| Author | Message | ||
     mayhewdrive Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 114 Registered: 5-2001 |
Watched last night's Planning Board Meeting about the proposed South Orange Supermarket on TV last night and have the following first impressions. 1) I have to wonder if the proposed developer even hired an architect to design the new building. How much boxier & unattractive can a building possibly be? With all the delays this project has taken, you would think they would invest the time to get it right the first time. 2) Once again the issue of overdevelopment has been raised with a large number of apartments being proposed for the project, while other rental projects in town are no where near occupied. I don't understand how the economics are justified. 3) I cannot believe that nobody "knew" the name of similar markets operated by the proposed Supermarket developer. It's common sense that would be virtually the first question being asked. Why are they being so secretive about the proposed supermarket operator? | ||
| pizzaz Citizen Username: Pizzaz Post Number: 6 Registered: 11-2001 |
The one question not asked directly of the developer is for him to identify all investors, partners and shareholders of the newly formed LLC known as Newmarket Development Furthermore, what impact to the upscale housing parade will occur if this project once approved by the Planning Board is then funded by HUD. The question begs to be asked, what restrictions and/or access will HUD require for a public housing project. | ||
| Soda Citizen Username: Soda Post Number: 830 Registered: 5-2001  |
Mayhew: I'm with you on the question as to the name(s) of the other markets the developer has created. Personally, I'd like to go visit some of them. pizzaz: Ditto re: who the players are. MOL rules of anonymity should not apply to such important public transactions. All these disclosures should have been made at the meeting. I'm baffled as to why nobody has asked the questions. | ||
| dgm Citizen Username: Dgm Post Number: 73 Registered: 5-2001 |
The reason why is that they may already know. | ||
| Soda Citizen Username: Soda Post Number: 833 Registered: 5-2001 |
Well, I don't, and I'd appreciate that info, wouldn't you? | ||
| dgm Citizen Username: Dgm Post Number: 75 Registered: 5-2001 |
You betcha! | ||
| Shelley Stile Citizen Username: Sstile Post Number: 1 Registered: 12-2002 |
The Planning Board of South Orange will meet again on January 13th at 7:30pm at Village for the continuation of the proposed grocery store/apartment building's application for approval. There are many concerns as noted on the postings board here and even more. The developers have been arrogant in their refusals to be open with the both the board and the residents in attendance. The look of the building on SO Ave is in big question as its the lack of adequete parking for retail customers as well as the issue of the traffic flow onto Vose Avenue to SO Ave. It is horrific! There are too many apartments for this project as well. We welcome a grocery store and the apartment bulding is our price to pay for it SO BE THERE on Jnaury 13th to insure that all concerns are met. Don't watch it from home, attend Village Hall! | ||
| Shelley Stile Citizen Username: Sstile Post Number: 2 Registered: 12-2002 |
For those of you in South Orange who are concerned about the redevlopment plans, the pace, the conflicts of interest and the need for a professional Downtown Redevelopment Corporation, there is SOAR. South Orange Alliance for Redevlopment seeks to improve the Redevelopment Process by acting as a sort of watchdog group with very specific goals. We would like to see: A DRC (Downtown Redevelopment Corporation) that is independent of the Village governement to the extent that of 7 Board memebers, only two represent the Village governmewnt. It would be headed bya professional Executive Director with an educational background and work experience in redevelopment. We also want to insure there are no further conflicts of interest and/or abuses of power in the town's redevelopment and to that end we have further suggestions about the existing committees associated with the redevelopment efforts. PLEASE, if you want to insure that our Village is the best it can be and if you want to stop complaining and do something, join us. Contact us at sstile@optonline.net. There are upcoming meetings that you can attend. | ||
| Soda Citizen Username: Soda Post Number: 848 Registered: 5-2001 |
