RECEIVED TOCO -::- o •::- cr- ACLE !-• m-<Cr- CLARK, N.J., VOL. 15 NO. 13 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2004 www.ioc3lsource.com TWO SECTIi Schwarz Farm property sparks spirited deL™ By David Krewson who won re-election on Nov. 2 is a Republi- "My concern is that 30 units per acre is application for 120 units on the property, dan, Laezza said the ordinance is a mediation Managing Editor can. Fidurski supported Bonaccorso's Democ- such a high rate of development that we will which would be a disaster." agreement with the state Council on Afford- Tempers flared at Monday night's Town- ratic mayoral opponent, Sheree Bosze. lose the quality of life in Clark," Fidurski said. Bonaccorso explained that the issue of an able Housing on the Schwarz Farm and the for- ship Councilmeeting's public hearing to estab- Council President Alvin Barr interrupted The exchanges between Bonaccorso, Barr age-restricted overlay district is not new and mer Tyco Submarine facility on Terminal lish an age-restricted affordable housing over- Fidurski, who was attempting to speak during and Fidurski continued with Barr stating to has been carried over from former Mayor Avenue is a response to COAH. lay district for Schwarz Farm. the hearing. Fidurski "don't insult my intelligence, and we Robert Ellenport's administration. ' According to the ordinance, the purpose of Mayor Sal Bonaccorso had heated "You may speak now but I will not allow understand you object." Several other objectors also spoke against the district is to permit construction of an age- exchanges with William Fidurski, former anymore debate between either of you," Ban- At one point, Barr told Fidurski to return to the ordinance. restricted, multi-family residential develop- chairman of the Clark Environmental Com- said. his seat in the audience. "1 thought when we had Zoning Board ment with 20 percent affordable housing seta- mission, who opposed the ordinance to create Fidurski, responding to Bonaccorso "Here "Please sit down, you are now being dis- hearings we were rezoning the property," said sides in accordance with the township's adopt- ihe district. me out, I will not be taken advantage of." ruptive to this meeting." Marge Berson of Winters Court. ed Housing Element and Fair Share Plan "Bill, let's not start with scare tactics that a Fidurski added that the ordinance for the Before the vote, Bonaccorso said that it was Township Administrator John Laezza which is a requirement of COAH. Trump Tower building will be built there," age-restricted overlay district stipulates that 30 his belief that only 15 to 20 units of town- added that "the developer wanted to put more The ordinance further stipulates that the Bonaccorso shouted at Fidurski. "You debated housing units per acre would be built at the 4- houses could be built on the property. on this property, and they didn't comply with development of an age-restricted, multi-family this on Election Day, and you lost and I won, acre Schwarz Farm property on Old Raritan After the meeting, Fidurski said if that is this overlay." development will be an option available to a and I have had enough of you," he said. Road. The council unanimously adopted the the case, "why zone the property for 30 units In a response to questions posed by Demo- developer or property owner. Fidurski is a Democrat and Bonaccorso, ordinance. per acre and expose the township to a potential cratic Municipal Chairwoman Nancy Sheri- See TEMPERS, Page 2 WestfieId Avenue targeted in '05 District faces 22% "Plans call for upgrading the Streetscape program in the works Westfield Avenue corridor," Laezza By David Krewson The proposed project is expected said. hike in gas bills to be a 10-year effort to give the Managing Editor He added this is expected to By David Krewson The 22-percent hike in gas rates is township a "downtown" core, The Township Council is in the involve new street lighting and an Managing Editor expected to cost $15,000 to $18,000 according to Council President Alvin preliminary stages of developing an emphasis on attracting new business- The cost to heat three of the dis- more than last year's gas consump- Barr. area to be designated as a "down- es. trict's four school buildings is going tion, according to Takacs. Township Administrator John town." Bonaccorso said during his re- up. "Was this the best deal we could Laezza said the proposed project "We are going to continue the election campaign in the fall that he At a Board of Education meeting get?," board member Karen Amalfe will focus on the Westfield Avenue beginning of streetscape to make a wanted to rezone the commercial on Dec. 13, the board extended its asked. real downtown for Clark," said corridor from Brant Avenue to Madi- area on Westfield Avenue in order to contract with its natural gas