S Nod of Stop & Shop Expansion BOE Approves Agreement for Solar
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Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, June 18, 2015 OUR 125th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 25-2015 Periodical – Postage Paid at Rahway, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] SEVENTY FIVE CENTS Judge Upholds Planning Bd.’s Nod of Stop & Shop Expansion By PAUL J. PEYTON Shop application’s approval permits plan approval was “arbitrary, capri- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader over-utilization of the property. Mr. cious, or unreasonable because it ap- WESTFIELD — A state Superior Hughes, through his attorney, Ronald proved, in plaintiff’s view, substantial Court judge has upheld a 2014 deci- S. Gasiorowski, argued that Stop & variances for parking deficiencies, a sion by the Westfield Planning Board Shop “improperly or erroneously” cal- sound wall without setbacks, and un- in granting Stop & Shop approval to culated its parking space deficiency, safe truck and/or pedestrian access.” expand its Elm Street store. and that the board erred by accepting According to the court’s decision, The company plans to demolish two and approving the project with the mis- Stop & Shop argued that the lawsuit office buildings, at 203 and 195 Elm represented parking deficiency. The should be dismissed on the grounds Street, to enlarge the parking area and plaintiff also argued that the board erred that Mr. Hughes “lacks standing to increase the store’s square footage from because it did not require the project to maintain the present action because he 35,426 square feet to 53,555 square comply with the state’s noise code and is an objector who merely resides in the feet. the noise regulations of Westfield. municipality and none of his rights to The court decision was in response The plaintiff also argued that the use, acquire, or enjoy property have to a lawsuit brought by objector James board’s decision to grant Stop & Shop’s been affected by the board granting Hughes which alleged that the Stop & variances and preliminary and final site Stop & Shop’s application.” Stop & Shop also alleged that Mr. Hughes is “merely a straw man acting as an ob- jector on behalf of a business competi- tor of Stop & Shop, and that... eco- nomic competition is not sufficient to grant standing.” As reported by The Westfield Leader, it was revealed that Mr. Hughes’ objec- tion was being funded by Village Su- Michaela Winberg for The Westfield Leader permarkets, which operates ShopRite LEARNING ABOUT FISH…Shawn Crouse, a fish specialist at Bio-Blitz, shows a crowd of children fish from the Watchung of Garwood, located within a mile of Reservation. Bio-Blitz was held from Friday night to Saturday night. See story on page 2. the Westfield Stop & Shop. Given that the town chose not to challenge whether Mr. Hughes is a resident or that Village BOE Approves Agreement for Supermarkets was funding the lawsuit, Judge Karen Cassidy opted not to rule on these aspects of the lawsuit. Regarding the perceived sound vio- Solar Panels on School Roofs lations cited in the lawsuit, Stop & Shop argued that the noise code does By DELL SIMEONE mediate, Roosevelt Intermediate, and of $167,500; Dana Sullivan, as busi- not apply because there is no “affected Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Tamaques Elementary Schools. The ness administrator/board secretary, person” and “Lot 8 is not a protected WESTFIELD – The board of edu- other solar panel placements are yet at a salary of $174,757; Paul Pineiro, property.” cation on Tuesday approved an agree- to be determined, he said. Under this assistant superintendent for curricu- Paul Lachenauer for The Westfield Leader According to the judge’s decision, in ment to have solar panels installed on plan, the installation would be com- lum, instruction, and programs, at CRUISIN DOWNTOWN CRANFORD…Cranford Downtown Cruiser Night calculating the parking requirements school roofs to save money on elec- pleted by Advanced Solar Products $151,096; Michael Weissman, as as- was held last Wednesday. The event, sponsored by the Cranford Chamber of for the application, Stop & Shop ex- tricity. and the district would be entering sistant for pupil personnel services, Commerce, takes place from North Union Avenue to Springfield Avenue. It cluded 11,717 square feet of the base- The board saw a Power Point pre- into a 15-year power-purchase agree- at $159,621 and Barbara Ball, as hu- features classic cars, musical entertainment and activities for kids. ment from the calculation because it sentation on solar power narrated by ment (PPA) with the company to be man resource specialist, at $127,686. will be used as storage with the remain- George Duthie, of the district’s archi- approved by the New Jersey Board of At the beginning of the meeting, der of the basement used by employ- tectural