Revitalization To Be Community Plan

The room was full of people interested in downtown revitalization, and they had an assortment of different backgrounds and areas of focus.

But the group—which in total numbers about 70 people—will be responsible for forming a plan that could change downtown Millburn. The new Revitalization Committee held its first meeting Tuesday night in an effort to organize for the process that could take six months to complete.

The Township Committee rejected a plan for downtown redevelopment late last year, but it committed to not letting the issue die and to look at some form of revitalization for the town's business center.

Dan Baer and Robert Tillotson, two committee members, will oversee the process, and Baer told the group Tuesday night that they will help them however possible in providing information and answering questions.

But the plan that will be created by the people serving on the committee, he said.

"This is a community-based plan," he said. "It's your plan and we're going to help you do it."

Four subcommittees—sustainability and environmental issues; financial and economic issues; zoning, land use and historical issues; and parking, traffic and pedestrian issues—will each appoint a liaison to an executive committee, which Baer and Tillotson will head.

Baer said the group can use previous plans and information in forming their ideas, but they are not bound to anything, including sticking to an "area of need" developed for the previous redevelopment process.

"We want the ideas to come from you," he said.

Tillotson said he wants the group to also be a liaison to their neighbors and community organizations about their work.

"Talk to them and ask what they think," he said.

Most people were involved in the last process late, he said, so they should try to get everyone involved initially this time.

Mayor Sandra Haimoff made a brief appearance before the meeting to thank everyone for volunteering their time for the process, and she encouraged everyone to think outside the box and speak freely with their opinions.

Baer warned the group that no matter what they do there will be someone who doesn't like what they present.