The Place for Jersey City News
Log In / Register
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
Jersey City Times
  • News
  • Food and Fun
    • Food And Drink
    • Performing Arts
    • Visual Arts
    • Other Fun Stuff
  • Education
  • Business
  • Neighborhoods
    • Downtown
      • News
      • Guide
    • Heights
      • News
      • Guide
    • Journal Square
      • News
      • Guide
    • Bergen Lafayette
      • News
      • Guide
    • Greenville
      • News
      • Guide
    • Westside
      • News
      • Guide
  • Opinion
  • Columns
    • Eye Level
    • Mamarama
  • Obituaries
  • Event Calendar
  • Support our Mission
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
City Council Tackles Inclusionary Zoning, Severance Pay, and Bayfront Financing

City Council Tackles Inclusionary Zoning, Severance Pay, and Bayfront Financing

Elizabeth Morrill
November 30, 2021/in header, Latest News, Narrate, News
by Elizabeth Morrill

At Monday’s meeting, the City Council introduced an amended inclusionary zoning ordinance, approved a $10 million bond issue to pay severance for the layoff and retirement of city employees, and tabled an ordinance to move the $170 Million Bayfront Redevelopment Bond to the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency.

Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance Amended After Being Struck Down by Courts

The council voted 8–0 to introduce an amended Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance that, if passed, would require developers of residential housing projects with a minimum of 15 units to set aside 10 to 20 percent of the units as “affordable.” The percentage would vary depending on two factors: the median household income in the development’s area and whether or not the developer had received any tax abatements or credits for the project.

Outgoing Councilman-at-large Rolando Lavarro, who has long called for tougher such requirements, abstained from the vote.

The previous ordinance of 2019, which Lavarro and Councilman James Solomon had voted against, was successfully challenged in court this August by the Fair Share Housing Center because it had not been referred to the city’s Planning Board.

Lavarro attempted to introduce an amended ordinance in September, but the council struck it down. In abstaining from this latest ordinance, Lavarro said, “While I think this is a significant improvement over what was previously adopted, and this comes closer to some of the amendments I had introduced, there are questions that still remain for me.”

Lavarro questioned why the minimum required percentage of affordable units in the city’s more affluent neighborhoods, set for 15 percent was not even higher. He also pushed back against giving leeway to developers. “If we let a developer choose between tax incentives and affordable housing versus no tax incentives and market rates, they will always choose market rates.”

Lavarro said he would ask for answers to his specific questions in writing from planning officials and the administration. “I am going to reach out to activists and members of the community, so I am going to abstain pending their feedback.”

Layoff and Retirement Severance to be Paid With $10 Million Bond Issue

An ordinance of the city of Jersey City providing for a special $10 million emergency appropriation to pay for contractually required severance liabilities resulting from the layoff or retirement of city employees was adopted 7–2, with Councilmen Solomon and Lavarro voting “no.”

Solomon said, “When we use our power to bond for these accumulated absences, we are just kicking the can down the road.”

And Lavarro concurred: “I am dubious that we have managed our budgets well … I don’t think it is prudent to be bonding just to compound our bad financial decision making.”

Ordinance to Move $170 Million Bond for Bayfront to JCRA is Tabled

Earlier this month, the City Council voted to introduce an ordinance to move the $170 Million Bayfront Redevelopment Bond to the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency in an effort, the city said, to obtain “the most advantageous interest rates with respect to the bonds.”

The Bayfront Redevelopment Bond was issued in 2018 to finance the massive project; the intent was for Jersey City to sell the land to redevelopers before the first bond payments came due. The the city has received several “successful” bids for different parts of the property, but no sales have yet been completed. The first payments are due next month.

At Monday’s meeting, Councilman-at-large Lavarro was still waiting for the additional information on the successful bids that he had requested at the last council meeting. “I was told those proposals were made confidential. Has a redevelopment agreement been put in place since the last meeting?” he asked.

The ordinance, which was set to be voted on Monday night, was tabled because it had not been approved by the “local finance board,” according to City Clerk Sean Gallagher. John Metro, the city’s business administrator, sought to assure the council that such approval would be forthcoming.

Tags: Jersey City Government
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • Share on Pinterest
  • Share on LinkedIn
You might also like
Fifteen Million Slated for Museum Raises Hackles at City Council Meeting
Proposed Pompidou Jersey City Editorial: The Immoral Price of Pompidou
Jersey City Municipal Concil City Council Narrowly Passes Exchange Place Budget with Controversial Plaza Redesign
Garbage bags on street Op Ed: Residents Should Speak Out Against Solid Waste Charges
Bonds, Cannabis, Islamophobia and Food Unfit for Stray Cats Dominate Council Meeting
The Mayor Blinks on Trash Fees
A New Study Revives the Debate Over Property Tax Abatements
New Library Director Appointed Following Sudden Departure of Predecessor
Jersey City, US
11:49 am, July 5, 2022
86°F
clear sky
Wind: 14 mph
Pressure: 1017 mb

Latest Articles

Christopher Columbus Drive Jersey City
July 04, 2022 /

Downtown Streets Gridlocked by Fireworks Traffic

327 Ege Ave Jersey City
July 04, 2022 /

Report: Fireworks Suspected in West Side House Fire

Forget the Whale
July 02, 2022 /

Rogue Waves July: Six Concert Picks in Jersey City

Raisa Nosova "Uprooted"
July 01, 2022 /

Muralist Raisa Nosova Raises a Distress call for Ukraine

Dickinson High School Jersey City 16x9
July 01, 2022 /

Former Dickinson High School Teacher Pleads Guilty to Sexual Assault

CONTACT US

    ADS/INFO

    For information on advertising opportunities, please contact - ads@jcitytimes.com

    For information on writing opportunities, please contact - info@jcitytimes.com

    Download our media kit here

    ABOUT US

    About Jersey City Times

    Contact Jersey City Times

    Social

    Archives

    • July 2022
    • June 2022
    • May 2022
    • April 2022
    • March 2022
    • February 2022
    • January 2022
    • December 2021
    • November 2021
    • October 2021
    • September 2021
    • August 2021
    • July 2021
    • June 2021
    • May 2021
    • April 2021
    • March 2021
    • February 2021
    • January 2021
    • December 2020
    • November 2020
    • October 2020
    • September 2020
    • August 2020
    • July 2020
    • June 2020
    • May 2020
    • April 2020
    • March 2020
    • February 2020
    • January 2020
    • December 2019
    • November 2019
    • October 2019
    Copyright © 2020 JCityTimes.com. All Rights Reserved - powered by Enfold WordPress Theme
    Four Year-old Daughter Found Unrestrained in Hit and Run Driver’s Car Crime Scene Tape Classroom School Board Votes to Raise Teacher Pay
    Scroll to top