Iliiif Vnhouse Project Is Denied
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Vol. 114, No. 31 Thursday, August 1, 2002 50 cents g liiiif vnhouse project is denied v, od zoning board says no a year after plan is introduced By MICHAEL RHLLY denied by the borough's zoning Inc. Gurrieri added that while his cized the housing plan's density opments)," said Bruce Paterson, a CORRESPONDENT board last week. clients would decide the next and the impact the townhouse 10-year borough resident who "I felt it would be beneficial to step, he expected to appeal the complex's increased traffic would agreed with the board's decision GARWOOD — After more the borough to approve (the board's decision in Union County have on both local congestion and to deny the Giapiedi application. than a year of debate and several application), but apparently they Superior Court soon. traffic safety. Paterson added that he would be alterations, development compa- are resistant to change," said Before voting on the applica- "I feel traffic experts are more willing to support an appli- ny Giapiedi, Inc'a application to Mario Gurrieri, a senior partner tion, the board heard testimony, snake-oil salesmen. Look around cation that called for fewer town- build a 16-townhouse develop- at the Cranford law firm of resident comments, and the clos- you, there's nothing but traffic, houses — 10 or 12, rather than ment on a 65,000-square-foot Dughi, Hewitt and Pacatucci, ing arguments of Gurrieri at last and they all say there will be no tract off Fourth Avenue was who is representing Giapiedi, week's meeting. Residents criti- (traffic) impact (from new devel- SeeTi •, page A-2 Good eats, Budget Making contact woes Mike Tubellli andhis 12-year-old pretty flowers teammates from Cranford saw their season wd last week after a loss to Readington in the North Jersey will get State Tournament See story on Page C-1. worse By GREG MARX THE CHRONICLE KENILWORTH — ^; officials struggling in mid-sun*-*/- mer to approve a municipal ; spending plan agree 2002 is-j! tough budget year. But, saijT Finance Officer Diane Marus, Kenilworth's fiscal woes may only get worse in 2003. "We're facing a bigger problem next year than anything that's on the table this year," Marus told the Borough Council at a July 24 Milestone special meeting. •;. NICOLE DIMELLA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Rising insurance costs and' AdaAbramson, a resident at Atria Fred Schieferstein of Schieferstein Farms in Clark sells fruits and other fixed expense-s resulted in a Retirement and Assisted Living in vegetables at the Cranford Farmer's Market Tuesday evening. But nine tax point increase in the Cranford, will celebrate her 101st man does not live by Jersey produce alone. The freshly cut sunflow- proposed 2002 budget that was birthday at the facility on Aug. ft ers would brighten up anyone's home. defeated earlier last month, the See Page A-6. largest any council member could remember. But Marus said there may not be reason to expect relief next year. One cause for concern, she Flood project permitting expected said, is the borough's recycling costs. Kenilworth is paying By GREG MARX J permits at its Aug. 16 meeting. with residents who would be dug up for a large express $64,000 for recycling services THE CHRONICLE That move would be the affected by the project. storm sewer. this year, but must bid for a new biggest step in the project since But, said Morin, "subject to Aschenbach said this week contract in 2003. Costs for recy- CRANFORD — The the committee passed a $9.2 what comes up as a result of "a decision hasn't been made" cling and similar expenses have Township Committee could million bond ordinance to pay that discussion, I see that we about the precise route of the skyrocketed in recent years; New begin the permit process for for the work earlier this year. could probably move ahead express sewer, but the decision York City recently dropped some Cranford's controversial and The next step after permits are with the permitting ... I feel it's will be based on "sound engi- of its recycling services for the often-delayed flood control pro- obtained would be to award important to get that process neering recommendations." same reason. ject this month, officials said. contracts for construction. started." Though the sewer has creat- Another obstacle, Marus said, Commissioner Dan Commissioner Phil Morin The project has drawn stiff ed much controversy, he said, is the possibility state aid levels Aschenbach, who has become said before seeking the per- opposition from residents who there will be no special vote on will remain at 2001 levels next the leading proponent of the mits, the committee must know live in the area of a proposed its location. But the decision, as year while expenses continue to project, said he hopes the com- more about the heated July 17 swale behind Herning Avenue, well as the final design of the rise/ Like every other municipali- mittee will authorize Engineer meeting Aschenbach and as well as Riverside Drive resi- Jeff Sias to begin preparing Mayor Barbara Bilger held dents whose properties may be See Rood, page A-2 See Budget, page A-2 Merchants, DMC to discuss the SID tax By DMC was founded more than a without input from the people feeling that nobody's question- this DMC, I would like thfe Reaching out decade ago to oversee who fund the group. ing why the SID tax should property owners and the mer- andKlMBERLYMERZ Armond Ansari, 4, reaches out to streetscape improvements; Though the township offers continue. I would at least like chants... to be told about this.