Planning Board Holds Public Hearing on Proposed Expansion of Redevelopment 5

The Fort Lee Planning Board held a special meeting and public hearing Wednesday on a preliminary investigation to determine whether five parcels of land qualify as an “Area in Need of Improvement” in accordance with the Local Redevelopment and Housing Law, thereby expanding Redevelopment Area 5.

The properties in question—identified on the Tax Map of the Borough of Fort Lee as Block 4851, Lots 2, 3, and 4; a portion of Block 4855, Lot 2 and lands within the street right-of-way that were vacated by the realignment of Central Road with Federspiel Street as part of the Main Street widening project—would represent an expansion of the existing, roughly 16-acre Redevelopment Area 5 by about two-thirds of an acre.

The Planning Board invited anyone who is “interested in or would be affected by the determination that the delineated area is a redevelopment area” to attend the meeting, which took place Wednesday evening.

A copy of the “In Need of Redevelopment Investigation to Expand the Boundaries of Redevelopment Area 5” and boundary map of the proposed expansion are available from the Office of the Fort Lee Borough Clerk.

The redevelopment study concludes that the properties comprising the study area “meet the statutory criteria for redevelopment area designation and may therefore be incorporated into the existing Area 5 Redevelopment Area.”

The parcels in the study area, which are all located along the north side of Main Street, break down as follows:

• Block 4851, Lot 2: About 0.2 acres; Borough-acquired as part of widening of Main Street; Northeast corner of Main Street and Martha Washington Way; Municipal parking lot
• Block 4851, Lot 3: About 0.09 acres; Borough-acquired as part of widening of Main Street; Borders Lot 2 to the east; Municipal parking lot
• Block 4851, Lot 4: About 0.13 acres; Privately owned; 179 Main St.; One-story building that houses a retail, clothing and apparel store ()
• Portion of 4855, Lot 2: About 0.09 acres; Northwest corner of Main Street and Central Road; Currently a vacant lot
• Vacated Section of Central Road: About 0.17 acres; Northwest corner of Main Street and Central Road

The special meeting is Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in ’s second-floor conference room.