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CALLED ORDER THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING FOR ME, TOWNSHIP OF MEDFORD, MARCH 17TH, 2026.THIS MEETING IS CALLED PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT, EXCUSE ME, LAW.
THIS MEETING OF MARCH 17TH, 2026 WAS INCLUDED IN A MEETING NOTICE SENT TO THE BURLINGTON COUNTY TIMES ON THE CENTRAL RECORD ON JANUARY 7TH, 2026, AND ADVERTISED AND SAID NEWSPAPERS ON JANUARY 11TH, 2026 AND JANUARY 15TH, 2026 RESPECTIVELY.
POSTED ON THE WEBSITE AND THE BULLETIN BOARD.
AND MUNICIPAL MUNICIPAL BUILDING ON JANUARY 7TH, 2026 HAS REMAINED CONTINUOUSLY POSTED AS REQUIRED UNDER STATUTE.
IN ADDITION, A COPY OF THIS NOTICE IS AND HAS BEEN AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AS ON FILE WITH THE OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL CLERK.
PLEASE RISE FOR THE FLAG PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG.
THE UNITED OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH STANDS? ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INVIS WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
OKAY, PLEASE, MS. SANMAR? HERE.
[Additional Item 1]
OKAY.UM, AT THIS TIME, UM, I WILL BE DEVIATING FROM THE POSTED AGENDA.
UM, I AM MAKING A MOTION TO ADD A RESOLUTION FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION.
UM, I WILL BE LOOKING FOR A SECOND.
[EXECUTIVE SESSION]
UM, I WILL NOW BE MAKING A MOTION TO MOVE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.THE PURPOSE OF EXECUTIVE SESSION IS CONTRACTUAL NEGOTIATION.
AND ATTORNEY CLIENT FOR THIS MATTER.
UM, FOR THIS I'LL NEED A ROLL CALL.
AT THIS TIME, UH, WE'LL BE MOVING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
UM, MR. MURKIN, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? I'LL ANTICIPATE BEING DONE, UH, SHORTLY AND IT WILL BE ONLY MATTERS THAT ARE SUBJECT TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
UM, AND WE'LL BE ENSURE WHEN WE COME BACK WE'LL BE ABLE TO ADVISE WHAT.
I AM RECONVENING THE OPEN PORTION OF THE PUBLIC MEETING.
UM, WE DISCUSSED THE MATTERS PURSUANT TO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION, AND AT THIS TIME WE ARE NOT TAKING ACTION ON THE MATTERS DISCUSSED WITHIN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
[Additional Item 2]
I'D LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO AMEND THE AGENDA TO ADD A SECOND RESOLUTION TITLED PRELIMINARY RESOLUTION FOR REMOVAL OF THE TOWNSHIP MANAGER AND SUSPENDING HIM FROM HIS DUTIES PURSUANT TO NJS A 40 69 A DASH 93.THIS TIME THE RESOLUTION HAS BEEN ADDED.
I WOULD LIKE NOW TO, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO EXCUSE ME, MR. DUCK, AND I APOLOGIZE.
IT WOULD BE A MOTION TO ADOPT IF THAT'S THE COUNSEL'S PLEA.
A I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION AS STATED.
MS. SANBORN? YES, MR. COX? AYE.
THAT POINT'S OVER AND THEN YOU CAN MOVE ON WITH THE REST OF THE AGENDA.
UM, AT THIS POINT WE WILL CONTINUE WITH THE POSTED AGENDA TO P'S MEETING.
[IV. Communications, Scheduling Matters, Council Agenda, Presentations and Any Amendments to the Agenda]
WE HAVE A SPECIAL PRESENTATION FOR MR. PAUL SCHIER, MAYOR, ALSO COUNSEL, UM, AS A VETERAN, YOU KNOW, I WANNA SAY THIS BEFORE I ACTUALLY FORGET IT.THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU GUYS DO FOR THE VETERANS.
UH, FREEDOM PARK, I THINK IS A SHOWCASE, BUT A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, I, I HEARD THAT MEDFORD WAS IN THE PROCESS OF SETTING UP A
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HALL OF HONOR FOR THE VETERANS OF MEDFORD.AND AS A VETERAN, AND THIS COME FROM MY HEART.
UM, MEDFORD HAS SHOWN THAT IT CARES ABOUT OUR VETERANS.
SO I REACHED OUT TO ANGELA, UH, WHO I BELIEVE IS IN INVOLVED WITH THIS LET'S CALL PROJECT, AND I ASKED HER IF I COULD DO A COUPLE CARVINGS FOR THE TOWNSHIP.
OBVIOUSLY, UH, YOU KNOW, SHE NOT JUMPED WITH JOY, BUT SAID ABSOLUTELY.
SO I'M, SO I'M HERE TO GIVE 'EM TO YOU.
THIS IS ONE, AND HOPE YOU GUYS BEAUTIFUL.
WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO JUST TURN AROUND AND SHOW THE CAMERA SO THE FOLKS AT HOME CAN SEE, AND THE OTHER ONE FLAG WITH THE SIX ENVELOPES OF THE SIX VARIOUS SURFACES.
I HAVE ONE MORE AND I UNDERSTAND AND REALIZE THAT THE EMPLOYEES OF NORTH ROD WOULD ACCEPT GIFTS AND I'M ALL HERE FOR THAT.
SO I'M GONNA DONATE THIS TO THE TOWNSHIP WITH THE UNDERSTANDING.
IT'S GONNA GO ON ANGELA'S DESK FOR HER TO KIND OF GUARD IT, WHATEVER.
IT'S JUST A LITTLE TRAY WHERE SHE AND ANYBODY CAN PUT THEIR KEYS, UH, BUSINESS CARDS, PENS, PENCILS, WHATEVER THE CASE IS, JUST TO THANK HER FOR WHAT SHE'S DOING FOR OUR VETERANS.
I THINK WE DID HOLD, DESERVES A WRAP, SIR.
ON, ON BEHALF OF COUNCIL, UM, NOT ONLY TONIGHT, BUT ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR OUR TOWN AND OUR VETERANS.
WE WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.
UM, AT THIS POINT, UM, AND I APOLOGIZE SIR, BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD, THE HALL OF HONOR, WOULD YOU BE ABLE JUST TO GIVE FOLKS A, A QUICK, UM, SYNOPSIS OF THE HALL OF HONOR? I DON'T KNOW THAT MUCH ABOUT IT.
WELL IF I'LL HELP FILL INTO SOME BLANKS HERE.
ALL WITH SIMILAR PROJECTS AND VOORHEES AND OVER LAWN SIDE, BASICALLY, I BELIEVE, AND ANYBODY STOP ME IF I'M WRONG HERE.
UH, THE TOWNSHIPS GOING TO PUT PICTURES OF RESIDENTS THAT ARE WAR.
WERE FOR FORMER, YOU KNOW, VETERANS AND WILL HAVE A SHORTENED BIO UNDER ONE UNDER EACH.
IF YOU WALK INTO THE EVESHAM TOWN HALL, YOU'LL SEE, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY, WHAT THEY HAVE DONE.
EVERY WALL IS LIVE WITH PICTURES OF, YOU KNOW, VETERANS.
AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT, AT LEAST HERE IN TOWN, I'M SURE EVESHAM VOORHEES AND ALSO
SOMETHING THE VETERANS WILL NEVER FORGET AND THEIR MEMORIES WILL BE THERE FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.
AND, UM, THERE'S ARTWORK CURRENTLY BEING DISPLAYED.
AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW THAT MUCH ABOUT IT.
UM, AND, AND IT WILL BE AN EVOLVING PROCESS.
AND THIS, THIS IS JUST ONE KEY PART TO IT, BUT YET THE, THE VETERANS, THEIR FAMILIES, THEIR, THEIR PICTURES, THINGS OF THAT NATURE, WILL, WILL, ANGELA'S REALLY, UM, I DON'T WANNA USE THE WORD DECORATING, THAT MIGHT SOUND NOT SOUND WAY, BUT REALLY, UH, SHOWCASING THE VETERANS IN OUR, IN OUR TOWN HALL, AND AGAIN, MEDFORD AND, YOU KNOW, I'M TRYING TO GET, GET, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO GET DOWN.
MEDFORD HAS DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB OF HONORING VETERANS AND ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO DISAGREE STOP BY FREEDOM PARK.
AND I URGE YOU TO STOP THERE AS THE SUN IS GOING DOWN.
I'VE BEEN THERE MANY TIMES AND I'LL, AND I'LL STAND IN FRONT OF ALL OF THE MONUMENTS AND I HAVE TEARS.
IT'S JUST, IT HITS YOU, IT HITS YOU LIKE A BRICK.
THANK YOU EVERYBODY IN MEDFORD.
WE WILL GO INTO OUR COMMUNICATIONS SECTION.
UM, I HAVE A FEW ITEMS WOULD I LIKE TO ADD TO COMMUNICATIONS? NO.
UM, WE RECEIVED NOTICE ON MARCH 16TH OF A TEMPORARY BRIDGE CLOSURE BRIDGE, D 4 5 6 ON CHURCH ROAD BETWEEN FOSTER TOWN ON LAKESIDE DRIVE.
UH, THIS WAS SENT TO, UH, US BY THE BURLINGTON COUNTY ENGINEER'S OFFICE.
SO BASICALLY FOR A THREE WEEK PERIOD THAT'S ALL CROSS OUR FINGERS.
THEY WILL BE DOING WORK ON THAT CHURCH ROAD BRIDGE.
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UM, THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP DURING SOME OF THE DISCUSSIONS AT THIS MEETING, BUT THAT WE RECEIVED THAT INFORMATION FROM, UH, THE COUNTY.UM, THIS THURSDAY, UH, THREE 19 IS OUR FIRST FOOD TRUCK NIGHT OF THE YEAR.
UM, HOPEFULLY THE WEATHER'S NICE.
WHO KNOWS THESE DAYS, WHAT THE WEATHER'S GONNA BE, BUT WE'RE HOPING FOR A GOOD FIRST FOOD TRUCK NIGHT.
UH, THE EASTER EGG HUNT IS BEING HELD NEXT SATURDAY, THE 28TH AT FREEDOM PARK.
AND, UH, SO THIS ONE IS, UM, SOMEWHAT OF A SPOILER ALERT, BUT I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS OKAY NOW TO AT LEAST MAKE MENTION OF IT.
UM, MEDFORD WILL BE RECEIVING ITS OWN MEDFORD MURAL ON THIS SIDE OF UNION AVENUE.
UM, THEY JUST, UH, THEY'RE DOING SOME WORK ON THE BUILDING NOW TO PREP THE, THE WALL.
UM, THINK OF LIKE, UH, THE ASBURY PARK MURAL.
UM, I'M, I'M FORGETTING WHICH OTHER MURALS ARE OUT THERE, BUT, UM, IT'S, IT'S AN ICONIC PIECE THAT I THINK WILL REALLY, UH, PUT EFFORT ON THE MAP WHEN IT COMES TO, YOU KNOW, OPPORTUNITIES TO SHOWCASE OUR TOWN.
WHAT DO YOU THANK FOR THAT? OH, GREAT QUESTION.
UM, SO THERE IS A VERY SPECIAL FAMILY THAT, UM, HAS DONE A LOT FOR MEDFORD, THE SILK FAMILY, BOTH TRISTAN AND GABRIELA AND THEIR CHILDREN.
UM, THEY SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN MEDFORD.
THEY'VE MADE A LARGE INVESTMENT IN MEDFORD AND THEY CONTINUE TO DO SO.
UM, IT'S NOT ONLY THEIR EFFORTS, UM, BUT THEY'VE BEEN WORKING WITH ANGELA AT THE TOWNSHIP AS PAUL.
AND TONY NAPOLI IS THE ARTIST.
AND, UM, HE TAKES STUDENTS, WELL TELL THEM.
SO HE TAKES STUDENTS, UM, IN ART MAJORS AND, UM, WORKS WITH THEM TO CRAFT THE MURAL, UM, DESIGN CERTAIN THINGS.
HE'S GOTTEN INPUT FROM, UM, ANGELA ON THE DESIGN FACT, I DON'T WANT TO LIKE KIND OF GIVE IT AWAY 'CAUSE IT'S STILL IN A ROUGH DRAFT FORM, BUT IT'S, IT'S, IT'S GONNA BE VERY BEAUTIFUL.
UM, SHE'S WORKING VERY, THEY'RE WORKING VERY HARD ON IT, BUT, UH, YEAH, THE, THE SILK FAMILY IS, UH, UM, THEY'VE REALLY MADE A LARGE, UM, PERSONAL INVESTMENT IN MEDFORD.
AND THIS, THIS I THINK IS A, A GREAT WAY TO SHOWCASE THE TOWN, ESPECIALLY THE VILLAGE.
OH, AND, UH, SO YOU'LL BE SEEING PREP WORK DONE ON UNION AVE OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
WE'RE HOPING TO HAVE IT DONE BY THE MEMORIAL DAY PARADE, WHICH IS A PHENOMENAL EVENT.
UM, I KNOW THE VETERANS ENJOY IT, BUT THAT'LL BE UNVEILED, UH, AS LIKE A GRAND UNVEILING ON MEMORIAL DAY.
UM, AND THEN THE LAST ONE IS, UM, YOUTH SPORTS ARE GEARING UP FOR THEIR SPRING SEASON.
THERE'S A LOT OF OPENING DAY EVENTS COMING UP, UM, THESE FEW NEXT, NEXT FEW WEEKENDS.
SO, UM, EVERYBODY'S INVOLVED IN THAT.
JUST ONE, ONE, JUST ONE QUICK QUESTION.
UM, I'M, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE MURAL.
I'M, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT COMPLETION, BUT I'M JUST WONDERING IF THERE'S ANYTHING, UM, THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT ZONING WISE FOR THE MURAL.
'CAUSE I THINK, AS WE ALL RECALL, THERE WAS ANOTHER ISSUE, THE MURAL IN THE PAST.
I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING'S CLEARED ZONING WISE AND, YEP.
THE, UM, THEY MADE SURE THAT THERE WAS NO ADVERTISEMENTS RIGHT OF ANY SORTS WITHIN.
UM, AND THERE'S, THERE'S, UH, ICONIC SCENES WITHIN MEDFORD, UM, BUT THERE'S NO PARTICULAR BUSINESSES THAT ARE, THAT ARE HIGHLIGHTED WITHIN THIS.
UM, BUT YEAH, THAT WAS DEFINITELY A CONCERN, THANK YOU.
I JUST WANNA MAKE, JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE.
UM, SO NEXT WE HAVE SCHEDULING ITEMS. UM, CURRENTLY LISTED ON THE AGENDA IS A MARCH 21ST, 2026 SPECIAL BUDGET MEETING TO BE HELD HERE.
UM, AT THIS MOMENT, UM, I'M GONNA ASK THAT WE POSTPONE THAT MEETING OF ALL BUDGETS UNTIL, UH, FURTHER NOTICE.
SO THE NEXT MEETING WE WILL HAVE IS APRIL 14TH, 2026, REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING AT THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING AT SIX 30.
AND WE ALSO HAVE AN APRIL 23RD TOWN HALL MEETING AT THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING AT SIX 30.
THAT WAS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED FOR THE 21ST.
IT HAS BEEN MOVED TO THURSDAY THE 23RD.
[V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
OKAY.WE ARE MOVING ON TO APPROVAL OF MINUTES.
WE HAVE A FEBRUARY 17TH, 2026 COUNCIL MEETING, MINUTES AND A MARCH 3RD, 2026 EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES.
[VI. DISCUSSION ITEMS]
SO THERE ARE NOT, THERE IS NOT ANY DISCUSSION ITEM LISTED, BUT I DID, WE DID ASK MR. TAYLOR, UH, FROM TAYLOR DESIGN TO GO OVER, UM, THE PRESENTATION FOR REDEVELOPMENT.AND I'D LIKE TO ASK MR. TAYLOR TO DO THAT AT THIS TIME.
I'M GONNA HAVE TO SLIDE OUT OF THE WAY, SHOW SOME, SOME BIGGER PICTURES THAT'S EXHIBITS UP, UM, AS MAYOR AND COUNCIL KNOWN, UH, AND FOR THE PUBLIC, UM, WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THREE ORDINANCES THAT ARE ON, AND THOSE ARE FOR
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REDEVELOPMENT PLANS.UM, WE'RE GONNA GET THE LIGHTS AND IT DOES TAKE A MINUTE TO WARM UP AND WE'LL BRIGHTEN UP A BIT.
I TOLD YOU I SPEAK UP AND I DID.
UM, SO WE'LL DO A LITTLE BIT BY BY WAY OF BACKGROUND, AS, AS WE ALL KNOW, UM, MARCH 20TH, 2024, GOVERNOR MURPHY SIGNED IN SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO THE FAIR HOUSING ACT IN NEW JERSEY, AND HE DIRECTED DCA TO ASSIGN EACH MUNICIPALITY.
ITS NO SIGN, LEMME TURN IT ON.
UM, TO ASSIGN, UH, DIRECTED DCA TO ASSIGN EACH MUNICIPALITY IT'S FOURTH ROUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING OBLIGATION.
THAT AGAIN, WAS MARCH 20TH, 2024.
SUBSEQUENT TO THAT, UH, MEDFORD TOWNSHIP WENT THROUGH AND PREPARED A HOUSING ELEMENT AND FAIR SHARE PLAN.
UH, THAT PLAN, UH, PREPARED BY ENVIRONMENTAL RESOLUTIONS WAS ADOPTED ON JUNE 17TH, 2025.
UH, THAT IDENTIFIED THREE SITES, UH, TO MEET THE TOWN'S PERSPECTIVE.
FOURTH ROUND NEED OF 171, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING CREDITS.
THAT PLAN, THAT HOUSING ELEMENT WAS AMENDED IN DECEMBER 18TH AFTER THE LAFFERTY FARM WAS NO LONGER CONSIDERED TO BE AVAILABLE BECAUSE OF SOME CONTRACTUAL ISSUES BETWEEN THE LANDOWNER AND A PROSPECTIVE PURCHASER.
THE TOWN THEN MODIFIED THE HOUSING ELEMENT AND INTRODUCED A, A THIRD SITE KNOWN AS THE RICK'S AUTO BODY SITE.
UM, AND THAT WAS ADOPTED BY THE PLANNING BOARD IN DECEMBER, AGAIN, DECEMBER 18TH, 2025.
THAT HOUSING ELEMENT, UH, SELECTED THE SITES AND ESTABLISHED THE REQUIRED NUMBER OF AFFORDABLE UNITS TO BE CONSTRUCTED AT EACH ONE OF THE SITES, AS WELL AS THE NUMBER OF MARKET RATE UNITS, UH, FOR EACH OF THE SITES.
THOSE, THE HOUSING ELEMENT WERE, UH, SUBMITTED TO AND APPROVED BY THE COURTS, BY THE FAIR SHARE HOUSING CENTER AND BY THE SPECIAL COURT ADJUDICATOR.
UM, THE NEXT STEP IS, AND AS THE TOWN KNOWS, WE ALL MUNICIPALITIES WERE GIVEN A VERY BRIEF TIMELINE TO CREATE THE IMPLEMENTING ORDINANCES TO FACILITATE THE HOUSING TYPES AND DENSITIES BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY, AND PARTICULARLY, YOU KNOW, MOST TOWNS, UM, HAD TO MODIFY THEIR ZONING TO MAKE THESE ACCOMMODATIONS MUCH LIKE MEDFORD DID.
UH, IT DOES NOT NECESSARILY MATCH WHAT MEDFORD HAD PLANNED FOR THE PARCELS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UH, THIS EVENING.
AND MEDFORD SELECTED TO GO THE REDEVELOPMENT ROUTE.
UM, ONE OF THE ISSUES, AND WE DISCUSSED THIS INTERNALLY, IT WAS OUR OPINION THAT THE REDEVELOPMENT PLAN ROUTE AFFORDS GREATER CONTROL OVER THE QUALITY AND THE CHARACTER OF THE BUILD ENVIRONMENT, UH, FOR ANY INCLUSIONARY DEVELOPMENT, PARTICULARLY WITH RESPECT TO ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN, BUFFERS, AMENITIES, LIGHTING, OPEN SPACE, AND THE RELATED SITE IMPROVEMENTS.
SO ALL THREE OF THE SITES WERE DETERMINED TO BE AREAS IN NEED OF REDEVELOPMENT BY THE PLANNING BOARD.
UH, THE CHALLENGER SITE IN PARTICULAR WAS ACTUALLY, UH, DESIGNATED AS AN AREA IN NEED OF REDEVELOPMENT IN 2017.
BY RESOLUTION 95 DASH 2017, THAT WAS A BACKUP THIRD ROUND SITE, AND IT WAS NEVER REZONED BECAUSE IT WAS NOT NECESSARY FOR IMPLEMENTATION.
THE OTHER TWO SITES, UH, HAVE BEEN MORE RECENTLY DESIGNATED AS AREAS IN NEED OF REDEVELOPMENT UNDER THE NEW JERSEY LOCAL REDEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING LAW THAT GIVES A MUNICIPALITY THE ABILITY TO CREATE A REDEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR EACH ONE OF THESE SITES.
THE REDEVELOPMENT PLANS SET UP SPECIFIC PERMITTED USES THE DENSITIES AND THE HOUSING TYPES, ALONG WITH ALL THE BULK STANDARDS TO IMPLEMENT THE INCLUSIONARY ZONING AS SET FORTH IN THE HOUSING ELEMENT AND FAIR SHARE PLAN.
I'M GONNA GO THROUGH, AND I, I DID A VERY LENGTHY PRESENTATION TWO WEEKS AGO, AS, AS COUNCIL KNOWS, AND I, I WILL DO A, UM, A, A SOMEWHAT ABBREVIATED VERSION, BUT SHOW SOME OF THE GRAPHICS THAT ARE INCLUDED, UH, IN ONE OF THE REDEVELOPMENT PLANS.
MOST OF THE, UH, DESIGN REQUIREMENTS ARE SIMILAR, UH, THROUGH THE THREE PLANS.
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PLANS THAT HAVE BEEN PREPARED BY THE DEVELOPERS THAT WERE INCLUDED IN THE HOUSING ELEMENT AND FAIR SHARE PLAN HAVE BEEN MODIFIED A BIT, AND THEY WILL LIKELY CONTINUE TO BE MODIFIED AS WE MOVE THROUGH THIS PROCESS.A COUPLE THINGS BEFORE WE GET INTO SOME OF THESE STANDARDS.
WHAT WE'RE ESSENTIALLY ADOPTING TONIGHT AND IS ON FOR ORDINANCE IS A MODIFIED LAND DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE.
IT CREATES THE NEW ZONING AND BULK STANDARDS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE PROPERTIES.
ALL OF THESE PROPERTIES WILL STILL HAVE TO COMPLY WITH ALL APPLICABLE N-J-D-E-P COUNTY SOIL EROSION AND ALL OTHER FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL ORDINANCES TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY ARE NOT EXPRESSLY MODIFIED IN THE REDEVELOPMENT PLANS.
IN ADDITION, SO ALL DEP PERMITS, WETLANDS RESTRICTIONS, WETLANDS BUFFER RESTRICTIONS WILL ALL NEED TO BE COMPLIED WITH.
UM, IN ADDITION, EACH ONE OF THE PROSPECTIVE RE DEVELOPERS WILL BE REQUIRED, AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT PROCEDURALLY, TO BE DESIGNATED AS A REDEVELOPER.
THERE WILL BE REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS THAT ADDRESS PHASING AND OTHER, UM, ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS. AND AFTER ALL OF THAT, EACH ONE OF THESE SITES WILL STILL HAVE TO APPLY TO THE PLANNING BOARD FOR SUBDIVISION AND OR SITE PLAN APPROVAL CONSISTENT WITH THE, ANY LAND DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION IN THE TOWN OF MEDFORD AND ANY OTHER MUNICIPALITY IS SET FORTH UNDER THE MUNICIPAL LAND USE, UNDER THE MUNICIPAL LAND USE LAW.
UM, SO OBVIOUSLY THE THREE SITES ARE WHAT'S KNOWN AS THE RESERVE AT IRON BRIDGE OR RICK'S REDEVELOPMENT AREA ZONING DISTRICT, THE LANDINGS AT KIRBY'S MILL, UH, WHICH WAS ALSO CALLED EFS PREVIOUSLY AND REFERRED TO AS SUCH IN THE HOUSING ELEMENT AND FAIR SHARE PLAN.
AND THEN THE TINGER STONE BRIDGE, UH, REDEVELOPMENT AREA.
UM, I CAN ACTUALLY TRY TO SCROLL THROUGH SOME OF THESE.
THERE ARE REQUIREMENTS, UM, AS AS MENTIONED DURING THE PLANNING BOARD REFERRAL, AND I THINK VERY BRIEFLY AT COUNCIL INTRODUCTION, THE CONCEPT PLANS THAT ARE CURRENTLY PREPARED ARE NOT FULLY ENGINEERED.
THERE IS STILL, UH, DUE DILIGENCE IN ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS AND STORMWATER DESIGN AND ENGINEERING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE THESE PROJECTS CAN ACTUALLY BE SUBMITTED FOR SITE PLAN APPROVAL AND EVEN FOR PERMITS AS PART OF THAT PROCESS, SOME OF THE ROADWAYS MAY SHIFT, SOME OF THE UNITS MAY SHIFT ALL OF THE SETBACK REQUIREMENTS AND BUFFER REQUIREMENTS MUST BE COMPLIED WITH.
SO THE PLANS THAT YOU SEE IN EACH ONE OF THE REDEVELOPMENT PLANS ARE GENERALLY WHAT THOSE PROJECTS WILL LOOK LIKE.
BUT THE 50 FOOT PERIMETER BUFFERS CANNOT BE PENETRATED BY BUILDINGS OR LOTS.
ALL OF THEIR LIGHTING REQUIREMENTS, LANDSCAPING AND OTHER THINGS SET FORTH ARE ABSOLUTES.
THE OTHER THING THAT WAS DONE FOR EACH ONE OF THE SITES THE PERMITTED USES, IT HAS AN ABSOLUTE REQUIREMENT FOR THE NUMBER OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS.
SO WE MAKE SURE THAT WE REMAIN COMPLIANT WITH OUR HOUSING ELEMENT AND FAIR SHARE PLAN AND THE CONSENT ORDER, AND IT ALLOWS UP TO A SPECIFIC NUMBER OF MARKET RATE UNITS.
SO IF THEIR FINAL ENGINEERING STORM ORDER MANAGEMENT DESIGN OR ANY OTHER FEATURES COME IN AND THE TOTAL NUMBER OF UNITS CANNOT BE FULLY FIT ON THAT SITE, UH, THE APPLICANT WOULD STILL BE, OR REDEVELOPER WOULD STILL BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE THAT MINIMUM NUMBER OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS TO KEEP US COMPLIANT FOR.
UH, AND IN TERMS OF THE, THE PRINCIPAL PERMITTED USE IS BY NUMBERS UP TO 200 FOR THE IRON BRIDGE OR RICK'S REDEVELOPMENT AREA, THERE WILL BE UP TO 239 TOWNHOUSE UNITS ON FEE.
AGAIN, THOSE ARE FOR SALE FAMILY TOWNHOUSE UNITS, THOSE ARE NOT RENTALS.
ON RICK'S, THERE WILL BE 48 AFFORDABLE RENTAL THREE BEDROOM STACKED TOWN HOMES.
AND THOSE ARE DIFFERENTIATED ON THE CONCEPT PLANS.
EXCUSE ME, WHAT DOES STACKED MEAN? I'VE HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE ASK ME ABOUT THAT.