Shelley Stile: It's good to know the date and time of the next Planning Board meeting. Thank you. And thanks for encouraging public attendance and involvement. Who exactly is S.O.A.R.? What specific conflicts of interest and abuses of power do you refer to? Exactly what suggestions do you have concerning the existing committees? Where and when are these "upcoming meetings" (I assume you mean S.O.A.R. meetings) you invite S.O. residents to attend? Does S.O.A.R. have any agenda(s) you have failed to mention? This being your first post (as Shelley Stile, at least), welcome to MOL. In the interests of full disclosure, are you politically involved in South Orange? Do you or those on your committee seek political office in our village? You seem to have very strong opinions. Please respond to the above questions, so that we might know more about you and your "watchdog group". Again, welcome to MOL! | ||
| openspacer Citizen Username: Openspacer Post Number: 36 Registered: 6-2001 |
Soda, In the interest of full disclosure, what is your connection and agenda? Dan Shelffo | ||
| Soda Citizen Username: Soda Post Number: 850 Registered: 5-2001 |
Hi, Dan. Interesting that you're now speaking for Shelley Stile, but I'll still answer your question: Well, let's see... I've posted 812 times here on MOL, as far as I can make out (of course, that doesn't really make my questions any more valid than yours), so my agenda, whatever it is, is out there for you to determine. One thing about my agenda, though: it doesn't include running for elected office. So Dan, what's your connection to S.O.A.R., and can you say the same about YOUR agenda? Or would you prefer Shelley Stile to respond for YOU? ;} | ||
| jrf Citizen Username: Jrf Post Number: 279 Registered: 5-2001  |
Soda, You seem to have an ax to grind (regardless of the number of posts you placed on MOL). Shelly and Dan have every right to question the motives of the S.O. Trustees even if they are planning on running for public office. Jrf | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 136 Registered: 4-2002 |
JRF: I did not see where Shelley questioned the motives of the trustees. It appears to me that she wants to set up a Downtown Redevolpment Corporation that is seperate from the village governement. Of course, we already started a similar process six months ago and there have been numerous meetings all open to the public with only one trustee attending as the moderator. They are expected to give a report next month on how to set up a downtown corporation if the Board of Trustees votes to proceed. In fact, a majority of the board appear to be in favor of this which is why we took this step. I am not sure if Shelley attended or participated in any of the meetings. | ||
| Soda Citizen Username: Soda Post Number: 852 Registered: 5-2001 |
jrf: Clearly. If one plans to achieve public office, it behooves one to question anything AND everything one can regarding one's intended opponents. Before going public, though, it's good to understand how your ideas are better (or at least different?) than your rivals'. Otherwise, why enter the ring? So, since recent posts from Shelley&Dan have now announced a potential hat in the ring, I'd like them to discuss their actual IDEAS here on MOL. All they needed was an invitation. I've just made it... So call me a coatholder. My query's intent is without any such will to power. I just wanna know...(Now, what do I mean by that?) | ||
| jrf Citizen Username: Jrf Post Number: 280 Registered: 5-2001 |
Where did anyone say they were running for office? | ||
| Soda Citizen Username: Soda Post Number: 854 Registered: 5-2001 |
Isn't that what you just implied about Shelley? Or was it Dan? Never mind. No? Oh. Okay. Then I must have misunderstood you! Sorry. Now let me get this straight: Nobody's planning to run for office (SO confusing!), and we should all ask lots of questions of anybody who already has? No, that's not it... Everybody's motives are suspect? Nobody but SOAR is allowed to... Oh, never mind. Forget I asked. | ||
| mayhewdrive Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 117 Registered: 5-2001 |
Soda, You're sounding more and more like a SO Trustee already. | ||
| Dave Ross Supporter Username: Dave Post Number: 3978 Registered: 5-2001  |
More like an online unofficial citizen is my guess, but whado I know?  | ||
| jrf Citizen Username: Jrf Post Number: 281 Registered: 5-2001 |
Soda, What are you talking about? Oh, I see, you're trying to put words in my mouth. Got it. I see, thanks. Whew. Anyway, you are an idiot (suspension coming, and worth it) who needs to get a life. Jrf | ||
| jrf Citizen Username: Jrf Post Number: 282 Registered: 5-2001 |
Mark, You are correct - they did not question the motives of the trustees. I guess I was replying to what Soda was implying. Apologies. |
