At its Monday, March 25, meeting, the Livingston Township Council passed two ordinances related to the plannedBrightviewproject expected to be built at the current location of the West Essex YMCA.Additionally, the Livingston High School chess club was recognized for winning its state championship for the second consecutive year. The club explained their accomplishments to those in attendance and then were issued proclamations from both the township and the state legislature, the latter by Assemblywoman Rosy Bagolie.Brightview OrdinancesAn ordinance was passed to authorize a sale agreement between Brightview Livingston Urban Renewal and the township, for a portion of its 357 South Livingston Avenue (block 3100, lot 55 in the tax map) property that includes the town’s skate park. The proceeds of the sale are expected to cover the cost of a new skate park, to be located elsewhere in town.Brightview plans to build a 150unit senior living facility on approximately 160,000 gross square feet of land. The property, 321 South Livingston Avenue, is the current home of the West Essex YMCA, which will soon move to a new location across the street, the former site of the Grace Lutheran Church. The strip of land being sold is expected to be used for parking.Also passed was the approval of an application for a long-term tax exemption - also known as a payment in lieu of taxes, or a PILOT - and authorization of the execution of a financial agreement with Brightview Livingston Urban Renewal in relation to the 150-unit facility. The termination date on the PILOT is 35 years after its passage.Both of these ordinances, in some form, were discussed at length during several meetings in 2023, though they never passed at that time.The ordinances were passed by unanimous 3-0 votes. Deputy Mayor Ed Meinhardt and Mayor A1 Anthony recused themselves from the vote, due to conflicts of interest related to the YMC A.The Council members that could speak noted that moving forward with the Brightview Project would ensure the West Essex YMCA stays in town, creates affordable housing, and generates additional revenue producing properties in town. The Grace Lutheran Church and West Essex YMCA were not tax-paying properties in their current locations, but the town will receive revenue from the parcels once the new buildings are constructed, according to the Council.“This will protect Livingston against overdevelopment and increase our ratables,” Council member Shawn Klein said. He added that the financials of ...
