West Orange Planning Board Resolution Recommending Main Street Extension

with the remainder of the properties in the Study Area being determined to demonstrate conditions to qualify for the existing rehabilitation designation but not a redevelopment designation; and WHEREAS, more specifically, the Redevelopment Investigation Report determined that the Auto Body Shop met redevelopment criteria “b” under N.J.S_A. 40A:12A-5(b) of the LRHL, which provides for the following conditions supporting a redevelopment designation: “The discontinuance of the use of a building or buildings previously used for commercial, retail, shopping malls or plazas, office parks, manufacturing, or industrial purposes; the abandonment of such building or buildings; significant vacancies of such building or buildings for at least two consecutive years; or the same being allowed to fall into so great a state of disrepair as to be untenantable.”; and WHEREAS, the Redevelopment Investigation Report made the following findings with respect to the Auto Body Shop: “The Auto Body facility has been out of business since 2013 and the storefronts and upstairs offices are vacant. Since the business has not been in operation for more than two years, the property qualifies under the newly modified criterion “b”. In addition, the physical condition of the property demonstrates deterioration. The lengthy vacancy and physical condition of the site demonstrate that it is untenantable in its current state. Therefore, the requirements for criterion “b” are satisfied.” ;and WHEREAS, upon duly served and published notice, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:12A-6, the Planning Board held a virtual public hearing, via the Zoom platform, on November 3, 2021, to investigate whether some or all of the properties within the Study Area should be determined to qualify for designation as an area in need of redevelopment under the LRHL; and WHEREAS, at the public hearing, the Planning Board heard the testimony and a presentation of the Redevelopment Investigation Report by its author, professional planner John Barree, AICP, PP, of Heyer Gruel & Associates, and the findings of the Redevelopment Investigation Report that only the Auto Body Shop qualified as an area in need of redevelopment under the LRHL; and WHEREAS, Mr. Barree was subject to questioning from members of the Board and members of the public; and WHEREAS, the Board also heard from members of the public concerning the Study

er the LRHL; and WHEREAS, Mr. Barree was subject to questioning from members of the Board and members of the public; and WHEREAS, the Board also heard from members of the public concerning the Study Area, the Redevelopment Investigation Report and the recommendation for the designation of the Auto Body Shop as an area in need of redevelopment under the LRHL; and WHEREAS, after reviewing the report and hearing the sworn testimony from John Barree regarding the Redevelopment Investigation Report and comments from members of the public, the Board determined, for the reasons set forth herein and on the record during the hearing, to accept the findings and conclusions of the Redevelopment Investigation Report and recommend to the 2 6622273