UPDATE
NB Zone
Common Council voted 8 to 2 to approve an ordinances to downzone the Business Zone from Marco Polo (Morris Ave.) to the Broadway Diner (River Rd) to Neighborhood Business. Despite property owner opposition, Council followed the recommendation from the Planning Board and their contract planner to restrict uses and development opportunity for properties in this zone.
Council members voting for this change had a few interesting comments to support the decision: The adjacent residential neighborhood is fragile and delicate and in need of protection from potential development. Facts supporting this theory were not presented. One council member and the city’s contract planner also offered a novel opinion, that development along the business corriders leading into downtown Summit has the potential to hurt downtown business interest. This is the clearest example yet of the disconnect between fact and planning policy. In fact, Summit has a strong downtown core not under any threat from the very smal business zones surrounding it. The threat is most likely that a good bit of our planning policy lacks vision and a basic understanding of commercial property economics which surely will lead to a decline in affected property value and property tax revenue.
Franklin Place
Common Council is scheduled to hear public comment and consider the planning board’s recommendation to rezone the former Infiniti Auto Dealership property on Franklin PL to residential (R-5) use at its Oct 21st meeting. The property owner’s plan for a residential (Muli-Family) development is expected to be shared with the neighbors around Oct 13th.
Summit Common Council took no action at the July 29th meeting on the Planning Board’s recommendation to change a Business Zone to Neighborhood Business Zone and the Business Zone (former Infiniti dealer property on Franklin Place) to single family R-5 residential.
Council heard from nearly all commercial property owners (four owners appeared before council) along the Morris Ave and River Rd section affected by the Planning Board’s recommendation. Property owner’s ask council to do additional research on this down-zoning recommendation. Property owners believe that other zoning options may be more appropriate for this area due to the type of properties involved and adjacent zones. The idea that this area may even be considered as a Gateway type zone was suggested by the owners.
The former Infiniti property was the subject of significant public disccussion. Nearby neighbors are organized to oppose the property owner’s plans for development. The property owner’s attorney addressed council and asked for an opportunity for his client to develop plans for the property. The property owner is opposed to the R-5 designation but not the concept of changing the zone from Business to Residential.
Residential neighbors seek a minimal density zone which is the R-5 designation. They cite congestion and traffic fears along with a general concern that anything but R-5 would degrade the neighborborhood. Organizers of the neighborhood group claim that the Planning Board and the City’s consultant Planner support the R-5 designation. The appointed planning board and consultant planner may be more responsive to neighbor organizers then the balanced interests of all stakeholders -property owner, municipal interests, and the business community. The neighbor concerns should be studied as “potential impacts” as is done with all development applications. The elected council correctly, passed on rushing the R-5 designation through at this time.
Both changes to zoning are expected to be discussed at the next (September) council meeting.
