Birchwood

Development News
Concerned Citizens of Cranford, LLC March 18, 2013

CF Residents Voice Concerns Over Conflict of Interest By DELL SIMEONE - Specially Written for
The Westfield Leader- EXCERPTS From article. Reprinted with permission of the Westfield Leader. CRANFORD Several residents voiced their dismay at the Cranford Township Committees meeting on Tuesday night regarding possible conflicts of interest. Among them were residents Liz Sweeney and Rita LaBrutto, who had previously addressed concerns at the committees February 25 workshop meeting. During the public portion of the meeting, Ms. Sweeney, who previously had questioned the committee about having Phil Morin, Cranford township attorney in 2012, and who represented the township during the Birchwood development and Lehigh Acquisitions site plan hearings, both of which were held last summer at the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth, was a possible conflict of interest. She said Mr. Morin is an attorney with the Florio Perucci, Steinhardt, Fader law firm. She also said that Michael Perucci of the law firm is a (developer) in the Woodmont Developers, which is ready to develop 555 South Avenue, known as the Lehigh Acquisitions Development, which is set to build 165 apartments. The Birchwood Avenue development is for 360 apartments. Lehigh had instituted a builders remedy lawsuit against the township, based on the need for affordable housing. Lehigh won the lawsuit; the project was then sold to Woodmont Developers. Ms. Sweeney said Mr. Morin represented the township at a hearing where his boss was (possibly) the developer. Mayor Thomas Hannen said, Through our legal counsel, we are looking into it; weve discussed it, and well do an appropriate conflict check. Soon well be able to make a statement. Following Ms. Sweeney to the podium was Ms. La Brutto, who said Livingston, which lost a builders remedy lawsuit, had to allow the development of an apartment project with 558 apartments. She said its school system has to increase the amount of classrooms to accommodate an increased enrollment. We should be mindful of the impact something like this would have on our school system, she said. Ms. La Brutto also said that in the finding of facts transcript filed with the court by Mr. Morin in the Lehigh Acquisitions site plan hearing, it states that the applicant met with the Cranford Township Planning Board. I have to tell you that that meeting never took place, she said. I was on the planning board then; I dont remember that. John Hrebin, who followed Ms. La Brutto to the podium, said, I was also on the planning board and dont remember that either. Mark Smith, a former township mayor, .. Mr. Smith, referring to the conflict of interest brought up by Ms. Sweeney, went on to say, Im astounded at the involvement of Woodmont. During litigation in 2010, I was unaware there was any relation to Woodmont. I want to know if there was any misrepresentation on the part of (Lehigh). Continued...Read the full story in the March 14, 2013 Westfield Leader - Free trial subscription: http://www.goleader.com/form/sub_trial.htm

www.CCCranford.com

NEXT TOWNSHIP MEETING IS TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 2013 @ 8PM

Email the Township Committee: Mayor Thomas H. Hannen, Jr. T-Hannen@cranfordnj.org Edward OMalley E-Omalley@cranfordnj.org, Kevin Campbell K-Campbell@cranfordnj.org, Andis Kalnins A-Kalnins@cranfordnj.org, Lisa Adubato L-Adubato@cranfordnj.org

From: Findings of Facts and Conclusions of Law 9/20/12 555 South Ave

In reality, the Planning Board never reviewed the 555 South Ave or Birchwood Ave site plans!

Help Fight Birchwood Ave Overdevelopment at the NJDEP!

The DEP has the authority to stop Birchwood overdevelopment by not issuing the permits. The Department of Environmental Protection is charged with issuing permits to balance environmental concerns and overdevelopment. Birchwood will go to the DEP because this area includes wetlands, a flood hazard area, and is environmentally sensitive. The DEP has its own court. The NJ Office of Administrative Law will hold a hearing whenever there is a dispute between the developer, and in this case - the residents, about regulations. After the hearing, the Commissioner of the DEP, Bob Martin, will render a decision within 45 days. We must be prepared and have our arguments and attorney ready to go!

We need our own attorney who is independent and working for us!
We have retained Bob Podvey, Esq. to help us fight the developers permits at the NJDEP. Mr. Podvey graduated NYU Law and was admitted to the NJ bar in 1965. He is a NJ Supreme Court certified attorney. Bob Podvey is Director of the law firm of Podvey Meanor. The form was founded in 1969. They have offices in Newark, NJ and New York City.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------PLEASE HELP BY DONATING TO OUR LEGAL FUND! Confidential checks can be mailed to: Concerned Citizens of Cranford, LLC., 16 South Ave W- PMB 173, Cranford, NJ 07016 Name:_______________________________________________________________ Email Address:_______________________________________________________ Contact Us: SaveBirchwood@gmail.com or visit our Website: www.CCCranford.com (PayPal accepted)