The Hoboken Planning Board called a special meeting to keep hearing the controversial 914 to 930 Monroe St. project, a part of the Western Edge Redevelopment Plan, last night, though the governing body seems a long ways off from a vote still.
By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View
While the planning board’s review of the project began in September, with testimony beginning in October (a November 12th hearing was carried), a vote doesn’t appear to be anywhere in sight yet.
“Where did we leave off?” Planning Board Chair Frank Magaletta asked.
Attorney Phil Lamparello, who is representing the City of Union City – who is challenging the Western Edge settlement and redevelopment plan amendment – began by raising issues with conflicts and financial disclosure paperwork of the developer.
Project attorney Cameron McLeod attested to his experts’ ethics and financial disclosure compliance after some questioning from Lamparello.
McLeod also noted Landscape Architect Tom Carman amended the plan design.
“I sent an email this afternoon whether or not there were new exhibits. I don’t think it was completely clear,” Lamparello replied, indicating the public has not seen it either.
“We don’t have to introduce it,” McLeod retorted, to which Magaletta asked him to proceed and they’ll determined “if there’s anything of note.”
Carman explained that ramps and sidewalks around the buildings were widened to provide handicap accessibility, further stating that the shade tree commission’s requests such as an extensive green roof with a lot of shrubbery will be honored.
On behalf of Palisades Cliffs Protection Alliance, Inc. and the NW Redevelopment Supermarket LLC, who is also suing the city over the Western Edge project, Attorney Arthur Neiss noted the developer said he would take care of water infrastructure.
“How can that maintenance be enforced?” he asked.
“I object. That’s more of a legal question,” McLeod responded.
“How would you make sure maintenance is maintained?” Magaletta questioned.
“The applicant is proposing a first-class building,” Carman said, to which Neiss seemed skeptical about the building’s maintenance.
Lamparello asked about the design and landscape, which he said raises safety concerns, as do large parties on the roof.
Carman assured him they would not have loud TVs or speakers on the roof.
“Have you ever heard pickleball being played?” Lisa Lomelo, the attorney for the Doric Community Association in Union City, asked.
“I have,” Carman said.
“Kinda loud and repetitive,” Lomelo argued, requesting that pickleball not be allowed on the roof of building number 2.
“I’d have to discuss it,” McLeod answered before Lomelo wanted to know specifics about the court (Carman said it’s smaller than a tennis court and half the size of a basketball court) and how the roof would be maintained (Carman said he wasn’t sure).
Lomelo later asked if the trees on the roof would block the view from the Doric and if the pool on the roof would be heated.
“The trees will be in the line of sight,” Carman noted, as well as that the pool would be heated. Upon further questioning, he said the rooftop, which would also include a dog run, will close at 10 p.m. every night.
During public comment, there were a number of hypothetical questions about e-bike safety, the rooftop landscape, and other architectural concepts of the plan.
“What’s the space between each of the plant trees?” Neiss asked.
“It would be a continuous planting so people can’t get up,” Carman said.
The meeting adjourned at approximately 11:15 p.m. and the planning board agreed to reconvene at the matter at their January 14th meeting.
