2014.022

Scully, Sheilah & Tim Daly

Gift

Gift of Sheilah Scully & Tim Daly.

2012

Notes: http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2014/01/hoboken_loses_latest_battle_over_new_waterfront_condos_as_judge_approves_plans_for_11-story_towers.html ==== Kathryn Brenzel / NJ.com on January 24, 2014 at 12:41 PM, updated January 24, 2014 at 12:44 PM HOBOKEN — A state Superior Court Judge recently green-lighted a developer's controversial plans for two 11-story residential buildings on Hoboken's waterfront. Judge Nesle A. Rodriguez approved Ironstate Holdings' plan application on Thursday, finding that Hoboken had failed to hold a hearing on the plans within the "statutory time limit," according to the ruling. The city had opposed the project, called "Monarch at the Shipyard," because it changed a 1997 permit that required the developer to build tennis courts on the property instead. The city's planning board was supposed to hold a hearing on the developer's plans, but the meeting was postponed several times and ultimately, never held. The board denied the plans in July 2012 without ever holding the hearing, according to the ruling. Michael Barry, president of Ironstate, said that he was glad the judge recognized the city's attempt to "circumvent the legal process" when it came to the site plan application process. "We’re thankful that the court recognized the planning board’s failure to follow statutorily-required procedures,” he said in a statement. Mayor Dawn Zimmer, who has previously been vocal about her opposition to the project, said that the city plans to appeal Thursday's decision. “We are very disappointed with the Monarch decision and will be aggressively pursuing an appeal at the proper time,” Zimmer said in a statement. The decision follows a long, protracted fight over the property — located at Sinatra Drive and Shipyard Lane— both at city proceedings and in county court. Shipyard Associates LP, a unit of Ironstate, had originally agreed in 1997 to build three tennis courts and a tennis pavilion on the North Pier, in addition to the more than 1,000 Shipyard residences that now inhabit the area. But Shipyard changed its plans for the property in 2012, seeking instead to build two 11-story towers. The city objected to the change, and filed a lawsuit against the developer. The complaint was dismissed in June 2013. Shipyard filed a complaint against the city following the planning board's rejection of its plan application. The judge's decision also follows recent pushes by city officials to block waterfront development. In December, the city council approved an ordinance banning commercial and waterfront development on the city's piers. ==== ==== Status: OK Status By: dw Status Date: 2014-05-22