Last week, dozens of residents attended a Township Council meeting to protest the passage of an ordinance that would clear the way for developers to construct a 276-unit rental property on South Livingston Avenue, at the former site of Bottle King and its surrounding area. Residents who live nearby were understandably upset about what could be built in their backyard, with those opposed to the project citing potential issues – including traffic and safety concerns, overcrowding schools, and a decline in nearby property values, to name a few. As a result, the public came out in droves to share their thoughts with the Council.
The Council did not pass the ordinance that evening, undoubtedly due in part to the public comment that was unilaterally against the plan. This is how local government should work, listening to the community and acting accordingly. The plan may pass in the future, likely with additional changes; but, for the time being, the redevelopment plan for 45 South Livingston Avenue has been left in limbo.
However, while we were heartened to see the community rally around this cause, it was frustrating to frequently hear some variation of the same question: “How come we didn’t know about these new housing developments that are being approved all over town?” Some people were upset that this had seemingly shown up without warning.
The reason we chafed at that sentiment is because the Tribune has been covering this matter since its inception. We have covered the broader matter of Fair Share Housing Center requiring hundreds of affordable units to be built in town, and the ramifications that have been a result of it. We have also covered the minutiae of each individual project, including the ordinances and public hearings that have been before the Town Council and Planning Board as a result.
Specifically, with respect to the 45 South LivingstonAvenue redevelopment plan, we reported on this area and redevelopment plan starting in 2018, when the Town Council first directed the Planning Board to conduct a redevelopment investigation. In 2021, we covered a Planning Board meeting on this redevelopment plan, which featured several hours of testimony from residents. We later covered it during a Council meeting in December of last year. The very ordinance up for discussion last week was first introduced in June, 2023, and we published information about it in the June 29 issue of the West Essex Tribune.
So, the statement from residents that this plan “came out of nowhere” is difficult for us to hear. We have dedicated a lot of time and effort – as well as a good deal of space – in the newspaper to covering this specific topic. It is our job to stay on top of issues like these, and to keep residents informed about what we learn. We are here to be the eyes and ears for the community. We strive to keep you informed, with timely, factual reporting on the things that matter in Livingston.
We are proud to be your reliable source of news here in Livingston, because these days, many other towns do not have an active, involved community newspaper to keep them up to speed on what is going on with their versions of the Bottle King lot. Most New Jersey towns either have a newspaper that, as part of a corporate owned chain, publishes regional news instead of focusing solely on one town, or, they have no newspaper at all.
If you are reading this, you are likely already a Tribune subscriber, so we are largely preaching to the choir with this sentiment. We thank you for seeing the value in your local paper. Perhaps, when you’re done with this issue, you may consider passing it on to a friend who does not yet subscribe to Livingston’s paper of record. You can remind them what you already know – we are cheap! You can even give them a gift subscription to ensure that they stay “in the know.”
If you subscribe before September 1, it’s just $32 for the year. That’s less money than a lunch out with a friend! And is it not worth $32 to be on top of the important news in town? We think so.
You can email us to subscribe, at WETribune@gmail. com. You can pay by Venmo (@westessextribune, just put your name and address in the comments), check (mail to PO Box 65, Livingston), or you can call with a credit card (973-992-1771).
We will continue to report on the Bottle King site (including in this very issue!), in addition to all the other matters affecting Livingston. We are glad to have you all following along, and for those who were blindsided by that ordinance last week, hopefully, you will consider thumbing through a weekly edition of the Trib, as well.
