Plainfield council adopts C-PACE, Myrtle Avenue and other redevelopment ordinances; several measures pass with roll-call votes

The Plainfield City Council on a series of roll-call votes adopted ordinances to enable commercial clean-energy financing, advance redevelopment plans on Myrtle Avenue and TODD South, and approve a tax-exemption/financial agreement for properties on West Front Street.

The measures taken on second reading and final passage included: an ordinance to participate in the Garden State Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) program (MC2025-08); adoption of the Myrtle Avenue redevelopment plan (MC2025-09); a financial agreement and municipal tax-exemption for property on West Front Street identified on the tax map as Block 218, Lots 23–27 (MC2025-10); and an amendment to the TODD South redevelopment plan (MC2025-11). The council also approved an ordinance establishing vendor fees for the Lenny Cathcart House Music Festival (MC2025-12).

Why it matters: the C-PACE ordinance creates a local mechanism for property owners to finance energy efficiency and resiliency upgrades through long-term assessments tied to property tax bills. The redevelopment and tax-exemption votes clear the way for private development projects and financial agreements that affect downtown land use, affordable housing calculations and future tax revenues.

What the council did and how it voted

- MC2025-08 (C-PACE): After a published public hearing, the council adopted the ordinance on second reading by unanimous roll-call vote. The clerk certified public-notice publication in the Courier News on 02/14/2025 prior to the hearing.

- MC2025-09 (Myrtle Avenue redevelopment plan): The ordinance was adopted on second reading following a public hearing; the roll call returned five votes in favor and two opposed. The clerk certified the public notice publication in the Courier News on 02/14/2025.

- MC2025-10 (Tax exemption and financial agreement for Block 218/West Front Street): Adopted on second reading after a public hearing. The council recorded a roll-call vote in which the ordinance passed (published notice: Courier News, 02/14/2025). During the meeting one council member sought clarification about affordable-unit rents and called for procedural clarity; the chair noted the vote followed the required public-notice process.

- MC2025-11 (TODD South redevelopment plan amendment): Adopted on second reading by unanimous roll-call vote. The ordinance amends the TODD South redevelopment plan to add land and to allow uses that include recreation and arts/culture space.

- MC2025-12 (Lenny Cathcart House Music Festival vendor fees): Adopted on second reading after a public hearing. The vote was closer than other items, with the clerk announcing a 4–3 result (four in favor, three opposed).

Public participation and process notes: Each ordinance listed was subject to the public-notice and hearing procedures stated in the meeting: publication in the Courier News (dates cited on the record) and an opportunity for public comment at the meeting. For items that required planning-board review or further administrative steps (such as redevelopment plan implementation or financial-agreement execution), city staff said the usual planning and closing processes remain in place.

Next steps: For adopted redevelopment ordinances, staff indicated planning-board reviews, closing steps and any required financial-agreement execution will follow. For the vendor-fee ordinance, the city will apply the new fee schedule at the next festival cycle.

Votes at a glance (selected ordinances adopted tonight)

- MC2025-08 (C-PACE financing ordinance): Adopted on second reading; roll-call unanimous (public notice: Courier News 02/14/2025). - MC2025-09 (Myrtle Avenue redevelopment plan): Adopted on second reading; roll-call 5 in favor, 2 opposed (notice: Courier News 02/14/2025). - MC2025-10 (Tax exemption/financial agreement, Block 218/West Front Street): Adopted on second reading; roll-call outcome recorded (notice: Courier News 02/14/2025). - MC2025-11 (TODD South redevelopment plan amendment): Adopted on second reading; roll-call unanimous (notice: Courier News 02/14/2025). - MC2025-12 (Lenny Cathcart vendor-fee schedule): Adopted on second reading; roll-call 4 in favor, 3 opposed (notice: Courier News 02/14/2025).

The meeting record shows the ordinances were certified for public hearing and subsequently adopted in the voting portion of the session. Where additional administrative or planning steps apply (financial-agreement execution, planning-board approvals, required parking calculations under redevelopment plans), staff said those steps remain outstanding and will be handled per standard procedures.