Bayonne council advances broad redevelopment slate amid residents' affordability and transparency concerns

Bayonne City Council on Wednesday moved forward a large package of redevelopment plans and related financial agreements, drawing sustained public comment about affordability, transparency and the cumulative burden on local infrastructure.

The meeting opened with a public hearing on an ordinance to adopt a redevelopment plan for 626–628 Avenue E (Block 405, Lot 31). Janice Mattis, who said she had brought a lawsuit that blocked an earlier version of proposals for the site, told the council a judge rejected the prior plan and asked whether the council would override that decision. The developer’s representative, who identified himself as Michael Messelli and said he represented the property owner, described the proposal as a five‑story, 55‑foot building allowed by the transit‑oriented TDD zoning and said the project would include a community‑benefit payment that could be used to improve the nearby park.

“Now we—re turning it into residential. It—s more consonant with the neighborhood than that use,” Messelli said, adding that the redevelopment plan fixes setbacks and limits roof bulkheads that current zoning does not control.

Residents…