Somehow during the adoption of the city's zoning ordinance in June of 2005, the allowed height for a residential structure in the Neighborhood Business (B-1) zone went from 55 feet to 150 feet.
The following areas are currently zoned B1:
(1) Main Street from Clinton Place to Catalpa Ave
(2) WESTERN end of Passaic Street at Maywood border, vicinity of Steve's Sizzlin Steaks.
(3) Anderson business district (south side of Anderson only) and both sides of Passaic Street from First Street to Union Street
(4) Most of Essex Street
(5) 90% of Polifly Road
(6) One block of Hudson Street from Kansas Street to Broadway
(7) east side of the railroad from Lodi Street to Sussex Street, and including the Cinelli tract, and the entire east side of Hobart Street.
When I saw that a 160-foot highrise is now proposed for Linden Street at Anderson Street, I read that section of the new code and compared it to the old code. My eyeballs almost popped out of my skull. As involved as I was, I didn't know that the definition of B1 was changed in such a profound manner. Those who were involved were focussing on other areas of the city, and not looking at the B1 definition.
So WHO changed it? WHO slipped it in? We can't have monster buildings 150 feet (15-17 stories tall) popping up in B-1 zones all over Hackensack.
There is nothing in the Master Plan to justify that change. There was no discussions during the Master Plan hearings by any of the board members or governing body to justify that. There was nothing discussed by the governing body regarding the 2005 zoning ordinance to justify that change. Did Kasler (the consultant) slip it in. Or perhaps the old council wanted to make taller buildings than 55 feet for the Transit Village project at the Essex Rail Station. If so, they should have designated that immediate area as B2. Now because of the B1 definition change, someone can put a Prospect Ave-style building at the corner of Main and Spring Valley, or on Passaic Street near the Maywood border. Oh, brother.
HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS ALL OVER HACKENSACK
? Is that what this council stands for? This is going to be VERY unpopular. Sorry to do this, but I have no choice but to post this info on
www.hackensacknow.com.
There is now an application before the Zoning Board for a high-rise on Linden Ave near Anderson. And they want variances to go even higher, and with even less setbacks on all sides.
The council needs to CLEAN-UP the Zoning ordinance ASAP. They've been talking about resolving several other "mistakes", but this is basically a CRISIS. I don't want to hear that it shouldn't be done "piecemeal". We need protection against high-rises going up all over Hackensack, don't we? ASAP, thank you.