Petition Bashes Lackawanna Plaza Plan In Montclair, Wants Reductions

MONTCLAIR, NJ — An online petition bashing one of Montclair’s most controversial development projects in years – Lackawanna Plaza – has gathered hundreds of signatures.

The clock has been ticking on the Lackawanna Plaza redevelopment plan since the Montclair Town Council advanced it on Dec. 6, sending it to the local planning board for further review. The board has until Feb. 4 to determine if the proposal conforms with the town’s master plan, a document that guides development in the township. Read More: No Lack Of Votes For Lackawanna; Montclair Council Advances Plan

If it goes through as proposed, the plan would permit the developer, BDP Holdings, to erect four, six-story buildings and one five-story building. It would allow for 75,000 square feet of office space and up to 375 residential dwelling units. The plan also includes space for a supermarket – a major need in the area – as well as affordable housing units.

However, some critics have been asking local officials to put the brakes on the proposal, demanding that the overall density and building heights be lowered – while keeping the supermarket and affordable aspects.

Recently, a group calling itself “Montclair Residents For Responsible Development” launched a Change.org petition, which had gathered more than 400 signatures as of Friday afternoon.

The petitioners are claiming the plan is “grossly out of scale” and “irresponsible,” with building heights that could reach 87 feet – over twice as tall as many other nearby structures. They are also worried about the potential impacts to the town’s public schools and infrastructure, as well as a “potential traffic nightmare” at an already busy intersection.

The petition’s authors include Renee Baskerville, Linda Cranston, Robin Curry, Rachael Quinn Egan, David Herron, Sharon Martin-Smith, Adriana O'Toole and Aminah Toler.

Read the full petition here.

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