EDGEWATER REACHES SETTLEMENT WITH 615 RIVER ROAD PARTNERS
Fair and equitable solution brings benefits to both parties
(EDGEWATER, NJ) - Today, Edgewater Borough Officials and 615 River Road Partners, LLC announced a settlement to litigation that has been pending since 2017 concerning the 18.7 acre Hess oil terminal property and its future redevelopment. Most notably, the developer is transferring a portion of the property valued at approximately $12 million dollars at no cost. The site is anticipated to be the home of a future public school as well as open recreational space.
"After years of litigation and contention, I am pleased to announce a settlement and path forward for the development of the Hess Oil Terminal Property," stated Edgewater Mayor Michael McPartland. "Finally, we can move forward with an exciting project that includes new housing, retail, and park amenities for Edgewater. Most importantly, we are securing the last viable property off of the riverfront to be developed into a new school for our children and open space for residents to enjoy. This is a great day for Edgewater and a common-sense solution."
The Borough Council announced a settlement with the following terms:
- The entire western parcel will be transferred to Edgewater for the future construction of a school and open space. This will address an emergent Borough need as the Borough’s schools are at or near capacity, and will provide additional space for the expected increase in school age children who will reside in Edgewater, including those who might reside at this development.
- The developer will undertake all environmental remediation of the property, improve transportation in the surrounding areas, including a new ferry stop, and the development of a new public riverfront park.
- Additional affordable housing units to satisfy the Borough’s constitutionally required housing obligation, which leads to a likely conclusion of the affordable housing compliance action.
Under the terms of the settlement, the Borough will declare the property as an area in need of redevelopment and set the terms for redevelopment, 615 River Road Partners, LLC, who already owns the property, will be named the redeveloper under the terms of a redevelopment agreement and will be allowed to build 960 to 1,020 market rate units and 180 to 240 affordable units, for a total of a maximum 1,200 units, down from the originally applied for 1874 units.
"This settlement is a common-sense approach to move forward in the best interest of Edgewater residents and families," stated Mayor McPartland. "We are receiving a property that would otherwise cost millions to purchase, for free, as well as solving state mandated, affordable housing requirements, bringing our community a public riverfront park and walkway, and gaining much needed transportation improvements in Edgewater, with a new ferry stop and added green space. After years of contention, we came together to reach an amicable solution for all involved that protects Edgewater."
This settlement agreement will also result in the dismissal of the federal lawsuit and any state actions that were filed.
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CONTACT: Keith Furlong, (732) 687-0880
Mayor McPartland listens and talks with residents at “Coffee with the Mayor” on Saturday October 26. Join him for the next one on November 23 at the Edgewater Community Center, 9am to 10:30am.
Christiansen, Bryan J., age 65, of Edgewater, on Sunday August 4, 2019. Born in Jersey City to Marie (nee: Grennan) and the Late Robert Christiansen. Dear brother to Robert and his wife Dor, and the Late Kerry Christiansen. He was a former Mayor and Councilman of Edgewater, NJ. President of Moorings Group, NJ Past Consultant of Malcom-Prinie/Arcadis, NY, Past Executive Director of Passaic Valley Sewerage Commissioners, Newark, NJ Past Executive Director of Joint Meeting of Essex and Union Counties, Elizabeth, NJ, Past Chairman of Edgewater Municipal Utilities Authority, Edgewater, NJ Past Committee Chairman for Edgewater Wastewater Treatment Plant Committee, Past Purchasing/Logistical Manger for Lancaster Distral Group/Lancaster Steel Co., Inc.
