Birdsall view: the report in context

The Birdsall Engineering report on development opportunities in Teaneck did not break a lot of new ground. In pointing out in writing what laymen have concluded through common sense, the true value of the report does not lie in its content, but rather in its ability to serve as a general guideline and provide political cover for the steps needed to stir Teaneck from its economic torpor. At $80,000 plus, that may not be a bargain, but we could yet get our money's worth.

The recommendations of this report will not remake the landscape of Teaneck. Nor will they do the heavy lifting required to shift the homeowner tax burden. They do not even provide the Council a step-by-step guide to redeveloping Teaneck's commercial and industrial zones so as to maximize their value to the Township and its tax base. But anyone who had hoped that a report could do any of these was dreaming.

What Teaneck's taxpayers and their elected representatives got for their money is a reference document that ought to give them the confidence to move forward and remake Teaneck's regulations and zoning to accomodate the new realities of the local and regional economy. It's hard to believe that it takes a consulting study to make people realize it, but the days of Teaneck as the home of light industry are long past. Everybody realizes that there is plenty of unexploited potential in all of Teaneck's commercial districts, and that a little rebuilding could go a long way toward revitalizing them. We did not really need to pay someone to tell us that Teaneck Rd. could do with some pedestrian safety improvements and better code enforcement.

However, the reality is that it is a lot easier to marshal the resources necessary to make these changes with this kick in the pants from development professionals (think of them as personal trainers for an out of shape township that wants to get fit). The next steps seem clear. Teaneck's leadership ought to make the changes necessary to attract private investment into the Township in a non-threatening way. While the market to must be allowed to determine the priorities, it is quite clear that neighborhood concerns still predominate in Teaneck, and priority should be given to reinvigorating existing business zones before paving over parks.

Next stop: Penn Station?! One of the many recommendations