SO STACKED BASICALLY MEANS SOME TOWN HOMES ARE, UH, FLOOR TO ROOF NARROW INDIVIDUAL UNITS WHERE ONE UNIT IS NOT LOCATED ABOVE ANOTHER.
A STACKED UNIT IS WHERE THERE WOULD BE A GROUND FLOOR ENTRY AND THE UNITS CAN BE, UM, ONE ABOVE THE OTHER.
IT'S NOT AN APARTMENT ARRANGEMENT BECAUSE EACH ONE HAS ITS OWN INDIVIDUAL
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DOOR TO THE OUTSIDE.UM, BUT IT IS A, A VERTICAL STACKING OF THE UNITS AND IT CREATES A LITTLE BIT MORE EFFICIENT LAND USE ON THE SITES.
UH, FOR THE LANDINGS AT KIRBY'S LANDINGS AT KIRBY'S MILL, THE PERMITTED USES ARE UP TO 158 MARKET RATE FOR SALE, UH, THREE AND FOUR BEDROOM TOWNHOUSE UNITS ON FEE SIMPLE LOTS AND 40 AFFORDABLE RENTAL, THREE BEDROOM STACKED TOWNHOUSES.
UH, I WILL NOTE THAT THE THREE SINGLE FAMILY LOTS PREVIOUSLY PROPOSED THAT ARE FRONTING ON CHURCH ROAD AT THE LANDINGS AT KIRBY'S MILL SITE ACROSS FROM, UH, ACROSS FOSTER TOWN ROAD FROM KIRBY'S MILL WILL BE PRESERVED, UH, AS CONSERVATION AREA A AND MAINTAINED BY THE, UM, ULTIMATE HOA FOR THAT COMMUNITY AND THE PERMITTED USES AT THE INGER STONEBRIDGE SITE LOCATED OFF OF 5 41, INCLUDING AN INCLUSIONARY, UH, PROJECT OF NO MORE THAN 300 TOTAL UNITS CONSISTING OF 36 AGE RESTRICTED TWIN UNITS ON FEE SIMPLE LOTS OR DUPLEXES.
SO EACH ONE WILL HAVE ITS OWN LOT AND THOSE WILL BE FOR SALE SENIOR TWINS.
THE TOWNHOUSE COMPONENT COMPONENT INCLUDES 12 AFFORDABLE STACKED TOWNHOUSE UNITS THAT ARE RENTAL FOR WHICH WE RECEIVED A, A RENTAL BONUS AND THE PREPARATION OF THE HOUSING ELEMENT AND FAIR SHARE PLAN.
AND THEN UP TO 113 MARKET RATE TOWNHOUSE UNITS ALSO WANTS FEE SIMPLE LOTS.
SO EACH ONE OF THOSE TOWN HOMES WILL HAVE ITS OWN INDIVIDUAL LAW.
EXCUSE ME TO JUST EXPLAIN, I DON'T KNOW IF THE PUBLIC KNOWS WHAT THE BONUS MEANS.
SO I, I WOULD, UM, FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF UNIT TYPES, THERE ARE THAT THEY NEED TO KNOW CREDIT BONUSES, SO I WOULD DEFER MR. NO'S OFFICE PREPARED THE HOUSING ELEMENTS.
SO MAYBE HE COULD EXPLAIN THE, THE BONUS CALCULATION.
WHY DON'T YOU CONTINUE AND I'LL, I'LL OKAY, I'LL FOLLOW UP.
AND THEN ALSO LASTLY, AT TRAER THERE IS A SINGLE FAMILY COMPONENT THAT CONSISTS OF UP TO 139 MARKET RATE FOR SALE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.
UH, SO THROUGHOUT ALL THREE OF THE DEVELOPMENTS, WE, I APOLOGIZE, I JUST DIDN'T WRITE IT.
THESE ARE MARKET RATE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.
THESE ARE MARKET RATE FEE, SIMPLE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES FOR SALE AND THE NUMBER THERE FOR SALE.
UM, THERE ARE REQUIREMENTS THAT THE UNIT MIX, THE BEDROOM DISTRIBUTION, UM, EVERYTHING ELSE WILL HAVE TO COMPLY WITH THE UAC REQUIREMENTS OR THE, UM, UNIFORM HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CONTROLS REQUIREMENTS.
AND THAT'S ALL SET FORTH IN THE HOUSING ELEMENT AND ALSO THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, UM, FOR TRIALER AND STONEBRIDGE.
THAT PLAN ALSO INCLUDES THE, I WILL, LEMME TRY TO OPEN THAT IF I CAN FIND A POINTER, ACTUALLY DRAW ONE.
SO FOR CHALLENGER, WE HAVE 5 41.
UH, ON THE LEFT WE HAVE CHURCH ROAD.
HERE WE HAVE THE SENIOR TWIN AFFORDABLE UNITS IN THE NORTHWEST WE HAVE A SINGLE FAMILY COMPONENT THAT COMES THROUGH HERE.
AND THIS IS THE INCLUSIONARY TOWNHOUSE COMPONENT WITH BOTH MARKET RATE AND AFFORDABLE TOWN HOMES.
ON THE FAR EASTERN PORTION OF THE SITE, THERE IS A LOT 27, WHICH IS ABOUT NINE TENTHS OF A MILE LONG.
UH, THE REDEVELOPMENT PLAN REQUIRES THAT A 10 FOOT WIDE AASHTO COMPLIANT REGIONAL BIKE TRAIL WILL BE CONSTRUCTED ON THAT LOT WITH THE ULTIMATE PLAN FOR THAT TO CONNECT INTO THE DOWNTOWN AND ALSO NORTH THROUGH LUMBERTON.
AND CONNECTING TO BURLINGTON COUNTY'S RAINO IS CREEK GREENWAY TRAIL, UH, SYSTEM.
THAT LOT WILL BE DONATED EITHER OR DEDICATED TO MEDFORD TOWNSHIP OR DIRECTLY TO BURLINGTON COUNTY AT MEDFORD TOWNSHIP'S SOLE DISCRETION.
UM, AS SET FORTH AT THE TIME OF SITE PLAN APPROVAL, UH, THERE WAS ALSO A REQUIREMENT AND A REQUEST FROM THE TOWNSHIP FOR A SIDEWALK EXTENSION SO THAT FOLKS LIVING IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD CAN GET DOWN TO THE INTERSECTION TO THE WAWA AT DUNKING DONUTS AT THE INTERSECTION OF 5 41.
AND CHURCH, SIR, BEFORE YOU MOVE FORWARD, THANK, JUST ELABORATE ON THE TRAIL BETWEEN
[00:30:02]
THE SENIOR TWINS AND THE MARKET RATE HOMES.YEAH, SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE, THAT WE'VE DONE ON, ON ALL THE PROJECTS IS, UH, SIDEWALKS ALONG ALL STREET FRONTAGES.
SO THERE'S PEDESTRIAN CON SAFE PEDESTRIAN CONNECTIVITY, UH, FOR THE WALKING PUBLIC AND FOR THE RESIDENTS, AND THEN ALSO CREATING LOOP INTERCONNECTIONS THROUGH THE SITES.
UH, THE FINAL LOCATIONS WILL BE DETERMINED BASED ON THE FINAL WETLANDS DELINEATIONS, BUT THAT'S A RECURRING THEME SO THAT PEOPLE CAN HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO LOOP WALKING WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITY WITHOUT NECESSARILY GETTING OUT ONTO SOME OF THE ROADWAYS.
UH, ARE YOU ABLE TO DISCUSS THE, THE, THE RED SECTION? UM, WE CAN DISCUSS THE RED SECTION THERE.
THERE IS AN AREA IN THE, IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE SITE WHERE THERE ARE SOME UPLANDS, UM, THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY BEING DEVELOPED AS PART OF THE FOURTH ROUND.
AND AS PART OF THE DISCUSSIONS, UH, THE TOWNSHIP REQUESTED AND THE PROSPECTIVE REDEVELOPER AGREED THAT THAT AREA WILL BE DEDICATED TO THE TOWNSHIP AS A POTENTIAL FUTURE FIFTH ROUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING SITE IF DETERMINED NECESSARY IN THE FUTURE.
I GUESS SINCE I DID THAT ONE, I SHOULD JUMP BACK AND I'LL, I'LL TALK VERY BRIEFLY.
THIS IS THE, THE KIRBY'S MILL SITE.
OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE THE CEMETERY IN RURAL FIELD AND THE MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, UH, TO THE EAST, UH, FOSTER TOWN AND CHURCH.
YOU CAN SEE LOT 27 AND THE INGER PARCEL IS TO THE WEST IN THIS LOCATION, OUR SIGNIFICANT FRESHWATER WETLANDS THAT IMPACT THE SITE.
BUT WE HAVE AN INCLUSIONARY TOWNHOUSE COMMUNITY THAT HAS RECREATION AMENITIES THROUGH, THERE ARE TRAIL CONNECTIONS TO THE FUTURE REGIONAL TRAIL ALONG THAT WESTERN BOUNDARY.
AND THEN AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, THE THREE PROPERTIES THAT, UH, WERE IDENTIFIED AS, UH, FUTURE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES FRONTING ON CHURCH ROAD, UH, WILL BE PRESERVED AS HOA OPEN SPACE.
AND JUST FOR REFERENCE, THE KIRBY'S BOY THAT IS A BLINDING GREEN, UM, KIRBY'S MILL IS LOCATED IN THIS AREA IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT, SIMILAR ELEMENTS AND WE'LL, I'LL, I'LL GO THROUGH A COUPLE OF THE GRAPHICS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THE PLAN.
THERE ARE 50 FOOT PERIMETER BUFFERS LOCATED ALONG ALL ROADWAYS AND ALL INTERFACES WITH EXISTING DEVELOPMENTS.
UH, THAT INCLUDES A FOUR TO SIX FOOT HIGH BURMING AS WELL AS SIGNIFICANT LAYERED VEGETATION.
AND THEN I, UM, FOR THE RICK SITE, SO OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE TWO COMPONENTS AND, AND WE, WE TALKED AT LENGTH ABOUT THIS BEFORE.
THERE IS A, A SMALL FARM DITCH, UM, THAT PREVIOUSLY HAD A 50 FOOT RIPARIAN BUFFER, UH, ON EITHER SIDE OF THAT.
AND I GUESS FOR REFERENCE, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THIS IS CHURCH ROAD AND ARIS TOWN ROAD IN THIS LOCATION HERE, BROOKS, THE BROOKSIDE COMMUNITY IS LOCATED, UH, TO THE SOUTHWEST.
UM, ONE OF THE CHANGES THIS PREVIOUSLY HAD A 50 FOOT, 50 FOOT RIPARIAN ZONE BUFFER AND THERE WAS A LARGER BUFFER TO THE EXISTING BROOKSIDE COMMUNITY IN THAT SOUTHWEST AREA.
UM, BECAUSE OF SOME THREATENING ENDANGERED SPECIES ISSUES, UH, THE DEVELOPERS CONSULTANTS ARE, UH, IN AGREEMENT THAT THEY, THAT THE DEP WILL REQUIRE A 150 FOOT BUFFER FROM THAT ESSENTIALLY FARM DITCH BECAUSE IT FLOWS INTO THE OCCUS CREEK.
SO THIS 300 PLUS FOOT SWATH HAD TO BE PRESERVED, WHICH ULTIMATELY PUSHED THIS DEVELOPMENT A BIT CLOSER, UM, THAN WHAT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN ANTICIPATED.
UM, AS WE MENTIONED BEFORE, A COUPLE THINGS.
WE STILL HAVE THE 300 OR WE STILL HAVE THE, UH, 50 FOOT PERIMETER BUFFERS AROUND THE ENTIRE PERIMETER OF THE SITE.
THERE WERE ALSO ADDITIONAL HEIGHT LIMITATIONS, UM, ON ALL OF THE SITES WHERE IN THE THIRD ROUND, ALL OF THE BUILDINGS WERE PERMITTED TO BE UP TO 45 FEET IN HEIGHT AND THREE STORIES.
AND FOR THE FOURTH ROUND THEY WERE LIMITED TO TWO AND A HALF STORIES AND THAT MAXIMUM HEIGHT WAS REDUCED FROM 45 FEET DOWN TO 39 FEET.
AGAIN, TRYING TO MINIMIZE THE VISUAL IMPACTS.
[00:35:01]
A PARAMETER RELATIVE TO THE CALCULATION OF BUILDING HEIGHT TO AVOID A SITUATION WHERE EXCESSIVE FILL WAS PLACED ON A SITE AND THEN COULD HAVE A DRAMATIC NET IMPACT.SO BUILDING HEIGHT GETS CALCULATED, UH, FROM EXISTING GRADE WHEREVER THERE IS THREE FEET OR MORE OF FILL, UH, IN A GIVEN AREA.
SO AGAIN, WE HAVE, UM, A COUPLE OF ADDITIONAL PARAMETERS.
THE BUILDINGS IN THE SOUTHERN SOUTHWEST PORTION OF THE SITE AND ALSO FOR THE THREE BUILDINGS CLOSEST TO THE INTERSECTION HAVE AN ADDITIONAL PARAMETER THAT THE TOP OF THE FOUNDATION OF THOSE STRUCTURES CAN BE NO HIGHER THAN 24 INCHES ABOVE GRADE TO REALLY TRY TO KEEP THE VISUAL PROFILE OF THOSE BUILDINGS TO AN ABSOLUTE MINIMUM WHILE STILL MEETING THE DENSITY REQUIREMENTS, UM, NECESSITATED BY THE HOUSING ELEMENT AND FAIR SHARE PLAN.
AS WE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE DESIGN STANDARDS, UH, WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PERIMETER BUFFERS.
WE ACTUALLY, UH, DEVELOP SOME STANDARDS AND SOME GRAPHIC SYMBOLS WITH ENLARGEMENTS THAT ARE INCLUDED AS REQUIREMENTS IN THE REDEVELOPMENT PLAN.
THIS SHOWS THE 50 FOOT BUFFER AREA WITH THESE KLINE BERMS THAT WILL BE FOUR TO SIX FEET IN HEIGHT.
THEY WILL BE NATURALIZED WITH MORE OF A GOLF COURSE TYPE OF A FORM, UM, TO REINFORCE THE NATURAL SORT OF AGRICULTURAL FEEL OF THESE AREAS AS OPPOSED TO A, A VERY GEOMETRIC, UM, FORM.
IT WILL HAVE PREDOMINANTLY EVERGREEN TREES PLANTED AT SIX TO EIGHT FEET IN HEIGHT, AND 25% OF THOSE TREES WILL BE EIGHT TO 10 FEET IN HEIGHT TO CR TO CREATE A COMPLETE VISUAL SCREAM.
THERE WILL ALSO BE INCLUSIONS OF EVERGREEN SHRUB MASSES, DECIDUOUS SHRUB MASSES, SHADE TREES, AND ALSO ORNAMENTAL TREES, UH, TO PROVIDE THAT VISUAL SEPARATION THAT HAS BEEN A PRIORITY, UM, AS SET FORTH BY COUNCIL AND, AND ALSO BY THE PROFESSIONALS.
THIS IS A GRAPHIC SECTION, UH, THAT IS REPRESENTATIVE OF WHAT THAT BUFFER WILL LOOK LIKE.
ILLUSTRATIVELY STREET TREES AND PLANTINGS, UH, ADJACENT TO THE SIDEWALKS OUT ON THE PERIMETER ROADS.
THIS IS DRAWN TO SCALE AT THAT 50 FOOT BUFFER WIDTH SHOWING THAT FOUR TO SIX FOOT HIGH EARTHEN BERM WITH MAXIMUM SIDE SLOPES OF THREE TO ONE WITH AN AVERAGE OF FOUR TO ONE.
AND THEN ALSO THIS IS, UH, ABOUT THE DISTANCE, UM, FOR MANY OF THE UNITS FOR THE SETBACK.
SO YOU GET A LITTLE SENSE OF THE HUMAN SCALE AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF NOT ONLY THE THE LANDSCAPE PLANNING ITSELF, BUT ALSO THE BI.
UM, WE ALSO PUT SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS IN FOR EACH ONE OF THE COMMUNITIES TO PROVIDE CHILDREN'S PLAY ENVIRONMENTS WITH BIKE RACKS 18 BY 18, UH, SHADE PAVILIONS WITH GRILLS, PICNIC TABLES, BENCHES, UH, PLAY AMENITIES THAT ARE FENCED IN AS WELL.
AND EACH ONE OF THE AFFORDABLE TOWNHOUSE AREAS, UH, THOSE UNITS DO NOT HAVE REAR DOORS AND THEY DON'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PATIOS OR DECKS ON THE REAR OF THEM.
SO EACH ONE OF THOSE BUILDINGS WILL INCLUDE A 14 BY 14 SITTING SHADE PAVILION WITH SOME PICNIC TABLES, GRILLS, AND BENCHES.
SO THE FOLKS IN THOSE BUILDINGS HAVE THEIR OWN RELATIVELY PRIVATE, UH, SITTING AREA THAT IF THEY WANT TO HAVE A SMALL BIRTHDAY PARTY OR OTHER GATHERING, THEY CAN DO THAT WITHIN A HUNDRED FEET, UM, OF THEIR UNIT WITHOUT HAVING TO GO TO THE OVERALL MAIN COMMUNITY COM, UH, AMENITY AREA.
WHAT, WHAT WAS THE BASIS FOR MAKING THOSE, UH, OUTSIDE STRUCTURES WORKING BY 14 VERSUS 18 BY 18? SO ONE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF PROMINENCE IN A SENSE OF, UH, SCALE.
WE WANTED TO HAVE ONE THAT COULD ACCOMMODATE LITTLE LARGER GROUPS IN THE MAIN COMMUNITY AREA.
UM, AND THEN FOR THE ONES THAT ARE AT EACH ONE OF THE BUILDINGS HAVE THAT BE A LITTLE SMALLER AND A LITTLE MORE INTIMATE.
IT'LL ALSO HELP SORT OF LIMIT THE SIZES OF, OF WHAT CAN HAPPEN THERE.
'CAUSE THEY ARE LOCATED IN SOMEWHAT SMALLER AREAS MORE ABOUT HIERARCHY OF, OF USE AND MAGNITUDE.
UM, ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE, WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME, AND THESE ARE EXAMPLES THAT WERE SET FORTH BY, UH, THE PERSPECTIVE REDEVELOPER.
WE WENT TO GREAT LENGTHS TO TRY TO WORK ON THE ARCHITECTURE TO GET SOMETHING THAT WAS MORE FITTING, UH, WITH THE AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL RUSTIC CHARACTER
[00:40:01]
OF MEDFORD.I THINK WE ALL PROBABLY DRIVE A LOT OF PLACES AND WE SEE A LOT OF WHITE VINYL SHOEBOX TOWNHOUSES AND THAT ONE OF THE OBJECTIVES HERE WAS TO DO SOMETHING THAT WOULD BLEND AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE BEHIND THE LANDSCAPE VEGETATION.
WE TRIED TO INTRODUCE A NUMBER OF, UM, ELEMENTS, UH, TO THE SITE AND IT'S, LET ME GRAB MY POINTER AGAIN.
UM, CONSIDERABLE SETBACKS AND MODULATION OF THE ROOF LINE, THE INTRODUCTION OF BOTH SHED AND GABLE DORMERS WITH LOUVERS AND OTHER FENESTRATION.
IN THOSE GABLE ENDS, WE'VE GOT SIX OVER SIX WINDOWS AS WELL AS, UH, MORE SIGNIFICANT WINDOW SURROUNDS THAT WILL NOT JUST BE VINYL, BUT A, A SOLID CELLULAR PVC OR AEC TRIM.
YOU'LL SEE SIDE ENTRY PORCHES TO TRY TO MINIMIZE THE VISIBILITY OF THE NUMBER OF DOORS.
AND THAT DEEMPHASIZES THE, THE DENSITY ON THE SITE.
THE ADDITIONAL PORCHES ALSO CREATE MORE SHADE AND BREAK UP THE MASS OF THOSE STRUCTURES VISUALLY.
THERE REPENT ROOF ELEMENTS INTRODUCED OVER THE GARAGES, AND THEN THERE WERE ALSO TRELLIS ELEMENTS INTRODUCED OVER THE GARAGES.
ALL THE GARAGES WILL HAVE WINDOWS AS WELL AS, UM, GARAGE DOOR HARDWARE AND THEY WILL ALSO NOT BE STARK BRIGHT WHITE, BUT THEY WILL BE AN OFF-WHITE COLOR THAT COMPLIMENTS, UH, THE REST OF THE DESIGN VOCABULARY FOR THE BUILDINGS, ALL OF THE BUILDINGS.
UM, WE HAVE PRESENTATIONS FOR THE FRONTS, THE SIDES, AND THE REARS.
YOU'LL NOTICE, UH, FLY RAFTERS AND ROOF ELEMENT EXTENSIONS ON THOSE HIGH VISIBILITY SIDES.
AGAIN, NOT FLAT REARS, BUT BUT BOX BAY ELEMENTS THAT EXTEND UP TO DORMERS.
ALSO A LOT OF BOARD AND BATTEN UH, VERTICAL SIDING AGAIN TO TRY TO, UH, PULL TOGETHER SOME OF THAT AGRICULTURAL FEEL.
THERE WILL BE PATIOS AND OR DECKS INCLUDED WITH ALL UNITS WITH SMALL PRIVACY FENCES LOCATED, UH, BEHIND EACH ONE OF THOSE STRUCTURES.
AND YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE DIFFERENCES HERE.
UM, THE, THE TOP UNIT HERE IS A SLAB ON GRADE CONDITION THAT WILL OCCUR IN SOME LOCATIONS.
THIS BOTTOM UNIT IS A UNIT WITH A BASEMENT.
YOU CAN SEE THAT THE FINISHED FLOOR IS RAISED A COUPLE FEET ABOVE GRADE.
AND THEN IN OTHER AREAS WHERE THE, UM, SEASON HIGH WATER TABLE PERMITS, THERE WILL BE WALKOUT CONDITIONS.
UM, FOR THOSE TOWNHOUSES, THIS IS A SIMILAR VARIATION, UM, WITH THAT, THAT HAS AN EXTENDED SUNROOM ON THE BACK OF THAT UNIT.
UM, THIS IS A UNIT THAT, UH, SIMILAR ELEMENTS TO THE FRONT WITH A SIDE ENTRY AND WE TRIED TO, UH, KEEP THE LEVEL OF DETAILING SIMILAR.
THIS IS A THREE BEDROOM MODEL THAT ACTUALLY HAS, UH, A PRESENTATION OF A SINGLE FLOOR ON THE BACKSIDE.
WHERE WOULD THAT REAR BE PRESENTED IN, IN THE
THIS IS A THREE BEDROOM MODEL, SO BASED ON, UM, BASED ON MARKETING.
SO THAT'S, UM, THIS IS THE AFFORDABLE UNIT, SO YOU CAN SEE THAT WE EMPLOYED THE SAME LEVEL OF DETAILING AND PUSHED THE DEVELOPER TO INTRODUCE SIGNIFICANT DETAILING IN THE FORM OF THE, UH, SHED DORMERS.
THE, THE GABLE ENDS, THE FENESTRATION ROOF, WINDOWS, SIDING MATERIALS, UH, CHANGES IN COLORS AS WELL.
UM, AND THAT IS FOR THE OLIVIA AND THE BACKS.
THE, OR THE REDEVELOPMENT PLAN REQUIRES THAT THE REARS OF THE REARS AND SIDES BE SIMILARLY TREATED AS THE FRONT FACADES.
UM, THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT SITE DESIGN STANDARDS, UH, LISTED.
EVERYTHING MUST COMPLY WITH THE NEW JERSEY BARRIER FREE SUB CODE, AS WELL AS THE NEW JERSEY RESIDENTIAL SITE IMPROVEMENT STANDARDS.
AND ALSO WITH THE N-J-D-E-P STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, UH, REGULATIONS.
UM, ALL THE DEVELOPMENTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT TRAFFIC STUDIES, UM, AGAIN AS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THEIR SITE PLAN APPROVAL.
UM, AND THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT DESIGN STANDARDS, UM, FOR A VARIETY OF THE SITE DESIGN ELEMENTS.
UH, WE PUT SOME GRAPHICS IN FOR REFUSE ENCLOSURES, WHICH CAN BE UNSIGHTLY AND THEY BASICALLY WILL, ALL THE REFUSE ENCLOSURES
[00:45:01]
WILL MATCH THE MATERIALS FOR THE BUILDINGS THEMSELVES, SO IT FITS IN AND BLENDS INTO THE OVERALL LANDSCAPE OF THE BUILD ENVIRONMENT.ALSO FOR THE AFFORDABLE UNITS THAT DON'T HAVE GARAGES, UM, WE ARE REQUIRING ENCLOSED COVERED BICYCLE PARKING, UH, FOR THE FOLKS THAT LIVE IN THOSE UNITS, UH, OUTSIDE IN SORT OF A LOAF AND ANIMAL LOAFING SHED MOTIF AGAIN TO TRY TO DRAW SOME OF THE AGRICULTURAL CHARACTER AND CARRY THAT THROUGH TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE.
UH, AGAIN, SIGNIFICANT BUILDING DESIGN STANDARDS THAT ARE ALSO WRITTEN IN THAT HAVE MINIMUM ROOF PITCH REQUIREMENTS BUILDING AND, UH, BUILDING FACADES, SETBACK OFFSETS, AS WELL AS, UH, ROOF, UM, STAGGERING, UH, WINDOW REQUIREMENTS.
ADDITIONAL STANDARDS FOR TOWNHOUSES THAT, YOU KNOW, WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, SUSTAINABLE BUILDING PRACTICES, A SIGNIFICANT LANDSCAPE ORDINANCE.
WE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE BUFFERING REQUIREMENTS.
FOR EVERY A HUNDRED LINEAR FEET OF PERIMETER BUFFER, THERE'S A REQUIREMENT THAT THERE BE EIGHT EVERGREEN TREES AND THEY'LL BE SIX TO EIGHT FEET AND EIGHT TO 10 FEET IN HEIGHT.
TWO SHADE TREES, THREE ORNAMENTAL TREES, 25 EVERGREEN SHRUBS, AND 15 DECIDUOUS SHRUBS TO REALLY CREATE A LAYERED LANDSCAPE SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU'D SEE IN SOME OF THE OTHER COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT MEDFORD OR EVEN FURTHER NORTH IN MORRISTOWN ON HARTFORD ROAD.
IF, IF YOU DRIVE NORTH, UH, THE COMMUNITY, UM, ALL OF THE LIGHTING WILL BE 3000 DEGREE KELVIN.
IT WILL NOT BE A BRIGHT BLUISH WHITE.
UM, IT'S MORE OF A SUNSET LESS IMPACTFUL COLOR.
THEY WILL ALL BE FULL CUTOFF LIGHT FIXTURES, WHICH MEANS IT WILL NOT BE A FLOODLIGHT TYPE FIXTURE THAT CREATES, THAT CREATES ANY, UH, OFFSITE GLARE AND MINIMIZES THAT.
THERE'S ALSO A, A REQUIREMENT THAT THERE BE ZERO FOOT CANDLES OF LIGHT ENCROACHING OFF OF THE PROPERTY LINE, SO THERE'LL BE NO LIGHT ENCROACHMENT ONTO ANY OF THE ADJACENT PROPERTIES.
THERE ARE ALSO, UH, ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS IN EACH ONE OF THE REDEVELOPMENT PLANS, UH, SET FORTH, UM, AS REQUIRED BY THE LOCAL REDEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING LAW.
AND THAT WAS MY ATTEMPT AT THE SLIGHTLY SHORTER VERSION.
IF I CAN GET JUST THE OFF THE OBJECTOR.
UM, MR. TAYLOR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AGAIN FOR THAT PRESENTATION.
