Teaneck Blog

Casting a wary eye on Teaneck politics and municipal affairs

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Holding down the Fort

Today's Teaneck headlines are dominated by Michael Gallucci. Two Michael Galluccis, actually. While the story of former Councilman Gallucci's lawsuit against NJ.com is likely to draw more interest for its gossip value, another Michael Gallucci, that of Bergen Developers LLC, is making the real news with the withdrawal of his proposal for a 14-unit condo complex on Fort Lee Road.

The developer was still in need of a number of variances from the Zoning Board of Adjustment to proceed. It now appears that the cumulative weight of complaints from neighbors, unresolved questions about overbuilding and taxing the area's infrastructure, and the fallout from a controversial bit of interference on behalf of the project from County Executive Dennis McNerney have combined to scuttle the project.


Is this a resounding reaffirmation of the sanctity of Teaneck's residential neighborhoods? A feather in the cap of the Teaneck CCP that lobbied against the proposed project? Will this serve as a warning to other would-be builders of large scale residential projects that Teaneck is not interested in that kind of development?

Perhaps not. It is quite likely that the residents of Fort Lee Road who would have been harmed by this project have the faltering housing market to thank for putting the final nail in the coffin of this project. While it might have seemed like a grand slam back when it was first conceived a few years ago, in today's market, it probably looks a lot less favorable from an economic perspective.

The timing of this shift in sentiment might be a good thing for Teaneck. To have our own development push coincide with a weaker residential market and a relatively more robust market for commercial real estate might help steer developers toward projects that do not bring more children into the schools or bring added congestion our local roads. Those are the type of ratables Teaneck needs.

31 Comments:

At 4:13 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Fort Lee Road should be designated a Redevelopment Zone, most of that street needs alot of help. Those that fought the Bergen project were right. The whole street should be done, not just the one small parcel. "Cleaning Up The Fort"****************************************************************************************************

 
At 5:04 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

The Bergen Developers Project was poorly conceived and designed. It was a project that took advantage of a neighborhood that Teaneck has ignored for decades.

 
At 5:11 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sounds like the previous poster prefers to have Fort Lee Rd and the rest of town continue to be ignored longer.
Open your minds, drive around. No matter what your position, you can't help but notice how rundown many areas appear.

 
At 5:19 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sounds like the previous poster prefers to have Fort Lee Rd and the rest of town continue to be ignored longer.
Open your minds, drive around. No matter what your position, you can't help but notice how rundown many areas appear.


The reason why Fort Lee Road and other parts of town appear rundown is because of the type of development that Bergen Developers had proposed. No one in their right mind would find that project an improvement because it never faced the street and required over 18 variances. What did Bergen Developers ever build anyway?

 
At 5:51 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

BRENNAN FOR MANAGER

 
At 5:51 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

BRENNAN FOR MAYOR

 
At 5:51 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

BRENNAN FOR TOWNSHIP ATTORNEY

 
At 6:14 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I AGREE, BUT NOT HERE

 
At 6:38 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

"another Michael Gallucci, that of Bergen Developers LLC, is making the real news with the withdrawal of his proposal for a 14-unit condo complex on Fort Lee Road."

This project was never planned for Fort Lee Road,it was planned behind all ready existing buildings on Fort Lee Road and Henry Street.

 
At 6:38 PM, Blogger Tom Abbott said...

From Election campaign literature:

Fight Overdevelopment:
Gonzalez, Gussen, and Rudolph will oppose new residential developments that ruin Teaneck's small town character while increasing property taxes and leading to overcrowding in our schools.

 
At 7:09 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

That low life gallucci is just that A LOW LIFE. He made his bed. He should stay out of Teaneck for his own good.

Low life Loser. DROP DEAD

 
At 9:54 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I LIKE THE GUY. HE MADE A BAD DECISION BUT HE DID NOT KILL ANY ONE. GIVE THE GUY A BREAK. BEST WISHS TO MIKE AND FAMILY.
P.S. the posting with the big mouth...at the end of the day..you are the loser.

 
At 9:54 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I LIKE THE GUY. HE MADE A BAD DECISION BUT HE DID NOT KILL ANY ONE. GIVE THE GUY A BREAK. BEST WISHS TO MIKE AND FAMILY.
P.S. the posting with the big mouth...at the end of the day..you are the loser.

 
At 9:55 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

How come you find fault with the Fort Lee Road project, but keep mum about the bigger scandal that our Mayor is about to pull off. His is the only property in Town which the Birdsall Report specifically recommends be rezoned for 5 storey buildings. Do you think that recommendation was not a payoff?
How come you're not calling for an investigation of the Mayor instead of fulminating about a chicken feed 14 unit development that Teaneck's finest paranoids, the TCCP crowd, are up in arms about? Are you part of the cabal?

 
At 10:45 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

IF YOU AND YOUR GROUP OF OLD FOLKS WOULD TURN UP YOUR HEARING AIDS AND LISTEN TO THE REASONING FOR THE VARIOUS CHANGES PROPOSED TO THE MASTER PLAN INSTEAD OF TALKING SO RUDELY THRU THE MEETINGS YOU WOULD STOP WITH THE LIBEL AND SLANDER TOWARD OUR DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANTS. Hire A Real Lawyer Or Stop With The Fiction.