The family will receive their friends on Tuesday from 7:00-9:00 pm and Wednesday from 3:00-8:00 pm at the Frank A. Patti and Kenneth Mikatarian Funeral Home 327 Main Street “opposite the Fort Lee Library”. The celebration of his funeral mass will be on Thursday at Holy Rosary Church in Edgewater, NJ, at 10:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the National Pancreatic Cancer Foundation. (https://www.npcf.us/) For condolences, directions, or information call (201) 944-0100 orwww.frankpatti.com
The Borough of Edgewater has hosted several visits from South Korean government officials and today Police Chief Donald Martin, Fire Chief Joseph Chevalier, First Aid Squad Captain Kathy Frato, and Borough Administrator Gregory Franz hosted a group to discuss emergency management and highlighted Edgewater’s response to the Avalon fire on January 21, 2015.
Emergency Medical Technicians David Lewie and Barbara Guerra were awarded stork pins by Mayor McPartland for their assistance in delivering a healthy baby girl in the front seat of moms car on River Road, Police Officer Robert Carrano (not pictured) also assisted in the delivery.
*Memorial Day Slide Show*
QUANTA May 2018 Fact Sheet.
http://www.edgewaternj.org/…/4395/Quanta-Fact-Sheet-May-2018
EPA to use more stringent standard to monitor noxious fumes.
“Thank you Sgt. Holowacz and Sgt. Dalton, Ptl. Hernandez, Ptl. Lopez, Ptl. Smith, and Det. Price and Business Owner Tony Nehmi, as well as several unknown rescuers for your efforts and actions which saved lives”.
“Quanta Odor Update”
· Debris was cleared on the main Quanta property in the southwest (near the Pier 115 sign and sidewalk) and the northwest (along the sidewalk/entrance to City Place). Both of these areas are located directly along the sidewalk. Posi-shell was applied to disturbed areas at the end of each day and liberally applied Friday before departure from the sites.
· Conditions at the site have been wet and muddy which can hinder the effectiveness of some of the odor control materials as they are broken down more quickly. The ongoing freeze/thaw conditions can also affect how long the odor suppressant materials were effective.
As a result of this, these are the actions we are taking to address this issue:
· Increase use of Portland cement within Posi-shell mix –To help the Posi-shell set up faster, the team is evaluating the effectiveness of adding Portland cement to the Posi-shell spray.
· Begin use of Bio-Solve – Bio-Solve is an additional odor suppressant that is being tested in addition to a non-toxic foam and Posi-shell. Bio-solve forms an emulsion, locking vapors and contaminants in the soil in areas that are being actively worked on. Bio-Solve is not as durable or long lasting as Posi-shell; however, it may provide greater immediate odor reduction.
· Cover disturbed areas with plastic sheeting on Fridays – The Posi-shell has been effective at controlling odors until the recent ongoing freeze / thaw conditions. Therefore, the use of plastic sheeting to cover stockpiles and disturbed areas had been minimized. If site conditions are appropriate from a safety and accessibility perspective, plastic sheeting will be used to cover stockpiles and disturbed areas on Friday afternoons before leaving the site. These areas will also be sprayed with odor suppressant before being covered
"Edgewater voted top 10 smartest towns"
http://cliffsidepark.dailyvoice.com/lifestyle/report-edgewater-ranks-among-10-smartest-spots-in-nj/728443/
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security awarded Edgewater Grant for Rescue Boat
- Moody’s upgrades Edgewater’s financial rating
- Edgewater Ranked 17th in Top Places for First Home Buyers in NJ
“Edgewater awarded best land use decision of the year”
Mayor McPartland recognizes guests and presents a plaque to the Edgewater Department of Public Works for there efforts in maintaining the facility at the first high school football game played at Veterans Field.
New Jersey Town Says ‘No Thanks’ to Development
EDGEWATER, N.J. — The developers snatched up possibly the last large building site here on New Jersey’s red-hot gold coast, a weed-covered, waterfront parcel offering spectacular views of Manhattan.
They devised a plan they thought local officials could not refuse: They would create two parks, a waterfront esplanade, space for retail, a ferry terminal, an elementary school, and 1,863 apartments in five high-rise buildings, including 375 units for low- and moderate-income tenants. The project would pay an estimated $12 million a year in taxes.
