Council shown Woodbridge Avenue banner, bench and planter upgrades and new facade grant for nearby homes

Staff presented planned streetscape improvements for Woodbridge Avenue, including new banners coordinated with Main Street's design, replacement benches and receptacles, and a pilot swap from heavy concrete planters to fiberglass planters with watering reservoirs.

"We wanted Woodbridge to have its own vibe, but it would be nice for them to speak to each other," a staff presenter said, showing design proofs that adapt Main Street's welcome banners to the narrower pole dimensions along Woodbridge Avenue. Staff said county-owned poles and pole-height constraints limit banner dimensions and that manufacture and mounting details will be coordinated with the county and with PSE&G for brackets and clearances.

Staff said benches and receptacles have been purchased and mapped for installation. They will also replace the heavy concrete planters with fiberglass units that include a reservoir to reduce watering frequency; staff described the material as lighter and noted shipping cost advantages. "We're going to swap those out with new fiberglass ones...they actually have a watering reservoir," the presenter said, adding that the borough will track whether watering needs fall.

The Mixed-Use/Commercial committee (MPP) will continue to administer facade grants and is expanding a small residential facade grant in the district; staff said the residential grants are modest and cited $5,000 as an example amount for porch or step repairs. Staff noted the grant area covers Woodbridge and the immediate blocks behind it, not the entire borough.

Staff said the banner work, new planters and benches are near-term efforts and that placement, margins for grommets and manufacturer specifications will be finalized before ordering. No formal council vote was taken; staff said they would coordinate final placements, vendor selection and long-term maintenance planning with Main Street and the parks/DPW departments.