 
At 10:59 PM, Blogger TFD FF said...

You like the guy,well thats your problem. Anyone that would stoop so low as to use dead children to attack someone else is f***ed up.

What this guy did was dispicable and immature.

He should rot in hell.

 
At 8:08 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Tom, That campaign lit doesn't count anymore the election is over,
they won by a huge landslide and besides the county Dem Pac that paid for it made a printing error. It should have read. G, G, R, will propose new developments that will ruin Teaneck's small town character while increasing property taxes and lead to overcrowding in our schools.

 
At 11:01 AM, Blogger Teaneck Blog said...

How come you find fault with the Fort Lee Road project, but keep mum about the bigger scandal that our Mayor is about to pull off. His is the only property in Town which the Birdsall Report specifically recommends be rezoned for 5 storey buildings. Do you think that recommendation was not a payoff?
How come you're not calling for an investigation of the Mayor instead of fulminating about a chicken feed 14 unit development that Teaneck's finest paranoids, the TCCP crowd, are up in arms about? Are you part of the cabal?


I am not sure if these remarks are directed to me. Even if they are not, they raise an interesting enough point that I'd like to comment on them.

Is the Mayor putting one over on the people of Teaneck by rigging the Master Plan revisions to raise the value of his extensive property holdings in the Plaza area? It's a fair question. Certainly, the Mayor has the ability to influence the outcome of the Planning Board's deliberations, both directly as a member of the Planning Board and indirectly through the power to help appoint other members. Did he exert undue influence on matters impacting his personal interests in this case? I do not know. He has not recused himself from the debate, as far as I know, which could raise some eyebrows.

However, there is another obvious explanation for why the 55 foot building height recommendation exists for the Plaza area and no other, which is that it is the only area that could sustain such development without ruining the character of an existing residential area. Furthermore, the re would presumably be another beneficiary of any move to loosen building restrictions in the Plaza area other than the property owners , i.e. the Township's tax base. The Plaza area, by virtue of its location near one of Teaneck's industrial areas, the train tracks, Votee Park, and a number of multi-story apartment buildings, is best suited for the type of development that could make some incremental reduction in the homeowner tax burden. I would bet that this is what motivated Myor Katz to buy the buildings in that area in the first place.

The political winds have blown in the direction of making that investment pay off. Is it a little worrisome that Mayor Katz has played an active role in helping that process along? Yes, I have to admit it is. But does changing the Master Plan for the Plaza area in the way being proposed make sense on its own as a good thing for Teaneck? I think it does.

 
At 11:56 AM, Blogger esther said...

Why not permit a 5 story height limit along Cedar Lane as well? Isn't Cedar Lane the town's primary retail district?

 
At 11:59 AM, Blogger Teaneck Blog said...

Because it would irritate you and your neighbors, no?

 
At 2:37 PM, Blogger esther said...

There's already a five+ story multifamily building on Alma Terrace, directly behind Cedar Lane.

 
At 3:21 PM, Blogger Teaneck Blog said...

Do you want more? If so, I am sure the Planning Board would be happy to oblige. For that, I am sure they would file for an extension!

 
At 9:47 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

How about taking the "air rights" over the railroad tracks via eminent domain and auctioning off the newly acquired "property" to office developers? It would quiet the trains, allow the diesel exhaust to be filtered, provide an indoor train station (eventually their will be a passenger train on those tracks) and bring in positive ratables. Residential ratables are a negative and raise everyone's taxes. Office buildings don't send kids to school and are responsible for everything except police and fire protection - they are empty at night.

As for Gallucci's last friend, the one who says "he didn't kill anybody", if that's your only criteria for liking someone we must be long lost pals.


It sounded more like another vicious and demented insult than a criteria for liking someone.

I don't have to worry about being brought up on charges or losing my job anymore, why don't you come accuse me of killing to my face, I'll beat you so hard you'll wish you were dead.

My name is Bill Brennan and I don't care what you think of me, you are a piece of shit.

 
At 7:29 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

TeaneckBlog please monitor your bloggers' comments. Perhaps the threatening comments need to be sent to the County Prosecutors Office.

 
At 11:01 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

The folks with no control over their CAPITALS need to go!

 
At 12:45 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

As usual a little Gallucci brings out the best in everyone!

 
At 9:06 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

It's not Gallucci my friend.

 
At 9:45 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Gallucci never mentioned children in his posts, he merely stated (correctly) that 4 people perished in a fire - it was the other "sickos" who first raised it, trying to make it shock value.

 
At 10:31 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Don't even go there. Whatever words he used, they were bad enough -- a "low blow" against people who already felt horrible. It does no good for anyone to go and rehash that. The content of what he wrote is not the issue at hand.

 
At 8:15 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

The prosecutor doesn't scare me either, he's equally on notice. Dear john Molinelli: accuse me of being responsible for the death of children and I'll beat you so hard you'll wish you were dead.

Now you can send him an update on my internet activity.

Bill Brennan Fireman, First Grade (retired)

On a positive note, any interest in the air rights over the railroad tracks? Seems office buildings, parks and positive tax ratables would be better than noisy railroad tracks. Teaneck is in a unique position with te tracks being "depressed". Palisade Ave is already a few stories higher than the tracks at Cedra Lane.

 
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