fernando Gonzalez addressed this situation, “Coney Island Restaurant (on Smith Street) said they have the same problem. It seems that a transmission blew and they when they substituted it, they put in a smaller unit.”
Resident Ken Balut came up to, “How many times are we going to talk about the Transit Village, illegal housing, school studies, and parks? What is going on here? And where is the Mayor? The Council should do the redevelopment. Why are we having a paid consultant here instead? They are making a fortune on parking in New Brunswick and those facilities are always full. If a private builder wants to build a parking lot, why not? It’s time the Council took over. Our CFO gets large increases over a five-year period. School guards get better pay than the new police.”
Resident Vince Mackiel wrote a letter (see below).
David Caba came up to speak, “Jersey City told Kushner (developer) that if he doesn’t complete the project, they would cancel his contract. The Dominican Community supported the Mayor and my supporting her was the worst decision I made. Who’s in charge? This is a disgrace (he had photos from High Street). The people need to look at what really affects our City. It took me 15 minutes to go from West Side Avenue to Amboy Avenue (around 4-5 blocks). There are roads that lead to barns in Pennsylvania that are in better condition.”
Resident Alan Silber came up to speak, “People talk about parking, but you can’t give up regulations for economic growth. Instead of giving tickets, police blow their horns to tell people to move their cars. Parking on Saturday night is atrocious.” Silber then stated he found a Christian Paper who reported on the insulting remarks of Noemi Velazquez. “Her remarks were said at the same time that LUPE PAC was telling Petrick to resign. Velazquez was on Mayor Diaz’s strategic planning task force. Mayor Wilda raised $20,000 recently and she has not asked Velazquez to step down. It’s shameful that the Mayor doesn’t respond.”
Iris Diaz came back up to speak and was concerned about two safety issues: “I had a request to have a tree removed on Maple Street. There’s also a fire hydrant by my store. A woman tried to sue me because she was hurt by this hydrant near my store (C-Town).”
At the end of the Meeting, Councilman Fernando Gonzalez questioned why the Taste of Perth Amboy money which used to go to the library was now going to the Homeless Initiative. “We pay $20,000 a month in rent to the Y. Are we making any money from that building? And have we asked to have their books audited?”
