The months-long saga between Weehawken and Hartz Mountain Industries has reached a conclusion. The Weehawken Planning Board voted to approve the application after 16 meetings.

This is Hartz Mountain’s second application to build at the Atir Site in Lincoln Harbor. The first application was shot down in 2019 due to height issues.

Now, shrunken by four stories, the 259-unit complex made up of two 14-story towers has been given the go-ahead. The site will also have 200 onsite parking spots, with an extra 80 spots for visitors.

The planning board met on May 28 via GoToMeeting to vote on the matter after a previous meeting on May 19. The board had last met in March as the COVID-19 pandemic reached Hudson County.

During the virtual meetings, attorneys representing opposition to the application made their case. Included were neighboring property 1715 Grand Street, nearby developer Rock Eagle Industries, and the Lincoln Harbor Yacht Club.

They objected to issues regarding ownership of a small portion of land on the property, parking, and views, among others.

Hartz Mountain brought civil engineer Brad Bohler and planner Keenan Hughes. Their testimony and a list of conditions were enough for the board to approve the project.

Objectors’ cases

Nearby 1715 Grand Street, represented by attorney Nicholas Sekas, objected to a document that claimed a right-of-way on the property was still owned by the City of Hoboken.

The title was from the early 1900s, and the board declined to rule on the issue, claiming it is a legal matter. Board attorney Elise DiNardo said that the applicant confirmed ownership of the property in its application.

Ira Weiner, attorney for neighboring developer Rock Eagle Industries, said that a “careful” board would ask the applicant to provide further proof of ownership.

Gerald Muller, attorney for Fund for a Better WaterFront, agreed it was a legal issue, and the issue was dropped.

Views in question

Sekas argued that Hartz Mountain failed to meet open space requirements, and that the view will be “obliterated.”

Weiner agreed, stating that when Eagle Rock built nearby, it was told no buildings were going to be constructed in front of them.

Hartz Mountain used a a map of historic views of New York City from Old Glory Park to show that views would not be blocked.

Jerry Muller, attorney for Fund for a Better Waterfront, largely echoed the other attorneys on open space and views, also arguing that notice for property owners within 200 feet of all Lincoln Harbor residents had not been properly given.

Technical issues

Both digital meetings started late, running for about six hours with technical glitches as board members lost connection and struggled to unmute their microphones and turn on their cameras. There was feedback noise as well.

Only one member of the public spoke during the meeting. Weehawken resident Maryanne Wuillame argued that little by little land was  being chopped away at the waterfront.

Mandated parking

Jake Israel, attorney representing the Lincoln Harbor Yacht Club, said that the club had obtained a court order mandating that parking be provided for the club. Other parking is being mandated for township residents.

Conditions laid out by the board included a parking study, an internal walkway open to the public, 300 spaces of public parking, and shuttles connecting the development to the townshitp.

Plans must be updated to show proper subdivision lines and the seven levels of parking.

Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner said the development is not separate from the flood wall and is being constructed in conjunction with Hartz Mountain.

A silent majority

Board member Til Globig opposed encroachment of one building on the waterfront walkway.

Board member Carmela Silvestri Ehret, a Weehawken resident for 50 years, said she bought her house on a block that had a clear view of the Empire State Building, but the New York City Planning Board voted to build another skyscraper which blocks her view.

Ehret, saying that she didn’t buy the view, she bought the house, voted to approve the development.

Board member Nick Strasser also voted yes. The board voted 7-1 in favor of the application, with only board member Til Globig voting no.

The board also voted  7-1 to amend the Lincoln Harbor Redevelopment Plan. Globig was the only member to vote no.

The meeting ended at 12:22 a.m., with the words, “It is done.”

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected].

With Gov. Phil Murphy’s stay-at-home order still in place to help flatten the curve of the COVID-19 pandemic, many residents have devised various ways to honor essential workers fighting on the front lines of the pandemic.

Every day at 7 p.m. on Oak Street, Elea Benshoshan comes out on her porch and uses an old microphone to summon the neighborhood to join her. Once outside on their porches, the neighborhood joins Benshoshan in a clap-out honoring Weehawken essential workers.

Many of her neighbors follow the 13-year-old’s lead each day. The Weehawken High School seventh grader has been running the clap-out since late April.

Young leadership

Oak Street residents cheer, bang on pots, display flags and signs of appreciation for essential workers. Some have loudspeakers to honor the front-line warriors.

Each night, Benshoshan acknowledges a different group of local professionals who have distinguished themselves during the pandemic, including nurses, first responders, police officers, firefighters, grocery store workers, street cleaners, teachers, and religious leaders.

