Township Progressing On Mill Redevelopment

The redevelopment of a long-unused parcel of land that was once the site of a knitting mill is slowly advancing, and will be topic of discussion at tonight's Planning Board meeting.

The meeting, scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., will include a discussion of the township's redevelopment criteria for the site located between Mt. Bethel and DuBois roads, and follows a Feb. 17 presentation at the Township Committee by Township Zoning Officer John Chadwick.

According to Chadwick, his presentation was in seeking comments to forward to the Planning Board, which will add members' own comments, before an ordinance setting the redevelopment plan is introduced at the Township Committee.

"After that process, the Township Committee would put its redeveloper hat on ... and in this case, you almost basically write out a contract," Chadwick said.

Chadwick said the process will vary from the township's experience redeveloping the Woodland Acres redevelopment zone in that the township owned the property redeveloped there but does not own the knitting mill lots.

"But we would set the regulations for how it would be developed," he said.

The main issues of concern for the committee members were the expected use of some of the site to meet affordable housing requirements, which are currently unclear as the Christie administration seeks to change the rules, and a desire to mandate energy efficiency in the construction of any residences for low- or moderate-income families.

After Committeeman Vic Sordillo recommended including language to use energy-efficient construction, such as low-E glass, the members discussed the added costs of such a requirement.

"Even though that does add cost ... every effort should be made to try to accomplish that," Committeeman Mal Plager said. "There's got to be state credits that they're going to get."

"There's no reason you can't have those provisions in the contract but I'm not so sure in the zone ordinance, other than an indication it's an objective," Chadwick responded.

As for the COAH requirements, Sordillo suggested using language noting  affordable housing needs included will be met "if required," after new regulations are set.

According to Township Administrator Mark Krane, the process for redeveloping the site is a slow one, and is being undertaken with the knowledge of the property owner and a potential buyer of the site.

"There are legal steps that are required and are being taken," he said. He added he did not know when the Township Committee might take the next step in the redevelopment.