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« on: January 22, 2011, 12:23:35 PM »
It's in The Record today:
Update: Hospital parking study debated
Saturday, January 22, 2011
The Record
What's new: A traffic expert was cross-examined during a Hackensack zoning board hearing this week on a proposal to bring a 19-story acute care hospital to Prospect Avenue. Eric Keller, of Omland Engineering Associates, said that his parking study shows that the proposed facility would only need 417 parking spaces, as opposed to the 562 required under city ordinances. He also testified that a survey of employees at Prospect Heights, a nursing home across the street from where the acute care hospital is proposed, found that many of them were driven to work and didn't need to park a car on the site. He said he included the survey results as part of his report.
Keller was questioned by Theodore Moskowitz, an attorney representing himself and residents opposing the proposal. Moskowitz asked Keller why he didn't find out as part of the survey if employees were full time, part time or per diem, and how that would affect the traffic in the area.
Keller also answered questions posed to him by Christos Diktas, who represents another resident. More than 50 city residents attended the meeting, some who also disputed the findings in his report. "If your estimated numbers are wrong, what would happen to the overflow of people?'' asked Alexis Palinkas. But Keller said an increased number of employees will still not change his findings.
Board of Adjustment attorney Richard Malagiere also requested that Keller submit all the notes he used to form his report. Joseph Basralian, the attorney for the applicant, objected to the request, saying that he would fight it in court.
Background: The zoning board has been holding a hearing on the Bergen Passaic Long Term Acute Care Hospital since 2009. The plans call for the developer to demolish two-story homes on Prospect and Summit avenues to make room for the acute care hospital. The hospital would be built on 1.15 acres that extend from Prospect to Summit, with the building being constructed on the Prospect Avenue side, and a landscaped circular driveway on the Summit side, according to testimony. A five-deck underground parking garage would also be on the Summit side of the project.
According to testimony, the building would have 10 floors of patient rooms, a dialysis center with 63 stations and an adult medical day-care center for up to 180 people.
The proposal led neighbors in nearby high-rises and homes along Summit Avenue to form The Prospect Avenue Coalition to fight the plan and hire an attorney. Opponents of the project say it will bring increased traffic to the already congested area of the city and would harm property values.
What's next: Attorney Diktas, who represents a local resident, will bring his own expert to the next meeting. He said Stan Lacz will provide testimony as an architect, professional engineer and professional planner. The next meeting is scheduled for March 3.
— Monsy Alvarado
Reader Comments (1)
1. Saturday January 22, 2011, 8:05 AM - John C.Holmes says:
That area is f***ed...Planes,ambulances and fire engines go 24/7. To top it off,building collapses...No thanks.
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