UM, AS WE'VE STATED AT THE, UM, ALL THE MEETINGS, BUT, UH, PARTICULARLY THE, THE THREE THREE COUNCIL MEETING, THE PRESENTATION THERE WAS EXCELLENT, UH, NOT REQUIRED, BUT EXCELLENT.
UM, THE PLANNING BOARD PRESENTATION JUST AS WELL, AND THEN THIS AS WELL, I THINK, ANSWERED SOME OF THE GENERAL QUESTIONS THAT THE PUBLIC MAY HAVE.
UM, AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN THE FLOOR TO OUR PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION.
UM, AS I, UM, STATED IN THE PAST, UH, IT'S A PRIVILEGE THAT, UM, NOT MANY PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD GET TO DO SPEAK OPENLY TO YOUR GOVERNING BODY, UM, WHETHER YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE, UM, WE'RE HERE TO LISTEN.
UM, I WILL ASK THAT MR. UM, I'LL ASK MR. MCGUCKIN TO, TO HOLD THE TIME FOR US.
WE'RE HAVE FIVE MINUTES WITH AN ADDITIONAL MINUTE IF NEEDED.
I JUST WANNA SAY SOMETHING YOU GOOD ON.
OH, BEFORE WE GO UP, THAT'S ALL.
UM, SO BEFORE WE OPEN UP, I'LL TURN IT OVER.
UH, BEFORE, BEFORE WE BEGIN, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT, THE PORTION THIS EVENING, YOU KNOW, AS, AS THE MAYOR HAS STATED, UH, JUST EARLIER TONIGHT AND AS HE DOES PRIOR TO EACH MEETING, UH, THIS OPPORTUNITY IS A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY THAT EVERY RESIDENT IS AFFORDED IN THIS TOWN.
EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON, UH, COUNSEL WAS ALERTED TO A, TO A SITUATION WITH
[00:50:01]
A RESIDENT WHERE THE RESIDENT IS ESSENTIALLY BEING HARASSED FOR COMING HERE AND SPEAKING HER MIND AND GIVING HER GUIDANCE TO THIS COUNCIL.I FIND THAT ABSOLUTELY APPALLING FOR ANYONE TO ADDRESS A RESIDENT IN THAT FORM OR FASHION.
AND I FIND IT DESPICABLE, EVEN BEYOND WORDS THAT AN ORGANIZATION WILL CONTACT THIS RESIDENT'S EMPLOYER TO LET THIS RE THIS RE LET THIS RESIDENT'S EMPLOYER KNOW WHAT IS BEING SAID.
SO PLEASE NOTE FROM MYSELF, AND I BELIEVE I CAN SPEAK FOR THE REST OF THIS COUNCIL.
WE WELCOME YOUR THOUGHTS AND YOUR OPINIONS.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS OPEN CIVIC DIALOGUE AND NO ONE.
AND IF YOU DO FEEL LIKE YOU ARE BEING HARASSED FOR ANY COMMENTS THAT YOU ARE MAKING, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US DIRECTLY.
AND WITH THAT MR. MAYOR, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE PROVIDE MR. MCGUCKIN WITH THE MATERIALS THAT WERE PROVIDED TO US.
SO THAT FORMAL COMPLAINT MAY BE ALLEGED WITH THE STATE, THE VARIOUS STATE AGENCIES IN RESPONSE TO WHAT I BELIEVE IS THE HARASSMENT ALLEGED UPON OUR, OUR RESIDENT.
UH, I HAVE NOT SEEN THEM, BUT I AM ALL IN FAVOR OF THAT.
THANK, I'VE ALREADY SENT IT TO MR. MCGUCKIN.
[VII. PUBLIC COMMENTS (Part 1 of 2)]
SO AT THIS TIME WE ARE OPENING THE PUBLIC COMMENTS SECTION.UM, I DID SEE MR. KLEINMAN'S HAND FIRST, BUT I, I'LL TRY TO GO IN ORDER.
I APOLOGIZE IF I SKIP OVER, BUT YOU WERE DEFINITELY NUMBER TWO.
MS. HOLLOWAY, YOU WERE NUMBER THREE.
COUNSEL, UH, YOU ALREADY SAID MY NAME, SO I GUESS YOU KNOW WHO I AM.
UH, BUT FOR THOSE THAT DON'T, MY NAME'S JASON KLEINMAN.
I'M A 11 YEAR RESIDENT HERE AND I'M HERE TONIGHT TO PUT THIS COUNSEL ON FORMAL NOTICE OF WHAT APPEARED TO BE SEV, SERIOUS VIOLATIONS OF YOUR OWN APPOINTMENT POLICIES VIOLATIONS THAT MAY CALL INTO QUESTION THE LEGAL VALIDITY OF DECISIONS MADE BY MULTIPLE TOWNSHIP BOARDS ON JANUARY 27TH.
THIS YEAR, THIS COUNCIL PASSED RESOLUTIONS 35 THROUGH 39, MAKING APPOINTMENTS, THE PLANNING BOARD, THE ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, THE ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND THE GREEN TEAM ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
YOUR OWN CITIZEN ADVISORY BOARD APPLICATION CLEARLY STATES THAT I'M QUOTING FROM IT.
THE TOWNSHIP COUNCIL POLICY ALLOWS INDIVIDUALS TO SERVE ONLY ON ONE STANDING BOARD, COMMISSION, OR COMMITTEE AT A TIME.
WHEN I CROSS-REFERENCED THE MEMBERSHIP LIST ACROSS ALL FIVE OF THESE RESOLUTIONS, I FOUND 11 INDIVIDUALS APPOINTED THE MORE THAN ONE STANDING BODY SIMULTANEOUSLY.
SOME SERVE ON TWO BOARDS, AT LEAST ONE SERVES ON THREE.
I WANNA BE CLEAR ABOUT WHY THIS MATTERS BEYOND THE PROCEDURAL TECHNICALITY.
AND I WANNA HIGHLIGHT ONE CONFLICT IN PARTICULAR THAT I FIND ESPECIALLY CONCERNING AT LEAST ONE MEMBER SITS SIMULTANEOUSLY ON THE ZONING BOARD AND ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WHOSE EXPLICIT MISSION IS TO ADVANCE GREEN INITIATIVES IN THIS TOWNSHIP ON ITS FACE THAT MAY SOUND HARMLESS, EVEN ADMIRABLE.
IN PRACTICE, THE ZONING BOARD HAS LEGAL AUTHORITY TO APPROVE OR DENY VARIANCE APPLICATIONS FROM TOWNSHIP RESIDENCE AND BUSINESSES.
IF A MEMBER OF THAT BOARD HAS SIMULTANEOUSLY HAS SIMULTANEOUSLY COMMITMENT TO AN ADVISORY BODY WITH A SPECIFIC ENVIRONMENTAL AGENDA, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN AN APPLICATION COMES BEFORE THEM THAT THEY PERSONALLY VIEW AS INSUFFICIENTLY GREEN? DO THEY VOTE ON THE MERITS IN THE LAW OR DOES THEIR PARALLEL ROLE AND THE VALUES AND OBLIGATIONS THAT COME WITH IT INFLUENCE THAT DECISION? RESIDENTS AND APPLICANTS HAVE A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO A ZONING BOARD THAT RULES STRICTLY ON LEGAL STANDARDS USE SETBACK, HARDSHIP, AND THE LIKE.
THEY DO NOT HAVE TO PROVE THEIR PROJECT MEETS THE IDEOLOGICAL OR ENVIRONMENTAL PRIORITIES OF ANY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
YET WHEN THE SAME PERSON WEARS BOTH HATS, THAT LINE BECOMES DANGEROUSLY BLURRED.
AN APPLICANT MAY NEVER KNOW WHETHER THEY WERE DENIED BASED ON THE LAW OR DENIED BECAUSE OF BOARD MEMBER WITH A GREEN AGENDA DECIDED THAT THEIR PROJECT DIDN'T MEASURE UP TO A STANDARD THAT HAS NO LEGAL BASIS IN A ZONING PROCEEDING.
THIS IS NOT JUST A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, THIS IS A DUE PROCESS CONCERN.
THE SAME LOGIC APPLIES TO MEMBERS WHO SIMULTANEOUSLY SERVE ON BOTH THE PLANNING BOARD AND THE EDC WHERE PRESSURE MAY RUN IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION TOWARD THE PROVING PROJECTS THAT SHOULD FACE GREATER SCRUTINY.
IN BOTH CASES, RESIDENTS LOSE, THEY LOSE IMPARTIALITY, THEY LOSE CONFIDENCE, AND THEY MAY LOSE LEGAL DECISIONS THAT WERE NEVER MADE ON A FAIR NEUTRAL BASIS.
FOR ALL THE REASONS I JUST STATED, I'M FORMALLY REQUESTING.
TONIGHT THE COUNCIL DIRECT THE TOWNSHIP ATTORNEY TO REVIEW ALL DUAL APPOINTMENTS, IDENTIFY THEM RESOLUTIONS 35 THROUGH 39, ASSESS WHETHER ANY DECISIONS MADE BY THESE AFFECTED BOARDS ARE LEGALLY COMPROMISED AND REPORT BACK TO THE PUBLIC WITH FINDINGS AND ANY NECESSARY CORRECTIVE ACTION.
I HAVE COMPLETE DOCUMENTATION OF MY FINDINGS, I'LL PROVIDE IT TO ANYONE THE COUNCIL DESIGNATES, AND I WOULD ALSO ASK THAT MY COMMENTS BE ENTERED INTO
[00:55:01]
THE OFFICIAL RECORD OF THIS MEETING.BEYOND THAT, I JUST WANNA SAY FOR THE RECORD, SEEING MISS THE, THE TOWER DESIGN PRESENT TONIGHT, HOW THEY'RE BENDING OVER BACKWARDS TO REZONE THINGS FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF LETTING THESE NEW COMMUNITIES BE BUILT.
THAT NOBODY WANTS TO LET THESE DEVELOPERS MAKE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON THE BACKS OF THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE HERE THAT DON'T WANT THEM.
WHEN SOMEONE LIKE ME CAN'T BUILD A GARAGE IN MY BACKYARD, IT'S DISGUSTING AND, AND IT'S RIDICULOUS AND IT NEEDS TO STOP.
YOU STILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
I'M FROM 39 BANK STREET IN WHAT I CALL THE VILLAGE.
SO I'M JUST GOING TO TRY TO GET BACK TO SUMMARIZING WHAT YOU PRESENTED AND I DON'T KNOW YOUR NAME.
SO SCOTT, CAN I JUST SUMMARIZE WHAT I UNDERSTOOD YOU JUST TOLD US? SURE.
I BELIEVE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THREE OSTENSIBLY NEW SUBDIVISIONS.
SO I'M JUST CALLING THEM ONE, TWO, AND THREE IN THE ORDER WITH WHICH YOU PRESENTED THEM.
CAN YOU TELL ME IN JUST SUBDIVISION ONE, AND I THINK YOU WERE STARTING TO HEAD IN THIS DIRECTION, HOW MANY HOMES ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? TOWNHOUSES, SINGLE FAMILY HOMES TOTAL AT MARKET VALUE ARE GOING BE BUILT IN NUMBER ONE.
I WILL AND, AND I I DID GO THROUGH THESE, BUT IT WAS YEAH, JUST THE SUMMARY PLEASE.
AND, AND IF I CAN AND CAN WE MAYBE HOLD HER TIME FOR ONE SECOND? SURE.
THE ONE THING I WANT TO CLARIFY, THE PLANS THAT WE'RE WRITING NOW ESSENTIALLY ONLY SET UP THE DESIGN STANDARDS.
I UNDERSTAND ALL OF, ALL OF THESE NUMBERS AND THE HOUSING TYPES WERE ALREADY ESTABLISHED AND APPROVED BY THE COURT.
I'M JUST TRYING TO GET THE NUMBERS UNDERSTOOD.
SO OUR PLAN IS REALLY TRYING TO SET UP THE DESIGN STANDARDS SO THAT THESE UNITS ARE THE LEAST VISUALLY IMPACTFUL, UM, AS THEY CAN BE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
SO SUBDIVISION ONE, HOW MANY MARKET VALUE HOMES ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? I THINK THAT WAS RICK'S.
AND IF YOU GUYS DON'T MIND, IF YOU WOULD START COMING CLOSER TO YOUR MICS.
SO THAT WE IN THE PUBLIC AND HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, THAT WOULD BE FABULOUS.
SO THE IRON BRIDGE OR THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE CALLING ONE IRON BRIDGE OR RICK'S SITE.
NUMBER TWO, THAT'S THE LANDINGS AT KIRBY'S MILL.
AND THAT HAS 158 TOWNHOUSE UNITS, MARKET VALUE, TOWNHOUSE MARKET RATE TOWNHOUSES MM-HMM
AND NUMBER THREE? NUMBER THREE IS THE TINGER STONEBRIDGE SITE.
AND THAT, UM, SO THERE ARE 139 SINGLE FAMILY MARKET RATE UNITS.
THERE ARE UP TO 113 MARKET RATE TOWNHOUSE UNITS.
OBVIOUSLY WE'VE GOT THE COMBINED MARKET VALUE ARE THE ONE 13 AND THE 1 39.
AND HOW MANY AFFORDABLE THERE ARE 12 AFFORDABLE TOWNHOUSE UNITS.
AND THERE ARE 36 AGE RESTRICTED TWIN, AGE RESTRICTED AND NOT AFFORDABLE.
THEY ARE, THEY ARE ALSO AFFORDABLE.
AFFORDABLE, AGE RESTRICTED TOWN HOMES, TWINS, TWINS.
NOW I'M SURE YOU'VE ALREADY TOTALED ALL OF THAT UP, RIGHT? I DON'T HAVE TO.
I I HAVE, THEY WERE, THEY WERE TOTALED IN THE HOUSING ELEMENT.
DO YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW THAT NUMBER? I I, I DON'T HAVE TO TELL ANYBODY OUT THERE.
SO BOTTOM LINE IS THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF HOMES.
SO HAS, I'M SURE STUDIES HAVE BEEN DONE ON THE IMPACT OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
SO IS THAT PART OF THE PLAN TO DO AN IMPACT? IT IS ON OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
SO THE STATE, WHEN THE GOVERNOR SIGNED THE CHANGES TO THE FAIR HOUSING ACT MM-HMM
AND DIRECTED DCA TO ASSIGN A FOURTH ROUND OBLIGATION TO THE MUNICIPALITIES.
[01:00:01]
MM-HMMTHE MUNICIPALITIES WERE TOLD HOW MANY AFFORDABLE UNITS THEY HAD TO PROVIDE.
THAT'S, THAT'S THE PLAN THAT THE TOWN DID.
THESE CONCEPT PLANS WERE INCLUDED IN THAT HOUSING ELEMENT IN 2025.
WE ARE DOING THE ZONING RIGHT NOW IN RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL.
WE PUT A REQUIREMENT IN ALL OF THESE REDEVELOPMENT PLANS THAT THE REDEVELOPER WILL BE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT A FISCAL COMMUNITY IMPACT STATEMENT.
SO THE MUNICIPALITY, WHICH INCLUDES IMPACT TO THE SCHOOLS.
I'M JUST TRYING TO GET DOWN TO THAT.
SO WE SPECIFICALLY, THAT WAS REQUESTED, WE WROTE THAT IN AS A REQUIREMENT.
AND THAT'S ALL GONNA HAPPEN AFTER THIS GETS APPROVED.
SO THAT WILL HAPPEN PRIOR TO SUBMISSION TO THE PLANNING BOARD FOR SITE PLAN APPROVAL.
SO THIS REDEVELOPMENT PLAN, WE WERE REQUIRED BY THE COURT TO SUBMIT NEW ZONING REQUIREMENTS, GOT ALL THAT.
AND I DON'T WANNA TAKE UP A LOT OF TIME BY, BASICALLY BY TODAY WE'VE ADDED ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THESE DESIGN REQUIREMENTS AND ALSO FOR THE REDEVELOPER TO PROVIDE A COMMUNITY FISCAL IMPACT ANALYSIS FOR ON THE SITES.
AND I, I LOVED YOUR PRESENTATION.
SO I'M JUST TRYING TO KEEP IT SHORT.
FOR ME, MY PERSONAL UNDERSTANDING IMPACT TO THE SCHOOLS IS THE THING I'M MOST CONCERNED ABOUT.
SO I CAN'T IMAGINE WHY WE'RE DOING ALL OF THIS WITHOUT TAKING A LOOK AT THE IMPACT ON OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
I, IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME.
WE'RE SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY AND TIME ON SOMETHING THAT JUST MAY NOT BE FEASIBLE BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT TO OUR SCHOOLS.
ARE WE GOING TO BUILD ANOTHER MIDDLE SCHOOL? THIS IS A LOT OF HOUSES WITH POTENTIALLY A LOT OF CHILDREN.
SO I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT.
I ALSO NEED TO UNDERSTAND CLEARLY, IS NEW CONSTRUCTION BEING DRIVEN BY THE REQUIREMENT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR IS IT THE OTHER WAY AROUND? COULD WE JUST BUILD THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS THAT THE STATE'S MANDATING? OR ARE THE BUILDERS ADDING ALL THIS NEW CONSTRUCTION IN TO COMPLY WITH THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING? WHICH ONE IS IT? ANYBODY? THAT'S AN EASY, THAT'S AN EASY ONE MA'AM.
THE STATE IS ALLOWING THE BUILDER TO BUILD, SET ASIDE NUMBERS THAT ARE WHAT KIND OF NUMBERS? IT'S CALLED SET ASIDE, SANITIZED, SET ASIDE.
SO IF WE'RE REQUIRED AS A MUNICIPALITY TO BUILD 171 AFFORDABLE UNITS, SO WHY DON'T WE JUST DO THAT? THERE'S NO MECHANISM IN PLACE FOR US TO DO SO, SHOULD WE HAVE NO MONEY? DID SOMEBODY SAY WE HAVE NO MONEY? SO WE NEED TO DO THAT TO COMPLY, BUT IN ORDER TO COMPLY, THEY'RE USING SOME KIND OF MATHEMATICAL NUMBER THING TO FIGURE OUT AFFORDABLE NEEDS TO BE THIS PERCENTAGE, WHICH MEANS AS A BUILDER, I CAN BUILD THIS MANY, THEY NEED TO BUILD FOUR MORE, FOUR MORE HOUSES FOR EACH, FOUR MORE MARKET RATE HOMES TO OFFSET THEIR COST.
WHO CAME UP WITH THAT NUMBER? THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY MA'AM? YEAH.
I'M SORRY I TOOK THAT MUCH PROBABLY, BUT IN A WAY I'M NOT AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY AND THAT THANK YOU MA'AM.
ONE, UM, AND MA'AM TO JUST TO GO BACK ON YOUR COMMENT ON THE, THE SCHOOL IMPACT MM-HMM
UM, WE ON COUNCIL ARE GREATLY AFFECTED PERSONALLY.
WE HAVE CHILDREN IN THE SCHOOL AS WELL.
UM, AND UM, I DON'T WANNA SPEAK FOR JUST MYSELF, BUT I KNOW MANY MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD HAVE BEEN AT ALL THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS.
WE HAVE A FORMER 30 YEAR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER AS WELL SERVING ON THIS BOARD.
UM, I'VE MET PERSONALLY WITH THE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT AND WE'RE DISCUSSING THE IMPACT THAT THESE PROJECTS COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE.
UM, IN CONVERSATIONS WITH MR. TAYLOR, THERE'S A MATHEMATICAL EQUATION, TELL ME IF I'M WRONG.
THAT, THAT DOES A DECENT JOB OF DEPICTING HOW MANY SCHOOL AGED STUDENTS WILL COME FROM THESE DEVELOPMENTS.
UM, WHEN THAT STUDY WAS DONE FOR THE THIRD ROUND HOUSING OBLIGATION, THE NUMBERS WERE HALF OF WHAT? OF WHAT THE ACTUAL CHILDREN THAT ENTERED THE SCHOOLS ONCE THEY WERE BUILT.
SO THAT'S ALL GREAT, MIKE, BUT YOU ARE TAKING UP ADDITIONAL TIME AND IF IT'S MINE, I
NO, YOU YOU, YOU'RE ANSWERING ME AFTER I SAT DOWN.
YOU, YOU, I JUST WANT TO KNOW SIMPLE THINGS LIKE WHEN'S THE IMPACT STUDY BEING DONE AND IF YOU ARE SUGGESTING MM-HMM
SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE WORKING ON IT.
I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT YOU SPEED IT UP.
APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS MA'AM.
FOLLOWING MY NAME IS MARYANNE HOLLOWAY.
I'M GONNA HAND THINGS OUT TO PUT 'EM ON THE RECORD.
[01:05:06]
OR OH, THANKS.I'M RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTING THAT TO BE PUT ON THE RECORD.
UM, I HAVE ONE OTHER QUESTION TO ASK.
THERE WAS AN APPROVAL OF MINUTES.
I DIDN'T SEE THE MINUTES FROM THE LAST MEETING WHERE I PRESENTED, UM, THE OUTLINE FOR THE LAWS AND REGULATIONS THAT GOVERN THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING RESTRICTIONS.
WHEN YOU VOTE ON MINUTES, THEY'RE NOT ON THE WEBSITE FOR ANYBODY TO SEE PRIOR TO YOU VOTING ON THEM.
UH, IT SAYS HERE YOU'RE APPROVING MINUTES FROM FEBRUARY 17TH.
IS IT THE MARCH 3RD MEETING OR IS IT THE FEBRUARY 17TH MEETING? FORGIVE ME.
FEBRUARY, MARCH 3RD, EXECUTIVE.
SO I HAD PUT THINGS ON THE RECORD BEFORE, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE BEFORE THE MINUTES ARE APPROVED ON THAT MEETING THAT IT WOULD BE INCLUDED.
AND I WANNA, I WANNA MAKE SOMETHING PUBLIC.
NOBODY ON THIS COM THIS COUNCIL WAS, UM, ON THE COUNCIL, OR I BELIEVE INVOLVED BACK IN 2015.
WHAT I JUST HANDED YOU WAS ENVIRONMENTAL RESOLUTIONS.
UH, REPORT THAT SPECIFICALLY LOWERED ALL THE REQUIREMENTS FROM ME EFFORT IN THE THIRD ROUND TO BE ABLE TO BUILD A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THIS REPORT SPECIFICALLY SAYS THAT THERE WERE SUCH LAND RESTRICTIONS AND AVAILABILITY OF LAND THAT THEY COULD NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENT AND THE REQUIREMENTS WERE LOWERED BETWEEN 40 AND 50% AT THAT TIME.
IN THIS REPORT, IT SPECIFICALLY SAYS THAT THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT THAT THE TOWN COULD HANDLE AS 150 UNITS, THOSE UNITS ARE BUILT.
THE LAND THAT YOU ARE CURRENTLY ZONING AND BUILDING ON FOR ALL THESE UNITS WAS ELIMINATED FROM BEING ABLE TO BE USED BACK IN 2015.
THIS IS A LEGAL DOCUMENT THAT WAS SUBMITTED AS PART OF FAIR SHARE.
MADE IT PART OF THE RECORD AND THEY AGREED WITH YOU.
I'D LIKE AN EXPLANATION ON HOW IN THE SHORT 10 YEARS NOTHING HAPPENED TO THE LAND.
A MATTER OF FACT IT MIGHT'VE GOTTEN MORE SENSITIVE.
HOW ARE WE SITTING HERE DOING A PLAN ON LAND THAT'S ALREADY BEEN ELIMINATED BY A LEGAL DOCUMENT PREPARED BY THE SAME ENGINEERING FIRM THAT IS NOW SAYING THEY COULD BUILD ON IT.
I'M GONNA BE FILING A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH FAIR SHARE.
I'M GONNA TRY TO GET AN ANSWER.
I DO THINK THAT THE PEOPLE ON THIS COUNCIL ARE GONNA TAKE, I'M PRAYING THAT YOU'RE GONNA TAKE AN ACTIVE ACTION TO FIND THE ANSWER AND MAKE THIS STOP.
THERE'S SOMETHING VERY, VERY WRONG.
TWO REPORTS AND THIS CAN'T HAPPEN.
THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE THAT I'D LIKE TO GO OVER.
THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE, I PUT INTO RECORD THE LEGAL SUMMARY OF THE RULES AND LAWS THAT GOVERN BEING ABLE TO APPLY THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEED RESTRICTIONS AND HOW THEY APPLIED AROUND FOUR.
UM, I HAD A CONVERSATION THAT I WAS PROMISED THAT IF I WAS ABLE TO PRESENT THE RULES AND THE FACTS AND THE LAWS THAT YOU WOULD WORK WITH ME AND FIND OUT HOW WE DO AND APPLY THE DEED RESTRICTIONS TO ROUND FOUR.
NO, I SPOKE, I HAVE NOW DONE THAT.
I SPOKE WITH MR. MCGUCKIN, CORRECTED ME AT THE LAST MEETING AND SAID, NO, YOU CAN'T BECAUSE THERE'S A MODEL ORDINANCE UP AT DCA IN 2024.
UM, A NEW SET OF REGULATIONS THAT DID AWAY WITH COA.
PART OF THE COA REGULATIONS WERE DATES AND TIMES AND DIFFERENT THINGS.
THOSE, THE SPECIFIC PURPOSE OF THE LEGISLATION WAS TO ALLOW THE PRESERVATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEED RESTRICTIONS AND TO GIVE THE TOWN MECHANISMS SO THEY WEREN'T LETTING DEED RESTRICTIONS EXPIRE, AND THEN BUILDING NEW ONES AND LETTING 'EM EXPIRE AND LOSING HOUSING, AFFORDABLE HOUSING STOCK, WHICH IS SO IMPORTANT IN THIS AREA.
[01:10:01]
THROUGH IT WITH THEM.THEY TRIED TO FUMBLE AROUND AND FIND SOMETHING THAT SAID THAT THERE'S SOME RULES AND DATES AND TIMES THEY CAN'T FIND IT.
SO RIGHT NOW, AS THE OUTLINE THAT I GAVE YOU, THE OUT NOW, SIR, I, I'M MORE THAN GLAD LET YOU TALK.
MA'AM, MY JOB IS TO RECORD THE TIME.
WE AS COUNSEL, WE AGREED TO ALLOW AN EXTRA MINUTE.
WE'RE DOING SO, SO WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY TO YOU IS YOU HAVE TWO SOLID REASONS TO BACK THIS OFF.
THE OTHER THING I WANNA SAY IS ALL DR. HORTON DID IN THIS SLIDESHOW THAT MR. TAYLOR PRESENTED.
IF ANYBODY WANTS TO SEE WHAT IT'S GONNA LOOK LIKE, GO ACROSS A MED PORT AND WALK THROUGH MEDFORD WALK.
THEY TOOK THE ARCHITECTURE AND APPLIED IT OVER THERE, AND THEY'RE GONNA CHANGE THE COLORS.
THE PARKING IN THERE IS ATROCIOUS.
AND IT'S GONNA BE THE SAME THING WHERE YOU'RE GOING.
IF YOU WANNA KNOW WHAT IT'S GONNA LOOK LIKE, IT'S ALREADY BUILT.
THEY DON'T EVEN, I DON'T EVEN THINK THEY'RE GONNA HAVE THE COST OF ARCHITECTURE 'CAUSE THEY ALREADY HAVE THE PLANS DONE.
I ALSO WANNA SAY ONE OTHER THING, AND I HOPE YOU'RE GRACIOUS ON THIS.
WE HAVE A FAMILY, I HAVE PEOPLE IN MEFOR THAT ARE GONNA BE HOMELESS SHORTLY, AND I'M DESPERATELY TRYING TO FIND THEM A HOUSE.
