Public Hearing on Redevelopment Plan Set for Monday

A public hearing on the sweeping redevelopment plan introduced a few weeks ago will be held at the Planning Board meeting Monday.

Town Planner John Szabo and Mayor Chris Vergano developed the plan. Several areas, including the dying Wayne Hills Mall property and surrounding area, would be rezoned to allow mixed-used properties to be built. Officials believe that building more mixed-use properties will help stabilize the town’s tax base and court younger residents to come live here.

The township lost $21 million of its $5 billion ratable base last year through business owners appealing their property assessments. Vergano has said the town will lose more if officials don’t act quickly.

“Soon none of us will be able to afford to live here anymore,” Vergano said. “When they pay less, we pay more.”

Residents have criticized the plan, saying it is politically based and was only developed because Vergano is up for re-election.

“I have an obligation as the mayor of this community to do something about the ratable base,” Vergano previously said. “There are no secrets here.”

The meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. It will be broadcast live on cable channel 77 and online.