KEYPORT The Borough Council approved a resolution authorizing the Planning Board to investigate whether certain properties should be designated as areas in need of redevelopment.
The Local Redevelopment and Housing Law authorizes municipalities to determine whether certain parcels of land in the municipality constitute areas in need of redevelopment, according to the council agenda.
To determine whether certain parcels of land constitute areas in need of redevelopment, the council must authorize the planning board to conduct a preliminary investigation of the area and make recommendations to the council, according to the council agenda.
The council passed the resolution, on Oct. 3, during its monthly meeting at the municipal building.
The redevelopment area determination requested authorizes the council to use all those powers provided by the redevelopment law for use in a redevelopment area, including the power of eminent domain, according to the council agenda.
According to the council agenda, the planning board will investigate properties located at 45 West Front, 43 West Street, and 4 Broad Street.
“The front street location was the scene of a fire a year or so ago. The Broad Street location was wiped out by [Superstorm] Sandy,” Borough Administrator Stephen Gallo.
All of the parcels that are going to be investigated are vacant, according to Gallo.
The planning board will begin its investigation within the next month or so. The investigation is going to be about 30 days, according to Gallo.
“They will have a planner conduct the study and report their findings to the borough. The added parcels join other vacant properties to be studied,” Gallo said.
The council also passed a resolution to submit a grant application and execute a grant contract with the New Jersey Department of Transportation for the 2018 Road Program Project.
The road program will include roadway improvements on the following roadways: Third Street from Atlantic Street to its eastern terminus, Division Street from East Front Street to Third Street and East Front Street from Church Street to Broad Street, according to the council agenda.
According to Gallo, the borough is applying for the grant to fund general maintenance improvements on the roads.
“The road condition warrant milling and resurfacing. We try to do this on a rotating basis all over town. Each year the borough addresses road conditions through a combination of New Jersey Department of Transportation local aid, community development block grant funds, and local funds,” Gallo said.
The borough is seeking to fund improvements on the roads that include: milling, resurfacing, needed sidewalks and curbs, and water and sewer main work if needed, according to Gallo.
According to Gallo, the borough is going to be applying for the grant immediately and will find out if it was approved by early next spring.
The costs to fix the roads is unknown at this time, according to Gallo.
For more information visit www.keyportonline.com/content/4031/4048/default.aspx.
Contact Vashti Harris at vharris@newspapermediagroup.com.
