Author Topic: 24-story tower for Summit Avenue  (Read 295014 times)

Offline Prospect Avenue Coalition

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Re: 24-story tower for Summit Avenue
« Reply #120 on: December 10, 2009, 10:24:35 PM »
SAVE THE DATE - THURSDAY JANUARY 7TH AT 7PM
HACKENSACK SPECIAL ZONING BOARD MEETING
CITY HALL 65 CENTRAL AVENUE 3RD FLOOR AUDITORIUM

#8295 ATTACHED IS A FLYER
« Last Edit: December 16, 2009, 08:16:41 AM by swapcatsr »

Offline Prospect Avenue Coalition

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Re: 24-story tower for Summit Avenue
« Reply #121 on: December 14, 2009, 12:59:34 AM »
#8373 Some things to note from the December 10th Hackensack Special Zoning Board Meeting:

Richard Pineles’ traffic expert testified that a tractor trailer truck would deliver food to the Bergen Passaic Long Term Acute Care Hospital twice a week and oxygen once a month to the hospital entrance on the Prospect Avenue side. Such deliveries would have to be made by stopping traffic so that the 44 foot tractor trailer truck could back into the driveway. Even though the tractor trailer is 44 feet long and the street only 40 feet wide the traffic expert was confident that the inconvenience to other drivers would be approximately 5 minutes for each delivery because Pineles plans to take away 4 street parking spaces in front of the hospital. Now where I live we have more than enough underground parking for unit owners and lots visitor parking spaces although I know that may not be the case for other apartment buildings in the immediate vicinity of the proposed hospital site. You and/or your guests will know who to thank after they have circled the block 4 or 5 times.

One zoning board member brought to light that Prospect Avenue is an urban collector road (sadly I wikied it) and he did not imagine that Hackensack could have tractor trailer trucks stopping traffic to back into a driveway. I could not believe this traffic guy responded that this tractor trailer backing up thing is commonly done in these here parts and the same as would be done at any one of the buildings on Prospect Avenue. Obviously the traffic guy does not live in the area and has not come to visit or else he would know that the only backing up done on Prospect Avenue is by the urban garbage collector and he would not think it such a great idea to take away those 4 street parking spaces. I was also thinking that if you are on the verge of dying and need to get via ambulance to the real hospital on Essex Street and Prospect Avenue you should move closer to Central Avenue.

And now the deal sweetener - the traffic mitigator. Pineles has kindly offered to pay out of his own pocket to make a left turning lane on Central Avenue on both sides of the light and to add green arrow left turning signals. I have long wished for this exact thing as I sat waiting for the light to turn green on Central Avenue. Now if he could do something about the drivers who blow thru the red light on Summit Avenue.

For anyone who takes the 163 bus at Central/Summit Avenues this will be one more obstacle between you and the express bus. I hope that the traffic mitigator is nothing like the Essex Street and Summit Avenue light. I stood on the corner for a long time waiting as each side got the green arrow then green light but the blinking walking man never came on. You have to press the button on the light post in order to cross the street.

http://www.northjersey.com/news/120909_Pedestrian_killed_by_bus_in_Hackensack.html

Maybe those taking the bus at Summit/Central Avenues can make a deal with the school crossing guard who will start pressing the pedestrian crossing button if they see us running up Central Avenue as the bus is turning onto Summit Avenue. If the traffic light gets an upgrade and the lanes as well why not kick in street lighting. The residents on Summit Avenue might not like the addition of high voltage street lamps but Summit/Central Avenues is a pretty dangerous intersection for pedestrians especially with Central Avenue being on a hill.

We will let you know when we get the minutes from the December 10th Zoning Board Meeting so you can read all about it. If you don’t like what you are reading please attend the January 7th Special Hackensack Zoning Board meeting at 7 pm where you will have the opportunity to question Pineles’ traffic expert.

Offline Prospect Avenue Coalition

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Re: 24-story tower for Summit Avenue
« Reply #122 on: January 04, 2010, 05:32:21 PM »
#8923 REMINDER

HACKENSACK SPECIAL ZONING BOARD MEETING
THURSDAY JANUARY 7TH AT 7PM
CITY HALL 65 CENTRAL AVENUE 3RD FLOOR AUDITORIUM

Offline Prospect Avenue Coalition

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Re: 24-story tower for Summit Avenue
« Reply #123 on: January 08, 2010, 01:00:11 PM »
#9087 Here is a letter written by Prospect Avenue resident Tom Lydon which was printed in the January 1st issue of The County Seat. If you missed your chance on January 7th to tell the Pineles traffic expert your thoughts on the local area traffic you can still share them by sending a letter to The County Seat.