* pet a kitten in a cage at the pet THE CHRONICLE with the debt from those some assistance, most DMC to give other people the oppor- One possibility, board mem- adoption day at Nomahegan Park in improvements to be retired this revenues come from a special tunity to voice their opinion." bers said, would be to reduce or Cranford Saturday. See another CRANFORD — The year, the group is seeking a new tax of 37 cents per $100 of "The Special Improvement eliminate the tax but keep the photo on Page A-3. Downtown Management Corp. purpose. assessed value on downtown District implies that there are DMC to maintain improve- will meet this month with prop- Earlier, members of the vol- properties. The Special special improvements to be ments that have been made. erty owners and merchants to unteer board had agreed the Improvements District tax is in paid for. Those special improve- Commissioner Phil Morin, discuss the organization':; organization should continue m addition to the. municipal prop ments are paid for," said Paul liaison to the DMC, said he future. a revised form, perhaps with a oily tax. LaCorte. "If the goal here is supported the idea of the meet- The DMC has boon dis- new emphasis on parking, mar "The Sll) Ujx'mt ;S7 cents, that we are going to put. togeth- ing, but wanted the board to REMINDER cussing whether and in what ketmg or development, lint at a that needs to .significantly conn1 er a budget, for recruitment or make specific proposals to form the organization should July -M meeting, members .said down, said (lary (looilinaii. promotions... which were "Kight now 1 am getting the assorted, ancillary purposes of See DMC, page A-2 Price is right continue alter this year. Tin; no decision should be made Cranford hosts its Sidewalk Sale Days today thiumjh Saturday. Cranford committee names new zoning officer Special discounts and outdoor din- ing ate itnioiuj the attiactions. By GREG MARX will be "getting the zoning office "Part of this position will be base, and planning responsibili- THE CHRONICLE straightened out and making assisting the community in ties, including review of major sure we're serving the public strategic economic-development applications, are contracted out CRANFORD — The Township through the zoning ottice." The initiatives that are really key," to a local firm. Committee Tuesday hired a life- zoning officer is responsible for sajd Commissioner Dan Aschenbach said he also long Cranford resident and pro- enforcement of zoning violations, Aachenbach. ' expects Meeks will help turn fessional architect to fill the as well as guiding residents and Aschenbach, who will soon planning documents, such as the INDEX township's newly-expanded zon- developers through the applica- establish a task force to explore recently-completed Downtown ing officer position. tion process. ways, to improve the business Vision Plan, into jwlicy. "You have Commentary...... A-4 Ronald Meeks, of Central Meeks' knowledge of the zon- park, said he hopes Meeks will to have professionals that can fol- Avenue, will take over the office ing system "is going to be a valu- push for redevelopment of low through with these ideas,' he Community Life B-1 Aug. 19. A professional architect able asset to the residents," said Cranford's industrial base, as said. and licensed planner who former- Commissioner Tom Denny. well as high-profile locations Because Meeks has not yet ly worked for real estate corpora- But Meeks will also take on downtown. sigued u contract with the town- Sports •• C-1 tion Cendant, Meeks it* a now planning responsibilities that, Currently, the Downtown ship, iiitormulion on lib milurv comer to ggverumeiu. "Haying officials any, had previously fallen Management Carp, assumes was not available. Hut a luwn Prime Time 1-2 been u lifelong resident of through the nuika Those some economic development and ahij) ottktul .ntul M««iks' salary Cranfotd, 1 think 1 have «omt> leapoiiBibiluito will tmluilr grunt business recruitment rtisponsi would iellti( tin; iio.-aiimin new Obituaries M thing to otter tht) i unanimity," ho writing, helping tu t.T«ut« uml lulltiua duwittown, but that oftke Real Estate C-1 id UliUitlgU iwlnvelu|inuilt piojeits, Una limited authority.