Dear Maplewood Township Committee Members and Our Fellow Maplewoodians:
The
Post Office redevelopment has dominated public debate in Maplewood for
the past few months. So much attention on one
parcel of land. Meanwhile, crosstown and right in the same 07040 zip
code, sits Springfield Avenue, which is well-over a mile of land and
very deserving of the attention of each and every resident and our
surrounding communities.
For
us – the residents of the College Hill and Hilton neighborhoods –
Springfield Avenue is more than another road to fill
with ratables. It is a vibrant part of our community – where we go to
keep our households fed, taken care of, and entertained. These
businesses are our neighbors.
And our community is about to welcome a new neighbor – Wawa!
On
the surface, we are excited about Wawa’s signature coffee and cheap
gas. Much deeper, we are cheering that a reputable business
will make such a big investment on the Avenue. And, we are smiling
because Wawa will bring so much positive energy to the eastern end of
Springfield Avenue. Our goal in sending this letter is to ask each of
you for your attention to a few matters as we get
ready for our new neighbor and many more.
To the Township Committee:
In the coming weeks, matters regarding Wawa will come before you for consideration. As you evaluate the proposals, we urge
the following:
#1 - Enacting Key Zoning Changes.
When we met with Mayor De Luca on May 30th
and May 31st
to discuss our thoughts on Wawa and 24-hour businesses, we were very
excited by his proposed idea to change the zoning on Springfield Avenue
from Highway Business to Pedestrian Retail Business between Boyden and
Broadview. This is the change we need on Springfield Avenue. Included
with this zoning change should be a prohibition
on future 24-hour businesses in the Pedestrian Retail Business zone and a
closer look at allowing first floor offices to open in this business
area.
We
need to update the code starting this Summer to align with the current
and projected nature of business
operation on the Avenue, and with the types of businesses desired by
residents. We believe that this zoning change is one of the best ways
to do so. We look forward to working with the Township and the
Springfield Avenue Partnership to ensure this change
is implemented in a fashion to attract the best possible business to the
Avenue while meeting the interests of the community. Regardless of
what happens with Wawa, we will continue to urge the Township to make
this particular zoning change.
We are incredibly thankful to the Mayor for his willingness to extensively meet with us, to hear our concerns,
and to let us engage in a solution.
#2 – Ensuring Sound Safety Measures Are Placed on 24-Hour Business Operation.
It
is our understanding that Wawa will only open in Maplewood if they are
permitted to operate 24-hours for
both their gas and retail sales, and that currently, the Township has a
law prohibiting the sale of gasoline between 11PM and 6AM. While
neighbors have differing views on the need for 24-hour businesses in
Maplewood, one value was uniformly crystal clear –
no change should compromise the character of Maplewood or put an unfair
burden on our municipal services, like the police department. We are
one community. The truth is, just as one benefit improves the whole
town, one detriment impacts us all irrespective
of the street we call home in Maplewood.
As
the town evaluates lifting the ban on 24-hour gas service, we strongly
encourage you to use this as an
opportunity to legislate that businesses be required to undergo a
mandatory public safety check with our local police department in order
to operate. The Township should also look at creative ways to address
businesses that put an increased demand on municipal
services. Before making any change, a careful review of independent
public safety data and business operation, especially as it relates to
our region, should be considered.
We
appreciated Mayor De Luca’s words that any change he would advocate for
with respect to allowing 24-hour
gas stations would be limited to the reconfigured Highway Business zoned
areas of Springfield Avenue (the new Highway Business zone would be the
western and eastern ends of Springfield Avenue; the newly expanded
Pedestrian Retail Business zone in-between would
not have gas stations). To add to this, as neighbors we urge that such
changes should have comprehensive public safety checks added, many noted
above.
#3 – Encouraging Wawa to Use Already Established Channels to Address Land Use Matters.
While
we are sympathetic to the challenges of starting a business, we do
believe in the administrative processes
to address those matters. Wawa will have two primary uses – gas
operation and retail. We know the Board of Adjustment is tasked with
addressing such use variances. And as such, any question on use of the
property should be handled by the Board of Adjustment.
To Our Fellow Maplewoodians:
There is something special missing from Springfield Avenue. And, it is more Maplewoodians! The reality is we would love to
see you more often in our neighborhood as there is so much here to benefit you and our Township.
From
a strict dollar and cents perspective, Springfield Avenue presents the
best opportunity for Maplewood to increase revenue
through our numerous commercial lots. The more you shop, the more
businesses grow. And then more businesses will want to come in resulting
in more money in our tax base for the township and the school system.
Did you know that if each of the over 8,000 households
in Maplewood spent just $50 a month on Springfield Avenue that would
bring more $4.8 million dollars to our local businesses? It is easy to
make that $50 a month investment without changing how you live. For
example, instead of rushing to Target and dodging
a sea of red carts for party supplies, you can pay a fraction of the
price at Deals right on the Avenue and support our town-wide local
economy.
From
a non-economic standpoint by not supporting Springfield Avenue, you are
missing the essence of why we call ourselves Maplewoodians.
For many of us, we call Maplewood home because of the progressive values
and the desire to live in a place that is not a cookie cutter suburb
full of strip malls. Springfield Avenue helps fill those goals in so
many ways.
On the Avenue you can:
On the Avenue you can:
· Dance
into healthy living at Viva Z Club or Inspiration Dance.
· Firm
up your muscles at CKO or The Gym.
· Find
your inner Zen at Shakti Yoga.
· Release
your creative energy at Express Yourself Studios or at Knitknack yarn (maybe do a little yarn bombing on the Avenue too).
· Be
inspired to cook with all of the fresh foods at the Farmers Market (FYI the Farmer’s Market starts on June 8th
for the season).
· Grow
with educational programming at the Hilton Library and the 1978 Maplewood Art Center.
· Brag
that
you ate mouth-watering food at NJ Top 25 Restaurant Verjus, or at
authentic Jamaican cuisine at Pimento Grill, or at the “always makes you
so happy no matter what” tasty, but healthy HLS Juice Bar
· Stockpile
your kitchen with freshly made sausage from Piast Polish Meat, Italian meats from DiPietro’s, and ravioli from Campy’s.
· Savor
irresistible sweets from Gigi’s, Edo’s, and the Rack.
· Pamper
your dog at Puppy Love Spa.
· Get
great bargains, including 50% discount on greeting cards at Lexanne Pharmacy.
· And
enjoy
a long walk on the beautiful brick sidewalks built in response to the
tireless advocacy by neighbors in College Hill and Hilton.
There
is so many wonderful things literally taking place in our backyard on
Springfield Avenue, and we look forward to celebrating
all of those opportunities with you. Perhaps over fresh cup of coffee
from Wawa on a bench in Maplecrest Park.
Sincerely,
Erin Scherzer
On Behalf of the College Hill Neighborhood Association
Carol Buchanan
On Behalf of the Hilton Neighborhood
Association
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