The Pompton Lakes Redevelopment Agency voted to approve a resolution in substantially the form presented for the Pump and Smith property at 201 Wanakieu Avenue after a discussion of contingencies and approvals required before the project can proceed.

The action passed on a roll call with four members recorded voting yes; one member abstained. Agency Chair Andy Brewer described the core contingencies that must be resolved before construction or final approvals can move forward.

Brewer summarized the outstanding conditions: the developer must secure parking access (either an easement across adjacent property or a purchase of municipal parking permits/spaces), obtain a redevelopment-plan amendment to address setbacks and other plan items, and execute a financial agreement. "They have several contingencies," Brewer said. "One, they're going to need access ... so it's either going to be an easement to get across the [parcel] somehow so they can park underneath, or they're going to need to get ... parking contracts from the nearest provider." He added that the redevelopment-plan amendments have been discussed with Kristen Russell and will be drafted as an ordinance if necessary.

Agency staff described a modest fee schedule in the draft agreement: a $10,000 total deposit to the agency split into two payments ("$5,000, 30 days after this agreement is signed and $5,000 when the redevelopment plan amendment"), and noted an approximate per-unit processing figure used historically for similar projects. Brewer also said the developer must satisfy the borough's affordable-housing obligation "which is at a minimum 4 actual units and a 180,000," subject to written approval from the borough's affordable-housing consultant.

Board members pressed on parking and traffic details. Agency members noted the redevelopment agency cannot approve an easement across borough-owned land or municipal parking allocations; that determination must be made by the borough governing body or administration. Brewer said the applicant will present the easement or a request to the borough council; if the council denies an easement, the applicant could instead attempt to purchase municipal parking spaces, but no negotiations on that alternative had occurred between the applicant and borough administration at the time of the meeting.

The agency approved the resolution as presented, with the board recording four yes votes and one abstention. Agency members said the approval indicates the agency is willing to move forward if the contingencies are satisfied, but the agency cannot bind the borough council or administration to approve easements or sell municipal parking.

The agency and the applicant plan further coordination with borough officials; the applicant was expected to present related items to the borough council in the near term.