Berkeley Heights Township Council: Urgent Reflections on the Proposed Redevelopment Study

Jun 14, 20231 Comment

Town Council Candidate Edmund Tom Maciejewski on 311 Springfield Avenue Resolution

– Edmund Tom Maciejewski

Our township of Berkeley Heights faces both an opportunity and challenge with the old nursing home situated between TD Bank and Thaitanium restaurant on 311 Springfield Avenue. This property, recently sold for around $900,000, is primed for development. However, the proposed redevelopment study demands careful scrutiny from our community.

To understand the implications at hand, one must be familiar with the Local Redevelopment and Housing Law (LRHL). Initially, the LRHL was intended to promote development in less attractive areas by simplifying the process of compliance with zoning regulations and traditional taxation. However, its potential for misuse has been demonstrated right here in Berkeley Heights. The LRHL has previously been used to hasten the designation of town property as ‘in need of redevelopment,’ sidestepping standard procedures and limiting public involvement.

Furthermore, the LRHL has been leveraged to incentivize the construction of apartment buildings along Springfield Avenue, achieved by offering developers significantly reduced tax rates. A crucial detail is that these taxes don’t contribute towards our local schools. Consequently, the wider tax-paying community shoulders the cost of educating children from these new developments.

With this context in mind, the proposed $4,000 redevelopment study for 311 Springfield Avenue warrants serious examination. Despite the property’s ideal location and the substantial investment by the new owners, the use of the LRHL could lead to the site being classified as “blighted” or “substandard.” Historically, such a classification has been a precursor to PILOTs (Payment in Lieu of Taxes), which typically provide developers with substantial tax benefits while transferring the financial burden onto the community.

Initiating a redevelopment study could further disrupt our townscape, leading to the construction of high-density apartments that disregard standard zoning restrictions or the issuance of PILOTs that offer significant tax breaks to developers. These decisions could shift additional infrastructure costs onto existing taxpayers.

During the last Town Council meeting, a sobering incident occurred. The council members were seemingly ready to vote affirmatively on the proposed redevelopment study. However, when faced with questions regarding justifications for the study, they were unable to provide answers, rapidly realizing they lacked the necessary understanding to make an informed decision. This raises concerns about whether they were merely following the advice of “experts,” whose financial interests could potentially benefit from such a designation.

As a staunch advocate against over-development in Berkeley Heights, particularly against the issuing of tax abatements in the form of PILOTs, I strongly discourage initiating this redevelopment study. Decisions concerning this prime real estate must prioritize our community over developers. I urge all residents to stay informed, critically evaluate proposed plans, and work collaboratively to protect the character, financial stability, and future of our town.