Instead of embracing the plan, Michael McPartland, the mayor of Edgewater, and the town council moved last month to seize the 19-acre parcel under eminent domain to construct a new Department of Public Works building and a public park. The developers’ proposal was too big, the mayor said, and would increase the population of an already congested Edgewater by 30 percent or more.
The developer is vowing to fight.
The battle in Edgewater is just the latest skirmish in a war over affordable housing and overdevelopment that has broken out from Brooklyn to San Francisco. Major cities, and towns as small as Edgewater — a 3.5-mile long, two-block wide community wedged between the Hudson River and the Palisades cliffs — are dealing with an unprecedented wave of luxury development that is transforming the social fabric, as housing prices soar beyond the reach of many families.
“They never reached out to the town and asked us, are you willing to rezone this parcel?” Mayor McPartland said of the developers. “It’s not a residential parcel. I keep wondering, What happens when they flush the toilets? It would kill the infrastructure. It’s just too much.”“They never reached out to the town and asked us, are you willing to rezone this parcel?” Mayor McPartland said of the developers. “It’s not a residential parcel. I keep wondering, What happens when they flush the toilets? It would kill the infrastructure. It’s just too much.”
They never reached out to the town and asked us, are you willing to rezone this parcel?” Mayor McPartland said of the developers. “It’s not a residential parcel. I keep wondering, What happens when they flush the toilets? It would kill the infrastructure. It’s just too much.
Click here for full NY Times article.
The remnants of the Binghamton Ferry Boat were finally removed during the week of July 24 after demolition crews were hired by the lease holders after several months of prodding by the Mayor and Council who are committed to redeveloping this area from an eyesore to a beautiful amenity that will complement the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway. The Planning Board approved a development application that will allow for the placement of another floating restaurant to be enjoyed by residents and visitors.
Binghamton Project Begins
Demolition of historic Binghamton ferry begins
Removal of the vessel, believed to be the last double-ended steam ferry on the Hudson River, is expected to take 3 months.
Check out this story on northjersey.com: https://njersy.co/2w0XuxN
“Things that howl in the night”
Binghamton to be reborn as restaurant barge... NJ.com
Binghamton Project Begins
Removal of the vessel, believed to be the last double-ended steam ferry on the Hudson River, is expected to take 3 months.
“Things that howl in the night”
The 20 youngest towns in old Bergen County by NJ.com
100 year old resident Henry Perkowski celebrates his birthday with Police Chief William Skidemore, Mayor Michael J. McPartland, and Deacon Bob Thompson of the American Legion.
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New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division of Water Quality Bureau Public Notice
Mayor Michael McPartland and Edgewater Arts Council President Lynne Grasz Hall award
"Best of Show" award winner Jane Sklar her $1000 prize at the 25th anniversary Edgewater Arts
& Music Festival on Sunday, Sept. 18. . Her partner Max Cartagena is not pictured. They won for their Mixed Media use of photography and graphic treatment of images printed on aluminum.
Photo Credit: Walter Milani, Edgewater
The borough is poised to join a growing list of municipalities to enact restrictions on the sale of puppy mill-bred dogs and kitten mill-bred cats within its borders next month with the possible adoption of an ordinance banning the practice in local pet stores
.http://www.northjersey.com/community-news/town-government/council-may-ban-pet-sales-from-mills-1.1667955
Free Smoke Alarm Installations
The Red Cross and our community partners will be installing free smoke alarms in your neighborhood to help keep you and your family safe. Click to schedule an appointment through the Red Cross now.
“Saving Tax Dollars”
On behalf of the New Jersey Infrastructure Financing Program (NJEIFP), we congratulate you and the entire Edgewater Borough team for providing safe and reliable environmental infrastructure with a focus of minimizing borrowing costs for your system’s residents. Edgewater Borough saved approximately $124,429.00 in total debt service repayments for its rate payers. Read more here...
