Boro in better position
with latest proposals

The new plans submitted to Helmetta for the redevelopment of the snuff mill property show that the borough has played its cards right. The resubmissions from the three developers interested in the project reflect the primary request from the community — that any future housing on the site be age-restricted, so as not to raise school taxes any further.

All three developers previously pitched ideas that included a mix of housing types, only some of which were to be age-restricted, along with commercial and retail uses. But residents at three public hearings did not exactly support any of the plans.

And at the recommendation of an advisory committee set up to review the proposals, Mayor Nancy Martin and the Borough Council declined all three, suggesting the developers rethink the plans and incorporate more of the borough’s wishes.

All of them did just that. The new plans also bring lower housing densities, now ranging from 271 to 366 units, and a varied mix of commercial space.

While there are still many concerns to be addressed — the impact any future community will bring to traffic, emergency services and the tax base, to name a few — the borough has placed itself in a position where it can choose a plan that brings with it the potential to lower taxes and revitalize the centerpiece of the town.

To help it plan for the next step, the borough has formed a negotiating committee that includes Mayor Nancy Martin, Councilmen Vincent Asciolla and Lou Adornati, Borough Business Administrator Bill Schmeling and Borough Attorney Tom Roselli.

The results of their work will eventually come before the public, which we hope will continue to play a major role in determining the fate of the Helme Tobacco Co. property and its buildings, vacant now for more than a decade.