The Hoboken City Council heard a presentation on the latest vision for Maritime Park and also rejected an ordinance introducing municipal term limits at last night’s meeting.
By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View
Architect Aaron Campbell, a project manager for Dattner Architects, explained that they have gone through a lengthy design process for Maritime Park that included three public meetings.
Senior Associate for Landscape Design Kaleen Juarez noted people wanted a natural beach and a skate park on the 8.7-acre site, as well as places for bird watching.
“We really wanted to bring different types of biodiversity …to the waterfront,” she explained.
The park is also designed to manage stormwater, being elevated 14 feet to anticipate sea level rise and climate change, as well as a playground and a space with wildlife.
The plans also include a large pedestrian bridge to connect the different portions of the pars to a roof deck with views, along with a community hub.
“I think it’s beautiful: It’s just gonna make that whole area operate better,” 2nd Ward Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher said.
“Wonderful presentation. Preliminary costs?” 1st Ward Councilman Mike De Fusco asked.
“We don’t have an exact number. But it will be in the tens of millions. We’ll know probably in December,” Campbell replied.
DeFusco was clearly not satisfied with that answer.
“You’re all going into a battle into a site that does not have the proper structural foundations, that does not have the money. Shame on Tiffanie Fisher for just looking at a diagram! She’s the one who … complains about the budget. That is a shame for transparency. When this will be a $100 million project, I will be at the microphone reminding everyone of what I’m saying.”
“Flood mitigation, could you speak to how that’s going to work with this park?” 3rd Ward Councilman Mike Russo asked.
“A park that’s consistently underwater requires a lot more maintenance,” Campbell said, reiterating that they want to raise the park to manage stormwater better.
“Elevating the park is one thing. But creating this flood mitigation technique, which is going to cost millions of dollars when we have natural ability to have run off into the river. Why are we talking about a flood mitigation technique?” Russo continued.
Juarez said treating the stormwater through a series of storm gardens will clean the water.
After some further back and forth on that subject, Campbell moved on by saying the living shoreline was a popular request that has been incorporated into the design.
“Walk me through how someone would interact with that marshland,” Russo asked.
“They wanted to see enhanced biodiversity,” Juarez began in her reply, further stating that wildlife would appreciate the marsh and people could sit nearby.
“It’s a way you can attract wildlife. People love to see natural wildlife,” interjected Fisher.
“We’re fighting for every length of space. A half-acre is a half-acre,” Russo stated.
Juarez said it was only a quarter of an acre.
“This area would not be considered a developable area,” she added.
“This reflects a very serious investment in our future, which we have been fighting for a long time,” 5th Ward Councilman Phil Cohen noted.
He said they prevented a backroom deal by former Gov. Chris Christie (R) and NJ Transit in the midst of the long road here.
“We’re at an extraordinarily better place. This is a vision many of us could not hope to see in 2018,” Cohen added.
“Where does New York Waterway fit into the construction phases of the project? What’s the timeline? How does that all integrate?” 4th Ward Councilman Ruben Ramos questioned.
Juarez said it would be a phased construction, with the final design and costs to be determined by next month.
“If this park costs a billion dollars, we wouldn’t approve it. Can we get a cost estimate before we approve the final design?” Fisher asked.
“That will be included in the draft report you receive in December,” Juarez replied.
Hoboken Council President Emily Jabbour said she like that a safety component was incorporated via the pedestrian bridge.
“You’re going to be faced with some very hard choices. What are your priorities?” Fund for a Better Waterfront Executive Director Ron Hine said during public comment.
Manny Rivera Soler wanted to see if the skate park could be moved to create a place for seniors and disabled to have a place to sit by the water.
“How does this project continue to have a lifespan if, in five years, the mayorship changes?” he asked, as well as, reiterating concerns about the project cost.
During the first reading of the term limits ordinance introduced by 1st Ward Councilman Mike DeFusco, he said his ordinance would limit council members to three terms and two terms for the mayor. Additionally, all incumbents would be grandfathered in.
“This is not targeting any one person here. In this last election … it’s hard to beat an incumbent. It’s not easy to do. This does not limit one’s ability to serve,” he argued.
De Fusco said the Corporation Counsel Brian Aloia said the ordinance is not legal, since the state would make determinations on term limits, but he disagreed with that interpretation.
“Stand up to the state like we just did with Jersey City. Stand up for what we know to be right. This is not punitive. This is for the future of democracy, not just for Hoboken but for New Jersey. This is the right thing to do,” he argued.
The measure failed 6-3, with DeFusco, Russo, and Councilman-at-Large Joe Quintero
voting yes, while Cohen, Ramos, Jabbour, Fisher, and 6th Ward Councilwoman Jen Giattino voting no.
Afterwards, Fisher noted that HCV was in the audience and further explained why the vote went the way that it did.
“We didn’t necessarily vote against term limits. We were all advised that we don’t legally have the right to have this ordinance. We were told it couldn’t be effectuated. You can literally send an email to each one of us, and we’ll tell you,” she said, to the dismay of DeFusco.
“I don’t pander to the press in the stands, unlike my colleague. There’s been a number of times council members Fisher and Giattino have questioned Mr. Aloia’s, our corporation counsel’s, legal advice. This ordinance as misrepresented by Ms. Fisher, does not limit somebody’s ability to serve,” he chided back.
Again the Bhalla Administration withholds needed facts to the City Council and the public to make an informed decision. They had to know what budget they were designing the project.
But nice slide show.