THE COUNTY SEAT
77 Hudson Street
Hackensack, NJ 07601
www.cntyseat.com • info@cntyseat.com
Tel: 201-488-5795 • Fax: 201-343-8720

Friday January 1, 2010

‘Traffic Expert’ Angers Neighbors

On Dec. 10, 2009, there was another Hackensack Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting concerning the application for the construction of the Bergen-Passaic Long Term Acute Care Hospital (LTACH) on four lots: one facing Prospect Avenue and three facing Summit Avenue to form a T-shaped property.

Joseph Basralian, the builder’s attorney, began by stating that the size of the originally proposed structure had been reduced from 24 stories to 19 stories with reductions in the number of beds, dialysis stations and number of day care patients. Many feel that this adjustment was in part due to a report by the traffic expert.

According to the builder’s traffic expert, for two hours in the morning there are approximately 1,000 cars passing the site on both Prospect and Summit avenues, and from 2 to 6 p.m., there are approximately 1,000 cars passing on Prospect and Summit avenues. He said he did not feel that additional traffic from the proposed building would radically affect the present traffic congestion. He said that an adjustment to the traffic signal on Summit and Central avenues would alleviate problems.

However, members of the audience who were wearing pins expressing their opposition to this proposed structure were not convinced. Their disbelief was increased when the traffic expert stated that there would be deliveries twice a week by a 44-foot tractor- trailer, which would have to back in the driveway on Prospect Avenue. He also felt that this would not disrupt the flow of traffic on Prospect Avenue. There will also be deliveries by 35-foot tractor-trailers, which also must back into this driveway. Prospect Avenue is the route used by ambulances going to and coming from the hospital and the route of NJ Transit Bus No.162 in the mornings and afternoons.

Are we to believe that the maneuvering of these tractor-trailers will not block traffic? The expert said there would be a shift change of 123 staff members at approximately 2:30 p.m., which is during one of the periods of peak usage. He also felt that this would not cause any problems. The next zoning meeting will take place on Jan. 7 at 7 p.m. where the traffic expert will be questioned by lawyers. There will also be an opportunity for the audience to question him.

Thomas Lydon
Hackensack
« Last Edit: January 11, 2010, 11:48:52 AM by swapcatsr »

Offline Prospect Avenue Coalition

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Re: 24-story tower for Summit Avenue
« Reply #124 on: January 09, 2010, 10:19:10 AM »
#9135

SAVE THE DATE - TUESDAY FEBRUARY 23, 2010
HACKENSACK SPECIAL ZONING BOARD MEETING AT 7 PM
3RD FLOOR AUDITORIUM AT 65 CENTRAL AVENUE
« Last Edit: January 11, 2010, 11:39:16 AM by swapcatsr »

Offline Whitey

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Re: 24-story tower for Summit Avenue
« Reply #125 on: January 11, 2010, 11:21:04 AM »
The Board of Adjustment hearing on the LTACH was devoted to questions about the impact of traffic and parking.  The public questioned the applicant’s traffic expert and there were several issues of concern that were raised.

The traffic engineer testified that he was not able to find a comparable facility, LTACH, dialysis and adult day care all in one building, and that required information dealing with number of employees for each activity and their shifts, hours of operation for each facility as well as number of deliveries, vans, ambulances, etc was all provided by the applicant.  This raised concerns because the applicant’s facility, Prospect Heights, has significantly less parking than necessary and delivery vans have limited access to the building on Prospect Avenue.  There was also concern that Prospect Heights’ employees that now park off site will utilize the LTACH garage reducing the available parking.  The traffic engineer had not considered this anticipate problem.