THEY'RE GONNA BE LIVING IN THEIR CAR, SENIOR CITIZEN, LATE SIXTIES, ALONG WITH THE SUN.
WHEN THEY WENT OVER TO THE WILLOWS, THE MODERATE INCOME, THE RENTS ARE 1700 TO $1,900 A UNIT.
THEY HAVE TO MAKE A, A MINIMUM AMOUNT OF MONEY.
THEY'VE BEEN REJECTED BY SECTION EIGHT SAYING THAT IT'S A CLOSED SYSTEM, WHICH HAS GOTTA BE ADDRESSED.
THEY WENT INTO TOWN HALL TO GET HELP AND THEY WERE TURNED AWAY.
THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN MEFFORD.
I'M DESPERATELY TRYING TO FIND THIS WOMAN IN HER SON PLACE TO LIVE.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS SO IMPORTANT AND WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE IS NOT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE WASHERS AND DRYERS IN THE UNITS OVER AT THE WILLOWS.
I'M HOPING THAT IF THIS DOES GO THROUGH AND THERE IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING BEING BUILT, YOU GIVE THESE PEOPLE SOME DIGNITY.
AND THAT LITTLE GAZEBO GO OVER AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE WILLOWS.
WHAT ARE THEY DO IN FEBRUARY? TAKE THEIR KIDS OUT IN THE SNOW AND HAVE A BIRTHDAY PARTY.
I GO INTO THE LOBBY OVER THERE AND I ALMOST HAD TEARS.
IT IS NOT EVEN, THERE'S NO HUMANITY IN IT.
I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS REPORT WAS BROUGHT TO YOUR ATTENTION OR YOU EVEN KNEW ABOUT IT.
SO I'M ASKING RESPECTFULLY FOR SOMETHING TO BE DONE.
I GAVE YOU TWO SOLID LEGAL REASONS AND I HOPE IT WORKS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, MARYANNE, BEFORE YOU GO, MARYANNE? YES, MARYANNE.
MICHELLE, WHO DID YOU SPEAK TO AT DCA? BECAUSE I WAS GIVEN VERY DIFFERENT INFORMATION.
I SPOKE WITH HEATHER MCKAYLEY.
HEATHER MCKAYLEY, THE SAME PERSON RAY TALKED TO.
AND SHE DID DESPERATELY TRY TO FIND SOMETHING AND SHE COULDN'T.
SHE DID SAY THAT THE MODEL ORDINANCE DOES NOT EXIST.
THEY PULLED IT MONTHS AGO AND I HOPE I DIDN'T JUST GET HER IN TROUBLE FOR BEING HONEST.
I CANNOT ASK FOR HER NAME THEN.
I CANNOT ASK FOR HER SPECIFICALLY.
YEAH, NO, I, SHE WAS REALLY NICE.
AND SHE WAS REAL, VERY HELPFUL.
SHE POINTED ME TO DIFFERENT STATUTES.
SHE WAS TRYING TO RUN ME THROUGH IT.
I DID, WHERE SHE POINTED ME TO.
AND THE PURPOSE OF THE LEGISLATION WAS TO PRESERVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING STOCK AND BE ABLE TO APPLY IT TO THIS ROUND.
THEY TOOK OUT ALL THE REQUIREMENTS.
'CAUSE EACH OF THE GROUPS I'VE SPOKEN TO HAVE TOLD ME OTHERWISE.
AND THAT, DO YOU KNOW WHAT PROJECT FREEDOM? THAT'S DCA.
AND MICHELLE, I AGREE WITH YOU.
SHE TRIED TO START SAYING THAT WHEN I POINTED IT OUT TO HER.
AND THEN AS I SPOKE TO HER SOME MORE, SHE WENT TO ANOTHER SECTION AND SHE GOES, NO, THAT DOESN'T APPLY EITHER.
SO IN ALL FAIRNESS, UNTIL I STARTED TO TALK TO HER IN DEPTH, I DO BELIEVE THAT SHE MIGHT'VE THOUGHT THAT THE OLD, OLD RULES APPLIED AND THEY DON'T.
SO THAT'S ALL I CAN SAY, AND I DON'T WANNA HOLD UP ANYBODY ELSE'S TIME.
YEAH, THIS IS PRETTY GOOD SECTION.
MARIANNE TOOK YOUR FIVE MINUTES.
UM, ZACH WILSON, 51 NORTH MAIN STREET.
[01:15:01]
TALK A COUPLE NUMBERS REAL QUICK.I WAS KEEPING TALLY AS THE LAST, UM, AS THE LAST ONES WERE, UM, COMING OUT.
AND IT COMES TO 785 AS THE TOTAL, THE, OF ALL THE NUMBERS THAT WERE THROWN OUT THERE.
BUT WHEN I LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF AFFORDABLE UNITS WITHIN THERE THAT WERE CITED, I AM ONLY COMING UP WITH 136 AND I THOUGHT THAT OUR NUMBER WAS 171.
AND SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT, CALL THAT OUT AND SEE IF WE COULD GET SOME INFORMATION AS TO WHY THERE'S THE DISCREPANCY THERE.
I, YOU KNOW, I'VE HEARD A, A MURMURINGS THROUGH THE CROWD ABOUT THE NUMBERS CONSTANTLY CHANGING.
AND I THINK JUST ACKNOWLEDGING THE FACT THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT IN THE FINAL DESIGN NUMBERS MAY CHANGE, UM, DEPENDING ON ALL OF THE, THE STUDIES AND EVERYTHING.
UM, BUT THAT THE AFFORDABLE NUMBER WILL STAY THE SAME.
BUT IT SEEMS LIKE EVEN THAT IS SHIFTING.
AND I, I, I HAVE A FEELING THAT THERE'S AN EXPLANATION FOR IT, BUT I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL AWARE OF WHAT THAT EXPLANATION IS, UM, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, BY MY COUNT THAT'S 35 LESS THAN WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO COME UP WITH.
SO JUST KIND OF ON TRYING TO FIGURE THAT OUT.
I DO HAVE A SECOND PART, BUT IF WE WANT TO GET INTO THAT FIRST, I'M HAPPY TO HOLD THE REST OF MY TIME.
YEAH, WE'RE, WE'LL HOLD YOUR TIME.
SO THERE'S, UH, BONUS CREDITS THAT WE GET, WHICH COMES BACK TO YOUR QUESTION.
SO THERE'S A NUMBER, THERE'S NINE CRITERIA THAT YOU, IF YOU MEET THEM, YOU CAN GET BONUS CREDITS.
THE ONES THAT WE'RE GETTING ARE FOR AGE RESTRICTED UNITS AND FAMILY UNITS AND RENTALS.
THOSE BONUS CREDITS ADD UP TO THE, WE'RE ACTUALLY A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN 1 71.
AND, AND I'M SORRY, JUST TO CLARIFY THAT LAST POINT, THE REASON WE HAVE BONUS CREDITS THAT EQUAL MORE THAN 1 71 IS IF THERE ARE DENSITY PROBLEMS, WE STILL NEED TO MAINTAIN THAT TOTAL 1 71 NUMBER.
I, LIKE I SAID, I, I'M SURE THAT THERE WAS A A REASON, BUT AS PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO MAINTAIN A SENSE OF THE NUMBERS, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ALL AWARE AND, YOU KNOW, I, I JUST GONNA KIND OF, I, I UNDERSTAND THAT KIND OF WE'RE AT WHERE WE'RE AT AND THAT THERE'S VERY LITTLE THAT'S GONNA CHANGE THIS TRAJECTORY.
UM, I DO THINK THAT IT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL FOR THE TOWN TO UNDERSTAND MAYBE IN, IN RETROSPECT AS, AS KIND OF A POSTMORTEM, WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE IN FINAL COST OF THESE MOVES BETWEEN THE CURRENT PLAN AND ACTION AND THE ONGOING COSTS THAT ARE GOING, THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO INCUR FOR THE SCHOOLS, FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE, ET CETERA, WITH THIS PLAN.
UM, VERSUS WHAT IT WOULD'VE BEEN TO FLOAT BONDS AND COMPLETELY FUND THIS, UM, OURSELVES, JUST THE 1 71 ALONG WITH WHATEVER POTENTIAL IMPACT THERE WOULD BE, UH, TO THE, TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE SCHOOLS, ET CETERA.
BECAUSE THAT IMPACT WOULD BE MUCH, MUCH LOWER THAN THE CURRENT PLAN.
UM, AND THE IMPACT, YOU KNOW, THE IMPACT TO THOSE, THOSE INDIVIDUAL PIECES WOULD BE LOWER.
SO I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT FOR US TO KNOW, ESPECIALLY AS WE TALK ABOUT ROUND FIVE ALREADY, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT SHOULD OUR PLAN BE FOR THE NEXT TIME? MAYBE IT IS IN FACT SELF-FUNDING, UH, THE NEXT ROUND BECAUSE OF HOW MUCH THE FINAL BILL IS GOING TO BE FOR, FOR THIS PLAN.
UNDERSTAND THERE'S, AGAIN, VERY LITTLE THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE NO MATTER HOW MUCH WE ARE FIGHTING AND BRINGING INFORMATION TO, TO BEAR.
UM, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE SET DOWN THIS COURSE, BUT WE DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO BE ON THIS COURSE.
AND IT WOULD BE GREAT IF THE NEXT TIME WE CAN, WE CAN LOOK AT, UH, THE INFORMATION FROM A, THE DECISION FROM A DATA-DRIVEN STANDPOINT RATHER THAN JUST BUILD, BUILD, BUILD.
UH, MR. WILSON, THE ONE I HAD SAID LAST TWO WEEKS AGO, I JUST APOLOGIZE IN REFERENCE TO ROUND FIVE THAT SOME PEOPLE WERE LIKE, OH, IT'S WAY TOO EARLY.
IT IS DEFINITELY NOT TOO EARLY.
I WISHED EIGHT YEARS AGO WE HAD BEEN DOING WHAT WE'RE GONNA BE DOING NOW.
UM, BUT WE WAS TAKING A SERIOUS LOOK AT ROUND FIVE.
AND, UM, THOSE DISCUSSIONS AS YOU, YOU, YOU'VE BEEN AWARE, YOU'VE BEEN TIED IN VERY CLOSELY ON THESE, UM, SOMEONE HAD MENTIONED EARLIER, WHY DON'T WE JUST BUILD THEM OURSELVES.
THERE'S SOMETHING THAT EVERY TOWN HAS CALLED AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND.
OURS HAS VERY LOW, UM, REVENUES BECAUSE WE DON'T DO A LOT OF COMMERCIAL BUILDING IN OUR TOWNSHIP.
OTHER MUNICIPALITIES ALLOW WAREHOUSES, UM, LARGE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT, UM, THAT'S, THAT'S BEEN TABOO IN MEDFORD FOR A LONG TIME.
UM, AND COUPLED WITH HOPEFULLY PRESERVING LANDS TO, TO ACCOMMODATE FIFTH ROUNDS IF NEEDED, WHEN INDEED RESTRICTIONS WOULD BE OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY RIGHT NOW FOR FIFTH ROUND.
BUT, UM, SMART COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT TO FORTIFY THAT FUND, IN ADDITION WITH THE LAND, IS A DIRECTION THAT I BELIEVE MEMBERS OF COUNCIL ARE GONNA TRY TO PURSUE TO ALLOW FOR THE COUNCIL EIGHT YEARS FROM NOW TO HAVE THESE OPTIONS THAT YOU PRESENTED.
UM, SIR, YOU HAD YOUR HAND UP NEXT.
[01:20:06]
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT MY CONCERN WITH THE LACK OF RECREATIONAL AMENITIES GOING INTO THE RICKS DEVELOPMENT ON ARIS TOWN ROAD.
SO AT MEDFORD CHASE AND OUR NEIGHBORS IN BROOKSIDE, WE COMBINED FOR 213 RESIDENTIAL UNITS AND WE SHARE TWO TENNIS COURTS, TWO BASKETBALL COURTS, A LARGE PLAYGROUND, A MULTIPURPOSE FIELD, AND ALSO A BALL FIELD.
THE RICK'S DEVELOPMENT WILL BE 287 UNITS, SO THAT'S 74 MORE THAN WE HAVE.
AND THEY'RE PROPOSING ONE VERY SMALL TOP LOT AND THREE GAZEBO STRUCTURES THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT TONIGHT.
UM, I HAVE A CONCERN WITH SO LITTLE RECREATIONAL AMENITIES GOING INTO THAT DEVELOPMENT AND IT BEING SO CLOSE TO OUR DEVELOPMENT WHERE WE HAVE RECREATIONAL AMENITIES.
AND I THINK THAT IT'S INEVITABLE IF THE PLAN STAYS AS IT IS AT RICK'S, THAT THE NEW RESIDENTS ARE GONNA COME AND USE OUR FACILITIES.
AND THAT'S GONNA CREATE A HOST OF PROBLEMS. FIRST, IT'S GONNA OVERCROWD OUR FACILITIES.
SO WE'RE GONNA MORE THAN DOUBLE THE POTENTIAL USERS OF OUR RECREATIONAL AMENITIES WHEN THIS NEW DEVELOPMENT GOES IN, UNLESS RECREATION IS ADDED.
TWO, IT'S GONNA INCREASE OUR MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR COSTS.
UM, I'VE BEEN ON THE HOA BOARD AT, UM, AT, UH, MEDFORD, UH, CHASE FOR 10 YEARS.
SO I KNOW FIRSTHAND HOW EXPENSIVE IT IS TO MAINTAIN OUR, OUR AMENITIES.
LAST YEAR WE SPENT OVER $90,000 ON OUR TENNIS COURTS.
SO WITH ALL THESE ADDITIONAL USERS COMING IN, THEY'RE GONNA INCREASE OUR COSTS.
THEY'RE GOING TO, UH, REQUIRE US TO REPLACE OUR EQUIPMENT SOONER.
AND ALL THOSE COSTS ARE GONNA BE ON US, THE MEDFORD CHASE AND, UH, BROOKSIDE RESIDENTS.
NONE OF THESE NEW COSTS ARE GONNA BE ON THE RESIDENTS MOVING INTO THE DEVELOPMENT AT RICK'S.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S FAIR.
UM, ANOTHER ISSUE IS TRESPASSING, RIGHT? SO WE ALREADY DEAL WITH THAT ISSUE.
WE HAVE OUR, OUR AMENITIES ARE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY AND WE EXCLUDE THE PUBLIC FROM USING THEM AS BEST WE CAN, BUT TRESPASSING IS ALREADY AN ISSUE WHERE WE LIVE.
AND IT'S ONLY GONNA GET WORSE WHEN YOU PUT ALL THESE RESIDENTS INTO THIS NEW DEVELOPMENT RIGHT BEHIND US WITH NO OPPORTUNITY FOR RECREATION.
I THINK THAT, UM, IT'S CONCERNING TO HAVE A, MAYBE HAVE A CHILD FROM THIS NEW DEVELOPMENT ON THEIR BIKE, TRYING TO CROSS ROUTE 70 TO GET OVER TO FREEDOM PARK, TO ENGAGE IN RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOTHING WHERE THEY'RE GROWING UP.
UM, AND OBVIOUSLY WE'RE CLOSER, SO WE WILL BECOME FREEDOM PARK FOR THESE PEOPLE.
AND I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE THAT ON, ESPECIALLY WHEN, RIGHT NOW THERE'S A CHANCE TO MAKE SOME CHANGE.
I THINK THINK THAT RICK SHOULD HAVE TWO PICKLEBALL COURTS, TWO BASKETBALL COURTS, AND A PLAYGROUND THAT CAN SERVE PRESCHOOL THROUGH GRADE SCHOOL CHILDREN.
UM, I HAVE SOME OPTIONS THAT I'D LIKE TO PRESENT ON HOW WE CAN GET THAT DONE.
FIRST THING THAT COMES TO MIND IS WE CAN REDISTRIBUTE SOME OF THE, UH, RESIDENTIAL UNITS ACROSS THE THREE DEVELOPMENTS, UM, THAT MR. TAYLOR TALKED ABOUT TONIGHT.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, OVER IN TINGER, THERE ARE SINGLE FAMILY UNITS.
THEY COULD BE CONVERTED, SOME OF THEM COULD BE CONVERTED TO TOWN HOMES TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF, UH, OF, UH, UNITS OF RESIDENTIAL UNITS THERE.
AND WE CAN TRANSFER SOME RICK'S UNITS TO INGER IN ORDER TO CREATE SPACE AT RICK'S FOR THE RESIDENTIAL OR FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE RECREATION AMENITIES.
ANOTHER OPTION THAT I, I'D LIKE TO PRESENT IS THAT AT RICK'S, UM, THE DEVELOPER IS GONNA GET THE BENEFIT OF, UH, THE 80 20 RATIO, RIGHT? 80 UH, PERCENT OR, UH, MARKET RATE 20% THEIR BILL OF AFFORDABLES.
BUT ON TOP OF THAT, AT RICK'S, THEY'RE GETTING ANOTHER 47 MARKET RATE UNITS.
AND SO WE COULD ELIMINATE THOSE OR REDUCE THE NUMBER OF SURPLUS MARKET RATE UNITS AT RICK'S IN ORDER TO CREATE SPACE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE RECREATION AMENITIES THAT THEY NEED.
A FINAL OPTION WOULD BE TO CONSTRUCT SOME SUBSURFACE GROUNDWATER, UH, MANAGEMENT, UH, UH, FACILITIES IN ORDER TO THEN BUILD RECREATION ON TOP.
SO THOSE ARE THREE OPTIONS THAT I CAN THINK OF.
AND I DON'T DO THIS FOR A LIVING.
UM, BUT I THINK THAT AS THE PLAN IS CURRENTLY WRITTEN, IT'S GONNA CREATE A SIGNIFICANT NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY.
AND, UM, I'D ASK, I UNDERSTAND THE PLAN WILL PROBABLY BE, UH, APPROVED TONIGHT, BUT I WOULD ASK THAT, UH, COUNSEL, PLEASE
[01:25:02]
DO SO WITH THE REQUIREMENT THAT THESE ADDITIONAL RECREATION AMENITIES THAT I TALKED ABOUT, UH, BE ADDED TO THE RICK'S SITE.THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR CONSIDERATION.
I DO REMEMBER HIS QUESTION ALSO FROM THE PLANNING BOARD MEETING, UM, THAT YOU BROUGHT IT UP THERE AS WELL.
AND I BELIEVE MR. TAYLOR DID SAY THAT WE COULD TAKE SOME OF THOSE THINGS INTO CONSIDERATION OR POSSIBLY ADD MORE RECREATIONAL SITES TO THAT PENDING WHAT LANDS AND, AND WHERE SPACE PERMITS.
AND MR. JAMES, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
NOT ONLY HERE, BUT AT THE PLANNING BOARD.
UM, WE WEREN'T NECESSARILY REQUIRED TO HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION AT PLANNING, BUT, UM, BUT WE, YOU SHOWING UP AND SPEAKING TO, TO RECREATIONAL USES IT, IT HELPS US THAT ARE, DETERMINE THE BEST USE FOR THESE PARCELS.
AND I NOTE JUST MAYOR, AS A FOLLOW UP, ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WAS ADDRESSED WAS THAT POTENTIAL FOR TRESPASS.
AND THERE WAS DISCUSSION OF POTENTIALLY FENCING ALONG THAT.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS A MEETING BETWEEN SOME REP REPRESENTATIVES OF THE HOA AND THE PROSPECTIVE REDEVELOPER, AND THERE WAS AN UNDERSTANDING AND AGREEMENT THAT THERE WOULD BE SOME FENCING, THE HEIGHT, THE LOCATION, THE STYLE WAS TO BE DETERMINED.
SO I THINK ADDING SOME LANGUAGE INTO THE REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WHEN IT COMES TIME THAT THAT WILL BE PURSUED, UH, WOULD BE APPROPRIATE AS A PLACEHOLDER.
ALONG WITH, I KNOW THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT TRYING TO FIND LOCATION, AT LEAST FOR A HALF COURT BASKETBALL, UM, COURT, UH, SOMEWHERE ON THE SITE.
SO I THINK THOSE COULD BE ADDED TO THE REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT AS PLACEHOLDERS.
AND THEN WHEN IT MOVES FORWARD TO THE SITE PLAN APPLICATION TO TRY TO MAXIMIZE THAT.
JUST A QUESTION, A, A PROCESS QUESTION.
SO WITH, WITH SECOND READING TONIGHT FOR THESE, FOR THESE ORDINANCES, FOR THIS MOTION, IT LEAVES OUR HANDS AS OF TONIGHT, ESSENTIALLY UNTIL, UNTIL THE, THE PLANS THEMSELVES FOR ZONING.
SO IF WE WERE TO, IF WE WERE TO LOOK TO AMEND THE PLAN, WHAT WOULD THE PROCESS BE AT THAT POINT? WOULD IT GO BACK TO THE PLANNING BOARD OR WOULD IT HAVE TO COME BACK TO US FOR, FOR ADDITIONAL APPROVAL FOR THESE RECREATIONAL ADDITIONS? YEAH, YEAH.
UM, I DO WE DELINEATE BETWEEN PLAN AND AGREEMENT AS WELL.
THE REDEVELOP THE REDEVELOPMENT PLAN ALLOWS US THEN TO NEGOTIATE A REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
THE AGREEMENT PROVIDES A LOT MORE, UH, SUM AND SUBSTANCE TO THE REDEVELOPMENT PLAN.
AND DURING THOSE NEGOTIATIONS, THAT'S THE TYPE OF THING THAT CAN BE, UH, DISCUSSED WITH THE DEVELOPER.
AND IF WE CAN'T AGREE, WE, YOU KNOW, WE'LL SEE WHERE WE'RE AT.
UM, BUT IT'S HOPEFUL THAT DURING THE REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT NEGOTIATIONS, THAT THAT'S THE KIND OF THING THAT CAN BE RESOLVED.
AND THAT WOULD COME BACK TO COUNSEL FOR A RE YES.
YOU WOULD HAVE TO APPROVE THE AGREEMENT.
SO ALL THESE COMMENTS ARE VERY VALUABLE TO US DURING THE REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT PHASE.
AND IF I MAY, JUST, JUST SO THE PUBLIC'S AWARE, UM, ONCE UPON A TIME THERE WAS A, AN ORGANIZATION CALLED NSAC, AND IT'S ESCAPING ME WHAT THE ACRONYM STANDS FOR? ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
I FORGET THE S BUT I WAS ON IT.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD SOMETHING ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
AND THIS WAS MADE UP OF HOA REPRESENTATIVES, UM, MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES.
THE, THE, THE POLICE, THE FIRE, THE SCHOOLS WERE THERE.
UM, THIS WAS A WAY FOR, UM, NOT ONLY JUST HOAS, BUT, BUT HOAS SIMILAR TO YOURS, SIR.
THAT MAY BE FACING CHALLENGES LIKE THIS OR OTHER CHALLENGES, BUT IT COULD BE CHALLENGES THAT COULD IMPROVEMENTS.
UM, UH, DEPUTY MAYOR BOIZ AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND HEADWATER VILLAGE'S CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS ANNUAL MEETING.
UM, AND, UH, THERE'S A GENTLEMAN, I'LL LEAVE HIM NAMELESS FOR NOW, BUT I'D LIKE TO GET YOU IN CONTACT WITH HIM.
HE'S A GREAT RESOURCE OF HOW TO WORK TOGETHER.
UM, FOR INSTANCE, IF YOU LIVE IN THE GLEN OR BROOKSIDE OR CHASE OR HEADWATER, YOU'RE ALL DEALING WITH THE SAME CHALLENGES POTENTIALLY, OR SIMILAR CHALLENGES AND WORKING TOGETHER TO COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS.
UM, I, I THINK THERE WAS A LOT OF VALUE IN IT BACK THEN AND, AND IT COULD BE A GOOD TOOL FOR US TO USE MOVING FORWARD.
UM, I DID SEE BRIAN NEXT AND THEN MARY LUCAS.
AND THEN, UH, MA'AM YOU WOULD BE NEXT.
BRIAN CARNES, TWO 16 CHURCH ROAD.
UM, DID I HEAR WHAT ANN HOLLOWAY SAID CORRECTLY? THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT REPORTS ON THE PROPERTY.
IS THAT WHAT YOU GUYS HEARD TOO? YES, THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID.
DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I KNOW WE HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PICKLEBALL COURTS AND STUFF, BUT DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT TWO DIFFERENT REPORTS? UM, AND, AND SOME OTHER THINGS SHE'S BROUGHT UP.
IT SEEMS KIND OF STRANGE HOW WE ENGAGE.
[01:30:01]
THE GUY WANTS TO PICKLEBALL COURT.DID SHE LEAVE? I SHOULD HI BACK THERE.
UM, SHE HAS SPENT SO MUCH TIME AND ENERGY, SHE'S NOT A DUMMY.
SHE COMES UP HERE, YOU CAN HEAR SHE REALLY DOES CARE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY.
SHE'S RAISED SOME GREAT QUESTIONS AND YOU GUYS MIGHT HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF LEEWAY WITH GETTING OUT OF A FEW OF THESE HOMES.
AND IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S NO, NO, NO.
WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA PUSH THIS THROUGH.
AND, AND, AND THE FACT IS, IT FEELS LIKE YOU GUYS ARE RUSHING IT TOO.
IS THERE A REASON WHY WE'RE RUSHING THIS THROUGH? I I'M JUST GONNA ASK JUST FOR GO FOR IT, YOUR SAKE.
ARE YOU OPEN TO A DIALOGUE OR DO YOU WANT TO I WOULD LOVE A DIALOGUE.
UM, 'CAUSE I DIDN'T WANNA STOP YOU.
I DO GO ON RANT, BUT I'M SORRY I SLOW DOWN AND, AND SO WE'LL GO.
ARIAN HOLLOWAY'S CONCERNS ABOUT CONFLICTING REPORTS AND I WROTE, UH, THE DEAN RESTRICTIONS.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT I SAID.
SO, DEPUTY MAYOR VORHEES AND COUNCILMAN COX ARE ARE A REDEVELOPMENT SUBCOMMITTEE.
AND I'LL LET THEM ADDRESS THE DEEDS.
UM, EVERYTHING THAT MARYANNE HOLLOWAY HAS GIVEN ME, I HAVE LOOKED INTO, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THIS.
SHE DID GIVE IT TO ME AT THE, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING SUBCOMMITTEE.
I'VE HAD SOME PERSONAL THINGS GOING ON, SO I HAVE NOT LOOKED INTO THIS.
UM, IT'S THE REASON WE FOUND OUT THE NUMBER WAS OFF WITH TRIAD.
SO EVERYTHING SHE SAYS I'VE LOOKED INTO, I DON'T ALWAYS AGREE, BUT WE SAY IT HONESTLY, WE SAY IT TO EACH OTHER.
I'M PROBABLY NOT SAYING AS MUCH HERE BECAUSE I NEED TO TAKE THIS, I NEED TO READ IT ALL.
YEAH, THIS ISN'T A LITTLE YEAH.
BUT SHE'S BEEN UP HERE FOR, I MEAN, SHE'S BEEN COMING UP HERE SINCE THE DECEMBER.
BUT I'VE ONLY BEEN HERE NINE WEEKS.
BUT YOU CAN ASK THESE POOR GUYS.
THAT THE SUBCOMMITTEE GIVES AND JUST TORTURE.
AND WE JUST KEEP FINDING OUT THE ANSWERS AND WE'RE JUST GONNA KEEP PUSHING.
CAN WE, CAN WE GO DE WITH THE DEEDS? CAN WE GO DEEDS REAL QUICK? GO FOR, YES.
