Diligent members of our Planning Board have proposed rezoning the Bloomfield Ave business district from 6 stories to 4. If approved by the Council, this will protect our downtown from more extensive development and density. In addition, other new ordinances are expected to be proposed by the Board and if approved will better regulate the exteriors of new buildings to better fit the character of the existing downtown area.
This direction was changed through the hard work of diligent planning board members supported by persistent push back from residents and by residents asking Council members to support these efforts. This rezoning will end over sized development such as Valley & Bloom and the new hotel coming to our downtown. We want development to enhance our neighborhoods, not simply add density.
Residents need to contact their representatives and/ or speak out at Council meetings during public comment or planning board meetings if this topic comes for additional review. Council members need to know we want our downtown approved for 4 story zoning. See page 9 here for the proposed downtown rezoning map. Look at other rezoning throughout town in this proposal. Address concerns with your Council rep or during public comment at Council.
Mayor Robert Jackson: rjackson@montclairnjusa.org
1st Ward Cllr. Hurlock: whurlock@montclairnjusa.org
2nd Ward Cllr. Schlager: robinschlager@montclairnjusa.org
3rd Ward Cllr. Spiller: sspiller@montclairnjusa.org
4th Ward Cllr. Baskerville: rbaskerville@montclairnjusa.org
At-Large Robert J. Russo: rrusso@montclairnjusa.org
At-Large Rich McMahon: rmcmahon@montclairnjusa.org
Ms.Schlager is also Deputy Mayor
SaveMontclair believes it’s important and most residents concur that Montclair should have bulk and density for all new building complement existing structures in size and design. New buildings should continue the theme voiced by residents to balance development while helping to maintain neighborhood character and preserve our charming architectural heritage.
The currently rising hotel will tower over other Bloomfield Ave structures with 8 stories plus a rooftop bar. This was previously approved under the prior Mayor Fried Administration earlier Gateway 1 Redevelopment Plan. The new Lackawanna Development just reduced in bulk to 4 stories in 2018 after public and Planning Board pressures. The proposed 4 story rezoning for the Bloomfield Ave business district is currently in review by the Council’s subcommittee, Economic Development Committee or EDC which includes Sean Spiller, Renee Baskerville and Robin Schlager (who already voted to support this as a member of the Planning Board).
The public would like to know how the mayor and each Council member feels about this PB proposal to reduce central business district zoning heights to 4 & 3 stories in the entire c-1 downtown district (see Planning Board pages for particulars or what areas exactly), especially those on the EDC committee. Most of the buildings being impacted are those in Ms Baskerville’s and Mr. Spiller’s wards. The Council has already approved reducing the heights on Church Street and Glen Ridge Avenue and those immediate areas.
The Planning Board has proposed reducing heights to 4 and 3 stories all over the central business districts now. The prior zoning there was generally 6 stories. For particulars see:
Zoning & Land Use Regulations Update – Montclair Township
Councilman Rich McMahon has in the past, very publicly supported allowing builds for much taller buildings here openly at multiple public meetings. After up to 200 residents voiced outcry at multiple Planning Board meetings, Mr. McMahon later voted to reduce heights for new builds in Upper Montclair down from 7 stories while he sat on the Planning Board sub-committee dealing with this area zoning during the Master Plan hearings. Other business districts were also reduced from original proposed 7-10 stories in the original draft of the Master Plan. This is now reflected in the 2015 Master Plan.
Mayor Jackson also originally proposed adding taller buildings here (Mayor Jackson ran his 2012 campaign platform for more development in all train station areas) however eventually responded to pressure for reduced density afterward following public push back.
SaveMontclair is concerned about this important proposal being moved to the Council for approval. We dont want this proposal delayed in the EDC because of outside, self serving influences or delayed while another over sized and out of character building gets approved for our downtown. Reducing heights in the CBA to 4 stories is the the current language in the most recent 2015 Master Plan passed by the Planning Board. And the recommendation for this zoning change has now been formally made to the Council directly — passed on after recent Planning Board votes. So this effort at the Council level and requested resident lobbying today above by us is only to get Montclair’s current legal zoning to conform to what the Planning Board has already recommended.
It is ultimately a Council vote that modifies area zoning by ordinance. Thank you very much for your time and attention.
Linda Cranston, Founder, SaveMontclair