The other major issue was the impact of the additional traffic on the existing situation on Summit and Prospect Avenues.  The engineer had never visited the site during the morning hours and was apparently unaware of the long lines of traffic at the traffic lights at the four controlled intersections studied.  The engineer was clearly of the opinion that there was so much traffic already on Summit and Prospect Avenues that the additional traffic projected from the new facility would have little impact.  Questions raised by Summit Avenue residents who testified there were times they could not exit their driveway because of the continuous line of cars in the street were not addressed.  The ability of delivery vans to access the LTACH were of concern to the residents on Prospect Avenue because it would require traffic to be stopped to allow the vans to enter the driveway.  Stopping traffic on Prospect Avenue, which is used by many emergency vehicles, was of no concern to the engineer.

The Board of Adjustments expects to have an additional traffic report by their traffic expert available for the next meeting in February.

Offline just watching

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Re: 24-story tower for Summit Avenue
« Reply #126 on: January 12, 2010, 09:22:43 AM »

For those who aren't keeping track, for each and every major addition to Hackensack University Medical Center, there was a traffic "expert" there to testify that the impact will be negligible.  My gut feeling is that if you researched the transcripts from the approvals of every high-rise on Prospect Ave, you'd find the same.  Add it all up, and you've got the chaos we have now.

I can remember in the 1970's when there were no traffic lights on Prospect Ave except the one at Essex Street, and no traffic light at Summit & Beech either. 

Why doesn't the city hire a traffic expert to study Beech and Prospect, I bet he'll conclude that a light is needed there as well.  Maybe even at Atlantic & Prospect.

The Zoning Board of Adjustment has within it's legal rights the ability to hire their own experts to give independent testimony on an application. They may even have the right to charge the costs against the applicant.  Want to make this case real interesting for the State Appellate Court, let's go in that direction.  I bet this new city council and current members of the Zoning Board don't even know about this option.  This is something to be discussed among the attorneys.  good luck.


Offline Prospect Avenue Coalition

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Re: 24-story tower for Summit Avenue
« Reply #127 on: January 25, 2010, 12:26:47 PM »
#9543 REMINDER – NEXT ZONING BOARD MEETING ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23RD AT 7 PM

The City of Hackensack has hired Birdsall Services Group as its traffic expert and Neglia Engineering Associates as its planner/engineer. Birdsall comments to Pineles’ revised traffic study were attached previously on my post dated December 9, 2009. Also attached on December 9th (two posts after the post containing the Birdsall comments) was Pineles’ revised traffic study from Omland Engineering Associates.

Thus far the only traffic mitigator that Pineles has offered to pay for out of his own pocket is for the addition of left turning lanes on Central Avenue on both sides of the light and to add green arrow left turning signals. During the Excelsior III application, there was some discussion about adding a light to Prospect Avenue (collector road) and Beech Street which in the end was discarded as a traffic mitigator for Excelsior III due to the insufficient distance between the existing traffic light on Summit Avenue/Beech Street and the proposed traffic light on Prospect Avenue/Beech Street (Iowa State University Institute for Transportation: when the spacing between signals falls below the minimum spacing of one-quarter mile (1,320 feet or two-three blocks), the traffic flow along the route may be disrupted and the ability of the route to carry through traffic will decrease, travel speeds may decrease, and delays and queues may develop at intersections).

As Whitey mentions Pineles’ engineer had never visited the site during the morning hours and was apparently unaware of the long lines of traffic at the traffic lights at the four controlled intersections studied and that the engineer was clearly of the opinion that there was so much traffic already on Summit and Prospect Avenues that the additional traffic projected from the new facility (14 extra cars during rush hour) would have little impact. Even after numerous residents went on the record to say that right now the area traffic is to the point of utter chaos, Pineles’ traffic expert would only testify that adding 14 cars to an existing hazardous traffic situation would have little impact. Pineles and his traffic expert do not live in Hackensack so their struggle to exit driveways along Prospect/Summit Avenues may not be as frustrating or frightening as it is for residents.

Residents should write to Hackensack Chronicle (E-mail: bonamo@northjersey.com) and/or The County Seat (77 Hudson Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601 www.cntyseat.com Email: info@cntyseat.com Tel: 201-488-5795 • Fax: 201-343-8720) to let everyone what you think about these changes to your way of residential living.

Let’s not forget the 4 street parking spaces in front of the LTACH which Pineles plans to remove. This will be a blessing for Prospect Heights as they often park their ambulances and unload their delivery trucks on Prospect Avenue (see attached picture). Have you noticed yet the removal of all street parking (both sides of the road) down by the real hospital, Hackensack University Medical Center (see attached article). Where will residents and their guests park?


