Letter To The Editor: Concerns Over Broad Street West Development

Summit NJ

24 May, 2022

10:05 AM

Description

SUMMIT, NJ — The following letter to the editor was submitted by former Summit council members Millie Cooper and Albert Dill. We write this letter as two former members of Summit's Common Council who are more than a little concerned about the proposed project for "Broad Street West". It is imperative that everyone in our city understand that the agreement our Council is preparing to sign (very soon) will include THREE PROPERTIES, not just the grossly oversized building you have seen depicted lately. This binding agreement will engage Toll Brothers/L&M to develop: 1. The parking lot between the YMCA and the Library2. The parking lot behind the Post office and3. The fire station property and the lot next to it that services St. Teresa's Memorial Hall andthe Vito Gallo Senior Building A basic, and primary, tenet of the city's Master Plan is to "keep Summit looking like Summit".The Master Plan and the Redevelopment Plan were carefully constructed by many people whoserved on those committees over long periods of time. It is Council's responsibility as stewardsof these important documents to adhere to the laws and intentions provided by the plans asthey are stated. Years ago, when we served, our Council was charged with building a new City Hall. We initiallyproposed constructing a new building on the Village Green, as it would have been much lessexpensive than rebuilding on its current location. Well, the residents of Summit spoke up andspoke up loudly! Our community made it very clear that the Village Green was a horriblelocation and they asked us to reconsider, and reconsider we did. We paused, we listened to thecommunity and we pivoted. Thank goodness we still have our glorious Green. We hope you will all speak up too and tell Council that this plan is just too much for Summit.We need our parking lot between the YMCA and the Library to remain as it is. We don't want abuilding there of any kind. We also don't want a building that is twice the size of what iscurrently allowable on the Firehouse/Parking lot property. We are very hopeful this Council will pause, and listen, and do the right thing. Let's keepSummit, Summit! Millie Cooper and Al Dill