Redevelopment Overlay Needed Before AvalonBay PILOT Program, Resident Says

The following is a Letter to the Editor submitted by Jennifer Altfield. If you have a Letter to the Editor you would like to submit, send it to ariana.cohn-sheehan@patch.com

Dear Editor and fellow residents:

During my term on the Ordinance Committee, we felt that the re-zoning of Union Avenue and Main Street was the first step for the development of Bloomingdale. By doing this, it increases ratable revenues for Bloomingdale from any commercial development that would come from this plan.

This zoning process took over six months of discussions, not only with the ordinance review, but also with all of the following: the planner, planning board attorney, municipal attorney, zoning official, sub-committee of the planning board, sub-committee of the Environmental Commission and Economic Development Committee. In the development of these ordinances, we upgraded our definitions for permitted uses in these zones. 

I feel it necessary to explain my opinion on the redevelopment and the subsequent Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) program that was presented to the borough council and the planning board over the last several months. In my opinion, the first thing that must be done is an “overlay” for the Union Avenue and Main Street corridor. The “overlay” is the area for redevelopment for the entire corridor.

The existing ordinance fell short of that goal, but it opened the door for discussions on the PILOT program. The PILOT program must be for commercial development as an attractive incentive to bring them into Bloomingdale. I am passionate about the proper use of the PILOT program for our community. 

I fully understand why the use of the PILOT program for this project was put forward, as it is the only game in town at the moment.

Very truly,

Jennifer Altfield