Debate On Broad St. West 'Has Been Civil,' Summit Residents Contend

SUMMIT, NJ — In response to a recent call from the Summit Interfaith Council to maintain "civil" and "respectful" discussions around the highly controversial Broad Street West redevelopment, many residents contend that the debate has indeed been civil and question the catalyst of the Council's statement.

The Interfaith Council released its statement on Monday, asking Summit residents to "treat each other in a civil manner [and create] a space for respectful discussion despite different views about the proposed redevelopment."

Read more: Calls For 'Civil' Debate As Tensions Around Summit Broad St. West Rise

Deborah Oliver, an outspoken member of the group "Residents for Summit" told Patch that "all discussions have been civil" surrounding the proposed development. She also reiterated that the residents in this group "completely support the idea of more affordable housing."

Summit Common Council President Marjorie Fox said at a meeting in June that the city has a mandate to build 50 affordable housing units by 2025. This was said in response to complaints that the proposed development is too large and includes too many residential units with not enough parking.

As it is proposed now, Subdistrict 3 of the redevelopment includes 133 residential units at five stories tall.

Oliver argues that 17 affordable housing units have already been planned elsewhere since the Settlement Agreement was signed in 2016.

"That means the actual number of affordable housing units that Summit should try to facilitate by 2025 is 33 units and NOT 50," Oliver said.

She added that Residents for Summit have "repeatedly asked for greater than the required 15 percent affordable housing, and one resident asked for the housing [at Broad Street West] to be 100 percent affordable."

Reverend Robert Morris, the secretary of the Interfaith Council, told Patch that he posted the statement Monday, which was adopted by the council's members, in response to the "probability that the number of affordable housing units is likely to be reduced as a result of what has become a contentious hot potato in the community ..."

Morris said the Interfaith Council has supported the cause of affordable housing in Summit for over two decades, before, during and after the Habitat for Humanity build on Morris Avenue near Wallace Chapel.

"One of the components of the Broad Street West project is a number of affordable housing units," Morris said. "The objections to the size and scale of the project seems likely to result in a reduction of the number of those units, a reduction the Council laments, as Summit has both a moral and legal obligation to reach a mandated State goal soon."

Morris said the Interfaith Council, is aware, through some of its members, that "a level of uncivil contentiousness with some accusations against city officials and others supportive of the project has emerged on occasion."

"Our long experience is that 'affordable housing' is a lightning rod for opposition and contentiousness on the part of some in the community, and rhetoric can become heated on such issues," Morris said.

Summit resident Ryan Felmet shared several emails with Patch between him and Mayor Nora Radest, as well as Councilman Greg Vartan, that were cordial and respectful from both parties. Both council members offered to speak face-to-face with Felmet about issues regarding Broad Street West.

Morris said the Council's statement "simply supports the inclusion of affordable housing units, and a call for reason and civility on the part of all participants and all sides of the discussion."

Resident Kevin McGoey also told Patch that he was not aware of any residents ever mentioning anything against affordable housing or anyone lacking civility in discussions.

The voting process on the Broad Street West redevelopment plan is currently on pause, as the Council is re-evaluating the plan. However, the council is meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 10 in a closed session to discuss the redevelopment.

A modified timeline for the project is expected to be provided in September, according to the city's website.

More information about the project can be found on the city's website.

Have a news tip? Email remy.samuels@patch.com.