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Usually outfitted in windbreakers with the City seal, this Tee may be more appropriate now that their redevelopment role is clarified. |
My curiosity piqued by the previously unannounced discussion of "Redevelopment - Roles and Responsibilities", I managed to arrive just as Economic Development Director Valerie Jackson began her presentation.
Instead of taking issue with Planning Board attorney Peter Vignuolo, she agreed with him and underlined the point he made -- that the Planning Board's role is to determine if the state's criteria for declaring an area "in need of redevelopment" have been met.
The responsibility for deciding whether a plan is "condemnation" or "non-condemnation" lies elsewhere.
Communities may designate an organization as its redevelopment agency. Plainfield once had a Redevelopment Agency. It also at one time designated the Housing Authority as its redevelopment agency.
But, as Jackson explained it, the responsibility now devolves on the governing body. Without another designated agency, the City Council becomes the responsible party.
In effect, this puts the bulls-eye on the backs of the Plainfield City Council.
It means that those concerned about the proposed TODD South "condemnation" plan -- property and business owners and residents -- need to refocus their thinking.
While it will be important to attend the Planning Board hearing(s), its limited responsibility means those who have concerns need to address them to the body which has ultimate responsibility: Plainfield City Council.
While the City had only engaged in non-condemnation plans up to this point (where the developer buys the properties from individual owners to assemble a parcel), a condemnation plan shifts the focus entirely.
As the Mapp administration moves to place almost all of the downtown business district in the path of the wrecker's ball, a distinct shift is taking place.
Plainfield has never used condemnation before (where the City can used Eminent Domain to force the sale of private property to the City).
Previously, redevelopment projects have concerned themselves mostly with vacant or abandoned properties (Muhlenberg, Quin Sleepy Hollow, South Second Street, the Paul Building, etc.).
This began to shift with the West Front/Central Avenue and Richmond/3rd Street proposals, which included some active businesses and residences.
The focus now shifts in a major way to include 120 properties between 4th and 7th Streets -- many with thriving businesses benefiting the community. (You may want to read the take by Downtown Plainfield Alliance board member Ron Johnson in TAPinto -- see here.)
Jackson clearly delineated the Council as the responsible agency.
While the Administration may request a study or proposed a plan, it is the Council which is on the hook for taking action.
The City Council --
- Authorizes redevelopment studies;
- Designates redevelopment areas (by resolution);
- Directs the Planning Board to create a redevelopment plan (then enshrined in an ordinance); and
- Finally, works with the developer(s) in executing projects.
We'll see how that works out once the pressure is on.
Meanwhile, everyone awaits notice of the to-be-relocated and rescheduled Planning Board hearing on the matter.
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