A developer planning to build six attached homes in an historically Black neighborhood of Montclair failed on Wednesday to gain the government approvals necessary for the project.
The Zoning Board of Adjustment denied Montclair Sky BNC LLC’s application to build on one acre at 400 Orange Road. The site is the location of the now-shuttered Wallwood Gardens nursery, which is in a neighborhood zoned for single-family homes.
“They made the right decision,” Janet Hubert, a close neighbor to the property who has led the charge against the development, told Montclair Local following the decision. “They listened to us. And they heard us, whereas the applicant did not – did not want to listen, did not want to hear and just wanted to make money.”
Outside of local politics, Hubert, 68, is known for her acting career, which included a role as Aunt Viv in “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” She moved to her home in Montclair’s South End more than 20 years ago.
The board voted 7-0 vote during a nearly five-hour-long meeting at which members of the board and the public discussed the historical significance of the neighborhood where many African American families purchased their first homes.
‘Out of Character’
Key in his decision, Chairman William Harrison said, was the appearance of the structures.
“The buildings are out of character with the neighborhood,” Harrison said. “That is an important factor in determining whether it is going to the public good. They are somewhat improved over what was initially proposed, which looked like they dropped down from outer space into the neighborhood.”
While hashing out the legalities of local zoning rules, residents discussed the history and economics of the South End and the more specific neighborhood next to Rosedale Cemetery and close to the city of Orange.
Great Migration
Board member Jamena Grant referenced the Great Migration, the largest movement of African American people out of the southern states during the 1900s. It was a consequence of racial violence and the oppression of Jim Crow.
“Here in Montclair, the South End was a recipient of many people who traveled on the Great Migration,” Grant said. “That fabric is still there today. And I say that to say that when a variance is approved, it starts to change the fabric.”
Residents’ desire to maintain their single-family neighborhood should be considered, she said.
In response, Matt Flynn, a planner for the applicant, said that if the developer cut the number of units to four, then the town’s law would not require Montclair Sky BNC to include any affordable units. The plan called for one affordable unit.
“If the concern is affordability, then I think this is the best project we can provide for this property,” Flynn said. “If the concern is the aesthetic of the development … you have to look at the history of this property being a garden center that’s been vacant.”
‘Smoke and Mirrors’
In Essex County, white families are much more likely than Black families to be homeowners, according to a recent report by the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice. The report found that over 68% of white families own homes as compared to 28% of Black families.
William Scott, a Montclair Housing commissioner, said developments on Orange Road have led to triple the density there and higher prices. The new construction includes four townhouses at 360 Orange Road that offer average rents of $5,000 a month, he said.
“When we talk about affordable housing, that one unit is really smoke and mirrors,” Scott said. “Don’t use affordable housing as a marketing strategy when you come into Montclair.”
Email reporter Matt Kadosh at matt@montclairlocal.news
400 Orange Road:
This is an excellent outcome and Bill Harrison is a perfect example of how Montclair should be leveraging the skills and expertise of our own residents willing to put in volunteer hours to achieve the best outcome for our community rather than retaining out of town vendors to provide politically motivated opinions on Montclair issues.
Good call by the ZBA…
Multiple issue conflicts here. For valuations. Impacting neighborhood/ community feel, aesthetics and economics. A real win would have been another landscape business. With continued open space…some tax revenue and reasonable aesthetics. But that’s not to be….
Single-family homes, which use to be on the site, will of course add more kids into the schools. Likely a net-net tax loss. However, the proposed Townhouse aesthetics, even if if less kids, would further change the neighborhood feeling. Negatively. As asserted.
The place for townhouses could have been by the Church across from the Library. Which would have slipped in more aesthetically than the two cheapo single-family homes there now. Based on the original design proposed. That’s after the Church was allowed to sell off a piece of their land to do urgently needed capital repairs.
But the ZBA held firm to the zoning ‘use’ there too…after the Planning Board allowed a land sale split. Which was either single, or two family zoning on that block. Can’t remember. The Zoning Board didn’t allow these two proposed townhouses there either.
https://montclairlocal.news/2017/09/montclairs-plofker-seeks-to-build-townhouses-by-first-congregational/
Ground-breaking decision (no pun intended). What can be built and what should be built in a community with that history is a tough call but a message has been sent.
And by the way she was a much better Aunt Viv and a shame she got eased out.
It seems like the discussion was more about race politics and less about architecture. I wish there was a way to go about reusing the property in a less contentious manner.
On my way out so no time to get into the details, but I absolutely admire Mr. Harrison. He is an icon. My friends can laugh at me all they want, but I actually watched the last zoning board meeting! This is good government at work. And Mr. Harrison is at the head of it. Hats off!
I know this will sound very stupid but I will ask nonetheless. Why shouldn’t Mr. Harrison be the town attorney? Land use law is a big chunk of the job, as I understand. In fact, the town atty before Mr. Karasick was Alan Trembulak who specializes in land use law.
Thoughts?
Mr. Harrison, please forgive me for trying to redirect the trajectory of your life/retirement. I see you are with Genova Burns at the moment.
I say, retire from Genova and go with the town. You have the capacity to fix things.