TEMPERS FLARE AT PLANNING BOARD POST OFFICE SITE REVIEW, STILL NO VOTE

The Planning Board continued its review of the site plan for the proposed redevelopment project at the former Maplewood Village post office site on Tuesday, but still did not vote on the project.

Tempers did flare a bit during the review as Planning Board Member James Nathenson, who served as acting chair because Chairman Tom Carlson was absent, sought to limit the parameters of discussion and even stopped some residents from speaking about issues unrelated to the site plan.

 At one point, Mayor Vic De Luca, who also serves as a Planning Board member, said, "This is a chance for folks to speak, let them speak." 

See those highlights below: 




Early in the meeting, developers JMF Properties announced two changes to the site plan that includes a three-story building with 20 apartments and five retail stores.

The first is the relocation of garbage dumpsters from an area along the parking lot next to Village Coffee to an underground location within the new building.

The second change is the relocation of a loading dock for the building from the area behind it near the train tracks to the area next to Ricalton Square.

See that presentation below:


 

The latest site plan is here:

The Planning Board will continue its review at a special meeting on Oct. 13.