Redevelopment Plan Expected to Draw More Public Ire Wednesday

A group of residents has promised to continue to fight against a redevelopment plan designed to stabilize taxes and encourage development in town.

Members of the group, Wayne Concerned Citizens, will attend a council meeting Wednesday. The residents plan on speaking out against the plan, which Mayor Chris Vergano and Planner John Szabo developed. They are encouraging others to attend the meeting and speak out against the plan, which they have said would “reshape” Wayne.

Dozens of people spoke out against the plan at a Planning Board meeting last week. They said the plan would add too many high-density and low-income units.

Vergano, who is running for re-election in November, insisted that he is working in the town’s best interests and that he has a “responsibility” to do something to encourage development and stabilize taxes.

“The ratable base is shrinking. Last year we lost $21 million in our ratable base. This year it will be even worse,” Vergano said at the meeting. “We decided to look at sites [whose owners] are their share of taxes.”

The council meeting will begin at 8 p.m. Wednesday. It will be held in the council chamber. Residents can tune to cable channel 77 or watch the meeting online.