Post Office Plan: Township Tweaks, Residents Vent

The Township Committee refined some details on the Post Office redevelopment plan Wednesday night, as several residents expressed concern with the project's timing and details.

Since the Maplewood Post Office Redevelopment Plan was released just over a month ago, some locals have asked for a bigger role in the design process while others launched a petition to demand a slower timeline and more public input. The plan will guide the development of the .75-acre, 33,000-square-foot site in a prime Village location after the Post Office vacates the space in November.

The TC had previously tweaked the plan based on suggestions from the Maplewood Planning Board (PB) and the Maplewood Village Alliance (MVA), and will continue to refine it until the final vote in mid-July.

"These changes further strengthen and address the concerns" of the PB and MVA, said planner Paul Grygiel, whose firm drafted the plan, in a follow-up interview with Patch.

One change made last night was to stipulate that whatever business is there be added to the MVA's special improvement district, and therefore pay an assessment. In addition, the TC agreed that the MVA will review a developer's plan first to provide input before the Planning Board reviews it.

The township also added more specific language regarding style, requiring that the buildings "follow the traditional early 20th Century architectural traditions of Maplewood Village...in terms of orientation, massing, articulation and building materials."

Resident Judy Lewis said she was concerned about esthetics. "This town is so beautiful, we should get someone other than a developer to make the decisions," said Lewis. She said it would be important to get input from an architect to "do it properly."

"It's a concern of us all," said Mayor Vic DeLuca. "This is the most important piece of property we have." DeLuca said any developer would have to follow the existing zoning laws as well as MVA design requirements.

Dave Helmkamp, of Engage-Maplewood, asked the township to better inform the public about redevelopment projects. Helmkamp later told Patch the average Maplewood resident lacks a clear understanding of what the plan entails, and that the TC should be more proactive in encouraging participation from residents who want to be more involved in the design and details.

Norm Scrivener, longtime owner of Scrivener's Toys on Maplewood Ave., said he is concerned many people are not aware of the short-term and long-term implications of the development, especially the increased need for parking.

DeLuca said there will not be a net reduction in parking spaces. As for the impact of construction on the Village, "You're right," he said, explaining that the township had been discussing ways to minimize the impact, such as using parking lots around town for staging and parking of construction vehicles.

"We're going to have to work [it] out and figure it out," he said.

Scrivener asked what would happen to the old Kings space. DeLuca said that Kings does not own the building but has a long-term lease and they will probably seek to put in a compatible business. He said while it is not up to the township to decide what goes there, the TC will meet with Kings and have "some influence."

Resident Kurt Kiley asked if the parking requirements in the plan were sufficient. Grygiel said because the site is near a train station the requirements can be lower. Kiley also suggested using the ground level of the building for parking and the upper levels for "public space."

Helmkamp asked about a group of residents who recently asked to provide input on the design and choosing a developer. DeLuca said the MVA's Design Committee will be encouraged to include the residents in the design process.

"We will look at the whole team," in selecting a developer said DeLuca, including the architect and designers. He added, "There's nothing that stops us from asking for help." 

The TC will craft an ordinance to be introduced at its next public meeting on June 18. The Planning Board will review the plan again at its public meeting on July 9, after which it goes back to the committee on July 16, for another public hearing and final vote. The TC then will put out a request for proposals for a developer.

Thomas Pauly asked why the township is settling for a developer's building given this "once-in-a-century" opportunity to make Maplewood the envy of towns everywhere. "We're Maplewood and we deserve better."