NORTHJERSEY.COM
New parking ban sparks controversy
Friday, November 27, 2009
BY MARK J. BONAMO
Hackensack Chronicle
MANAGING EDITOR

The Hackensack City Council voted to ban parking on Prospect Avenue between Essex and Atlantic streets earlier this month, sparking protest from some residents.
According to city officials, the new restrictions, which are not yet fully in place pending the establishment of parking signs, will improve traffic flow in the busy area in the immediate vicinity of Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC).

However, some residents believe that the ban on parking in the affected area will leave local residents without both free parking and handicapped parking.

Furthermore, the move to eliminate parking in the neighborhood is part of the February 2008 developer’s agreement between the City of Hackensack and the hospital, an accord that has caused much discord in city politics since its inception.

City manager explains move

At its Nov. 10 meeting, the council voted 4-1 to approve the final adoption of the ordinance establishing the Prospect Avenue parking ban, with neophyte Councilman John Labrosse providing the only protest vote.

City Manager Stephen LoIacono believes that the new law will allow traffic to flow more smoothly around the medical center, the city’s and Bergen County’s largest employer.

"Once we do this, we’ll be able to relieve the congestion that is always around the medical center, especially when there are changes of shifts," LoIacono said. "We’ve recently picked up 120 spaces at the new hospital parking garage, so we will more than account for any loss of spaces on the street."

"Every time I go to the medical center, I always try to park on Prospect because parking in the garage is more time consuming," added LoIacono. "In the last five years, maybe twice I was able to find a parking spot. It’s disingenuous to think that someone who lives in the area is routinely parking their cars on Prospect because there isn’t any parking available. Visitors to the medical center are using all of those spots currently, including the handicapping spots in the area from what we’ve observed. We will find a way to accommodate people who need handicapped parking. But you’ll never convince me that you’re taking parking away from residents here."

Neighborhood resident opposes decision

But city resident Regina DiPasqua, who lives close to the medical center and who spoke out against the new Prospect Avenue parking ban at the council meeting, disagrees with LoIacono’s assertions that the parking situation in her neighborhood will not be adversely affected.

"I live two blocks from the affected parking area, and they are expecting people to pay to park in the garage. That’s not going to happen," DiPasqua said. "Right now, they get two hours free in my neighborhood. Then, they haven’t made enough provisions for handicapped people. How could they do that?"

DiPasqua believes that the local parking situation will deteriorate further when the parking signs reflecting the new law go up within four to eight weeks.

"People will not be able to park, they’re not going to have any recourse, and they’re not going to be happy," she said. "People who can get handicapped spaces might possibly have some recourse if they can get such a space, but I don’t know where they are going to put them. For example, there is no place to park on Atlantic Street, right around the corner, because it’s not wide enough. What is the plan here?"

Developer’s agreement with HUMC surfaces again

Apparently, the plan to eliminate parking on Prospect Avenue between Atlantic and Essex streets was put into motion more than a year ago because of an agreement made between the Hackensack city government and HUMC.

A developer’s agreement signed between the City of Hackensack and the medical center in February 2008 specifically stipulates that "parking on Prospect Avenue shall be banned on the west side" of the street from its intersection with Essex Street to a point nearly "100 feet north of the intersection of Prospect Avenue and Atlantic Street."

The aforementioned 120 spaces in the hospital’s parking garage were provided to the city as designated public parking in the same agreement.

The February 2008 developer’s agreement between the city and the medical center proved to be a sore point in city politics most of last year.

The agreement allowed for a one-time, $1 million payment to be made by HUMC to the City of Hackensack in exchange for permission to build a new cancer center.

However, the agreement also mandated the transfer of the city’s daytime ambulance service from Hackensack Fire Department (HFD) command to a private service hired by the hospital, resulting in the firing of eight city emergency medical technicians (EMTs) who served under HFD command. Despite strong protests from the EMTs and their supporters, the EMTs were replaced by the beginning of this year.

DiPasqua admitted that this detail disturbed her.

