Downtown Task Force Details Reccomendations

Frank Macioce and Brett Haire detailed more specifically their findings and recommendations as part of the Downtown Review Task Force Tuesday.

Public comments will be sought at the common council meeting June 1 but the two elaborated on the highlights of their report they reported at the May 18 council meeting.

The most dramatic of the task force's recommendations is to restructuring Summit Downtown Inc. into an appointed nine-member board instead of an elected-board, to change the name of the organization, to revitalize the Summit Chamber of Commerce and to hire a retail recruitment manager.

But other recommendations include expanding the Special Improve District to include the properties across from city hall including PNC Bank and the Claremont Corporate Center and the Grand Summit Hotel.

"It's an authentic downtown," Macioce said of the uniqueness of Summit. While the task force compared Summit to similar downtowns such as Madison, Chatham, Westfield, Cranford and Red Bank, Macioce and Haire emphasized they don't want Summit to necessarily be any of those towns, but rather has enough of its own qualities to be something one-of-a-kind.

"We have that geographic advantage," Haire said. "We have everything that anyone of those communities has in way of unique DNA and then some."

Another recommendation is to increase floor area ratio to 3.o and consider setbacks above the third floor so additional floors can be added but setback from the front of the building as not to be seen from the majority of vantage points.

In addition, the report recommenda considering new uses on the first floor of downtown buildings and considering innovations such as a for-profit concierge service "focused on linking the commuter's parked car during the business day via the Internet with the downtown Summit merchant," the report reads, and leasing unused space in the Broad Street garage for weekend events to simulate downtown foot traffic.

"There is a sense of urgency in the community, and there is an opportunity now, as economic recovery approaches, for Summit to reinvigorate its downtown," the report reads. "We believe the residents are looking for the leadership that only the Mayor and Council can provide."