WITH DEEDS, WE HAVE OVER 50 SOME ODD PEOPLE WHO HAVE RESPONDED THAT THEY ARE INTERESTED.
WE ARE STILL FINDING OUT A BIT MORE INFORMATION WITH THAT.
UH, WE ARE GONNA CONTINUE TO LOOK INTO NOT ONLY THE PRIVATELY HELD ONES, UM, BUT THE ONES THAT ARE HELD, I BELIEVE COMMERCIALLY WOULD BE THE WORD.
WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT THOSE AS WELL.
THERE ARE GROUPS WHO COULD BE INTERESTED IN EXTENDING THEIR DEEDS.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ALL HAVE TO WORK, UM, WITH THE TOWN MANAGER AND THAT GROUP WITH.
SO THERE MIGHT, WELL, THANK YOU FOR ENGAGING WITH ME.
BUT MOST OF THE TIME WITH HER STUFF, IT'S SO THICK.
I THINK SOME OF THE, THE DELTA BETWEEN MAYBE OUR THOUGHT PROCESSES ARE, AND, AND I, I AGREE WITH YOU MARIAN.
HER HEART'S IN THE RIGHT PLACE AND I THINK SHE'S BEEN NAIL ON IT, MAN.
BUT JUST IF, IF THERE'S NO, IF WE CAN'T COUNT ON THE DEED RESTRICTIONS GOING TOWARDS THE FOURTH ROUND AND JUST AT THIS POINT, WE HAD A DEADLINE THAT IT ELAPSED ON MARCH 15TH ON SUNDAY.
I, I THINK EVERYBODY'S AMENABLE TO THE MARCH 17TH MEETING THAT WE'RE HAVING RIGHT NOW, POTENTIALLY CODIFYING THESE ORDINANCES.
BUT THE, THE TIMELINES HAVE BEEN VERY STRICT.
AND IF WE HAD THE MONEY AND THE DEEDS WERE GONNA WORK, UM, YEAH.
PRIME, HE MADE SURE SAME MEETING MADE OUR TOWNSHIP SOLICITOR THE OLD ONE.
HE MADE SURE THERE'S NO MONEY.
THERE'S 100% GUYS, HE BURNED THROUGH IT.
AND, AND THIS IS A COMPLETE SETUP.
AND HERE, THIS IS WHERE WE'RE AT.
BUT I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT THE TIME, UNLESS DID I NO, NO.
YOU WERE FLYING TO SOMETHING ELSE.
I SAID 'CAUSE I CAN'T EVEN KEEP UP WITH MY, MYSELF.
ALRIGHT, SO WE ARE OUT OF TIME, RIGHT? AS OF SUNDAY.
CAN, CAN YOU A, CAN YOU ANSWER THIS? FLYING W IS PART OF ROUND THREE.
IT'S, THERE'S SIX YEARS BEHIND RIGHT NOW FOR ROUND THREE.
WHO'S SUING US? FAIR SHARE HOUSING CENTER IS SUING US.
THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY REGULATIONS REQUIRE US TO COMBINE ROUND THREE AND ROUND FOUR FOR UNBUILT UNITS.
THAT WAS PART OF THE PLAN THAT'S BEEN PRESENTED BY MR. WE'RE BEING SUED RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE DIDN'T COMPLY WITH ROUND THREE.
WE'RE BEING SUED BECAUSE UNDER THE NEW REGULATIONS FAIR SHARE HOUSING CENTER HAS THE RIGHT AS DO OTHER INDIVIDUALS TO SUE THE TOWN FOR NOT COMPLYING WITH THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING MANDATES OF THE SUPREME COURT.
IS IS, IS THE FAIR HOUSING? IS THAT THE PEOPLE OFF OF COOPER? IN, IN, IN CHERRY HILL THERE? THAT'S WHERE THEY'RE OFF.
I'VE MET WITH THEM PEOPLE, A HALF A MEG.
THEY NEVER TALKED ABOUT, THEY'RE SUING US.
I WAS UP THERE FOUR TIMES WITH, WITH MEG.
AND WELL HERE, THEY FILED OBJECTIONS TO EVERY MUNICIPALITY'S PLAN.
UH, AFTER JUNE, EVERY SINGLE TIME THEY OBJECTED TO EVERYTHING.
UH, THAT SOUNDS REALLY FUNNY, MAN.
I'VE TALKED TO THOSE PEOPLE UP THERE AND THEY WERE OPEN-MINDED.
COME ON UP HERE AND ASK, DON'T DO THAT.
IT JUST SEEMS THE WHOLE THING IS FUZZY AND CONFUSING.
AND I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE WE'RE BEING SUED OVER ROUND THREE.
[01:35:01]
IS NEWS TO ME.UM, BUT LET'S JUST, WE'LL KEEP GOING.
HAS HE COME TO COUNCIL AND, AND SUBMITTED PLANS FOR HIS DEVELOPMENT OFF OF 70 ACROSS FROM THE WAWA? NOBODY'S HEARD FROM HIM UP HERE.
WE ARE NOT ABLE TO DISCUSS MATTERS AND LITIGATION.
WHY CAN'T WE GET OUT AND LEAN INTO THE COMMUNITY, SAY, YO, THIS IS WHAT'S COMING.
FOR, FOR, FOR YOUR SAKE AND ALL OF OUR NEIGHBOR'S SAKES, WE SHOULDN'T BE DISCUSSING THAT IN PUBLIC AND NOW, RIGHT.
BECAUSE IT'S UNDER LITIGATION.
IF WE SAY SOMETHING THAT'S NOT RIGHT, COULD HURT US OR INCORRECT, COULD HARM THE TOWNSHIP, IT COULD HARM THE TOWNSHIP.
I DON'T WANT IT TO COST US ANY MORE MONEY THAN IT'S ALREADY COSTING US.
SO WE'RE NOT GONNA TALK ABOUT THAT.
IT'S UNDER, IT SEEMS, IT SEEMS. OKAY.
I GUESS THAT'S UNDER LITIGATION, YOU'RE SAYING THAT'S WHY YOU CAN'T.
BUT THE TOWNSHIP DID HIDE ROUND FOUR.
THIS WHOLE DEVELOPMENT WAS HIDDEN FROM THE RESIDENCE.
A FEW PEOPLE, MIKE, YOU KNEW ABOUT IT.
YOU GUYS, WHICH PART WAS HIDDEN? BRIAN? THE WHOLE CITY COMING.
YOU GUYS ANNOUNCED IT WITH PRIME ON WHAT, WHAT WAS IT? UH, MARCH 25TH.
YOU KNEW ABOUT IT A YEAR BEFORE MIKE.
I KNEW ABOUT IT WHEN IT WAS PRESENTED TO US.
MIKE, I PUT A POST UP ON OH EIGHT, OH FIVE FIVE.
IT WAS A BURN POST ABOUT THE DEVELOPERS AND THE SEWER SYSTEM.
AND FIRST TIME YOU REACHED OUT, DO YOU REMEMBER YOU ASKED ME TO REMOVE IT.
WHY BRIAN? I DON'T, IT'S THE ONLY TIME, MIKE.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT THE FIRST COMMENT WAS ON THAT THREAD ROUND FOUR.
AND IT, AND IT WAS, IT WAS, WHY ARE THESE DEVELOPED OF MARCH 24? NO, THIS WAS AUGUST OF 2025.
I RUN SOMETHING ON OH 8 0 5 5 AND YOU REACH OUT TO ME AND ASK ME TO DELETE IT.
YOU SAID, LOOK, I'M NOT ON SOCIAL MEDIA A LOT, BUT PLEASE REMOVE THIS.
'CAUSE I THOUGHT AT THE TIME THEY THINK YOU'RE SHARING INFORMATION WITH ME AND I'M MAKING IT YOU LOOK BAD.
I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU ASKED ME TO REMOVE IT, BUT YOU OBVIOUSLY KNEW IN AUGUST OF 2025 THIS CITY'S COMMENT, TIME OUT.
OR WHY WOULD YOU REACH OUT TO ME? NO, NO.
THE FAIR QUESTION, MR. TAYLOR OR MR. NOEL, WHEN WAS LAFFERTY REMOVED? AND RICK'S BROUGHT IN LAFFERTY REMOVED IN THE FALL, I BELIEVE, AND RICK'S CAME IN, I BELIEVE NOVEMBER.
BUT THERE WAS THE FIRST, THE INITIAL HOUSING PLAN WAS INTRODUCED AND PASSED IN JUNE OF 2025.
SO I'M TALKING JUNE OF 24 THEN.
WE, YOU AND I WERE TALKING, YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO, TO DISCLOSE ANY INFORMATION THAT WE MADE.
WELL, I JUST WONDERED WHY, WHY? COME ON.
YOU GUYS HAD TO KNOW THIS WAS COMMON.
TAYLOR, YOU WORKED ON ROUND THREE, RIGHT? OUR OFFICE DOES NOT GET INVOLVED IN THE HOUSE.
BUT YOU'RE A MEDFORD RESIDENT, RIGHT? YOU SAID HERE AT THE LAST MEETING, OH MY GOODNESS, YOU'RE ALMOST TEARING UP.
SO EVERY MEETING, WELL, THE ONLY PART I CAN SAY, WE WERE NOT INVOLVED WITH THE CREATION OF THE HOUSING ELEMENT AND FAIR SHARE PLAN.
WE WERE NOT INVOLVED WITH THOSE NUMBERS.
ONCE THE HOUSING ELEMENT WAS COMPLETED, WE TOOK OVER TO HELP MAKE THE DESIGN STANDARDS AS TIGHT AND TO TRY TO PUSH THE DEVELOPERS AS FAR AS POSSIBLE.
WE'RE DOING THIS IN OTHER MUNICIPALITIES AS WELL.
WHAT I WILL SAY IS, MR. NOEL INDICATED IN JUNE OF, AND AND IT'S REFERENCED IN OUR REPORT, THE HOUSING ELEMENT WAS FIRST APPROVED IN JUNE OF 2025.
SO AT THAT POINT IN TIME, THE TOWN WAS AWARE OF WHAT THE NUMBERS WERE BECAUSE THAT WAS REFLECTED IN THE ORIGINAL HOUSING ELEMENT.
AND THAT WAS, WELL, THINK ABOUT IT.
TRAER PROPERTY, RIGHT? YOU GUYS REZONED IT IN 2017.
AREA REDEVELOPMENT 20 20 20 17.
BECAUSE YOU'RE PLANNING THE TOWNSHIP'S PLANNING TO USE THAT FARMLAND IN WHAT? ROUND 3, 20 20.
EVERYBODY KNOWS IN THE ADMINISTRATION, ROUND FOUR IS COMING AROUND.
YOU KNEW THERE WAS A ROUND FOUR AND, AND, AND I, I DON'T KNOW HOW IT WAS KEPT SUCH A SECRET.
AND, AND NOW YOU HEAR, AND I'M NOT JUST SAYING ME, I'M, I'M SAYING ACROSS THE STATE.
BECAUSE IF I HAD HEARD SOMETHING ABOUT LUMBERTON TABERNACLE, WHICH NEITHER OF THESE TOWNS SEEM TO BE GOING THROUGH WHAT WE'RE DOING, ALL I'M SAYING IS, IS, YOU KNOW, THE BUILDERS ARE SITTING THERE WATCHING THIS CLOCK TICK DOWN.
OKAY? AND THERE HAS TO BE PEOPLE IN THE ADMINISTRATION THAT ARE WORKING WITH, I BELIEVE EARL, HE PAYS ATTENTION TO ALL THE ROUNDS.
THIS IS, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT HE LIKES TO DO.
I JUST, IF SAMOS IS COMING, I GUESS ONCE THE LITIGATION ENDS AND YOU GUYS MAKE AN AGREEMENT, WILL YOU COME OUT TO THE PUBLIC AND SAY, HEY, LISTEN.
AND NOT WAIT TILL THE LAST MINUTE AND SEE THIS IS WHAT'S COMING AND LET US ALL AT LEAST, YEAH.
I'M JUST GONNA ASK FOR COUNSEL.
'CAUSE I I DON'T WANNA GET ANYONE TO CAUSE THIS MONEY HERE.
ONCE THE LITIGATION IS COMPLETED MM-HMM
AT THAT TIME, IS COUNSEL ABLE TO
[01:40:01]
DISCUSS ANY AMENDMENTS OR ALTERATIONS TO THAT ADDRESS.IF THERE'S ANY TYPE OF SETTLEMENT WOULD REQUIRE A RESOLUTION OF APPROVAL BY THE COUNCIL.
AND AT THAT TIME, COUNCIL WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT WHATEVER THAT
I I DO THINK THIS WHOLE DEVELOPMENT WAS KEPT A PRETTY BIG SECRET.
I, I DON'T KNOW HOW, AND I'M NOT EVEN LOOKING AT YOU.
THIS WHOLE THING THAT'S JUST GOT DROPPED THIS FOURTH ROUND.
I KNEW THEY WERE GONNA DEVELOP.
I DIDN'T, I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, WHY HE DIDN'T BUILD IN 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, YOUR SOLICITOR, HE GOTTA GO THROUGH YOUR SOLICITOR.
THAT PROPERTY WOULD'VE BEEN DEV MIKE, YOU THINK I'M LYING MAN, THIS IS THE NORTH SIDE.
I'M NOT SERIOUSLY SAW ME LIKE THAT.
IF I SAY, YO, YOU'RE SOLICITOR, YOU CAN'T GET NOTHING DONE IF YOU HAD LAND.
AND MY POINT IS FOR HE, I CAN TELL YOU, BELIEVE ME, IN 2022, TRIALER COULD HAVE DEVELOPED THAT.
AND GUESS WHAT? ROUND FOUR WOULD BE SOMEWHERE ELSE.
THERE WAS A LOT OF EFFORTS PUT IN AND I'M, I I'M NOT SAYING ANYBODY UP HERE WAS PART OF IT, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHY WE CAN'T AT LEAST ALL AGREE WE GOT SCREWED HERE BY THE PAST ADMINISTRATION.
AND IT SEEMS LIKE WE LOVE BLAMING THE, BLAMING THE STATE AND YOU'RE BLAMING THE LEFT.
THE LEFT IS YOUR NEIGHBORS IN THIS COMMUNITY.
THEY HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS POOR PLANNING OF 3000 PEOPLE MOVING TO ONE LITTLE AREA.
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE GONNA GET HURT COMING OUTTA FOSTER TOWN ROAD ON CHURCH ROAD.
THERE'S GOING TO BE PROBABLY FATALITIES THERE.
THAT BRIDGE, YOU GOTTA SLOW DOWN THE 35, YOU KNOW, THERE'S PEOPLE OUT THERE FISHING.
I MEAN IT'S JUST, IT'S, IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE.
I LOVED YOUR THUNDER BY THE WAY.
I DIDN'T CATCH YOUR NAME WHEN SHE WAS UP HERE SPEAKING.
WHAT WAS IT? I HOPE YOU COME BACK TO MORE MEETINGS.
AND I LOVED WHEN SHE CAME UP HERE AND SHE SAID, WHY ARE WE EVEN TALKING ABOUT WINDOWS AND DOORS AND EAVES? TO BE HONEST, I DON'T CARE IF IT'S RED BRICKS OR WHAT THESE HOMES ARE.
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS THE TRAFFIC IMPACT AND THE SCHOOLS.
AND I I I'VE HEARD THE BILLING FROM TAYLOR'S GONNA BE NORTH OF A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ON, ON A PROJECT LIKE THAT.
IS THAT, IS THAT ABOUT RIGHT? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA? DO YOU GUYS KNOW WHAT? AT NINE MINUTES RIGHT NOW? OKAY, WELL THANK YOU.
NO, I DON'T THINK WE'VE EVER HAD THAT MUCH BILLING ON ANY PROJECT EVER.
IS THE SELLERS OF THE LAND PAYING HIS BILL? WHO'S, WHO'S COVERING TAYLOR DESIGN'S? BILL THE POTENTIAL DEVELOP REDEVELOPER, EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING TONIGHT, ARE WE ON THE HOOK OR IS EARL AND INGER AND RICK? SO ESCROW AGREEMENTS WERE POSTED BY THE PROSPECTIVE RE DEVELOPERS, LIKE ANY APPLICANT IN THE TOWN.
SO THOSE, THOSE BILLS FOR THE, UH, CREATION OF THE REDEVELOPMENT PLANS IS BEING FUNDED BY THE PROSPECTIVE REDEVELOPER UNDER AN AGREEMENT.
BUT WHAT, WHAT YOU DID TONIGHT, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE WINDOWS AND THE DOORS AND ALL THAT YOU WENT OVER.
ARE WE ON THE HOOK FOR THAT? OR IS EARL AND THOSE GUYS ON THE HOOK? THE DEVELOPERS.
I, FOR SOME REASON, SO THERE'S MISINFORMATION.
'CAUSE I THOUGHT THE TAXPAYERS ARE ON THE HOOK AND I'M LIKE, THIS REALLY SUCKS.
I, AND I, JUST TO CLARIFY AND I DON'T WANT TO PUT A, YOU KNOW, I, YOU COUNSEL HAD ASKED MR. TAYLOR TO COME TONIGHT TO PRESENT THAT INFORMATION.
THE INFORMATION SHE PRESENTED WAS FUNDED THROUGH AN ESCROW.
HE, HE MAY BILL THE MUNICIPALITY FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT TO PRESENT TO US.
BUT THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE TWO SEPARATE BILLS THOUGH.
EVERYTHING YOU SAW THAT WAS PRESENTED IS IN EXTENSIVE REDEVELOPMENT PLANS THAT WERE VOTING ON TONIGHT THAT WAS PAID THROUGH AN ESCROW.
I DON'T COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING.
YOU WOULDN'T WANT ANYONE ELSE HANDLING YOUR ARCHITECTURE.
WELL, YOU SHOULD GIVE THE MONEY BACK TO MY MOM YOU TOOK FROM US.
LET'S NOT GET AHEAD OF YOURSELF, MIKE, FOR REAL.
WE WERE OUT FIVE OR SIX GRAND FOR HIM AND HIS WIFE AND WE GOT DENIED.
SO LET'S NOT PEOPLE GET DENIED.
LET'S NOT THE ALL KISSY KISSY HERE.
OKAY? I STILL SAY HE HAMMERS RESIDENCE AND HE GOT YOUR BOY TROY FOR 45,000 FOR A DESK IN THE VILLAS.
I FORGIVE YOU FOR TAKING ALL THAT MONEY FROM MY MOM.
I WANNA MOVE ON AND GET SOME PEACE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
ALRIGHT? I WANT TO COMMEND YOU GUYS FOR FIRING.
HE'S FIRED, RIGHT? OR JUST SUSPENDED? LIKE IT, IT STARTED THE MEETING OUT.
YOU CAN AT LEAST EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED.
THE, THE RESOLUTION WILL BE POSTED FOLLOWING THE MEETING, BUT YOU SUSPENDED HIM IN FRONT OF EVERYBODY.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN, MR. BY STATUTE IT'S REQUIRED ACTION BY THE GOVERNING BODY AND THAT'S WHY IT WAS DONE.
ALRIGHT, SO IS HE FIRED? GONE.
THE TITLE IS A PRELIMINARY NOTICE OF POTENTIAL TERMINATION.
A LOT OF RESIDENTS DON'T KNOW, BUT THIS IS A GOOD THING FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I WANNA SAY ONE MORE THING AND COMMEND YOU GUYS.
I HAVEN'T, I DON'T THINK I, WELL I MET HER MAYBE ONCE.
I KEEP HEARING HER NAME KICKING AROUND.
[01:45:01]
GOOD ASSET.I HOPE, I HOPE WE ALL REALIZE THAT.
AND, AND, AND SHE'S TAKEN GOOD CARE OF.
'CAUSE SHE SEEMS TO BE ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND REALLY SUPPORTING AND HELPING OUT ANYBODY IN THIS COMMUNITY THAT'S TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
WHETHER IT'S THROUGH DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS.
JUST SEEMS TO BE INVOLVED A LOT AND HAD SOME CONTACTS OVER AT THE COUNTY.
AND I, I, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW.
IT WAS LIKE ONE OR TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT IT.
I'M LIKE, WOW, THIS, YOU GOT A GREAT EMPLOYEE THERE.
CAN I KEEP GOING MAX? I GOT MORE.
UM, SIR, WE DO HAVE OTHER FOLKS THAT ARE LOOKING TO SPEAK AND I BELIEVE WE'RE 12 AND A HALF MINUTES.
YOU, YOU'VE, THAT THAT'S THE MAXIMUM.
IF YOU PROMISE NOT TO COME TO THE NEXT MEETING, I'LL GIVE YOU FIVE MORE.
WHEN'S, ALRIGHT, WHEN'S THE NEXT, WHEN'S THE NEXT PLANNING BOARD MEETING? THAT'S A JOKE.
HOW ABOUT THE PRESERVATION? ONE MORE, ONE MORE POINT.
AND THIS IS WHAT I REALLY DO WANT HOPE TO WORK WITH COUNCIL IN THE FUTURE.
DO WE KNOW WHAT WE HAVE IN THERE? NOW YOU ARE REFERRING TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST? NO, NO, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE TAX.
WE, WE ARE ACTIVELY PURSUING, THERE'S SOME REIMBURSEMENTS OWED TO US.
AND, AND THE THE FUNDING SOURCE FOR THAT IS, IS CONTROLLED BY ORDINANCE.
NOT BY ORDINANCE, BY WITH A REFERENDUM THAT, BUT WE WOULD NEED TO GO TO REFERENDUM.
WE WOULD NEED THE PUBLIC TO ALLOW US TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT THAT WE'RE TAXING THEM TO FUND THAT OPEN SPACE BALLOT.
AM I SAYING THE RIGHT WORD? WE HAVE A TAX RAISE COMMON THOUGH.
I I IMAGINE WE HAVE ONE COMMENT AND WHAT I'M GONNA ASK COUNSEL, YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT FOREVER.
HOW ARE WE GONNA, WELL, I KNOW.
YEAH, BUT THIS IS GONNA BE BECAUSE OF, OF THIS DEVELOPMENT.
AND IS IT POSSIBLE LIKE LONG BEFORE YOU GUYS, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GONNA RAISE THE TAXES TO TALK TO THE COMMUNITY ABOUT DIFFERENT WAYS AND, AND, AND, AND, AND I GUESS THE, YOU KNOW, THE OPEN SPACE TAX.
DO, DO WE HAVE REAL MONEY IN THERE NOW? THERE'S SUFFICIENT FUNDS AND, AND AS YOU KNOW, WE PRESERVED CROSS FROM JOHNSON'S FARM.
WE'RE WAITING FOR REIMBURSEMENTS FOR OTHER PRESERVED LANDS THAT WE'VE, THAT WE'VE CONTRIBUTED A HUNDRED PERCENT TO.
WE GET REIMBURSED BACK PORTION TO THAT.
UM, IF IT'S ABOUT PRESERVING MORE OPEN SPACE, I BELIEVE IT WAS THIS WEEK, IF YOU MAY, THE THE COUNTY LOWERED THEIR STANDARD.
I'M WORKING WITH THE FINAL RANGER MEETING RIGHT NOW WITH THE COUNTY OFFICE, UH, FOR OPEN SPACE AND FARMLAND PRESERVATION TO BRING THEM INTO METFORD TO HAVE A MORE OPEN DISCUSSION ON HOW WE CAN GET MORE ACTIVELY INVOLVED.
'CAUSE RIGHT NOW A LOT OF IT IS THE LANDOWNERS GOING DIRECTLY TO THE COUNTY, BUT WE WANT TO BRING THE COUNTY IN TO KIND OF OUT THAT THE LANDOWNERS KNOW YEAH, THIS PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE AND REALLY ENCOURAGE LAND OWNERS TO, TO APPROACH THE COUNTY FOR THESE PURPOSES.
I GOTTA TELL YOU, I WANNA POINT SOMETHING OUT.
OUR OLD MAYOR, HE BURNED, HE BURNED A LOT OF RELATIONSHIPS AND ONE OF 'EM WAS, GUESS WHAT? WE'RE GETTING PASSED OVER A GRANT BY GRANT 20 18, 29.
CHUCK'S IN THE PAPER SAYING, HEY, I DON'T KNOW.
WELL, HE'S PICKING ON HIM AND FIGHTING WITH HIM LEFT AND RIGHT, STARTING WITH THE OLD LIBRARY.
SO I HOPE WE HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COUNTY AND, AND THEN EVEN THE STATE, BECAUSE THE STATE HAS A LOT OF PROGRAMS AND THE MORE LAND WE LOCK IN ROUND FIVE, THEY CAN'T TOUCH IT.
AND THAT'S REALLY, I MEAN, WE WENT REALLY HARD IN ONE DIRECTION TO BUILD, BUILD, BUILD IT.
IT'S CLEAR THE LAST FIVE, SIX YEARS.
LET'S GO THE OTHER DIRECTION NOW AND PRESERVE AS MUCH AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
I'LL SEE YOU AT THE NEXT MEETING FOR ANOTHER 20.
YOU'LL HAVE TO JUST COME TO THE MIC JUST SO THE PUBLIC CAN HEAR YOU ON THE RECORDING.
UNLESS YOU WANT ME TO GO IN A COUPLE OTHER BREAKS.
COULD ERIC FON BROOKSIDE, UM, WHEN I DO THE CALCULATIONS, WE HAVE 105 MARKET RATE HOMES THAT ARE ABOVE THE FOUR TO ONE RATIO.
YOU'RE PUTTING IN 105 MORE MARKET RATE HOMES THAN ALLOTTED BY FOUR TO ONE RATIO BASED ON THE CALCULATIONS.
YOU'RE, YOU'RE, I THINK YOU'RE CLAIMING THAT THE, THE AMOUNT OF MARKET RATE UNITS BEING BILLED IS, WOULD NOT JUSTIFY 105 MARKET RATE UNITS THAT ARE BEING BUILT.
IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? NO, I'M SAYING IF YOU DO THE FOUR TO ONE RATIO, YOU'RE PUTTING IN A HUNDRED THIRTY SIX, A HUNDRED THIRTY SIX, UM, AFFORDABLE UNITS.
UM, YOU'RE PUTTING IN 105 MORE THAN THAT FOUR TIMES.
1 36, I BELIEVE THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE, THE 1 71, THE DENSITY, THE BONUS CREDITS.
AM I CORRECT IN SAYING THAT? SO YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE PUTTING IN 171.
IT WAS ESSENTIALLY, I THINK IF I RECALL, THEY TOOK THE, THE LTY PROPERTY AND THEY,
[01:50:01]
THE WHAT WAS APPROVED FOR LAFFERTY AND ESSENTIALLY MOVED THAT OVER TO RICKS.UH, BUT I THINK SIZE WISE, WE ARE OVER THE DENSITY PIECE OF IT.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PERCENTAGES FROM A DENSITY.
WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT UNITS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DENSITY.
WE, FOR THE UNIT, LIKE, WELL, IT DEPENDS IF YOU'RE CONSIDERING A RENTAL HOME, ONE UNIT IN THIS SITUATION, IT IS 105.
BUT IF YOU'RE COUNTING THAT UNIT AS A 1.5 CREDIT BECAUSE OF, OF WHATEVER RATIO YOU'RE DOING WITH THE CREDIT FOR NOT PUTTING IN A AFFORDABLE TOWN HOME THAT'S BEING SOLD, WHY ARE WE GOING OVER AND HE'S SAYING LIKE, HE'S SAYING THAT THEY'RE UP TO, UP TO, UP TO WHY ARE WE PUTTING IN 105 ADDITIONAL HOMES IN OR ALLOWING THEM TO PUT 105 ADDITIONAL HOMES IN BASED ON THE FOUR TO ONE RATIO OF EACH INDIVIDUAL OWNER UNIT OR RENTAL UNITS? IT'S 4 1 71.
