The Hoboken Planning Board reorganized, keeping Commissioner Frank Magaletta as chair, and also amended the North End Redevelopment Plan at last night’s meeting.
By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View
The plan was amended to include more residential space than commercial and conform with flooding safety regulations. Hoboken has been developing the plan since 2021.
Commissioner Matthew Hayden was reappointed at the beginning of the meeting prior to Commissioner Anne Lockwood nominating Magaletta for another term as chair.
There was no opposition and he was re-elected unanimously (7-0), with the same result for Commissioner Lea Cloud and Board Secretary Patricia Carbone: the former named vice chair and the latter maintaining her post.
Additionally, Board Attorney Nylema Nabbie asked to defer her reappointment.
“There have been some changes to my business life,” she said without explaining further. The board honored her request and deferred that vote until their February 6th meeting.
Hoboken Planner George Wheatle Williams, of the Nishuane Group, was finally reappointed by a voice vote.
The Planning Board then reviewed the North End redevelopment plan amendment, continuing an effort to renalyze the plan that began in December.
According to a planning board memo, the proposal includes two buildings at 1500 Grand St. that will have 420 dwelling units.
Only 42 units, or 10 percent, will be allocated as affordable under municipal code. The buildings will be separated by a 55- to 70-foot wide park. In addition, 175 vehicular parking spaces, 420 bicycle spaces, and “two car-share spaces” are considered as well.
“The ordinance amendment would not undermine our Master Plan,” Williams said about the ordinance in front of them.
He noted the amendment is required to adhere to flood prevention regulations.
“What exactly does the amendment propose? Magaletta asked.
Williams explained the building’s flood prevention strategies must conform with the city’s ordinance and NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) regulations and thus be built at a slightly higher elevation.
Additionally, the ceiling height would be increased as part of a plan to make the buildings more flood-resistant overall.
“The plan was supposed to have a lot of commercial up here. But over time, it’s been whittled down to more and more residential, which may be a sign of the times. The commercial that was still going to be contained was partly to be revitalizing the vibrancy,” Commissioner Jim Doyle, also a councilman-at-large, said.
“I don’t really know if a leasing office is my idea of revitalizing you know, a street. Is there some language where this leasing office is going to go?”
“No. It seems to me they were looking in some flexibility,” Williams replied.
The Planning Board passed the first amendment unanimously (8-0). Doyle arrived late and missed the reorganization votes.
Williams said the second amendment involved changes reducing the amount of commercial floor space in favor of more residential space to a much smaller amount.
“This goes to Commissioner Doyle’s point for the prior amendment about the intent being to provide for mixed-use. But there’s a need for flexibility so it could be used for residential,” he explained.
Williams also explained that taller heights would make them larger. He noted tall buildings have been an issue in the past with other towns, especially Union City. For that reason, they selected a height of 143 feet.
“It’s less than the cap around the Palisades,” Williams noted, further stating that it would require more open space in the neighborhood.
“The setback would help set off the impact of extra height,” he added, reiterating that there’s no conflict with the Master Plan.
Williams also pointed out they could re-convert space to commercial if “the market requires.”
Doyle called the change from a lot of commercial space to residential dramatic.
“We’ll see similar changes if the market continues,” he declared.
Doyle noted there will be a 43 foot increase in the height of the building and questioned if that would still work.
“It’s not sticking up over the Palisades,” Williams answered.
The volunteer governing body ultimately approved the second amendment unanimously (8-0).