Livingston’s Planning Board met for a special meeting on Tuesday, July 18, where it first discussed the South Livingston Avenue Redevelopment Plan in a conference session. The plan was referred to the Board by the Town Council.
“It seems to be consistent with our master plan,” Board member Peter Klein said.
The adoption of the plan, reflected in Ordinance 19-2023, would authorize the construction of a 276-unit rental property. Fifteen percent of its units are said to be for low and moderate income tenants.
Board member Richard Dinar recommended that that percentage be raised to 20, the standard required of market properties. Township manager Barry Lewis made that distinction to the rest of the Board members, clarifying that rental properties are required to meet the 15 percent standard.
Dinar also asked for a traffic study to be done, but was informed that one was already conducted and reviewed by the Town Council.
“The Council did the due diligence,” Chairman Rudy Fernandez said.
Dinar was also concerned with the height of the property, as well as parking and density of each unit per acreage. His recommendations to revisit these points will be taken to the Town Council as a “minority position.” Others on the Board stressed that the plan meets requirements determined by the master plan.
“If that’s all it is and that’s all anybody wants to do with it, just say it’s consistent with the master plan and then, when it gets built - and you’re living with it - then you’re living with it,” Dinar said. “You can explain why we did nothing.”
“I’m not saying anything you’re saying is wrong,” Vice Chair Steve Santola said. “But that’s not our role. Our role is to see if it’s consistent with the master plan, and the council should be doing all the things you said they should be doing.And that’s up to them. That’s not up to us.”
A motion was made to send the plan back to the Town Council, with recommendations made by Dinar.
