Developer Mark Greco speaks with residents Nov. 10, 2022 about his plans for redevelpment at Ventnor Plaza shopping center.
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
VENTNOR Ahead of an informal Planning Board meeting set for Wednesday evening, the developer of the Ventnor Plaza shopping center has revised a redevelopment plan approved by the Ventnor City Planning Board to accommodate the concerns of area residents.
Residents whose back yards back up to Little Rock Avenue, an unpaved roadway adjacent to the shopping center, did not receive proper notification of a public hearing on the developer's plan to revitalize the shopping center, and therefore, they did not attend the Planning Board meeting on Oct. 24, 2022 and did not have the opportunity to express their concerns before approvals were grante
As required by law, applicants are required to notify all property owners within 200 feet of a project in writing using a list provided by the municipality. Mark L. Greco of MLG Realty, LLC said his attorney notified everyone on the list the city provided, but it was discovered later that the list was incomplete. Only 11 of 33 properties within the zone were sent notifications.
Greco denied there was any deliberate coverup.
We held public and private meetings with residents in an effort to incorporate everyone's input, he said.
The 15.4-acre property is being redeveloped in accordance with a Redevelopment Plan prepared by Rutala Associates of Linwood and subsequently approved by the governing body in 2019. The only variances required were for a larger standing sign at the main entrance of the plaza, but residents are mostly concerned with the city's plans to allow the developer to pave Little Rock Avenue, which is directly adjacent to their properties.
Residents contacted the city to express their dismay about not receiving notification and the Planning Board agreed to hold an informal meeting with residents, but the board declined rescinding its approvals. The meeting will be held 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11 at Ventnor City Hall.
In the letter published below, developer Greco agreed to make several changes to his plan to accommodate residents' concerns, including installing a guard rail across from a shopping center entrance planned for Little Rock Avenue, installing new bicycle racks, relocating a restaurant pad side a little further away from the corner of Little Rock and Ventnor avenues, relocating EV charging stations, ensuring NJ Transit buses do not use Little Rock Avenue, and agreeing that there will be no sidewalks on Little Rock Avenue.
Greco also addressed drainage, flooding, property values and traffic patterns in his letter, and asked residents to refrain from making personal attacks on city officials.
The support for our project has been overwhelming and we have tried to listen to all suggestions to make this a project that includes everyone's voice, he said.
Greco said he hopes Wednesday evening's meeting will provide productive interaction with participants.
Read Greco's letter here...
Ventnor City Planning and Zoning Board and Residents of Ventnor
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