THE THE 1 71 IS WHERE THEY GET THE SET ASIDE, BUT SO WE DON'T GET CREDIT.
SO WE ARE FORCED TO ALLOW A CONTRACTOR TO BUILD FOUR ONE RATIO ON 171, CORRECT? MM-HMM
AM I CORRECT IN SAYING THAT? YES.
WE'RE, WE'RE 6 84 LOWER THAN THE 20% I THINK.
YEAH, YOU'RE LOWER, YOU'RE LOWER THAN THAT 18, 18.7%.
WE, WE WERE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE DOWN THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MARKET READINGS THAT THE SET ASIDE ALLOWS.
SO, SO BASED ON THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY ARE THE CRIMINALS BECAUSE THEY'RE ALLOWING THE PERSON TO PUT IN WHAT THE CREDITS THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO APPLY FOR OF 171.
WE'RE BEING FORCED TO PUT IN 171 HOMES IN THIS TOWN, BRINGING IN 3000 PEOPLE THAT DON'T REALLY HAVE ROOM HERE BY THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY'S, THE STATE NEW JERSEY AND THE SUPREME COURT, NEW JERSEY AND THE SUPREME COURT OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ALL CODIFIED THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING RULINGS.
WE HAVE TO ABIDE SO WE DON'T HAVE ROOM FOR THEM AND THEY STILL MAKING US DO IT.
AND THEY ALSO ARE STILL ALLOWING THE CONTRACTOR TO THE FOUR BY MULTIPLIER ON THE 1 71, NOT THE NUMBER OF UNITS.
SO
WE MET, UH, IN DECEMBER AT THE TOWN HALL.
UP AND THERE WERE INDIVIDUAL HOMES THAT WERE GOING UP AND TOWN HOMES AND NO RENTAL UNITS GOING IN.
AND HIS PLAN, AND THE LAST PLAN I SAW, THERE WERE RENTAL UNITS IN TOWN HOMES WITH, UM, GARAGES.
THE ONE HE SHOWED TONIGHT HAS PARKING LOTS AND PARKING SPACES EVERYWHERE.
AND THEY'RE NOT PUTTING IN GARAGES BASED ON WHAT I SAW IN THE IMAGE TONIGHT.
SO THE, THE EXACT UNIT TYPE, UM, IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS IT WAS IN THE DECEMBER OF 2018.
SO THE MARKET RATE TOWNHOUSES DO HAVE GARAGES.
THAT'S NOT WHAT SHOWN ON THE PLAN THAT YOU SHOWED TONIGHT, DOESN'T IT? UM, IT, IT, IT DOES.
THE AFFORDABLE UNITS DO NOT HAVE GARAGES, BUT ALL OF THE MARKET RATE UNITS, THE IMAGE WE SHOWED TONIGHT HAS STRIPED PARKING AREA IN FRONT OF ALL THE HOMES.
I I THINK THAT MAY BE A GRAPHIC YOU CAN PULL IT UP ON AND LOOK AT IT FROM YOUR, YOU DON'T HAVE TO PUT IT UP THERE.
I MEAN, YOU CAN LOOK AT IT ON THERE.
I MEAN, I, I JUST WANNA KNOW WHY RICK'S IS GETTING WORSE AS WE GO.
WE HAD TOWN HOMES THAT WERE BEING SOLD, THEN WE HAD RENTAL UNITS, AND THEN WE HAVE, CAN I ASK, CAN I SHOW YOU THIS UP CLOSE? SO IF YOU LOOK AT ALL THESE UNITS, THESE ALL HAVE DRIVEWAYS.
THERE'S A COUPLE GUEST PARKING SPACES.
THIS STACK UNITS A DIFFERENT ONE.
NO, THAT WAS, THAT WAS THIS ONE.
BUT WHAT, AT A DISTANCE LIKE THAT, THAT KIND OF LOOKS LIKE IT COULD BE A PARKING GARAGE.
SO FOR A PARKING SPACE, BUT ONLY, UM, OKAY, SO IT HAS NOT CHANGED HER LEFT.
NO, IT HAS NOT CHANGED THE SAME.
I'M GONNA GO MARY LUCAS, I'LL GO YOU AND THEN MR. HORNICK AND THEN YOU'LL, GOOD EVENING.
UM, I, I, I'M HERE BECAUSE I LOVE MEDFORD AND
[01:55:01]
I LOVE MY HOME AND I LOVE BEING HERE.I'VE BEEN HERE OVER 30 YEARS AND I'M REALLY CONCERNED BECAUSE TONIGHT WITH ALL THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT MOVING FORWARD ON THESE DIFFERENT TRACKS OF LAND, WE STILL HAVE A MAJOR ISSUE THAT'S UNRESOLVED.
AND THAT'S THE TRAFFIC ON TAUNTON BOULEVARD.
AS YOU KNOW, THE LAST TIME WE REPORTED THERE ARE OVER 300 VEHICLES A MONTH, A MONTH UP AND DOWN TAUNTON BOULEVARD AND OVER 1600 TRUCKS A MONTH.
NOW, IF ANY WAY THAT THESE PROJECTS WILL IMPACT THAT, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM.
SO MY, MY QUESTION TO THE COUNCIL IS THAT WE RESOLVE TAUNTON BOULEVARD BEFORE THESE PROJECTS BEGIN, THAT WE ARE ASSURED TO NOT BE MIRED WITH ADDITIONAL TRUCKS, EMPLOYEES GETTING TO JOBS, UH, OTHER KINDS OF BUSINESSES COMING THROUGH TO SUPPORT THIS NEW, THESE NEW PROJECTS.
IT'S NOT FAIR TO US TO HAVE TO BEAR THAT BURDEN.
AND I THINK WE NEED TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE OF TAUNTON BOULEVARD.
BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD HERE, ANNIE, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER THAT PART FOR YOU.
I COULD TELL YOU THAT WE'RE DEFINITELY STILL PURSUING ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE ON WHAT WE PRESENTED TO COUNSEL AS SPEAKING WITH MR. NOLL.
THE BEACONS ARE GONNA BE INSTALLED HOPEFULLY BY THE SUMMER OR IN THE SUMMER.
UM, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WIDENING, UM, OVER BY FALLS ROAD.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANNA ADD TO THAT.
WHAT WE DISCUSSED, IT WOULD BE STRIPING FALLS ROAD, UM, BASICALLY OVER THE DAM FOR, UH, PEDESTRIANS AND BIKE BICYCLISTS.
SO, AND THEN HE DID TALK TO THE COUNTY TOO ABOUT THE WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS.
SO WE HAVE THINGS IN PROGRESS AND THAT IS NO WAY GOING TO BE AFFECTED BY WHAT'S GOING ON WITH, UH, THE REDEVELOPMENT.
SO, UM, AND THE AFFORDABLE INCOME, WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT AND YOUR EFFORT AS WELL.
MIKE, WHEN WE FIRST STARTED WITH THIS WHOLE THING, MY CONCERN IS THAT WE'RE UP AGAINST THE TIMEFRAME AND WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR DOES NOT COST MONEY.
WE WANT THE SPEED LIMIT REDUCED TO 25, AND WE WANT THE WEIGHT RESTRICTION.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE BELIEVE CAN BE DONE MORE SWIFTLY THAN WHAT'S HAPPENING.
AND MY CONCERN, AS I SAID, IS YOU'RE GONNA BE ADDING A LOT OF NUMBERS TO THAT 300,000 A MONTH IF WE DON'T TAKE ACTION BEFORE THIS PROJECT BEGINS.
AND I HAD ONE OTHER QUESTION RELATED TO THE AFFORDABLES.
WILL THE AFFORDABLES HAVE WASHERS AND DRYERS IN THEIR UNITS? UM, I DON'T KNOW OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S REQUIRED BY UAC.
THE UNIFORM HOUSING AFFORD AFFORDABILITY CONTROLS.
THAT IS REALLY WHAT WILL DICTATE THE SQUARE FOOTAGE AND ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS IN THE AMENITIES FOR THE, WHAT IS THE PLAN THEN FOR FOLKS TO DO THEIR LAUNDRY? SO THERE, UH, MOST OF THE TIME THERE'S TYPICALLY COMMON IN SOME OF THOSE, AND I JUST, I DON'T KNOW YET THAT WOULD BE A SUBJECT WHEN THE FINAL ARCHITECTURAL PLANS ARE DONE.
BUT THERE ARE REQUIREMENTS IN THE REDEVELOPMENT PLAN THAT THE BEDROOM DISTRIBUTION, THE UNIT SIZES, AND ALL OF THE OTHER CODE REQUIREMENTS COMPLY WITH THE UAC, UH, REQUIREMENTS.
IT, IT, IT JUST, YOU KNOW, I SAID IT LAST TIME, MEDFORD HAS BECOME VERY ELITIST.
WHY ARE PEOPLE SUPPOSEDLY TRYING TO HELP AND HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING? THEY HAVE TO CLUSTER THEIR TRASH.
THEY WON'T HAVE A WASHER AND DRYER.
THERE'S NO PLACE FOR THEIR KIDS TO PLAY IT.
IT JUST DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT'S HELPING PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, AND I, I'M REALLY, I FEEL VERY SAD FOR THEM BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE DOING A DISSERVICE AND IF UNITS CAN'T HAVE A WASHER AND A DRYER.
AND THERE'S ONE LAUNDROMAT IN MEDFORD THAT I'M AWARE OF, AND I'VE BEEN HERE ALMOST 30 YEARS.
SO I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT THERE IS A HUMANE CONSIDERATION GOING FORWARD THAT THESE UNITS HAVE WASHERS AND DRYERS.
I, I'VE BEEN SKIPPING OVER PEOPLE I PROMISED.
UH, MA'AM, I APOLOGIZE FOR SKIPPING OVER YOU.
MY NAME IS SHANNON IGO AND I LIVE AT TWO HARPER FERRY COURT.
UM, SO I KNOW THAT THE PLANS ARE DRAFTS AS OF NOW, BUT THE LANDINGS AT KIRBY'S MILL, IT'S A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN 200 UNITS GOING IN THERE.
AND AS IT STANDS, IT ONLY HAS ONE ENTRANCE AND EXIT, WHICH IS DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE HISTORIC KIRBY'S MILL.
I LIVE IN HEADWATER VILLAGE, WHICH I BELIEVE IS LESS THAN 200 HOUSES IN THERE.
AND WE HAVE THREE ENTRANCES AND EXITS.
SO I'M JUST VERY CONCERNED, LIKE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAID ABOUT THE TRAFFIC
[02:00:01]
IN THAT AREA AND LIKE DAILY GETTING IN AND OUT OF POTENTIALLY 200 TO 400 CARS FOR THE 200 UNITS.AND AS MR. KARN SAID, THE INTERSECTION OF FOSTER TOWN AND CHURCH IS A REALLY HARD INTERSECTION TO, TO TURN ON.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, A HILL ON ONE SIDE THAT YOU CAN'T SEE PAST AND A TURN ON THE OTHER SIDE THAT YOU CAN'T SEE PAST.
SO HAVING THAT, HAVING TO TURN DOWN THERE TO GET IN AND OUT OF YOUR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, I THINK IS VERY DIFFICULT TO ASK FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WILL LIVE THERE.
SO, AND I KNOW EVERYONE HAS SAID THAT IT'S DRAFT AND IT WILL CHANGE, BUT I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT, THAT THAT SEEMS A LITTLE IRRESPONSIBLE OF US TO ALLOW THAT.
THE, ALL OF THESE PROJECTS, AND IT'S, IT'S STATE LAW AND IT'S REITERATED IN THE REDEVELOPMENT PLANS.
THE NEW JERSEY RESIDENTIAL SITE IMPROVEMENT STANDARDS HAS VERY SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR THE NUMBER, THE SIZES OF ROADWAYS, NUMBERS OF ENTRANCES, WHETHER IT HAS TO BE DIVIDED OR BIFURCATED ALONG THE FRONTAGE.
UM, THE, THE LANDING SITE DOES HAVE LIMITED, UM, SITE FRONTAGE THERE.
SO THAT SITE IS A LITTLE MORE CONSTRAINED, UM, THAN OTHERS.
BUT, UM, IT WILL HAVE TO BE, UM, AS WE, AS WE MENTIONED BEFORE, TRAFFIC STUDIES, UM, WILL HAVE TO BE SUBMITTED IN CONJUNCTION WITH SITE PLAN APPROVAL AND ALL THE DESIGN WILL HAVE TO FULLY COMPLY WITH THE RESIDENTIAL SITE IMPROVEMENT STANDARDS.
UM, I, I, I PROMISED SOME FOLKS, UM, SIR, AND THEN I'LL GO TO MR. HORN.
I'M A FORMER MEMBER OF THE PLANNING BOARD.
I LIVED, LIVED IN, UH, MEDFORD FOR 45 YEARS.
SIR, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS IS LIKE, THERE'S A LOT OF ISSUES BEING RAISED AND QUESTIONED.
ARE THEY ACTUALLY, AND AND I, AND I'M NOT SAYING THIS FACETIOUSLY
UM, AND IT, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT AND, AND UNFORTUNATELY FOR ALL OF YOU IT'S A BURDEN.
UH, BUT ANYHOW, UM, AND I'M JUST KIND OF WAITING IN ON THIS.
SO FORGIVE ME IF THERE'S SOME DUPLICATIVE ANSWERS HERE.
UH, WHAT, WHAT WOULD THIS SUNDAY DEADLINE ROUND FOUR COMPLIANCE CORRECT.
SUPPOSED TO HAVE INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED REDEVELOPMENT.
IN THIS CASE, ORDINANCE IS AUTHORIZING TO MEET OUR NUMBER.
AND SOME OF THIS I MIGHT HAVE MISSED, BUT, UM, SOMEBODY BROUGHT UP, UH, FLYING W BEING PART OF ROUND THREE AND THAT'S NOT STARTED.
WHAT IS, ISN'T THERE SOME LIKE TIMING REQUIREMENT FOR THAT OR WHAT'S THE, THAT'S FOLDED INTO ROUND FOUR AND THAT'S PART OF THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT THAT THE COURT HAS APPROVED.
THAT'D BE PART OF THIS PROJECT.
UM, AND WHEN DID ROUND FIVE COME 10 YEARS FROM NOW? 2035.
YEP, THAT'S WHAT I, THAT'S WHAT I REMEMBER.
I HAD A NOTE THERE 'CAUSE I REMEMBER IT WAS 15, 17 WHEN WE DID ALL THAT FIRST.
IT'S JUST, IT, PART OF WHAT IS AMAZING TO ME IS LIKE, AND MAYBE, YOU KNOW, THE ANSWER TO THIS IS, AGAIN, HAVING LIVED HERE SINCE 79, IT'S LIKE THE PAST EIGHT YEARS, LIKE ALL OF A SUDDEN IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING FROM ZERO TO 60 ON ALL THIS ENFORCEMENT.
LIKE, WHAT CHANGED? CAN I TAKE A SURE ABOUT? UM, SO YOU MAY GO BACK 10 YEARS, UM, AND IT WAS A DIFFERENT GOVERNOR IN OFFICE THAT GOVERNOR STOPPED ESSENTIALLY THE COUNCIL ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
HE REFUSED TO APPOINT ANYONE TO IT.
UM, AND THERE WAS A GREAT DELAY AT THAT JUNCTURE IN THE PRODUCTION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE STATE.
UM, SUPREME COURT DID NOT LIKE THAT.
UM, THE SUPREME COURT MANDATED THAT TE THE STATE HAD TO TAKE ACTION TO ADDRESS ROUNDS THREE AND COMING ROUND FOUR, UH, THAT GOVERNOR DELAYED AS LONG AS HE COULD.
UM, IN 2018, UH, NEW GOVERNOR TOOK OFFICE, UM, AND HE THEN EXPEDITED THE PROCESS TO GET ROUNDS THREE AND FOUR DONE.
UM, THAT INCLUDED, UH, LEGISLATION THAT WAS ADOPTED IN JUNE OF 24 TO PUT US WHERE WE
[02:05:01]
ARE THIS VERY NIGHT.IN THAT JUNE LEGISLATION OF 24, UH, WAS ADOPTED, SETTING THESE TITLE, SETTING THE A, UH, ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS, SETTING UP THE COURT'S INVOLVEMENT IN THEM AND THE MANDATES AND THE DEADLINES THAT HAD TO BE FOLLOWED.
UH, PREVIOUSLY, LIKE SAM, I WAS OWNED ALL THE SEWER PERMITS GONE BACK MANY YEARS.
WHAT IS THE SEWER CAPACITY FOR ALL OF THIS? IS THERE GONNA BE A NEED FOR ADDITIONAL CAPACITY ON THE EXISTING PLANT? A NEW PLANT? DO WE KNOW THE, THE EXISTING PLANT HAS SUFFICIENT CAPACITY FOR THESE DEVELOPMENTS.
UM, I THINK SHE, I THINK THE LADY BEFORE ME WAS TALKING ABOUT THE INTERSECTION.
WAS IT HARTFORD ROAD, FOSTER TOWN AND CHURCH.
SO I'M GONNA BRING UP, SOMEBODY SAID KIRBY'S MILL.
IS THAT ACROSS FROM THE SCHOOL? THE KIRBYS MILL ONE? NO, IT'S AT CHURCH.
I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE, UH, THE NAME THEN.
UM, AND WHAT ABOUT THE ADDITIONAL DEMAND FOR THE SCHOOLS? HAS THAT BEEN IDENTIFIED? NO, SIR.
WHAT WHAT WE MENTIONED WAS, UM, AGAIN, AS MR. MCGUCKIN INDICATED, THE TOWNS WERE GIVEN THESE NUMBERS, THE HOUSING ELEMENT WAS DONE, HAD TO BE DONE LAST YEAR.
WE HAVE TO GET THE ZONING DONE NOW.
WE WROTE REQUIREMENTS INTO THE REDEVELOPMENT PLANS THAT EACH ONE OF THE RE DEVELOPERS WILL HAVE TO SUBMIT A COMMUNITY FISCAL IMPACT ANALYSIS TO HELP THE TOWN PLAN FOR WHAT THOSE FISCAL IMPACTS WILL BE TO THE SCHOOLS, RECREATION, EMERGENCY SERVICES, AND THE LIKE.
IT WASN'T SOMETHING THAT THE LEGISLATION AND THE STATE REALLY CONSIDERED WHEN THEY GAVE US OUR NUMBER OF 171 PERSPECTIVE UNITS.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ARE DOING, UH, SORT OF FROM A DEFENSIVE POSITION SO THAT THE COUNCIL CAN BEST PLAN FOR HOW THIS MANDATE WILL IMPACT OKAY.
UM, GREG, DO YOU WANNA FOLLOW UP ON THAT? DID YOU HAVE A, UH, THEY DIDN'T CARE.
THE PEOPLE WHO CREATED THESE REGULATIONS, THE PEOPLE WHO, UH, ADOPTED IT, UM, VIEW, I DON'T WANNA GET TOO INTO IT.
UM, THEY VIEW IT AS IT'S YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL OBLIGATION.
THAT'S, THAT'S THEIR ATTITUDE.
WELL, PART OF THE REASON I'M ASKING THE QUESTION IS IF YOU DO THE MATH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE COST FOR A SINGLE FAMILY HOME IS, BUT IT'S 171.
IF IT'S 250,000 A UNIT, MAYBE IT'S MORE THAN THAT.
YOU'RE TALKING 40, $50 MILLION.
BUT IF YOU'RE ADDING ONTO A SEWER PLANT, YOU'RE ADDING ON THE SCHOOLS, THEN YOU START TO SAY, OKAY, MAYBE IT MAKES SENSE JUST TO BUILD THE UNITS.
AND I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT, BUT IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY THERE'S MORE.
LOOK, THERE'S ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, POLITICS OR POLITICS.
I, YOU KNOW, LIKE, AGAIN, AND THIS IS MY LAST QUESTION.
LIKE THE, HAVE THE BUILDERS ALREADY BEEN IDENTIFIED FOR THE THREE REDEVELOPMENT PLANS? IT WAS PROPOSED, I HEARD YES, IT'S PROPOSED.
HOW THEY HAVE NOT BEEN NAMED TO ME.
HOW DID THAT HAPPEN VERSUS LIKE, YOU KNOW, LIKE IF WE'RE JUST SHOWING COMPLIANCE, HOW YOU, HOW ARE WE ALREADY IDENTIFYING WHO THE BUILDERS ARE? THERE SEEMS TO IT.
IT'S A LITTLE TOO, WELL, I, I THINK MUCKY SOMEDAY SOMEONE WILL, SOME DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT.
SOME, SOMEBODY WILL DO A STUDY ON WHAT FAIR SHARE HOUSING AGREEMENTS ARE OR DISCUSSIONS ARE WITH VARIOUS DEVELOPERS IN THIS STATE SOMEDAY.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE HARD WORK YOU GUYS DO.
[VIII. MANAGER’S REPORT]
GOOD EVENING.UM, I'LL DO MY BEST TO TRY TO STICK WITHIN THE FIVE MINUTES TONIGHT.
YOU COUNSEL PASSED A RESOLUTION SO YOU CAN TERMINATE MY APPOINTMENT TOWNSHIP MANAGER.
AND, UH, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, CAME OUT OF THE BLUE, I ASK THAT YOU CONVENE YOUR DELIBERATIONS AND OPEN PUBLIC SESSION.
MY RIGHTS RIGHTS WERE VIOLATED BY FAILING TO ALLOW ME TO SPEAK BEFORE YOU TOOK ACTION.
WHEN I WAS OFFERED A POSITION BY THE PRIOR COUNSEL, I WAS ASKED FOR A THREE YEAR COMMITMENT.
PART OF THE REASON I CHOSE MEDFORD WAS THAT A THREE YEAR COMMITMENT ALIGNED WITH MY GOAL TO WORK TO H 55
[02:10:01]
AND RETIRE FROM PUBLIC SERVICE.THOUGH I WON'T REACH THAT AGENT UNTIL THE FALL OF 2027, I'M WILLING TO CALIBRATE AS ANYONE IN PUBLIC SECTOR KNOWS, RETIRING EARLIER THAN ALLOWED WILL REQUIRE A SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL SACRIFICE.
WHEN THIS YEAR BEGAN, NEW COUNCIL, YOU AS A NEW COUNSEL, ANNOUNCED THAT YOU WANTED TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT AND MORE ENGAGED WITH RESIDENTS.
THE TWO EXPECTATIONS YOU OUTLINED FOR ME WERE TO INCREASE THE TOWNSHIP'S DISTRIBUTION OF INFORMATION OF RESIDENTS AND TO COMMUNICATE FREQUENTLY WITH YOU.
AS EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM IS AWARE, OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE HAS GREATLY INCREASED IN 2026.
THANKS TO THE EFFORTS OF THE POLICE CHIEF FIRE AND EMS CHIEF PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES DIRECTOR AND OUR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS COORDINATOR, WE'VE MADE IT A PRACTICE TO BE PROACTIVE WITH PERTINENT INFORMATION.
WHEN A TOPIC OF COMMUNICATING WITH COUNSEL IS INDISPUTABLE THAT I FREQUENTLY ENGAGE WITH YOU, I HAVE EASILY SENT OVER HUNDREDS OF EMAILS TO YOU AS A GROUP OR INDIVIDUALLY IN JUST 2.5 MONTHS, ALONG WITH DOZENS OF TEXT MESSAGES, PHONE CALLS, AND IN-PERSON MEETINGS.
I HAVE CONSISTENTLY BEEN RESPONSIVE TO ANY AND ALL OF YOUR QUESTIONS.
MY CAREER ISN'T IN JEOPARDY TONIGHT BECAUSE I'VE DONE ANYTHING WRONG.
IN FACT, WHEN A PRIOR COUNCIL ASKED TOWNSHIP DEPARTMENT MANAGERS TO EVALUATE ME LAST FALL, MY AVERAGE RATING CAME IN OVER 85 ON A SCALE OF 100, SOME DEPARTMENT MANAGERS NOTED MY COMMITMENT TO RUNNING AN ETHICAL AND RESPONSIVE TOWNSHIP GOVERNMENT.
I'VE SPOKEN WITH DOZENS OF RESIDENTS THIS YEAR ALONE, WHO HAVE COMPLIMENTED TOWNSHIP STAFF AND ME FOR OUR PROMPT AND COURTEOUS RESPONSES TO THEIR TELEPHONE CALLS AND EMAILS.
SINCE TAKING ON A ROLE, I'D HAD TO CORRECT NUMEROUS EFFICIENT BUSINESS PRACTICES THAT WERE IMPEDING THE EFFICIENCY OF TOWNSHIP GOVERNMENT WERE PLAINLY BAD FOR BUSINESS PEOPLE.
PROMOTED TO SUPERVISORS IN MEDFORD HAVE HISTORICALLY RECEIVED NO TRAINING.
I INSTITUTED A SUPERVISOR TRAINING PROGRAM AND TRAINED MOST TOWNSHIP SUPERVISORS AND DEPARTMENT MANAGERS IN THE FALL OF 2024.
THIS YEAR, ON ACCOUNT OF THE NUMBER OF PROMOTIONS IN THE SECOND HALF OF 25, I RAN ANOTHER SUPERVISOR TRAINING PROGRAM TO EQUIP OUR NEWER SUPERVISORS AND MANAGERS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS NEEDED TO OVERSEE THEIR STAFF AND PRUDENTLY MANAGE TOWNSHIP RESOURCES.
OUR PAYROLL AND TIMEKEEPING SYSTEMS WERE A MESS WHEN I STARTED DUE TO A MID-YEAR CHANGE IN 2024, BEFORE I TOOK OVER IN 2025, WE WENT FROM HAVING THREE SEPARATE TIMEKEEPING SYSTEMS DOWN TO TWO.
THE GOAL THIS YEAR, ONCE POLICE UNION NEGOTIATIONS ARE CONCLUDED IS TO GET DOWN TO A SINGLE TIMEKEEPING SYSTEM, WHICH IS A NORM.
MULTIPLE TIMEKEEPING SYSTEMS, WASTE MANAGERS TIME, AND EFFORTS ON ROUTINE TASKS THAT SHOULD BE AUTOMATED.
WORKING WITH OUR BENEFITS BROKER AND HR COORDINATOR, I OVERHAULED THE VOLUNTARY BENEFITS PROGRAM.
MEDFORD IS UNIQUE AS A PUBLIC EMPLOYER BECAUSE IT DOES NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE STATE TEMPORARY DISABILITY BENEFITS PROGRAM.
THAT MEANS THE TOWNSHIP NEEDS A GOOD VOLUNTARY BENEFITS PROGRAM TO OFFER PRODUCTS FOR OUR EMPLOYEES PURCHASE SHOULD THEY HAVE TO TAKE AN EXTENDED LEAVE FROM ABSENCE DUE TO DUE TO INJURY OR, OR UH, ILLNESS.
IT ALSO SAVES THE TOWNSHIP MONEY WHEN EMPLOYEES PARTICIPATE IN FLEXIBLE SPENDING ARRANGEMENTS FOR UNREIMBURSED MEDICAL EXPENSES OR DAYCARE EXPENSES BY DIVERTING, UH, WAGES PRE-TAX, WHICH SAVES THE TOWNSHIP ON QUITE A COST.
WE'VE BEEN VERY AGGRESSIVE IN GETTING MORE PEOPLE ENROLLED IN THESE PROGRAMS. THE PERSONNEL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES MANUAL WAS A MESS.
