Boro may add 56 acres to redevelopment Mayor, biz owner question inclusion of private properties BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer "Until such time we have a developer … it makes no sense to include more property in the redevelopment zone, because we were not successful in attracting a developer of the 400 acres." - Kennedy O'Brien Mayor Sayreville officials are considering adding 56 acres that include the Amboy Cinemas property and an existing business to the National Lead redevelopment area. The all-Democrat council on Monday approved a consent agenda resolution that calls for the land to be included with the already 400-plus acres that the borough took over from National Lead. The former factory site, located along the Raritan River and straddled by routes 9 and 35 and the Garden State Parkway, is currently the focus of some 12 redevelopment proposals submitted to the borough for review. The proposed additional acreage includes the site of Beacon Metal Co. Inc., a company that has operated at 73 Main St. for the past 12 years. A representative of the business questioned its inclusion, since it is a thriving company that wishes to remain in its location. Officials said, however, that they do not plan to use eminent domain to take the business. Borough Engineer Jay Cornell said the land's inclusion was the recommendation of the Sayreville Economic Redevelopment Agency (SERA). The Borough Council referred the matter to the Planning Board, which determined that the properties meet the state's criteria for redevelopment. "All residents who object to it can voice their concerns," Cornell said. Planner John Leoncavallo, who works for the Planning Board, conducted a study of the additional lots using two basic criteria - obsolete design and layout, and Smart Growth consistency - Cornell said. The Beacon Metal site met the criteria for Smart Growth consistency, while the 21-acre former multiplex property and a trucking terminal fell under the obsolete design criteria. Beacon Metal was founded in 1971 and recycles scrap metal, according to a representative who asked not to be identified. "What benefits the community better than recycling?" the source asked, saying that it is unclear why the borough would want to include the business site in the redevelopment plan. "Why include it [in the redevelopment plan] if there is no intention of pushing us out?" Republican Mayor Kennedy O'Brien advised the council to table the resolution Monday due to the fact that the municipality had not notified Beacon Metal of the vote. He said he told the property owners that they would be notified anytime their property was going to be discussed. "I made a promise," O'Brien said. Councilwoman Kathy Makowski responded that the matter has already gone before the Planning Board, and the board had rendered a decision to include the properties in the redevelopment zone. "I would like to get this whole project moving forward," Makowski said. Council President Thomas Pollando noted that the property owners will have another chance to meet with the Planning Board, since the resolution now goes back to that board for further study. Borough Attorney Brian Hak concurred, adding that the matter would then return to the council as an ordinance for introduction and adoption if the Planning Board recommends the ordinance rezoning the properties for redevelopment. "It would go back to the Planning Board [next], and obviously the property owner will be notified at that time," Hak said. Makowski said the inclusion of these properties would make the overall land area more appealing as the borough seeks to usher in a large-scale redevelopment project. She said the plan does not call for the use of eminent domain, and the business owner can continue to operate. "We would like to see a vision that goes down the road here to make this a more attractive area," she added. Borough resident Nellie Malet said the governing body should make affected property owners aware of all redevelopment discussions that pertain to their properties. "I suggest that you let them know what is going on," Malet said, "so that they are not hopping meetings and feel like they are not [getting] anywhere." The largest lot to be added to the redevelopment plan would be Amboy Cinemas, which has sat abandoned for the past two years since it closed due to structural issues. "The biggest thing that is going to be added is the movie theater," O'Brien said. While National Lead willingly and proactively sought to have the 400-plus-acre property reclassified for redevelopment, the property owners of these additional lots have not sought to be rezoned, O'Brien told the Suburban. "These other people haven't asked. Not only have they not asked, [but] we don't have a developer for the biggest part of it, so to me, it smells of a political land grab," he said. O'Brien said one of the property owners has already objected to being a part of the redevelopment plan. "For whatever reason, he was never notified that the Planning Board was discussing it," O'Brien said. "My request was that we table that consent agenda item until we have contacted all of the property owners who are affected. "The cornerstone [of the redevelopment plan] was the redevelopment of the 400 acres of National Lead," O'Brien added. "We do not have a developer for that, and until such time we have a developer, to me, it is ridiculous and it makes no sense to include more property in the redevelopment zone, because we were not successful in attracting a developer of the 400 acres." Pollando said O'Brien's feelings stem from the council's decision last year to not reappoint the mayor as a SERA commissioner. "This was spoken about when he was on SERA," Pollando said. "So why all of a sudden does he feel it shouldn't be done? I question why. I would ask him, if he was still on SERA, if he he'd still feel that way." Adding these properties to the redevelopment plan is the council's way of moving ahead, Pollando said. "We don't want to see things stagnant," he said. "The Democrats want to move the project and see things happen. I think our mayor wants to put road blocks on projects and see things stagnant." Makowski said the council wants to be able to review what types of businesses go into the redevelopment. "We are not asking anybody to leave," Makowski said. "It gives us more of a decision-making process of what we are going to do and bring in better ratables. "We have to move forward on this project and that is what we are doing," Makowski added. "We are looking to build up that area. There are some vacant lots that have a lot of potential to them." The additional properties have appeal in light of the redevelopment, Makowski said. "It makes sense when you're going over the bridge and you're seeing a beautiful waterfront area and the properties being developed for National Lead. … These are areas that just make sense to move ahead with." Pollando said the matter has been spoken about at SERA and Planning Board meetings, and that members of both bodies feel the properties should be part of the redevelopment area. He noted that the property values may even go up as a result of the council's action. He said no one is telling the property owners that they will have to sell their business or sell to a developer. "There are no issues such that there is with [the former National Lead]," Pollando said. "This is a clean area that can be developed right way. They are all clean areas and we can change the complexion of those areas, maybe with Best Buys or different outlets in those areas, because we don't have to wait for the cleanup of National Lead."