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Residents press Newark council for oversight after planning-board hearings on Iberia redevelopment
Summary
At the Dec. 2 pre-meeting residents and advocates urged the municipal council to investigate transparency and participation concerns at the central planning board related to the Iberia redevelopment; administration said a new planning-board chair, Alana Miles, has been appointed and staff will verify processes and post clarifications.
Residents told the Newark Municipal Council on Dec. 2 that they have limited meaningful opportunity to question developers at central planning board hearings and asked the council to provide additional oversight of land-use proceedings.
John Goldstein, a member of Homes for All Newark, described the group’s concerns with the handling of the Iberia redevelopment. He said documents were not posted far enough in advance for residents to prepare questions, that attendees were denied time to examine witnesses and ask substantive questions, and that the only recourse for residents has been legal challenges (he noted the case was remanded to the planning board with a hearing scheduled for Dec. 8). Goldstein asked the council to ensure the planning process is transparent and accessible “as was intended in the state statute.”
Council members raised related concerns during the meeting about zoning changes that shifted some development reviews to the central planning board rather than the board of adjustments. Councilman Ramos and others asked city economic-development staff to analyze how many more applications are now being heard by the central planning board because of changes in the city zoning ordinance.
Allison Ladd, director of economic and housing development, responded to the concerns by outlining recent changes the administration has pursued to increase affordability and resident access: she cited amendments to the zoning and land-use ordinance that require on-site affordable housing or an in-lieu payment (described as $180,000 per unit), a "first dibs" policy that has directed roughly 82% of available units to Newark residents on recent projects, rent-control changes that now include one- to four-unit buildings, expanded allowance for accessory dwelling units, and the appointment of Alana Miles as the new chair of the central planning board to help improve community participation.
No formal oversight vote occurred at the pre-meeting; council members requested additional analysis from economic-development staff and asked that the administration follow up in writing.