THERE WERE SECTIONS IN THE MANUAL THAT MADE NO SENSE AND CONFUSED EMPLOYEES WORKING WITH THE HR COORDINATOR, SHE AND I REVISED THAT MANUAL AND CREATED A SEPARATE EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK THAT MORE CLEARLY OUTLINED THE PARAMETERS EMPLOYMENT MAINLY FOR DEPARTMENT MANAGERS AND NON-UNION PERSONNEL.
SOME OF THE UNION CONTRACTS WERE ALSO DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND OR IMPLEMENT WERE CONTAINED ILLEGAL CLAUSES SUCH AS ALLOWING EMPLOYEES TO ROLL OVER MORE VACATION TIME THAN STATU ORALLY PERMITTED.
IN 2021, A STATE COMPTROLLER PUBLISHED A REPORT THAT WAS EMBARRASSING TO MANY TOWNS THAT HAD CONTRACT CON CONTRACT LANGUAGE IN VIOLATION OF STATE LAWS.
WE HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY NEGOTIATING WITH OUR UNIONS TO MAKE THE CONTRACTS BOTH FAIR TO WORKERS, THE TOWNSHIP AND LEGALLY COMPLIANT.
THE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS PROGRAM WAS A DISASTER.
WE, WE IDENTIFIED A NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES WHO ARE NOT PAYING THE CORRECT AMOUNTS FOR THEIR BENEFITS, PRIMARILY UNDERPAYING US, WHICH WE CORRECTED FOR JANUARY OF LAST YEAR.
OVER THE COURSE OF 2025, THE HR COORDINATOR WORKED WITH OUR BENEFITS BROKER TO DO AN INTERNAL AUDIT OF THE PEOPLE ON OUR PLAN.
THE AUDIT IDENTIFIED A COUPLE HANDFULS OF RETIREES WHO WERE EITHER NOT PAYING AT ALL OR WERE UNDERPAYING FOR RETIREE HEALTH
[02:15:01]
BENEFITS.WE ALSO STOPPED PAYING A HEALTH BENEFITS WAIVER TO EMPLOYEES WHO ARE INELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE IT.
FINALLY, WE WORKED WITH OUR BENEFITS BROKER OVER THE PAST FALL TO MOVE A COUPLE DOZEN EMPLOYEES AND RETIREES FROM HIGHER COST PLANS INTO LOWER COST PLAN FOR 2026 TO REDUCE THE ENORMOUS EXPENSE INCREASE IN THE BUDGET FOR ACTIVE AND RETIREE HEALTH BENEFITS FOR PURCHASING.
THIS TOO WAS ANOTHER AREA OF WEAKNESS.
OUR BID TEMPLATE DOCUMENT WAS NOT COMPLIANT WITH STATE PROCUREMENT LAWS AND OUR PURCHASING PRACTICES DID NOT TRACE, UH, OUR PURCHASES USING COMMODITY CODES, WHICH MADE IT HARDER TO TELL IF WE WERE COMPLIANT WITH STATUTORY PAY TO PLAY LAWS AND BID T THRESHOLDS.
IN AUGUST, WE BROUGHT ON A VERY EXPERIENCED PART-TIME QUALIFIED PURCHASING AGENT WHO HAS ADDRESSED THE WEAKNESSES IN OUR PURCHASING PROGRAM.
THE BUDGET PROCESS HAS ALSO BEEN EXTRAORDINARILY DIFFICULT.
LAST YEAR, THE C-N-O-C-C-F-O AND I HAD TO FILL A $3.3 MILLION BUDGET GAP.
WE DID IT, BUT WE WERE UNABLE TO IMPROVE OUR SURPLUS RESERVE.
WE FACED ANOTHER EXTRAORDINARY DIFFICULT BUDGET THIS TIME WITH A $1.3 MILLION BUDGET GAP, BUT FEWER OPTIONS TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.
DESPITE THIS C CHA, THESE CHALLENGES, SHE AND I WERE PREPARED TONIGHT TO INTRODUCE THE BALANCED BUDGET THAT INCREASES THE SURPLUS RESERVE BY NEARLY A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
THESE ARE THE KIND OF ACTIONS WE NEED TO TAKE TO ENSURE OUR BOND RATING REMAINS STABLE.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER AREAS THAT HAVE EITHER IMPROVED OR A MARKETING IMPROVED TO MAKE TOWNSHIP GOVERNMENT RUN MORE EFFICIENTLY.
WE'VE STREAMLINED THE OPRAH REQUEST SYSTEM.
WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED GIS DIGITAL MAPS ON OUR WEBSITE THAT HAVE BEEN INFINITELY HELPFUL TO RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES, AND REALTORS.
AND THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS, WE ARE ADDRESSING A NUMBER OF CAPITAL ITEMS THAT HAVE FACED YEARS OF NEGLECT.
BY WAY OF ILLUSTRATION, OVER THE YEARS, RESIDENTS HAVE ATTENDED COUNCIL MEETINGS TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE CONDITION OF THEIR ROADS.
SOME OF THOSE RESIDENTS WERE TOLD THE ROADS COULDN'T BE REPAVED BECAUSE THE WATER MAINS BELOW THEIR STREETS WERE TOO FRAGILE.
THAT'S AN UNACCEPTABLE EXCUSE.
UH, CONSEQUENTLY, WE WERE PROPOSING TO BUDGET OVER 1.2 MILLION IN THE WATER UTILITY CAPITAL BUDGET THIS YEAR TO CONTINUE REPLACING WATER MAINS IN LAKE PINE AND TAMARACK, ENABLING US TO INCLUDE THOSE ROADS IN, IN CURRENT AND FUTURE ROAD REPAVING SCHEDULES, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, ADDRESSING THOSE RESIDENTS CONCERNS DIRECTLY.
ANOTHER IMPAR AREA OF IMPROVEMENT HAS BEEN OUR SNOW RESPONSE.
OUR SNOW REMOVAL FORMER MAYOR RESTOCK AFTER AN, UH, A WINTER STORM LAST YEAR IN 2025, LAMENTED TO ME THAT MEDFORD ROADS ALWAYS SEEMED TO BE WORSE THAN SURROUNDING NEIGHBORS.
HE CHALLENGED ME TO WORK WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES DIRECTOR TO TURN THAT AROUND.
AND WE HAVE SINCE THE DECEMBER SNOWSTORM, OUR RESPONSE HAS IMPROVED WITH EACH STORM DESPITE THE CONDITIONS GROWING INCREASINGLY WORSE.
WE HAVEN'T HAD SNOWFALLS OF THESE AMOUNTS WITH ACCOMPANYING CONDITIONS IN 30 YEARS.
I ANSWERED CALLS FROM OR RETURNED CALLS TO RESIDENTS WHO COMPLIMENTED PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES EFFORTS EACH STORM.
LASTLY, WHEN I WAS OFFERED A POSITION A MANAGER, I WAS TOLD THAT THE POSITION IS 35 HOURS A WEEK PLUS TWO NIGHT MEETINGS A MONTH.
UNDER THE PRIOR COUNCIL, I TYPICALLY WORKED 40 TO 45 HOURS A WEEK AND COULD FLEX MY TIME.
WHEN I WORKED NE NIGHT WEEKENDS, PARDON ME, NIGHT MEETINGS UNDER THIS NEW COUNCIL, I HAD BEEN WORKING CONSISTENTLY 40, 50 OR MORE HOURS PER WEEK.
AND BOTH JANUARY AND FEBRUARY I ATTENDED FOUR NIGHT MEETINGS A MONTH.
MY COMMITMENT TO THIS TOWNSHIP IS INDISPUTABLE.
I HAVE OTHER THINGS I'D LIKE TO SAY, BUT FOR THE GOOD OF IT, I'M GOING TO HOLD OFF ON THOSE.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A RECORD SO THAT THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS JUST HOW HARD AND, AND HOW MUCH TIME I HAVE INVESTED MAKING MEDFORD TOWNSHIP A BETTER PLACE.
[VII. PUBLIC COMMENTS (Part 2 of 2)]
MS UH, MA'AM, YOU HAD YOUR HAND UP EARLIER AND JIM, I'M NOT SKIPPING INTERVIEW.SHE DID HAVE HER HAND UP FIRST.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK MA'AM? SPEAK THE FIRST.
HI, KELLY BENSON, 19 CHARLESER BROOKSIDE.
UM, ONE THING, I KNOW THIS IS REPETITIVE FROM THE LAST TIME, BUT I'M SAYING IT PURPOSEFULLY JUST SO IT'S OUT THERE.
[02:20:01]
CONCERN IN BROOKSIDE WHERE ORIGINALLY WE WERE TOLD THAT WE WOULD HAVE THE 300 BUFFER AS WELL AS EVEN AT THE TOWN HALL WHERE WE HAD DISCUSSED THAT ALL OF THE UNITS WOULD BE SELLABLE UNITS.UM, IT IS JUST DISCONCERTING TO ALL OF US THAT THAT HAS CHANGED BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT THE ENVIRONMENT.
I DO FEEL LIKE ONE THING THAT SHOULD BE OUT THERE FOR CLARIFICATION'S SAKE, THAT WHEN PEOPLE COME UP AND THEY TALK AND SOMETIMES WILL SAY LOW INCOME INSTEAD OF AFFORDABLE, BUT I FEEL LIKE EVERYBODY NEEDS TO KNOW THAT UNDER DCA AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS AN UMBRELLA THAT ENCOMPASSES LOW INCOME TO VERY LOW INCOME.
THAT NEEDS TO BE KNOWN AND REALIZED BECAUSE IF NOT, IT SEEMS LIKE THE SEMANTICS OF IT IS A BIT MANIPULATIVE.
SO JUST IN THE COMMUNITY, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF BASED UPON THAT.
AND NOW THAT WE'VE SWITCHED OVER FOR CREDIT'S SAKE TO RENTAL PROPERTIES, NOW THERE'S, THERE SHOULD BE A CONCERN IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS OF WILL THAT BECOME A LOW, A VERY LOW.
SO WITHIN THE STATE REGULATIONS WE HAVE OUR LOW INCOME ARE VERY LOW.
SO WHAT IS THAT GOING TO LOOK LIKE AND THE FACT THAT WE'RE, IT'S GOING TO LOOK DIFFERENT.
MAYBE THERE'S NOT WASHER AND DRYERS WOULD LEAD ONE TO BE CONCERNED THAT THAT IS WHAT COULD POSSIBLY COME IN.
THEN WHAT WILL THAT LOOK LIKE? WE ALL KNOW WHEN SOMEBODY HAS A BUY INTO SOMETHING THAT JUST MAKES YOU RESPECT YOUR PROPERTY, IT MAKES YOU RESPECT YOUR SURROUNDINGS, IT MAKES YOU RESPECT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH WILL BE US, UM, WE DO, UH, I REALIZED HOW BLESSED WE ARE TO LIVE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE QUITE FRANKLY, WE LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER'S KIDS TO A POINT WHERE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN COMFORTABLE.
AND I AM COMFORTABLE SAYING TO SOMEONE, HEY BUD, YOU MAY NOT WANNA DO THAT.
AND WE'VE BEEN RECEPTIVE AND WE, WE REALLY HAVE A VILLAGE COMMUNITY GOING ON THERE.
WHEN THE DYNAMICS OF THE POSSIBLE PEOPLE COMING INTO THIS NEW SETTING, THAT COULD CHANGE.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S VERY CONCERNING.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, IT'S CONCERNING FOR SECURITY REASONS AS WELL.
AND WE HAVEN'T REALLY EVEN ADDRESSED THAT, WHICH NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING BECAUSE THAT LONG TERM COULD IMPACT, IMPACT OUR POLICE.
THE OTHER THING, AS WE'RE SITTING THERE, I KNOW WITH LAFFERTY, YOU SAID IT CAME OUT IN THE FALL AND THEN RICK'S CAME IN IN NOVEMBER.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE ORIGINAL PLANS, LAFFERTY, AND I KNOW I'M OFF A BIT WITH THIS, BUT IT'S BASICALLY WAS AN 86 ACRE RICK'S AT ABOUT 61.
BUT NOW WITH THE WETLAND, WE'RE DOWN TO ABOUT 17.
SO WE'RE HOW ARE WE TAKING THE SAME AMOUNT AND MOVING IT TO SUCH A SMALLER SPACE? IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT LOGICAL.
UM, I'M NOT SURE, LIKE EVEN ONE WHO DOESN'T EXCEL AT SPATIAL RELATIONS WOULD HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT DOESN'T REALLY WORK.
UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE'S ALL KINDS OF THINGS WITH NO WASHER AND DRYER.
SO WHAT IS, I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE H THE HOME ASSOCIATION THAT WILL BE IN CHARGE OF THE NEW THAT ARE GOING IN.
WELL, WHAT WILL BE THE RULES? WHAT ABOUT WE DON'T NEED CLOSE THE LINES ALL OVER? WHAT WILL BE THE PARKING? UM, IF YOU HAVE RENTALS, MORE PEOPLE ARE COMING IN, HOW ARE YOU GONNA CONTROL HOW MANY CARS ARE IN THERE? WHAT IS THAT GOING TO LOOK LIKE? WHAT IS THE SAFETY OF THAT? THERE'S JUST SO MANY THINGS THAT WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT AND CAN WE CONSIDER MAKING WHAT WE'RE SAYING ARE GONNA BE RENTAL, GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL OF THEIR BIBLE? THAT WOULD SEEM BETTER.
AND WE REALLY, AS A DEVELOPMENT, WE, AND IT, WE DID GET TO SOME DID GET TO TALK TO THE BUILDER AND THERE WAS DISCUSSION WITH THE FENCE, BUT IT WAS VERY CLEAR THAT THAT FENCE WOULD NOT BE A DETERRENT.
SO WE REALLY ARE ASKING, UM, WE NEED MORE OF A BUFFER.
[02:25:01]
NEED THAT AT MINIMUM.AND TO QUOTE MYSELF THE LAST TIME, I FEEL LIKE THAT'S JUST, WE ALL WANNA PLAY NICELY WITH ONE ANOTHER.
UM, AND TO DO THAT, I THINK WE NEED TO CONSIDER WHAT IS ALREADY HERE AND WHAT'S COMING IN.
AND I DO UNDERSTAND, I RESPECT ALL OF YOU, I UNDERSTAND YOUR HANDS ARE TIED WITH SOME THINGS, BUT THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT AREN'T.
AND SOMETIMES JUST TO STAND FIRM AND SAY, OKAY, AS A TOWN, THESE ARE WHAT'S COMING DOWN FROM THE STATE.
BUT WHERE THERE'S ROOM TO PUSH BACK, WE NEED TO DO THAT.
IF I COULD ADDRESS THE, THE RENTAL AND THE LOW, VERY LOW INCOME UNITS, THERE ARE CERTAIN PERCENTAGES THAT THE STATE REQUIRES THAT WE HAVE A MIN MINIMUM, RIGHT? SO WE HAVE NO LEEWAY, MINIMAL LEEWAY ON THAT AS WELL.
IN REGARD TO WHO ABOUT REGARD TO THE NUMBER OF RENTAL UNITS AND THE NUMBER OF LOW, VERY LOW INCOME UNITS.
SO IN THE, WHEN I, AND MIND YOU, UH, THIS IS NOT WHAT I DO, BUT UNDER DCA IT DOESN'T, IT SAYS AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THEN THE NUMBER FOR THE STATE.
NOWHERE DOES IT SAY THAT I HAVE READ THAT IT SAYS IT HAS TO BE RENTAL, THAT THERE HAS TO BE A PER CERTAIN PERCENT THAT HAS TO BE RENTAL AS WELL.
WE AS A TOWN HAVE TO COVER THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THE MINIMUM IS 25% FOR RENTAL, OF WHICH HALF OF THOSE HAVE TO BE, UM, UH, FAMILY RENTALS.
CORRECT? I BELIEVE THAT'S CORRECT.
AND THAT'S IN THE REGS LIKE IT'S SAYING YES.
AND IT'S IN OUR, WHAT WE'RE BRINGING IN, IT'S IN OUR RENTAL REQUIRED BY FAIR SHARE OF HOUSING AND THE COURTS.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO DO.
AND IS THAT WHY THERE WAS A CHANGE FROM THE ORIGINAL PLAN THAT WHEN WE WERE TOLD THEY WOULD ALL BE VIABLE UNITS? I DON'T RECALL THAT, SCOTT.
I, SO I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT.
THE JUDGE PLAN HAS THE SAME EXACT MARKET AND IS AND AFFORDABLE UNIT DISTRIBUTION AS THE HOUSING ELEMENTS THAT WERE ADOPTED IN JUNE AND AGAIN DECEMBER OF 2025.
THESE UNITS THROUGH THAT WHOLE PROCESS HAVE BEEN RENTAL, HAVE BEEN THREE BEDROOM FAMILY RENTAL UNITS FOR CLOSE TO A YEAR NOW.
SO I'M NOT SURE WHEN THAT INFORMATION CAME OUT, BUT FROM WHEN THE PLAN WAS DEVELOPED, IT WAS IN THE PLAN FROM THE, A YEAR AGO.
THESE OF THOSE SAME EXACT LAND USE TYPES AND JUST IN THE DESIGN STANDARDS.
SO THEY HAVE UNITS AND THAT'S THE SAME STATEWIDE.
THE, THE REQUIREMENT FOR PART OF IT BEING RENTAL AND NOT, AND VERY LOW INCOME IS A MANDATE AS PART OF THE ENTIRE PROCESS.
SO FOR CLARIFICATION, IT'S RENTAL BECAUSE IT WILL BE VERY LOW INCOME.
I MEAN, THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WE NEED TO BE AWARE.
AND AS AN EDUCATOR THAT BECOMES MORE OF A FINANCIAL IN REGARD TO WHAT'S GOING COME INTO OUR SCHOOLS.
UM, AND THAT BREAKDOWN IS ALSO SET BY LAW.
THERE IS A STANDARD FOR A MINIMUM OF 13 HAVE TO BE LOW.
I'M NOT SURE IF I'M ON 13% HAVE TO BE VERY LOW INCOME.
AND THEN THERE ARE ALSO LOW INCOME AND MODERATE INCOME CATEGORIES THAT ARE ESTABLISHED UNDER THAT UAC REQUIREMENT THAT WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE.
THERE'S ALSO BEDROOM DISTRIBUTION REQUIREMENTS, ET CETERA, THAT WE HAVE TO COMPLY WITH OR WE ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE COURT.
UH, THE CONSENT ORDER AND THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND ALL THOSE OTHER LEGAL THINGS.
EVERY MUNICIPALITY HAS TO COMPLY WITH THOSE THREE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES, THE UNIT SIZES AND THE BEDROOM DISTRIBUTION.
SO THOSE WERE ALREADY SET IN THE HOUSING ELEMENT THAT WAS DONE LAST YEAR THAT MR. NOBLE WAS REFERRING TO.
SO THERE HAVEN'T BEEN ANY CHANGES TO THAT AS PART OF THESE REDEVELOPMENT PLANS FOR THE NEW ZONING.
SO IF THAT'S THE CASE, SHOULDN'T THOSE BE EVENLY DISTRIBUTED BETWEEN THE THREE SITES? SO, UM, THOSE WERE ALSO SET FORTH IN THAT DISTRIBUTION AND THE HOUSING ELEMENT AND FAIR SHARE PLAN.
AND THAT HAS NOT BEEN MODIFIED WITH THESE NEW REDEVELOPMENT PLAN ORDINANCES TO CHANGE THAT.
WELL, I'M JUST SAYING FOR OUR TOWN, THE DISTRIBUTION THAT, THAT WAS THE LAST YEAR QUESTION.
UM, I WILL, I DID HAVE A CHANCE, MAYOR IF I CAN MM-HMM
I DID JUST LOOK UP THE FLOOR PLANS FOR THE AFFORDABLE
[02:30:01]
UNITS AND ALL OF THOSE DO HAVE A STACKED WASHER AND DRYER UNIT WITHIN, UM, EACH ONE OF THE AFFORDABLE UNITS.MR. SCHIFFER, I'M GONNA MAKE THIS REAL QUICK.
IS THIS LATE? MY NAME IS JIM SCHIFFER.
I LIVE AT 2 0 9 TOLTON BOULEVARD.
AND I REALLY COULDN'T HEAR MARY WELL WHEN SHE WAS SPEAKING, SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CLEAR ABOUT A COUPLE NUMBERS THAT SHE THREW OUT THERE.
WE HAVE 300,000 VEHICLES ON OUR CO ON OUR ROADWAY A MONTH.
RIGHT NOW, ACCORDING TO THE REPORT THAT WAS DONE IN LAST JULY, WE HAVE 160 VEHICLES A DAY THAT ARE OVER 40 FEET.
AND SINCE IT WAS DONE IN JULY, THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE SCHOOL BUSES.
SO NOW, NOW THIS NOW DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, THROWING ANOTHER 20 SCHOOL BUSES ON THAT ROAD EVERY DAY.
AND WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN IS THE TOWNSHIP IS GONNA HAVE TO REBUILD OUR HOMES.
IF EVERY BUILDER THAT'S INVOLVED IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMES DOWN TOON BOULEVARD WITH 60 TON DUMP TRUCKS, THEY'RE PROBABLY GONNA ADD ANOTHER 40 TO THAT NUMBER.
SO I'M GONNA BE AT 200 HUGE VEHICLES EVERY SINGLE DAY.
I, I CAN TELL YOU, OUR HOMES ARE GONNA HAVE TO BE REBUILT BECAUSE WE HAVE CRACKS IN OUR FOUNDATIONS.
AND I WAS THINKING ABOUT THIS WHOLE ISSUE THE OTHER DAY ABOUT WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS.
MAYBE WE SHOULD PURSUE PUTTING WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS ON MEDFORD.
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM THE GYM THE OTHER DAY AND THERE WAS A DUMP TRUCK COMING DOWN MAIN STREET, A FULLY LOADED 60 TON.
I'M SURE THE VENDORS ON MAIN STREET DON'T APPRECIATE THAT.
AND THERE'S A TOWN AND SOMEBODY CHUCKLED OVER HERE, BUT THERE'S A TOWN IN NORTH JERSEY THAT DID EXACTLY THAT.
THEY PUT WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS ON THE WHOLE ENTIRE TOWN.
IT'S ONE TOWN BEFORE THAT BRIDGE THAT CHRIS CHRISTIE SHUT DOWN THAT DAY.
I FORGET THE NAME OF THE TOWN, BUT THEY HAD A TON OF TRUCK TRAFFIC COMING THROUGH THEIR TOWN AND THEY ACTUALLY GOT WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS ON THE ENTIRE TOWN.
'CAUSE ALL THOSE TRUCKS WERE HEADED TO THE BRIDGE TO GO INTO NEW YORK CITY.
SO MAYBE WE JUST KIND OF LIKE MAKE A BIG CIRCLE AROUND IT AND SAY, LOOK, IF YOU WANNA DO BUSINESS FOR THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS THAT ARE NORTH OF ROUTE 70, THEN YOU'VE GOTTA USE 73.
YOU'VE GOTTA USE 2 0 6 AND YOU GOTTA USE ROUTE 70 AND STAY THE HELL OUTTA MEDFORD.
STAY THE HELL OUT OF THESE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS.
TILTON BOULEVARD, THAT ONE MILE STRETCH IS PROBABLY THE MOST, HE DENSELY POPULATED ONE MILE STRETCH OF ROAD OUT OF THE TOP FIVE USED ROADS IN MEDFORD.
IT'S NUMBER THAT TAUNTON BOULEVARD AND TAUNTON ROAD ARE THE NUMBER THREE MOST POPULAR ROADS USED IN MEDFORD BEHIND STOKES AND HARTFORD.
BUT STOKES AND HARTFORD DON'T HAVE HOMES THAT SIT RIGHT ON THE ROADWAY.
SO TAUNTON BOULEVARD BECOMES THE MOST DENSELY POPULATED, ONE MILE STRETCH OF BUSY ROADWAY.
AND WHAT HAPPENS, WE GET INUNDATED EVERY SINGLE DAY BY DUMP TRUCKS, CEMENT TRUCKS, PROPANE TANKERS, CAR CARRIERS, 18 WHEEL TRACTOR TRAILERS THAT SHAKE OUR HOUSES ALL DAY LONG.
AND I'M A NAP TAKER AND I GET WOKEN UP EVERY SINGLE DAY.
AND THAT'S NOT THE IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THAT, BUT IT JUST GOES TO SHOW THAT MY HOUSE LITERALLY SHAKES, MY DOG JUMPS UP OFF, OFF THE COUCH WHEN THE HOUSE STARTS TO SHOW, HONEST TO GOD.
AND I HAVE, I CAN SHOW YOU NAIL POPS AND CRACKS IN MY WALLS.
AND WE HAVE NEIGHBORS WHO CAN SHOW YOU CRACKS IN OUR FOUNDATIONS.
AND IF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, IF THIS THING STARTS, THERE'S GOTTA BE A WAY TO MANDATE THAT THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO USE TAUNTON BOULEVARD TO GET TO THOSE BUILDING SITES.
SAY TO THEM, IF YOU WANT THE DAMN CONTRACT, STATE OF HELL OFF OF TOTON BOULEVARD.
USE THE HIGHWAYS 73 AND 2 0 6 IF YOU WANT THE CONTRACT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TONIGHT.
HI, MY NAME'S NANCY ELLO AND I LIVE IN THE BROOKSIDE DEVELOPMENT.
UM, I JUST HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE UNITS.
THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS THAT ARE GOING IN BY RICK'S, ARE THEY ALL RENTALS? DO
[02:35:01]
WE HAVE THE BREAKDOWN OF HOW MANY ARE RENTALS AND HOW MANY ARE FOR SALE? SO WE DO, UM, FOR THE IRON BRIDGE OR RICK'S SITE, 239 OF THE UNITS ARE FEE SIMPLE TOWNHOUSE UNITS, MARKET MARKET RATE.AND 48 ARE THE AFFORDABLE RENTALS.
SO THE AFFORDABLE UNITS ARE ALL RENTALS.
NOT NOTHING OF, NONE OF THOSE ARE FOR SALE, CORRECT.
BECAUSE SOME OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT IS GOING IN IN TOWN WILL BE FOR SALE ALSO, OR THEY'RE STRICTLY ALL RENTALS.
THE THE FOR SALE EXIST ON STONEBRIDGE, CORRECT? YEAH.
SO STONEBRIDGE, THE SENIOR AFFORDABLE TWINS ARE FEE SIMPLE FOR SALE UNITS.
SO THE, THE REMAINING AFFORDABLE HOUSING THEN ARE ALL JUST RENTALS.
THEY ARE ALL, THEY ARE ALL, UH, THREE BEDROOM RENTAL STACKED TOWNHOUSES.
AND THEN, 'CAUSE THIS IS A, I THINK THIS WAS A LITTLE MISCHARACTERIZED IN ONE OF THE MEETINGS I CAME TO WHEN I, 'CAUSE I WAS NOT FAMILIAR SO MUCH WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND LOW INCOME HOUSING, BUT I WAS TOLD THAT OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS NOT LOW INCOME.
THAT IT'S TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.
BUT NOW I AM, IF I'M UNDERSTANDING CORRECTLY, TODAY, WE HAVE KIND OF A MIX OF CONSIDERED AFFORDABLE, LOW INCOME AND VERY LOW INCOME.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S ALL MANDATED BY THE STATE? YES.
AND, AND, AND WE'RE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE HOUSING TO EACH TRANCHE.
SO THERE'S LIKE THREE DIFFERENT LEVELS.
ARE THERE THREE OR MORE? JUST THREE.
'CAUSE I THINK THERE WAS A LITTLE MISSTATEMENT, UM, THAT WE WEREN'T HAVING LOW INCOME.