firm, Fraytak, Veisz Hopkins Public Utilities (NJBPU) to save on the superintendent honored Ann CF BOE Honors Students; ees. Duthie, P.C. Mr. Duthie introduced electricity costs. Hinman, who worked as a parapro- In her ruling, Judge Cassidy found the plan to place solar panels on the Mr. Duthie said the upfront engi- fessional at the Washington Elemen- No Full-Day Kinder. In Fall that Mr. Gasiorowski’s “argument that roofs of the following schools: neering costs would be $17,600 for tary School for 15 years and is retir- CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 Westfield High School, Edison Inter- the design. He said the district could ing. Ms. Dolan apologized for Ms. save from $89,000 to $144,000 a Hinman being overlooked at the last By DELL SIMEONE place today, Thursday, for the posi- year, which would amount to a 10 to meeting. She was presented with a Specially Written for The Westfield Leader tion of assistant superintendent. Now, Rahway River Basin Flood 15 percent savings. Although, he said, flower arrangement. CRANFORD – The board of edu- it is an interim position held by Rose electricity is likely to go up 2 to 3 Also honored was Westfield High cation on Monday evening congratu- Macaluso. Ms. Carrick is retiring this percent each year. The board ap- School (WHS) senior Gorge lated and distributed certificates of year after 44 years in education. Busi- Options Target Cranford proved a resolution authorizing the Ladesma, who is a presidential appreciation to almost 100 student- ness Administrator Robert submission of related documents (a scholar and a finalist for a Merit Schol- athletes who have distinguished them- Carafagno’s office said the board has By MELISSA FRANCZ COOK work that needs to get done before solar power purchase agreement) to arship. Upon graduation, Gorge is selves on the county and state levels. not even advertised for the position Specially Written for The Westfield Leader we complete the study.” the Department of Education. The headed for Harvard University. WHS Their coaches also were honored. of superintendent yet. CRANFORD — The U.S. Army A crucial milestone was achieved immediate buildings affected would Principal Peter Renwick, said, “I Outgoing Superintendent of Mr. Carafagno said the Corps of Engineers (Corps), New in 1999 when the Corps completed a be WHS, Edison Intermediate School, couldn’t be more proud. He is a fine Schools Gayle Carrick added her con- rehabilatation of the Hillside, Or- York District, and the New Jersey reconnaissance report which indicated Roosevelt Intermediate School, caring young man. He is passionate gratulations to all of the athletes. The ange Avenue and Lincoln Schools is Department of Environmental Pro- that there is a federal interest in the Tamaques Elementary School, Wil- about making a change, making a board, then, recognized students who complete. All bids came in below tection (NJDEP) presented various Rahway River Basin and the study son Elementary School and Jefferson difference. He is a wonderful repre- garnered fourth place in the AP Envi- cost, he said. He also said that funds flood risk management alternatives was authorized for analysis. In 2002, Elementary School. sentative of our school and our com- ronmental Science competition. The used for the project had come from a for communities along the Rahway the NJDEP agreed with the Corps’ In other business, the BOE voted to munity.” He added, “They say youth students are Caroline Elmer, Bart 2010 $7,469,771 bond ordinance and River Basin, with a particular focus recon study and signed a Feasibility approve the present top administra- is our future, we’re in good hands Lahiff and Sabrina Shu. The board the amount of $1,838,897.32 is left on Cranford and Rahway, at Monday Cost Sharing Agreement making it a tors for the next for the next school with Gorge.” Teacher Valentino also commended their teachers, over. He said the state allows the night’s National Environmental 50-percent cost-sharing partner. An year. The following administrators Scipione said of Gorge, “He is one of Michael Leong and Michael board to transfer the proceeds from a Policy Act (NEPA) Scoping Meeting initial screening in 2006 identified were re-appointed: Superintendent of the brightest and tenacious students Castagno, for their dedication to the capital project when it is complete at Union County College in Cranford. the Township of Cranford and the Schools Margaret Dolan at a salary CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 students. and such funds are no longer needed The meeting was hosted by the City of Rahway (Robinson’s Branch, On another subject, Ms. Carrick to the debt service to help pay off the Union County Freeholder Board and also known locally as the Clark Res- said there will be no all-day kinder- bond. the Mayors’ Council on Rahway River ervoir) as locations with the most garten pilot program this September.