Budget cuts tax bill for property owners in Edgewater
NorthJersey.com - Budget cuts tax bill for property owners in Edgewater - http://goo.gl/ovJ7J1
VETERAN’S FIELD TO BE COMPLETED
The Mayor and Council unanimously awarded a $7,471,110.89 contract to Tomco Construction of Mount Arlington New Jersey at the Mayor and Council meeting of Monday May 16 for the final completion of Veteran’s Field. Tomco Construction was the successful bidder who completed the little league field and Community Center parking lot last year, on time and on budget. Mayor McPartland was pleased with this award “this has been a difficult, tedious, and arduous road to get to this point, but we are at a good place”, saying after the meeting. The Mayor and Council had to advertise for two separate bids since January due to only one bidder submitting a bid the first time, that bid in excess of $12million, was deemed over budget by about $4.5million. The borough’s engineer, CME Associates, had estimated the final phase of the project to be about $8.5million. The bid was structured so that if the Mayor and Council felt the bids were excessive for certain components, those components could be removed to pare down the project scope and cost. This was done for the Tomco award, removing items such as fencing and a comfort station. The contingency plan prepared before the bidding was that if components were removed due to cost, the borough would consider bidding out those removed items separately or perhaps have the Public Works Department install some features. The work should begin sometime in June and as components are completed, those components will be opened to the public.
*Important Voter Registration Information*
District 1 & 2 Voting Information
Be advised that if you currently vote at the Historic Borough Hall at 916 River Road, effective Tuesday June 7, 2016 Primary Election, and every election thereafter, you will now vote at the Edgewater Fire Headquarters located at 838 River Road, one (1) block south of the current location. Edgewater Election District(s) #1 and #2 will vote at the Edgewater Fire Headquarters, 838 River Road, one (1) block south of the current location effective the Tuesday June 7, 2016 Primary Election and every election thereafter. If you have any questions, feel free to contact the Edgewater Borough Clerk, the Edgewater Election Official, Annamarie O’Connor, at 201-943-1700 ext. 3137.
North Jersey.com- Home buyers taking closer look at property taxes
2016 MUNICIPAL BUDGET
– The Governing Body introduced the 2016 Municipal Budget on Monday March 21, 2016 that will result in an average $29.00 decrease to the Edgewater property owner compared to last year. Remember, when you receive your tax bill, it includes three taxing entities, municipal, schools, and county. The total appropriations for budget year 2015 were $26,740,532, a 1.64% increase from the previous year. The total appropriations for budget year 2016 will be 28,051,926, a 4.67% increase from the 2015 budget year. The tax levy, or the amount to be raised in taxes in 2015 was $21,173,819, an increase of $793,888 or 3.90%. The 2016 tax levy will only increase $362,954, or 1.71% from the previous year. Some of the main appropriation increases are salaries and wages at $136,024, $70,500 for insurances, $47,000 for utilities, the mandatory library contribution of $74,590, pension payments of $97,383 whereby the state continues to defer their mandatory payments however towns must still make there’s, public safety expenses of $59,320, and $320,000 for reserve for uncollected taxes, the amount we need to budget in consideration of taxpayers who do not pay taxes on time. The Mayor and Council are always aggressively looking at ways to reduce cost. This year, the Mayor and Council negotiated with our employees, a change in health care providers, that will result in a potential savings of close to 20% from the previous year, savings realized by the Borough, savings realized to the employee, since all employees now contribute to the cost of medical insurance, and savings that gets passed on to the taxpayer. Edgewater was fortunate enough to receive state fiscal aid in the amount of $750,731, the same amount as last year; this money will go directly to tax relief, or less the amount needed to be raised by taxes. On the typical residential property assessment of $460,245 the average amount of municipal taxes to be paid will be $3,523, a $29.00 decrease from the amount paid last year. A public hearing on the introduced budget will tentatively be scheduled for May 16. To view the 2016 Budget click here.Blue Stork Pin Award given to Edgewater Police Officers
Letter to the public regarding the Board of Adjustment application at 615 River Road