supplier, Tillou said it was the best price for Mayor Sal Bonaccorso. son Hill Road. attract new businesses, such as Woodruff Energy, containing a 22-per- natural gas that the district could get at restaurants to create a downtown for cent increase. the present time. Clark. According to Superintendent of Takacs said that the agreement with Barr said that the council "has Schools Glenn Tillou, the Clark Woodruff Energy runs from December and still is looking into a downtown School District is one of 12 districts to to April. The previous agreement with area." participate in the Union County Coop- Woodruff Energy, up to December, He added that constructing new erative Purchasing Association, a was for a 33-percent increase in natu- facades on some of the township's countywide purchasing agreement. ral gas rates. business establishments is something School Business Administrator Meanwhile, Takacs said the district the council is considering. William Takacs said that three of the hopes to break ground in March to Barr said the council is still pon- district's four schools are heated by construct a "powerhouse" building at dering what the "downtown" should natural gas. Arthur L. Johnson High School. look like. He explained that this will Arthur L. Johnson High School pri- He said the "powerhouse' building take some time and it is going to be marily uses oil heat. will house the district's electrical dis- a slow process. But, he said, the district has tribution for the high school as well as _ Atttactihg:new businesses is.a.key brought in a high-pressure natural gas the gas-fired hot boilers for heating. element to the plan. line in anticipation of converting the Takacs said that ALJ does not have "As any new business comes in to building from oil to natural gas within a generator in the event of an electrical the designated 'downtown' area they Photos By Barbara Kokkafis two years. outage. He added there is no backup would have to adhere to the codes for The township is working Takacs noted that the only room for electricity in the building in the that section of the township," Barr to develop a downtown within ALJ to have natural gas for event of a power failure. said. area along Westfield heating is the guidance office. He said The high school is not a township - "We are looking forward to Avenue as a major proj- the Board of Education had budgeted designated emergency shelter in the extending the existing streetscape ect for 2005. for an anticipated utility increase. event of an outage. program," Barr said. for commercial uses for a downtown The cost of the long-term project area. Barr noted that the planning and has not been determined, according zoning boards have held hearings to to Barr. "It is going to be an ongoing rezone the area. Offices closed for holidays process, and there is no dollar Currently there are grocery, drug The offices of this newspaper will be closed Friday, Dec. 24 in observance of amount put on it yet," he said. stores, an ice cream establishment, Christmas and Friday, Dec. 31 in observance of New Year's Eve. We will reopen He noted that the reason the coun- doughnut shop and delicatessens in on the following Mondays. cil has not come up with a cost for that part of the township. The deadlines for the Dec. 30 and Jan. 6 editions are as follows: the project is because of the length of ' Laezza noted that property own- • Lifestyle, including church and club news, etc. — Today, noon. time that it will take to make a ers be willing to work with the town- • Legal advertising — Monday, noon. "downtown" area. ship in the effort. • Letters to the editor — Monday, 9 a.m. Barr noted that the township is "We hope the property owners are • What's Going On — Monday, 4 p.m. continuing to look to upgrade the willing to cooperate in this effort to • Display ads — Monday, 5 p.m. for Section A and noon for Section B. area for new businesses to locate in make it work," he said. • Sports news — Monday, noon. Storefronts and facades may be upgraded as part of a the area designated to be downtown. Laezza added that "public and • General news — Monday, 5 p.m. streetscape program to bring consistency to the corridor He noted that the township has private dollars are needed for it to be • Classified advertising — Tuesday, 3 p.m. and attract merchants. already adopted rezoning ordinances successful." We wish all of our readers and advertisers happy holidays and a Happy New Year. School board restores $4,000 Brownies' Christmas visit to town hall in funding for Student Council By David Krewson Lewis added that the Student Council is the "backbone Managing Editor of the high school, and the good things that they do." The Board of Education granted $4,000 for Student "I do believe the $4,000 is something they deserve and Council initiatives at Arthur L.