Following a doozy of a day with the Township and flood repairs (that’s a follow-up article, stay tuned!), the advertised Zoom livestream for the in-person Council Meeting was set to begin at 6:30. Unfortunately, any resident who followed instructions on the Township website to watch the livestream was met with a blank screen—and learned through the grapevine that Zoom would no longer be an option. Maybe this was just another “technical difficulty?”

The meeting opened with a presentation on the future of Connell Park, including plans for rezoning and redevelopment. By the summer of 2026, residents can expect a new Plainfield Avenue stoplight and 328 residential apartments (45 of which will fulfill part of the Township’s affordable housing requirement). These residences will join the nearly 9,000 weekly corporate employees and guests at the 176-room hotel—not including Lifetime Athletic members and staff. No traffic studies have been completed on the added congestion for the park and greater Berkeley Heights area. It was reported that the FISERV building sustained minimal flood damage during the July 14 storm, being handled internally by Connell Engineering. Restaurants were pitched as part of a “self-sustaining” community, though one resident questioned how this influx might strain existing Berkeley Heights businesses.

The one item no one raised? The number of additional children expected to enter the schools.

Ordinance 2025-25, increasing the mandatory affordable housing set-aside, was approved.

Ordinance 2025-26, a $3.56M bond ordinance for capital improvements to roads, culverts, bridges, and paving, was also approved.

Emotional residents from Briarwood, Lawrence, Robbins, and surrounding neighborhoods spoke out about the Township’s response to the July 14 flooding, frustrated with years of inaction. The repeated excuse that the storm was “unprecedented” is wearing thin. Residents stressed not only property damage but also health and safety risks.

Township officials responded that they are reviewing options, budget constraints, and possible grant funding. Common concerns included cleaning waterways and, at minimum, developing a plan to manage creek cresting. One resident suggested creating a task force to oversee waterway maintenance, but others insisted this must be the Township’s responsibility, done with proper precautions.

A resident called out incumbent Democrat Susan Poage for campaign literature pledging to “collaborate with the administration to secure increased funding for stream and waterway cleaning, easement maintenance, and other flood mitigation measures.” They asked why, as a sitting Council member, she had not pursued such funding during her term.

The Council and Mayor listened empathetically but cited “red tape” and the “need for permits” as reasons for delays. Poage offered guidance from the Environmental Commission on setting up a public clean-up—where her running mate is a long-standing member.

Riverbend residents also raised storm-related concerns. The Township Administrator said projects and grants may be in the works but offered no specifics. Poage further supported a Riverbend resident regarding an overgrown sewer grate, noting she often runs past it and urging them to report it for cleaning. My burning question was, if she saw it regularly, why hadn’t she reported it herself?

When asked about the Lower Columbia Field project, the Mayor said she had no update since it fell under the Recreation Commission. I personally emailed the Council and Mayor weeks ago asking for an update and received no reply. Several BOE members also said they were unaware of any such project.

Other residents voiced concerns about affordable housing, traffic, wildlife loss, state overreach, and the broader strain on infrastructure.

The meeting adjourned with few concrete commitments, aside from vague references to ongoing projects tied to the Township’s Damage Assessment Report—still described as a “work in progress.”

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Laura Kapuscinski

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