Passaic residents raise parking and competition concerns over proposed Braggs Park concession; city says NJ Transit vetting complete

Residents pressed the Passaic City Council on Oct. 22 over a proposed concession stand at Braggs Park, raising worries about parking, potential competition with nearby small businesses and whether other services such as a community refrigerator were considered. Business Administrator Rick Fernandez and the mayor said the site has been vetted, the project is funded through Urban Enterprise Zone (UAZ) dollars and the transit authority reviewed the plan.

Parker Jake Brown, a local resident and managing director of Brown Waters Productions, asked whether the concession stand’s products would overlap with nearby stores and whether parking accommodations had been considered. “I’m concerned about the concession and unintentionally compete with small business already serving the area,” Brown said. He also suggested alternatives such as a community refrigerator or pantry and requested that his questions be included in the meeting minutes.

Business Administrator Rick Fernandez said discussions had considered overlap with local businesses and that the design aims to be a “grab-and-go” operation rather than a full hot-food vendor. “In terms of concerns whether they compete with…