SO NOW IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THEN THAT'S A, SOME OF IT IS, THAT'S OFTEN MISTAKEN BECAUSE IT REFERS TO THE FEDERAL REGULATIONS WITH RESPECT TO SECTION EIGHT.
THESE, THESE ARE NOT THAT PROCESS, BUT OFTENTIMES THEY TRY TO CONFLATE THEM TO TWO DIFFERENT, SAME THING.
THEY'RE NOT, UM, BUT IT'S NOT SECTION EIGHT OUT.
AND THEN, UM, ARE THEY, IS THIS KIND OF EVENLY DISTRIBUTED BETWEEN THE THREE, UM, PARCELS? LIKE THE, UM, YOU KNOW, YOUR, YOUR THREE LEVELS OF AFFORDABILITY, SO ARE, IS THAT EQUALLY DISTRIBUTED BETWEEN THE THREE DIFFERENT SECTIONS? DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING? MM-HMM
SO THE, I WOULD DEFER TO MR. NOEL ON THAT.
THEY'RE NOT EXACTLY EQUALLY DISTRIBUTED.
WE LOOKED AT THE, AT THE ALL THREE DEVELOPMENTS AND TRIED TO GET TO OUR NUMBER OF 20%.
WE'RE ACTUALLY AT 18.7%, WHICH IS LOWER THAN UM, WHAT THE BUILDER WOULD WANT, BUT THEY'RE FAIRLY CLOSE.
UM, YOU HAVE 287 UNITS AT, UH, PARKVIEW, AT KIRBY'S MILL, WHICH IS, UH, IRON BRIDGE, 48, AFFORDABLE OF THE TWO HUNDRED A HUNDRED NINETY EIGHT AT THE CAMP BFS.
AND OF THE 300 AT INGER, THERE IS OH YEAH, NO, THAT PART, THAT PART I UNDERSTAND.
BUT LIKE, SO SAY BASICALLY LIKE THE 50 UNITS AT RICK'S AUTO BODY AND THERE'S 48 WHATEVER, RIGHT.
UM, BUT WITH THE THREE LEVELS OF, OH, AFFORDABILITY, I'M TRYING TO BE, THERE'S A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF EACH THAT HAS TO BE DONE MINIMUM PERCENTAGE.
AND SO THEY'RE KIND OF EVENLY, I'M JUST THINK THINKING SOCIOECONOMICALLY THAT IT'S KIND OF, I'M TRYING TO BE POLITE.
THAT IT IS, IT'S EQUAL LIKE THAT, THAT RICK'S DOESN'T HAVE ALL THE, ALL OF THE, THEY'RE NOT, NO, NO, IT'S, IT'S, DO, DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING? GRAPHIC IN ONE LOCATION OR ANOTHER? IT'S NOT, THEY'RE, THEY'RE MIXED THROUGHOUT THE INCLUSIONARY PROJECTS.
AND THEN, UM, ALSO, DO THESE, UM, THE TOWN HOMES, DO THEY HAVE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS? THEY WILL.
SO I MEAN, I THINK THAT WILL HELP TO MAINTAIN, UM, YOU KNOW, THE AREA ALSO.
AND THEN I GUESS ONE OTHER CONCERN IS WITH THE, UM, AFFORDABILITY ISSUE, HOW THAT AFFECTS KIND OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WITH THE CONCENTRATION OF KIDS IN ONE AREA FOR THAT, IT'S NOT KIND OF, I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY'RE GONNA DEAL WITH THAT.
WE ARE EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
[02:40:01]
I'M SORRY, ELIZABETH, ELIZABETH TO ELIZABETH, THAT, UM, WE'RE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE SCHOOLS.WE'VE ASKED OUR PLANNER TO WORK WITH THE TEAM AT, AT THE SCHOOL BOARD TO COME UP WITH REALISTIC NUMBERS.
NOT, NOT, UM, AGAIN, I, NOT RUTGERS, NOT RUTGERS NUMBERS, NOT SOME NUMBER THAT MAYBE THE STATEWIDE NUMBER WOULD DICTATE HOW MANY STUDENTS COME FROM THESE DEVELOPMENTS.
BUT LOOKING AT AUTUMN PARK AND SAYING HOW MANY HOMES ARE THERE OF WHAT SIZE AND SHAPE AND HOW MANY STUDENTS WERE GENERATED FROM THAT? AND THEN OVERLAYING THOSE, THAT MATH EQUATION TO THESE THREE PAR, THESE THREE NEW PARCELS SAYING, OKAY, RUTGERS IS GONNA SAY, I'M MAKING UP NUMBERS HERE, 200 STUDENTS.
BUT WE KNOW BASED OFF EXISTING INFORMATION THAT IS PROBABLY MORE LIKE, AGAIN, THESE ARE MADE UP NUMBERS, RIGHT? 300 STUDENTS.
'CAUSE WE DON'T WANT THE SCHOOLS PLANNING FOR 200 AND HERE COMES ANOTHER HUNDRED STUDENTS ON TOP OF WHAT THEY PLAN FOR.
UM, WE'RE BEING AS, AS OPEN AND FORTHCOMING WITH THIS INFORMATION AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
AS MR. TAYLOR SAID, THOSE NUMBERS AREN'T YET DETERMINED UNTIL WE HAVE APPROVED PLANS.
BUT THAT IS ON A PERSONAL MATTER.
I MEAN, AGAIN, WE HAVE CHILDREN IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, GRANDCHILDREN, WE DON'T WANT THE SCHOOLS TO BE AT ANY MORE ADVERSELY EFFECTIVE THAN THEY ALREADY WILL BE.
SO WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN.
AND YOU JUST WANT THAT THE KIDS, SINCE THEY'RE COMING FROM THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, HOW YOU DON'T, I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SAY THIS POLITELY.
YOU DON'T WANT THE SCHOOLS ON ONE SIDE OF TOWN TO BE REFLECTIVE IN ONE WAY AND FOR THE SCHOOLS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN THERE TO BE A DIVIDE.
AND SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE CONSIDERED FOR EVERYBODY.
JUST TRYING TO TURN DOWN THAT AMPLIFICATION.
ARE ANY OF THE HOMES ON HIGH END? I'M, I'M SORRY? ARE ANY OF THE HOMES HIGH END AS FAR AS, IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE.
I I THINK THE MARKET RATE UNITS WILL BE REFLECTIVE OF THE CHARACTER OF MEDFORD.
SO THEY WILL BE UNRESTRICTED AND PRESUMABLY EXPENSIVE.
I DUNNO HOW THAT'S OKAY IF I'M BREAKING RULES.
WHO WILL OWN THE RENTAL PROPERTIES? OH, THAT'S GOOD POINT.
CAN WE GET HER ON THE RECORD? YES, MA'AM.
I'LL, I'LL STATE HER QUESTION.
AM I ALLOWED KELLY, IS IT KELLY? YEAH, KELLY.
KELLY ASKED KELLY SPENCER, WHO WILL OWN THE RENTAL UNITS.
DO I
SO CURRENTLY WE DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION BECAUSE THERE'S A, INVESTORS CAN BUY THEM.
IT'S USUALLY A NONPROFIT THAT DEALS WITH THESE TYPE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AROUND THE STATE.
A NUMBER OF, UH, DEVELOPERS THAT DO IT.
USUALLY WHAT HAPPENS? COURTNEY'S NOT GONNA OWN THEM.
IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S A QUESTION.
IT'S, IT IS A REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION THAT WE'RE NOT PRIVY TO IF IT'S NON-PROFIT.
THE NON-PROFIT ENTITY RUNS IT, BUT THEY'RE STILL BUILT AS AFFORDABLE UNITS THAT THE DEVELOPER BUILDS THEM AND THEN OFTENTIMES CONVEYS THEM TO A NONPROFIT TO MANAGE AND RUN THEM.
AND THAT'S USUALLY WHAT HAPPENS.
AND THERE'S VERY SPECIFIC REPORTING THAT HAS TO HAPPEN ABOUT THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND THE INCOME REQUIREMENTS.
AND THERE ARE AUDITS THAT THE MUNICIPAL, UM, THE MUNICIPAL, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING CONSULTANT OVERSEES THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TOWN CONTINUES TO GET CREDIT, THAT WHO IS SUPPOSED TO BE IN THOSE UNITS, IS IN THOSE UNITS AND THAT THEY QUALIFY.
SO THERE IS A LOT OF OVERSIGHT, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT AFFORDABILITY AND ALL THOSE AFFORDABILITY CONTROLS ARE MAINTAINED FOR THE LIFE OF THAT AFFORDABILITY UNIT.
I'M A HOMEOWNER ON CHURCH ROAD.
UM, I JUST HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS.
I'M NOT SURE IF ANY OF THE DEP UM, STUDIES HAVE BEEN DONE ON THE KIRBY'S MILL, THE LANDING ST.
KIRBY'S MILL OR THE IRON BRIDGE LOCATIONS YET? NOT YET.
BECAUSE, UM, I DO KNOW THOSE STUDIES ARE UNDERWAY.
'CAUSE I DO, I AM A DP, DEP VOLUNTEER AND ALSO WORK, WORK WITH THE PRESERVATION PINE, THE PINELANDS PRESERVATION ALLIANCE, AS WELL AS CONSERVED WILDLIFE, NEW JERSEY.
[02:45:01]
AND A COUPLE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, UH, WHO DO THAT.AND I KNOW THERE ARE A COUPLE THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES THAT DO RESIDE ON BOTH OF THOSE PROPERTIES.
THEY ALSO DO FEED FROM THOSE PROPERTIES.
SO ANYTHING THAT DOES THREATEN THEIR HABITATS CAN JUST BE PRETTY MUCH SHUT DOWN.
SO I KNOW THAT THEY, UM, THAT IS SOMETHING JUST TO TAKE CONSIDERATION.
UM, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE BALD EAGLE PROJECT OF NEW JERSEY WITH, AS WELL AS CONSERVED WILDLIFE NEW JERSEY AND THE N-J-D-E-P.
SO THEY ARE AWARE OF THE, THE SPECIES THAT ARE IN THE AREA.
AND, AND MR. NOD, THE, THE PROCESS OR TIMING OF, OF THOSE STUDIES, THAT'S PART OF THE, UH, UH, LOI, THE WETLANDS DELINEATION AND FLOOD HAZARD AREA STUDIES AS WELL AS ARCHEOLOGICAL STUDIES.
IT TAKES A YEAR OR SO FOR THE STATE TO REVIEW IT AND ISSUE A PERMIT OR NOT ISSUE A PERMIT.
SO IT'S, UH, AND THE, THE, THEIR STUDIES ARE JUST, JUST STARTING NOW.
YEAH, SIR, I, I APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS NOT ONLY ON THIS AREA, BUT ALL THE THINGS YOU VOLUNTEER AND, AND DO.
UM, BUT PLEASE STAY CLOSE TO THAT.
ANYONE ELSE? COULD I, COULD I MAKE A COMMENT? YES, SIR.
ON MS. HOLLOWAY'S COMMENT ON OUR REPORT FROM 2015, SO IN 2015, IT WAS PRIOR TO ROUND THREE WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO REDUCE OUR NUMBERS FOR ROUND THREE.
SO WE WERE VERY AGGRESSIVE IN THAT REPORT.
WE USED, UH, STATE MAPS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL WETLANDS, WHICH ARE, AS EVERYONE KNOWS, NOT VERY ACCURATE.
UH, WE USED EXISTING ZONING, IF ANYTHING WAS IN THE SEWER SERVICE, NOT IN THE SEWER SERVICE AREA.
WE TOOK EVERYTHING OUT IN PLANNING AREAS THREE AND FOUR.
IT WAS NOT APPROVED, IT'S NOT PART OF THE ROUND THREE, IT WAS APPROVED BY FAIR SHARE HOUSING.
IT WASN'T APPROVED BY THE COURTS.
WE GOT OUR NUMBERS REDUCED FROM 800 AND SOME TO 4 85 JUST THROUGH NEGOTIATIONS.
SO I WISH THAT STUDY WAS ACCURATE AND ALLS WE COULD BUILD WAS 150, BUT THEY DIDN'T, THEY DIDN'T BUY WHAT WE DID.
AND YOU'RE REFERRING TO THE REPORT THAT MS. HOLLOWELL JUST SAID.
JUST, I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY.
I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT THE GOAL THERE WAS TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF UNITS EVERY, WE WERE SUCCESSFUL AND, AND, AND THAT REDUCTION IN UNITS FOR ROUND THREE.
IF YOU COULD JUST RESTATE THAT WAS FOR ROUND THREE AND THAT WAS CAME FROM THIS, OR THAT ROUND THREE AGREEMENT WAS IN 2017.
SO THAT UNDERSTAND WAS PRIOR TO ROUND THREE, THAT WAS IN ANTICIPATION OF ROUND THREE NUMBERS.
THANK YOU, MR. MATTER OF FACT, ALSO COULD ADD SOMETHING.
UM, BECAUSE MS. HOLLOW TALKED, WE'VE TALKED TO HER, I'VE TALKED TO HER DIRECTLY ABOUT IT.
I, THE CA COUNSEL SHOULD BE AWARE THAT LAST WEEK, UM, TOM RIVER, WHO REALLY PIONEERED THIS OR USE OF THE, UM, AFFORDABLE CONTROLS, UM, IT FELL APART AND THEY NO LONGER ARE UTILIZING THAT PROCESS AND HAD TO AMEND THEIR PLAN AT THE VERY LAST MINUTE.
UM, AND FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS, AND I'LL GET MORE DETAIL ABOUT IT, UH, IN FUTURE, UM, BUT IT DIDN'T WORK AND IT'S NOT PART OF THEIR PLAN GOING FORWARD.
WOULD ANYONE ELSE FROM THE PUBLIC LIKE TO SPEAK? OKAY.
SEEING NONE MAY HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
UM, WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A BREAK? EVERYBODY GOOD? OKAY.
UM, UH, AT THIS TIME, UM, I WILL, UM, REMOVE THE MANAGER'S REPORT FROM THE AGENDA AND WE'LL
[IX. CLERK’S REPORT]
MOVE TO THE CLERK'S REPORT.SO WE HAVE A 50 50 LICENSE FOR MAY 9TH SHAWNEE HIGH SCHOOL, AND WE ALSO HAVE APPROVAL FOR SOCIAL AFFAIRS FOR ST.
MARY'S OF THE LAKES SCHOOL CARNIVAL MAY 11TH THROUGH THE 15TH.
AND I JUST NEED IT ALL IN FAVOR.
MY KIDS WILL BE HAPPY WITH THAT CARNIVAL.
[X. BILL LIST]
MOVING ON TO THE BILL LIST.WE HAVE THREE BILL LISTS FOR APPROVAL.
MARCH 11TH, 2026, AND MARCH 13TH, 2026.
DO ANY MEMBERS OF COUNCIL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THE BILLS LIST? NO.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE BILLS LIST? I'LL MAKE A MOTION OR SECOND.
READY? MICHELLE? UM, ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
[XI. ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION]
NOW WE HAVE ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION.MAY I HAVE, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ORDINANCE 2026 DASH NINE?
[02:50:01]
I MOVE THAT COUNSEL, INTRODUCE ON FIRST READING ORDINANCE 2026 DASH NINE ORDINANCE TO AMEND AND SUPPLEMENT THE CODE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MEDFORD CHAPTER ONE 40 THEREOF ENTITLED VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC TO DESIGNATE AN ADDITIONAL STOP INTERSECTION WITHIN SCHEDULE NINE OF SECTION ONE 40 DASH 26.UH, THIS ORDINANCE ALLOWS FOR THE ADDITION OF A STOP SIGN THAT WILL BE ADDED AT THE INTERSECTION OF CHARLES STREET AND POST OFFICE LANE JUST FOR THE PUBLIC.
IT IS, YOU'RE COMING DOWN CHARLES.
UM, AND MAGNIFIED IS ON YOUR RIGHT AND CRANBERRY IS ON YOUR LEFT.
WE WILL BE ADDING, HOPEFULLY ADDING A STOP SIGN THERE TO ALLOW FOR ANY, UH, PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC TO FLOW SAFELY.
UM, DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS ORDINANCE OF COUNSEL? NO.
AND, UH, ROLL CALL FOR APPROVAL.
MS. SANOR? YES, MR. COBB? AYE.
PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS WILL BE ON APRIL 14TH, 2026.
I WILL NOW ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ORDINANCE 2026 DASH 10.
I MOVE THAT COUNSEL INTRODUCE ON FIRST READING ORDINANCE 2026 DASH 10 AMENDING CHAPTER 19, LENGTH OF SERVICE AWARD PROGRAM AND CHAPTER 71, FEES AND LICENSES TO ENHANCE INCENTIVES FOR PUBLIC SAFETY VOLUNTEERS.
THIS ORDINANCE ALLOWS FOR VOLUNTEER FIRE AND EMS MEMBERS TO HAVE AUTOMATIC ANNUAL CONSUMER PRICE INDEX ADJUSTMENTS.
IT ALSO ADJUSTS FEES FOR VOLUNTEERS FOR PARK RENTAL FACILITY, USE CERTAIN ZONING AND CONSTRUCTION FEES, FOOD VENDING VEHICLES, FARM STAND AND WATER AND SEWER FEES.
UM, DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS ORDINANCE? OKAY.
THIS PUBLIC HEARING WILL ALSO BE ON APRIL 14TH.
[XII. ORDINANCES FOR SECOND READING/PUBLIC HEARING(S) ]
MOVE TO ORDINANCES FOR SECOND READING.MAY I HAVE A MOTION ON ORDINANCE 2026 DASH FIVE? I MOVE THE COUNSEL ADOPT ON SECOND READING ORDINANCE 2026 DASH FIVE AUTHORIZING THE CREATION OF TWO NEW POSITIONS WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP WORKFORCE.
THIS, THE NEW POSITIONS ARE OF DEPUTY CHIEF OF FIRE AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES AND AUTOMATION ENGINEER FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS UTILITIES.
THEY HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED, I'M SORRY, THE, THE AUTOMATION ENGINEER HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED TO OVERSEE SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS WITHIN THE TOWN'S OPERATIONS.
WE WILL NOW OPEN TO PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ORDINANCE ONLY.
WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ORDINANCE? SEEING NONE.
WE HAVE, UH, MAY HAVE A MOTION TO, ON ORDINANCE 2026 DASH SIX, I MOVE THAT COUNSEL ADOPT ON SECOND READING ORDINANCE 2026 DASH SIX ADOPTING A REDEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THE NON CONDEMNATION REDEVELOPMENT AREA CONSISTING OF BLOCK 8 0 3 LOT 6.101 AND 6.02.
UH, THE PLANNING BOARD DETERMINED THAT THIS SITE KNOWN AS PARKVIEW AT KIRBY'S MILL QUALIFIES AS A NON-CON CONDEMNATION, REDEVELOPMENT, OR REHABILITATION AREA.
THE COUNCIL WISHES TO ADOPT A REDEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THIS PROPERTY.
I WILL NOW OPEN THE FLOOR TO PUBLIC COMMENT ON ORDINANCE 2026 DASH SIX.
MR. MAYOR, I'M SORRY, IS THIS, IS THIS UH, RICK'S, OR WAS THIS KIRBY'S NOTE? I THOUGHT THIS WAS RICK'S, I'M SORRY.
6.012 IS, UH, FORGIVE ME, RICK'S IS 8 0 8 0 3 BLOCK 8 0 3.
WHICH IS, FORGIVE ME THE NAME OF RICK'S IRON BRIDGE.
WE SHOULD START PUTTING THAT IN THERE.
YEAH, I THINK YOU ASKED THAT LAST TIME, DIDN'T YOU? YEAH.
THANK YOU FOR THAT COUNSELOR BACK.
SO NOW WE JUST DON'T KNOW IT BY THE BLOCK BLOCK.
DO I NEED A MOTION TO OPEN OR NO, I DON'T, UM, NO.
UM, I'M GONNA OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON ORDINANCE 2026 DASH SIX.
COULD YOU, I I'M SORRY ABOUT YOU.
COULD YOU JUST GO OVER ONE ONCE MORE THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS JUST ON THIS ONE? SURE.
SO, UM, NOT ONLY THIS ORDINANCE THAT WE'RE YEAH.
JUST BUT, BUT THE, THE NEXT TWO YEAH.
THE IMPLICATIONS WE HAVE TO VOTE TONIGHT.
SO WE ARE VOTING TO ADOPT ON SECOND READING AND ORDINANCES THAT,
[02:55:01]
UM, MR. MCGUCKIN, I'M GONNA TRY THIS ONE, BUT PLEASE CORRECT ME HERE.UM, NOT ONLY THIS COUNCIL ON MARCH THE THIRD, BUT THE PLANNING BOARD ON APRIL, MARCH 12TH, ON MARCH THE 12TH, UM, DURING A REVIEW PERIOD DETERMINED THAT, UH, THESE THREE SITES ARE QUALIFY FOR REDEVELOPMENT AND THE SITE PLANS SET FORTH ARE TO BE APPROVED BY PASSING THIS ORDINANCE.
AND THE ORDINANCE IS THE REQUIREMENT OF THE FAIR OF THE LITIGATION AND THE CONSENT AGREEMENT THAT WE NEED TO PROVIDE THE ZONING TO APPRO TO PERMIT THIS TYPE OF USE AS PART OF OUR SETTLEMENT.
SO, YEAH, JUST, AND THAT, THAT'S A VERY, VERY GREAT QUESTION.
AND JUST, JUST TO GO BACK TO MR. TAYLOR'S PRESENTATION, THIS SETS FORTH A CONCEPT PLAN THAT NOW HAS OVERLAY ZONING, UM, AND ARCHITECTURAL DETAILS.
DID I USE OVERLAY ZONING WALL? IT'S NOT AN OVERLAY ZONE.
THIS CREATES THE NEW ZONING ORDINANCE FOR THOSE THREE SITES.
TO EFFECTUATE THE HOUSING SET FORTH AND THE HOUSING ELEMENT AND FAIR SHARE PLAN AND THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS.
SO BY PASSING THESE, WE THE COUNCIL GETS TO DICTATE THE ELEMENTS OF, OF THE REDEVELOPMENT PLANS.
AND JUST ALSO, JUST TO CONFIRM, WE ARE NOT NAMING THESE APPROVAL OF THESE ORDINANCES DOES NOT NAME A REDEVELOPER.
UM, SO, SO DO WE, DID WE GET A, DID WE GET A SECOND YET? I'M SORRY.
I GOT, YES, I THINK YOU OPENED IT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, BUT YOU HAVE NOT YET.
SO WE'RE GONNA GO BACK TO OPENING FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK TO ORDINANCE 2026 DASH SIX? OKAY.
MOTION TO CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
AND IF I'M CORRECT AT THIS TIME, WE'LL ASK FOR A ROLL CALL FOR APPROVAL.
A MOTION AND A ROLL CALL? YES.
WE, WE WILL NEED A MOTION FIRST.
OH, YOU DID THE MOTION BEFORE THE P.
WE'LL GET THERE MS. SANBORN? YES.
AND I'M GLAD WE'VE STARTED LOOKING AT, UH, PART FIVE.
WITH A STRONG LOOK AT THE, UH, AGREEMENTS AS WE GO FORWARD WITH THIS LAW.
THIS ORDINANCE HAS BEEN ADOPTED.
YEAH, BUT I THINK WE ALL AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY AND THANK YOU FOR THE COMMENT THAT, UM, THE AGREEMENT IS A CRITICAL PIECE TO MAKING THESE PROJECTS WORK.
UM, I'LL NOW ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON ORDINANCE 2026 DASH SEVEN.
I MOVE THAT COUNSEL ADOPT ON SECOND READING ORDINANCE 2026 DASH SEVEN ADOPTING A REDEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THE NON-CON CONDEMNATION REDEVELOPMENT AREA CONSISTING OF BLOCK BLOCK 3 0 2 S 14, 26, 27 AND 49.
AND I THINK THIS ONE'S TRA I HAD THAT ONE RIGHT? RIGHT.
UH, THE PLANNING BOARD DETERMINED THAT THIS SITE TRA KEY QUALIFIES AS A NON COMBINATION REDEVELOPMENT OR REHABILITATION AREA.
COUNSEL WISHES TO ADOPT A REDEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THIS PROPERTY.
I WILL NOW OPEN THIS ORDINANCE UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK TO ORDINANCE 2026 DASH SEVEN? SEEING NONE.
SO THAT ORDINANCE HAS BEEN ADOPTED.
I WILL NOW ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ORDINANCE 2026 DASH EIGHT.
I MOVE THAT COUNSEL ADOPT ON SECOND READING ORDINANCE 2026 DASH EIGHT ADOPTING A REDEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THE NON CONDEMNATION REDEVELOPMENT AREA CONSISTING OF BLOCK 3 0 2 LAPS 28.02 AND 39.03.
AND THIS IS STALL CAMP, RIGHT? YES.
THE PLANNING BOARD DETERMINED THAT THIS SITE STALL CAMP EFS, QUALIFIES AS A NON COMBINATION REDEVELOPMENT OR REHABILITATION AREA.
THE COUNCIL WISHES TO ADOPT A REDEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THIS PROPERTY.
SO NOW I WILL OPEN THIS ORDINANCE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK TO ORDINANCE 2026 DASH EIGHT.
[03:00:04]
OKAY.THIS ORDINANCE IS NOW ADOPTED? YES.
[XIII. CONSENT AGENDA RESOLUTIONS]
WE ARE NOW GOING TO MOVE TO CONSENT AGENDA RESOLUTIONS.I WILL, UH, ASK TO AMEND, UH, RESOLUTIONS.
I'M GONNA MAKE THIS RESOLUTION.
THIS WILL BE RESOLUTION 75 RESOLUTION ADOPTING A TEMPORARY MANAGER FOR THE TOWNSHIP OF MEDFORD.
UM, AND I'M SORRY MR. MCGUCKIN, WHAT WOULD BE THE PROPER PROCEDURE HERE? ASSUME THAT YOU WOULD PUT THE NAME IN THAT YOU'RE PROPOSING.
AND THEN THERE WOULD BE A VOTE ON THE RESOLUTION AND YOU SHOULD ANNOUNCE, UH YEP.
SO COUNSEL'S ALL AWARE IN THE PUBLIC.
UM, I AM, UH, EDITING THIS RESOLUTION TO RESOLUTION 75.
AND I AM POINTING, I'M ASKING THAT THIS RESOLUTION OF APPOINTS CHIEF ROBERT DOBY AS ACTING MANAGER.
SECOND FOR THIS PERIOD OF TIME.
YOU STILL A ROLL CALL ON THE ROLL CALL APPOINTMENT? UH, THIS IS TO ADD IT TO THE CONSENT.
SO WE HAVE A SECOND ALL STILL LEARNING YOUR PROCESS.
ALL IN FAVOR TO ADD RESOLUTION 75 TO THE CONSENT? YES.
UM, I WILL NOW READ THE CONSENT AGENDA RESOLUTIONS.
UH, WE WILL START WITH RESOLUTION 73 20 26 AUTHORIZING A CONTRACT WITH, FORGIVE THE NAME IF I GOT IT WRONG.
ATI SH SH SCHULTE IN THE AMOUNT OF 173,700 FOR THE REHABIL REHABILITATION OF WELL NUMBER SIX, RESOLUTION 74 20 26 AMENDING THE 2026 TEMPORARY BUDGET AND RESOLUTION.
UH, RESOLUTION OF APPOINTING A TEMPORARY MANAGER FOR THE TOWNSHIP OF MEDFORD.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AND RESOLUTIONS? UH, SEEING NONE.
ANY MOTION? OH, ANY MOTION? SO MOVED.
AND UH, THAT WILL CONCLUDE OUR MEETING.
I WILL ASK FOR A MOTION TO ADJOURN.