“It is pretty cool to put that old microphone to good use and spread positive messages throughout the street at night,” Elea said.

She said that while the clap-out honors essential workers, the event is as much for the joy of her neighbors as it is for the essential workers.

“We need this because everyone is really at a weak point right now,” Elea said. “It is good for me and my fellow neighbors to hear that we are going to get through this together and be okay, and better together.”

From one household, to the whole neighborhood

While run by Benshoshan, the Weehawken clap-out was originally started by two of Elea’s neighbors on Oak Street, Tara Gamble and Janet Cobaon. Gamble and Coboan launched the the first clap-out on March 28.

But after almost a month of being the only ones out on their porches, Gamble reached out to her neighbors via Facebook to join her. Well, they did just that and came to adopt the event as their own, sparking a friendly rivalry with other neighborhoods.

“It then became a challenge on Twitter to be louder than Jane Street,” Gamble said.

Gamble created a Facebook page, “Oak Street Honors Essential Workers,” which now has more than 120 followers from across the township and growing daily.

“I’m fortunate to be able to work from home during this pandemic,” Gamble said. “However, the rest of my family are considered essential workers and need to leave the house every day. Clapping out takes a little bit of the worry for my family off of my mind. All of the essential workers are working hard to keep us safe, and a five-minute clap-out is just a small way of honoring their commitment. They deserve so much more.”

When the clap-out first started, it was just Gamble and her two neighbors’ families, but then gradually the whole street came out.

Teachers Appreciation Week

On May 5, Elea honored teachers in connection with Teacher Appreciation Week.

“We believe they are making a huge impact teaching online as much as any of the doctors and nurses,” she said. “And that includes anyone not a teacher but still involved in the school district.”

While Elea’s leadership has been outstanding during the pandemic, this is not the first time that she has taken charge of a situation where she saw a need.

“I am always trying to find a new way to benefit my community or school,” Elea said.

Last year, as a sixth grader at Roosevelt School, she realized many students who checked out books from the school library wished they could keep them and convinced the Theodore Roosevelt library to donate books to students.

She also started a schoo-wide book swap program that enables students to keep books. Her eight-year-old brother Levi, a third grader at Theodore Roosevelt School, participates in the book-swapping program.

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected].

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Phil Murphy issued stay-at-home and social distancing directives to all New Jersey residents to combat the spread of COVID-19. The order prohibits gatherings of 10 or more individuals in public or private spaces.

This includes social events and other celebrations, including, parents take note, birthday parties and play dates for kids.

Despite these restrictions put into place by state and local officials, residents have been disobeying the stay-at-home order. Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner has condemned residents for continuing to schedule such events despite the ongoing pandemic.

“You should not be having any social gatherings of any kind,” Turner said. “This disease is serious, and everyone should be self-isolating as much as possible. Any social gathering will spread the disease.”

Despite the mayor’s warning, the township has received several reports of birthday parties and neighborhood gatherings.

“These events must stop now!” Turner said. “They are against the Governor’s Executive Order, which we are required by law to enforce.”

Township warns of fines

As the issue persists, Turner has threatened to start issuing summonses for violations. Turner said the fines are substantial, as high as $1,000. The host may be legally liable for holding the event against the governor’s order.

“Birthday parties or similar types of activities can be held virtually,” Turner said. “Please protect your children, their friends, and yourselves by not having any events of these types.”

Play dates have also been an issue in the township. Some Weehawken residents are disobeying the stay-at-home and social distancing directives and putting their children at risk.

“Parents, we are getting reports that many of you understandably are setting up play dates with other children either in people’s homes or in public spaces,” Turner said. “This should stop immediately. You may be putting your children and families in danger.”

Turner acknowledged reports that children may be the least affected by this disease, but noted that some children and their parents may be infected even though they may not have symptoms.

“As the weather gets nicer, the temptation will be greater, and we must all be vigilant in preventing this from happening,” Turner said. “We must all practice social distancing.”

Sidewalks still open

While play dates are prohibited, and the stay-at-home order in place, residents can still go outside and are still allowed on public walkways and sidewalks.

Passive areas such as sidewalks and walkways are not closed under the State of Emergency. Even after the curfew begins in Weehawken at 10 p.m., it is not illegal to be on the street.

Turner said that the police will tell people on the public walkways after the curfew that they should go home.

There are some exceptions. If residents are walking dogs, they can be out for a limited time. Outside of curfew hours, the township refers to federal guidelines prohibiting the gathering of 10 or more people.

According to Turner, these limitations are subject to change at any hour during the crisis, and residents will be alerted by the township if any changes occur.

Residents are advised to continue social distancing at all times, remaining approximately six feet apart.

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected].