Council Will Repeal Redevelopment Plan
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<f •;*? Serving Westfield, Scotch Plains and Fanwood Friday, April 28, 2006 50 cents Council will repeal redevelopment plan now forwarding it back to the council hundreds of thousands of dollars and from his committee that repealing the THE RECORD-PRESS for public hearings and official action several years working on plans and redevelopment designation could in the next few weeks. seeking public input. But the propos- potentially be detrimental in the WESTFIELD — After a lengthy The question of whether to repeal al proved unpopular among voters, future. review to weigh the benefits and the redevelopment zone has been a who overwhelmingly rejected it in a "Since there are no benefits of detriments of rescinding the down- hot topic for many local residents, non-binding public referendum in repealing, a detriment would be the town redevelopment zone, the Town especially members of a local watch- 2004. cost of even having to put the plan Council will introduce two ordinances dog group WECARE, who periodically Rescinding the redevelopment des- back in place," said Foerst at that to repeal the designation at its official brought up the topic at council meet- ignation will mean that a future meeting. "No one on the committee meeting next week. ings. The group was a leading oppo- council that wants to revive the park- said, 'Let's build parking decks'... but "This will be the final nail in the nent of the council's plan, since ing deck proposal will have to go there's no benefit to repeal the rede- coffin in the proposed parking decks scrapped, to erect public parking through a more cumbersome process, velopment zone." of old," Councilman Jim Foerst, chair- decks in the downtown. starting from scratch by outlining the But despite those comments, a man of the Code Review and Town The redevelopment designation, project zone and establishing a new majority of the council said that night Property Committee, said at a confer- which overrode existing zoning regu- set of development guidelines. they were in favor of repeal, and the ence meeting this week. lations, was put in place to allow for Repealing a plan that took so Planning Board has now endorsed Foerst told council members the the construction of one or more park- much work and money to get in place that sentiment. History made Planning Board had unanimously ing decks; sites that were considered has stirred some mixed feelings on The two ordinances to repeal the Two first-time meetings happened endorsed the repeal and sent the pro- included the South Avenue train sta- the part of town officials over t;he past designation will be introduced at the in local sports this week, as the posal back to his committee for tion and the area between Elm and few months. Back in January, Foerst Cranford Cougars gills lacrosse review, and that the committee was Prospect streets. The council spent gave the council a recommendation (Continued on page A-2) team traveled to Kehter Stadium to take on the Westfield Blue Devils for the first time. Down the road at Westfield High School, the Breartey Students Citibank Bears softbatl team took the field against a much larger opponent, DOGGONE IT! looking to test their undefeated learn a headed to record. For more on those matchups, see Sports, Page C-1. lesson in Westfield Bank targets site sacrifice on North Avenue THE RECORD-PRESS THE RECORD-PRESS SCOTCH PLAINS — Sixth WESTFIELD — There will graders at Park Middle School soon be an addition to the ros- received a special lesson in ter of banks in the downtown, appreciating the sacrifices of as Citibank has plans to move our troops Monday, courtesy into the first floor space of a visit by Rep. Mike beneath Salon Visage on Karen Yula wins Ferguson. North Avenue, according to The congressman stopped Sherry Cronin, executive by the school to collect stu- director of the Downtown FhllhMvor award dents' hand-made greeting Westfield Corporation. Karen Yula, a music teacher at cards, which lie-wilJ personal- Although banks are Jefferson Elementary School in ly deliver to U.S. troops sta- already a common site in the Westfield, has been named the tioned in Iraq. downtown, a branch of recipient of the 2006 Phllhower "One of the best things I Citibank will be unique to Fellowship for excellence in teach- get to do is visit schools," Westfield. The closest branch ing. To read about what Yula brings Ferguson told a room full of is in North Plainfield, and the to the classroom, see the story on students, adding that he was next closest locations are PageA-8. a teacher for several years located in Staten Island, before beginning his political Newark and New York City. career. The bank will be located at Students made hand-craft- the building at 240-244 North ed personal greetings for the Ave., near the Drug Fair com- troops and have also been col- plex. The building was recent- lecting supplies for care pack- ly purchased by Salon Visage; ages and writing pen pal let- the salon had previously been ters, said school officials. located at 226 North Ave. But as students took a The building's first floor break from their classes, was ready for occupation in Ferguson asked thorn to re- late November or early examine the many things December, and has been often taken for granted, such Rain put a damper on vacant since then, said as freedom itself. the Spring Fling pro- Cronin. "We're fortunate because a gram In downtown The announcement comes lot of people in the world don't Westfield Sunday, but it a few weeks after the DWC have these opportunities," couldn't wash away the held a brief discussion of said Ferguson. "A lot of times, appetites of the compet- downtown vacancies at a pub- Chinese music, when we have these opportu- itive eaters who took lic meeting. David Martone, nities we have to make sacri- part in a qualifying the organization's chairman, dance on display fices." The congressman round of the WindMIII said recently that downtown asked students how often they National Hot Dog Eating vacancies are typically "not A performance this Sunday by Contest. Above, winner do things for others, even Patrick Lyon shows long term." young Chinese-American artists at something as simple as read- "We certainly do not have the Kuran Arts Center in Fanwood how he got an edge on ing a book to another person. the competition; Lyon any shortage in interested will feature choral music selections. One student said he reads downed 5% buns and potential tenants," said Chinese folk dance and more. For to his younger brother. hot dogs, each weighing Martone, adding that the cur- more details on the program, turn to "Imagine how he feels when a quarter pound, in five rent vacancy rate is now less Community Life, Page B-1. you sit down and read a book minutes. At right, con- than 6 percent, based on total to him... that's an example of test watchera look on. square footage of space avail- BROOKS CRANDALL/CORRESPONDENT (Continued on page A-2) (Continued on page A-2) Time for spring cleaning Gas Prices in the Area Shooting rumor There are plenty of chances to get How does your local station fare? your hands dirty Saturday. The proves unfounded Friends of Mindowaskin Park will FANWOOD lead a clean-up of the Westfield April 20 is quiet at Westfield High park, beginning at 9 a.m. at the Mobil on North Avenue: $2.87 footbridge near the Presbyterian Gulf on North Avenue: $2.81 By ANNA BOOPANOWnCZ ulation stayed home on April Church parking lot. In Fanwood, (across the street from Mobil) THE HECORD-PKESS 20, students who were at volunteers will gather at the south school that day said they felt side train station at 8:30 a.m. for Sunoco on South Avenue: $2.81 WESTFIELD — As the safe. the annual borough clean-up. date of a rumored school "I was fine," said junior SCOTCH PLAINS shooting came and passed at Katie Morgan. "In the morn- Westfield High School last ing, the only different thing Exxon on South Avenue: $2.85 Thursday, it seemed that was we had to have our bags most activity was happening checked." Morgan added she WESTFIELD outside the school, not innide had not heard about the Commentary A-6 it. shooting rumor until Monday Coastal on South Avenue: $2.85 A visible police presence of last week, when school offi- Community Life B-1 throughout the building and cials sent an email to parents BP on South Avenue: $2.83 television reporters nnd cam- to assuage concerns. Sports C-1 Sunoco on Central Avenue: $2,85 era crews on the sidewalk Rumors about a school were the most unusual parts shooting on the anniversary Prime Time B-2 Gulf on Central Avenue: $2.85 of the day, snid students; of the Columbine tragedy and Exxon at the corner of Central and South: $2.89 thankfully, the rumors of vio- Adolf Hitler's birthday spread Obituaries A-4 Gulf at the corner of Central and South: $2.85 lence proved unfounded, as through the student popula- police nnd school officials had tion over spring break the Real Estate C-3 predicted. week before Easter. The Prices shown are for a gallon of regular as of Wednesday Although one quarter of Police Log A-3 morning. For more up-to-dale data, visit www.newlerseygaspfices.com. tho high school's student pop- (Continued on page A-2) A-2 Itocord Press April 28.