Community Grants and Planning, planning firm will prepare a redevelopment plan for Hightstown.
By: David Pescatore
HIGHTSTOWN The borough redevelopment plan is ready to enter its second stage, and Randall Gottesman is fired up.
"This is very exciting," said Mr. Gottesman, president of Community Grants and Planning, the East Windsor planning firm charged with preparing a Redevelopment Plan, working out the details of exactly what should be done where.
"We are open-minded right now," he said. "We will be working with the Planning Board, the mayor and council, and advisory committees. We also will encourage and elicit community input."
Mr. Gottesman said this phase of the process is much more open to the community than Phase One. He said that the first stage, determining need, was statute and fact-driven, where the planning phase "opens the door to significant use, density, and design options."
Mr. Gottesman said that at some point during the three-month planning phase, the public likely would be invited to a gathering, possibly on a Saturday morning, to discuss community design.
Community Grants and Planning performed the determination of need report for the borough in November. Mr. Gottesman said that that makes him "intimately familiar with the project."
CGP will be paid a maximum of $35,350 for the plan.
While still awaiting input from just about everybody in the town, Mr. Gottesman said he would like to see the former rug mill on Bank Street transformed into an "exciting, multiuse facility."
"I would like to see some high-end ratables there while keeping the overall look based on the surrounding community," he said.
Downtown, he said he would focus on parking and improving building facades and the overall streetscape.
But, for Mr. Gottesman, "redevelopment" doesn’t necessarily mean "modernization."
"Oh, no," he said. "I would like to keep and emphasize the historic qualities of the community."
As for the somewhat controversial South Academy Street section, Mr. Gottesman said, "There are no plans for any acquisitions."
Councilman Larry Quattrone said in December that he was worried about the South Academy Street part of the borough’s redevelopment study, saying it was the only land in the plan currently zoned for residential use. He said he was wary of the possible use of eminent domain by the borough to claim resident’s land.
"That is not why the area was named. It was selected for its vacant lots and boarded-up houses. I have had no discussions with the mayor or council regarding acquiring any family homes," he said.
In addition to the western side of South Academy Street, the determination of need identifies the southern side of Bank Street, from North Main to North Academy streets, and the eastern side of Mercer Street from West Ward Avenue to South Main Street as areas qualifying for redevelopment.
The block surrounded by Railroad Avenue, Rogers Avenue, Stockton Street, and North Main Street also is included, along with Borough Hall, the firehouse, and Peddie Bridge.
In addition to improving the target areas, Mr. Gottesman said the revitalization would have a trickle-down effect throughout the area.
"Anytime you have revitalization of a not-insignificant number of parcels, it absolutely spills over to the surrounding area. It stabilizes or improves property values. There are aesthetic benefits and security is improved."
The borough is looking to redevelop sections of the town within the next few years. That means blighted areas will be spruced up, parking spaces will be added to existing lots and housing will be renovated. The borough looked at properties that needed redevelopment in order to create a pedestrian-friendly town which would allow safe and easy access to public transportation, retail businesses and other services along Route 33.
Mr. Gottesman said that his role throughout the process would be that of facilitator.
"I explain what is allowed, explain your options," he said.
CGP was appointed to develop the plan during a closed-to-the-public session following the Jan. 20 Borough Council meeting. During that same session, Mr. Gottesman was named borough planner. There is no wage associated with the position, he said.
"Except for the redevelopment plan, I only would be called in to communicate complicated issues to the Planning Board," he said.