Title
Dept/ Agency: Economic and Housing Development
Action: ( ) Ratifying (X) Authorizing ( ) Amending
Type of Service: Resolution Endorsing
Purpose: Resolution Supporting the Essex-Hudson Greenway Project and authorizing the City of Newark to seek various grants for the Newark portion of the Greenway Project.
Additional Information:
body
WHEREAS, the Open Space Institute Land Trust, Inc., has entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement with Norfolk Southern Railway Company, to acquire the 8.63-mile rail right-of-way of the former New York & Greenwood Lake Railroad, beginning at the point of abandonment in Montclair Township, and lying within the municipalities of Glen Ridge Borough, Bloomfield Township, Belleville Township, and the City of Newark in Essex County and the Town of Kearny, The Town of Secaucus to the point of abandonment in the City of Jersey City in Hudson County; and
WHEREAS, the right-of-way passes through portions of two (2) counties and eight (8) municipalities, and will connect users to a myriad of schools, businesses, transit stations, and facilities providing a safe corridor of travel for students and commuters alike; and
WHEREAS, the Counties of Essex and Hudson seek to create a linear park and greenway along this abandoned rail right-of-way; and
WHEREAS, the Counties of Essex and Hudson seek to acquire ownership of the entire 8.63-mile right-of-way for the purpose of conservation and recreation and to enable the establishment and construction of a multi-use trail along the right-of-way to be known as the Essex-Hudson Greenway; and
WHEREAS, the proposed Essex-Hudson Greenway enters Newark along the northern end of the Branchburg Park, runs parallel to Verona Avenue and intersects with Mt. Prospect Avenue, Broadway and McCarter Highway as shown on the map attached hereto; and
WHEREAS, the Newark section of the Essex-Hudson Greenway is approximately 1.1 miles long and will connect Branch Brook Park with surrounding neighborhoods and communities; and
WHEREAS, the portion of the Essex-Hudson Greenway located within the City of Newark (the “Project”) will provide Newark residents, employees and visitors with safe bicycle and pedestrian connections to the communities, parks, schools, colleges, commerce and other destinations along the route; increase property values; ease local congestion on roads; provide a venue for active and passive recreation; and
WHEREAS, the Project will address Combined Sewer Outfall (CSO) and stormwater flooding by incorporating stormwater mitigation measures and “green” infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, the Project will improve the quality of life of Newark residents; and
WHEREAS, to qualify for potential grants and/or federal funding, a resolution of support endorsing the Project from the City of Newark may be required.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, THAT:
1. The Municipal Council hereby commits its support to the Essex-Hudson Greenway Project, including the revitalization of portion that is located within the City of Newark (“Project”).
2. The Mayor and/or his designee, the Deputy Mayor/Director of the Department of Economic and Housing Development are hereby authorized to file grant applications, as they come available, for undertakings related to the Project that will support the Newark portion of the Essex-Hudson Greenway.
3. All successful grant applications shall be presented to the Municipal Council for approval prior to the acceptance of grant funds.
4. The City of Newark is not required to provide any funds for this Project.
STATEMENT
By this resolution, the Municipal Council endorses and supports the Essex-Hudson Greenway Project and authorizes the City of Newark’s filing of grant applications to various agencies and organizations, which will afford the City of Newark access to myriad funding opportunities.