Highlands designates Scenic Highlands Owner LLC as conditional redeveloper for mobile-home-park site

The Borough of Highlands Mayor and Council voted to adopt Resolution R24-221, designating Scenic Highlands Owner LLC as the conditional redeveloper for tax block 10517, lot 1.1 in the mobile-home-park redevelopment area.

Mayor Carolyn Bran told the council the designation is an early procedural step, not a sale. "This is the very first step in the process," she said, adding that the company is a contract purchaser that has not yet bought the property. "Before the property is purchased there will be many public meetings," she said.

Under the designation, council members said, the redeveloper would open escrow accounts and fund legal, planning and professional-services costs so borough taxpayers would not bear those fees during the review and due-diligence period. Officials said the proposed work would conform to the borough's existing redevelopment plan and would not deviate from provisions already approved for the site.

Resident questions at the public portion prompted a short explanation of the redevelopment sequence: staff and the redeveloper will refine a site plan that must conform with the borough's redevelopment plan, the land-use board will hold a public hearing on that site plan, and a redeveloper agreement would follow if approvals are granted. Andy, a borough staff member, summarized that process for residents.

The resolution was moved and seconded and carried by voice vote. The council recorded affirmative votes during the voice roll-call and announced that the signed resolution and supporting materials will be posted on the borough website.

What happens next: councilors and staff said additional due diligence, notice and public hearings will follow as the redeveloper refines plans and moves from a contract-purchaser status toward a purchase and site-approval steps.