"Did the government know that [the new parking ban] was part of the agreement, and they wouldn’t tell us? Or did they not know? Why didn’t they mention this?" said DiPasqua. "The developer’s agreement has affected many lives. The city has given away jobs. They’ve given away parking. How many other developer’s agreements are there that we don’t know about?"
"Who is running Hackensack?" asked DiPasqua. "Is it the hospital? Or is it the city government? It just makes you wonder."

But regardless of the contents of the developer’s agreement, City Manager LoIacono firmly believes that the new Prospect Ave. parking ban is a move worth making.

"This is a decision that is entirely based on safety and traffic," LoIacono said. "That’s all we’re talking about here. This move makes a lot of sense."

E-mail: bonamo@northjersey.com
« Last Edit: January 25, 2010, 01:11:36 PM by swapcatsr »

Offline Prospect Avenue Coalition

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Re: 24-story tower for Summit Avenue
« Reply #128 on: January 27, 2010, 09:11:45 AM »
#9619 ATTACHED IS A COPY OF THE TRANSCRIPT FROM DECEMBER 10 HACKENSACK SPECIAL ZONING BOARD MEETING.

Next Zoning Board Meeting on Tuesday, February 23rd at 7 pm



Offline bergen07601

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Re: 24-story tower for Summit Avenue
« Reply #129 on: February 05, 2010, 12:00:34 AM »
At the January 7, 2010 hearing, Birdsall's Frank Miskovich, City of Hackensack's expert, intended to question Pineles' expert, Keller, but was unable to due to time constraints.  Basralian requested Keller have the opportunity to respond to Miskovich's questions in writing. These are Miskovich's questions:

Offline Prospect Avenue Coalition

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Re: 24-story tower for Summit Avenue
« Reply #130 on: February 12, 2010, 03:33:15 PM »
#10380 ATTACHED IS A COPY OF THE TRANSCRIPT FROM THE JANUARY 7TH HACKENSACK ZONING BOARD MEETING.

PLEASE ATTEND THE TUESDAY FEBRUARY 23RD SPECIAL ZONING BOARD MEETING AT 7PM IN THE 3RD FLOOR AUDITORIUM OF CITY HALL 65 CENTRAL AVENUE.
« Last Edit: February 12, 2010, 03:39:24 PM by swapcatsr »

Offline bergen07601

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Re: 24-story tower for Summit Avenue
« Reply #131 on: February 14, 2010, 06:00:57 PM »
As the next Zoning Board Hearing meeting nears on Tuesday, February 23rd, we need to ensure increased attendance at the meeting.  Attendance at the last few meetings dwindled, which suggests that we, the community, have slackened in our opposition, are resigned and accepting of the inevitable. NOW is not the time to show defeat -- all our efforts to date for nothing. NOW is the time to show increased resistance and pressure, every word at the podium counts.  Please attend this meeting and encourage others to attend. We really need everyone's support. Please come and say NO to the LTACH.             
« Last Edit: February 15, 2010, 09:03:53 AM by bergen07601 »

Offline itsme

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Re: 24-story tower for Summit Avenue
« Reply #132 on: February 17, 2010, 11:13:37 PM »
I think that it is ridiculous that this town schedules Board of Ed meetings, and Zoning Board meetings on the same day.  There are also times when the City Council meeting and the Board of Ed fall on the same date.

Offline Prospect Avenue Coalition

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Re: 24-story tower for Summit Avenue
« Reply #133 on: February 21, 2010, 01:55:46 PM »
REMINDER - TUESDAY FEBRUARY 23RD AT 7PM
HACKENSACK SPECIAL ZONING BOARD MEETING
CITY HALL 65 CENTRAL AVENUE 3RD FLOOR AUDITORIUM

#10588 Please attend even if you can not arrive until later. We will most likely be there at least until 9 pm.


Offline Prospect Avenue Coalition

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Re: 24-story tower for Summit Avenue
« Reply #134 on: February 23, 2010, 10:36:02 PM »
#10661 Thanks to all of you who attended the Zoning Board Meeting tonight. The roads were pretty slushy slippery so I hope everyone got home safely.

SAVE THE DATE - THURSDAY APRIL 29TH AT 7 PM
HACKENSACK SPECIAL ZONING BOARD MEETING
CITY HALL 3RD FLOOR AUDITORIUM AT 65 CENTRAL AVENUE