POST OFFICE PLAN HEARING CENTERS ON PARKING, DELIVERIES ; NO DECISION YET

Planning Board discusses post office plan Tuesday night

A wide-ranging discussion about the Maplewood Village Post Office redevelopment plan took up the entire Planning Board meeting Tuesday night, with concerns about parking spots and delivery truck access to Kings.

The board did not vote on the plan, calling another special meeting to continue its review for  Sept. 29.

See some of the meeting highlights below:

 

The proposed three-story, 20-unit, five-shop complex has come under fire for months, with several groups, including Village Keepers. Inc., opposing it. Village Keepers filed suit several months ago against the Maplewood Village Alliance approval, but dropped it when further hearings were held. The Planning Board announced Tuesday it would also hold a special hearing on the Village Keepers appeal of the MVA approval, but did not set a date.

Village Keepers has claimed that the Township did not prove a financial hardship before planning to demolish the current post office building. They also contend that Mayor Vic De Luca and Township Committeeman Jerry Ryan, who also serve on the Planning Board, should recuse themselves from the issue.

We first posted letters between those involved in that dispute last month. See them HERE.

Several opponents spoke out against the plan at Tuesday's meeting. See them below: