By Audrey Levine, Staff Writer
Residents see giving people a reason to ‘stop and shop’ as key to revitalization
Giving people a reason “to stop and shop” in Manville topped the discussion during the borough’s first of two Visioning Workshops on Feb. 17.
The workshop was planned as the borough moves forward with the state-mandated Plan Endorsement Process to regain a Town Center designation. The designation will help the borough receive state grants.
”We need to look at the town as a whole,” Councilman Ed Komoroski said. “We have to offer something for people to stop for.”
The Visioning Workshop was held to allow residents to express their opinions about the community as a whole, and discuss what changes can be made to improve its future for the next 20 years.
”The purpose is to hear from residents, what they like, don’t like and want to see changed,” said Jamie Sunyak, site planner with appointed borough planner CMX Engineering. “The goal is to establish items, time frames and parties responsible to figure out what we need to do.”
This planning process, Ms. Sunyak said, considers sustainable growth, while recognizing fiscal constraints, housing needs and protection of resources. She said the borough should be looking at land use, housing, economic development, transportation, historic preservation, recreation and redevelopment, among other areas.
Aside from the concerns that the Rustic Mall site has not yet been developed, the about 20 residents and business owners at the workshop focused on revitalizing the town to attract more people and better the borough’s economy, especially along the increasingly traffic-heavy Main Street.
”Main Street is a boon and a blessing,” Borough Administrator Gary Garwacke said. “Without the traffic, no one sees the businesses.”
Oscar Gonzalez, owner of Discount Mattress and Furniture on South Main Street, said it might be beneficial to the town to have more medical facilities, restaurants or some light industry to offer more opportunities to residents and visitors.
To do this, several residents said, would take some changes being made to Main Street itself, particularly by solving the issue of parking that has plagued the businesses since spaces were eliminated by the county in July 2007 because of a state statute that prohibits parking across from an intersection.
Several residents suggested opening small lots along Main Street, or purchasing land to dedicate solely to parking.
”The biggest lot that is never used is at the (Sacred Heart) Church,” Mr. Garwacke said. “It seems like it cries out for something.”
Mr. Gonzalez said they have to look into a way of marketing Manville to attract more customers to Main Street and other businesses around town.
”We have to take an inventory of what’s available,” he said. “We have to market Manville like any other (product). “
For Mr. Komoroski, continuing with façade improvements, improving pedestrian walkways and other means of changing the appearance of Main Street especially could be beneficial when trying to attract more customers, while another resident said it is important to update the appearance of the buildings to compare with nearby towns.
Cleanliness of Main Street has also been an issue for businesses, as Mr. Gonzalez said he always finds trash and dirt in front of his store.
”Maybe the county could send out the sweepers,” he said. “That is the complaint I always get from out-of-towners.”
In terms of bringing local residents to the shops in Manville, Mr. Komoroski suggested the possibility of a local bus service that could bring people from different areas of town to Main Street.
The only issue with this kind of service, Mr. Garwacke said, is the cost that would be required to pay employee salaries and benefits, among other prices.
”I have seen this service work, but the amount of employees needed would be a stumbling block,” he said. “The county has expanded its bus service to make more stops more frequently.”
Still, Mr. Komoroski said, this does not account for residents in Little Weston or other small sections of town.
”Maybe this would be an opportunity for shared services with other municipalities,” Ms. Sunyak said.
In discussing recreation opportunities for children, Michele Chwiedosiuk, of the European Deli on South Main Street, recommended the borough look into building a community center for families. She said it could have a pool, some exercise equipment and other opportunities for year-round activities.
According to Mr. Garwacke, the borough already has about $1 million set aside to build a community center on the Rustic Mall site.
As for safety, both on Main Street and in the residential areas, Maria Auletta, who owns a family medical practice on South Main Street, recommended the addition of more lights throughout the town.
”It is very dark at night, and I think it’s a safety issue,” she said.
Mr. Garwacke said the borough can look into this, but the town has to pay about $150 for each street light.
The borough was designated a Town Center in June 2000, which allows it to receive assistance from state agencies, and apply for grants and other funding programs. In 2008, the designation was scheduled to expire, but the borough petitioned the New Jersey Office of Smart Growth (OSG) to be allowed to go through the Plan Endorsement process again to reaffirm its designation by 2010.
As the borough begins the Visioning Workshop process, Ms. Sunyak said it has already submitted a municipal self-assessment. This entire process is being funded by a $20,000 Plan Endorsement grant from the county.
Barry Ableman, principal area planner for the OSG, said Manville is a town that is very developed, and this Plan Endorsement process will assist in creating more commercial business development.
The only change, Mr. Ableman said, is that with the extension for the Plan Endorsement process, the state Legislature has determined that any environmentally constrained areas cannot be included in the center.
”The Board of Public Utilities has tried to discourage the borough from developing there,” he said.
According to Mr. Garwacke, this should not affect Manville, as the only environmentally constrained areas are near the Millstone River, where the borough has no intention of building. At this point, he said, basically the entire town is eligible for the Town Center designation.
Overall, despite the rehashing of current problems with the Rustic Mall and the lack of parking on Main Street, those in attendance agreed Manville needs to nurture its business district and increase opportunities for economic growth.
”We have to entice people to stop and walk around,” Mr. Komoroski said.
The second Visioning Workshop has not yet been scheduled.

