Hoboken Reporter, February 15, 2004

Dear Editor:

The Planning Board held a formal hearing on Hoboken's draft Master Plan report Tuesday evening, January 27. More than 100 people filled the high school cafeteria in spite of a snowstorm and the fact that Hoboken's official web site failed to post notice of the meeting.

Attendees were well informed, having participated in the planning process and read the report. Many among them presented thoughtful comments orally and in writing. If taken seriously by the Board, the Plan will be even better because of the efforts of these good citizens.

And indeed the Board members present paid close attention during the meeting and are to be commended for all the hard work they have put in throughout this study. Worrisome was the conspicuous absence of two members, Mayor Dave Roberts and Councilman Christopher Campos.

After spending more than a quarter million dollars on this study, the Mayor and his supporters on the council seem to be walking away from the process. Their absence expresses disdain for what the pubic has to say. Worse, they are actively undermining the Plan before it is completed by directing the Planning Board to conduct a redevelopment feasibility study on property in the city's north end including 1600 Park Avenue. This is the site where a well-connected developer is meeting strong public resistance to a proposal that will require multiple variances. If the Board were to recommend the area for development, its actions would nullify current zoning and circumvent the new Master Plan.

It is well past time for this city to establish rules and stick with them. The planning process offers an opportunity to do exactly that. Therefore, the hard-working members of the Planning Board should ban together to reject this politically motivated end run around the process. They should then bring order out of chaos by finishing the Master Plan and revising the zoning laws accordingly.

James D. Vance