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Passaic council adopts Tolleson Avenue redevelopment plan, requires on-site parking where available
Summary
The Passaic City Council approved ordinance 25-01-25 to redevelop two rooming-house properties at 91–95 Tolleson Avenue into a 36-unit building with a 20%+ affordable set‑aside; councilors tightened parking language to require one on‑site parking space per unit if on‑site parking is available and made that condition part of planning‑board review.
The Passaic City Council on Nov. 10 adopted ordinance 25-01-25, a redevelopment plan for Blocks 3212, Lots 21 and 23 at 91–95 Tolleson Avenue that would demolish two existing rooming houses and allow a new, mixed-rate apartment building.
The redevelopment plan, described to the council by administration staff, calls for 36 units with ‘‘over 20%’’ set aside for affordable housing; administration staff said that figure corresponds to roughly 12 affordable units in the 36-unit proposal. The plan also includes standard parking and streetscape guidelines and identifies the site as in need of rehabilitation.
Council members focused discussion on parking. Councilman Monk said he worried that a developer could designate off-site spaces ‘‘500 feet away’’ and that tenants would not actually use them, calling a remote space ‘‘meaningless’’ if residents continue to park on streets. Business-administration staff (Mister Fernandez) said the redevelopment plan is intended to encourage developers to secure off-site agreements when necessary but that, to address the council's concern, the plan will be amended to read: at minimum, one parking space must be assigned to each unit at no additional cost and that space must be provided on-site if on-site parking is available.
Mister Fernandez also told the council the plan is designed to eliminate prohibited rooming-house uses from the zoning code and to convert those units to modern apartments with a material affordable component. He said the planning board will review detailed site plans, and that tax-abatement eligibility and community-development funding remain possible incentives for qualified applicants.
The council closed public comment, moved and seconded the ordinance and passed it unanimously on roll call. No individual mover or seconder was recorded on the transcript for the motion but the roll-call sequence recorded all council members voting yes.
The ordinance now goes to the planning board process under the council-approved redevelopment guideline; staff said they will provide the amended parking language in the materials the board will review.
