The Hopewell 57 redevelopment plan continues to dominate Council meetings in Hopewell Borough, and the October 7 meeting was no exception. Following scheduled discussions on the water system, Womanspace, and the process for applying for street closures, the public picked up where they left off at previous meetings, asking tough questions and making their concerns known to a Council that was set to vote on amending the redevelopment plan.
Residents Voice Concerns About Hopewell 57
Residents continued to pepper the Council with questions about the redevelopment plan on Hamilton and Lafayette Streets.
One resident inquired about issuing zoning variances to a potential developer instead of a full redevelopment plan. Council member David Mackie explained that redevelopment plans offer a more comprehensive approach to business development, which the site needs to attract builders. Mayor Kennedy added, “Redevelopment acts very much like zoning. However, in the plan, it could spell out what type of relief could be received from the planning board,” flexibility that could cater to the needs of both the developer and the town.
Other concerns and questions pertained to the role of affordable housing laws, the profile of the developer and whether or not the Borough has done business with them in the past, and traffic.
Another member of the community expressed concern about the proposed redevelopment, specifically with regard to the capabilities of current fire equipment to serve 4-story buildings.
“My understanding is that the fire truck is adequate for that height,” Mackie responded.
Sherry Hook, council liaison to the Hopewell Fire Department, added context from her experience working with fire officials. “No matter what happens, the fire department is part of the design review,” she said, and added that “all new construction is heavily suppressed by sprinklers.” In the event the Borough’s equipment was insufficient, Hook concluded, “Since we are a valley-wide share service, we would use Pennington.”
Council Approves Height Increase for Hopewell 57
Council continued to express understanding of residents’ concerns and reiterated that little information can be provided without specific site plans, which is not part of this particular vote.
The issue at-hand in the meeting is procedural: Should there be an amendment to Ordinance 887 of the redevelopment plan to change the allowed building height from 3-stories to 4 with some revision to the stormwater management guidelines.
With little discussion before casting votes, presumably on account of the substantial preceding Q&A, the amendment passed unanimously.
Council Updates Residents About Water Sale
As previously reported by MercerMe, a group of community members filed a petition compelling the issue of selling the Borough system to be determined by an official ballot vote. Mayor Kennedy estimates the next part of that process will take “at least a year.”In the interim, the Council will put together the bidding process to solicit proposals from potential buyers to gauge interest before putting the issue to the required vote.
Womanspace – Communities of Light
Council member Heidi Wilenius asked theCouncil to consider making the December 2 tradition an official Borough event, joining several other townships and boroughs participating in December’s annual Communities of Light. The tradition serves as a powerful symbol of hope and solidarity for those affected by domestic and sexual violence in our community.
Street Closure Applications
Mayor Kennedy reminded attendees that requesting a street closure—for any reason—is not an official process, and often results in inconsistent results with a lack of communication. The Council is formalizing the process so that residents have a clear path forward for special events, races, and other community celebrations.
Park Issues Continue
While Hopewell 57 has continued to take up the bulk of the public discussion periods since last spring, it is not the only topic at hand. Business owners, galleries, and establishments at the west end of Broad continue to navigate parking issues that have arisen in front of the Old School Baptist Meetinghouse. Time will tell if the 100-foot “No Parking Zone” meets the needs of both merchants and the historic building.
Outdoor Dining Concerns
Outdoor dining also made an appearance during the public session with concerns expressed over the cost for businesses to be able to continue pandemic-era outdoor seating. Mayor Kennedy assured hearers that the goal is to streamline the application process, and that minimizing cost will be a priority.
Resolutions
Among the resolutions adopted, Council approved the purchase of signage and other equipment to be utilized by the Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Committee in its continued project of creating a safer experience for walkers and bikers through town. See MercerMe’s coverage, Hopewell Borough Marks Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Milestones.
The 2023 Municipal Audit was accepted unanimously, with Mayor Kennedy expressing kudos to those involved: “Hats off to our CFO” who completed the process without a permanent Borough Administrator and “passed with flying colors.”
Committee Reports
- The board of health for Hopewell Township has been working with communities to complete a Community Health Needs Assessment, which will give the Health Department information and tools about what the community needs for healthy living.
- The next flu shot clinic will be November 5 from 10am-1pm at Borough Hall.
- An appeal from Borough Council: please do not put dog waste in the leaf collection bags. They must be disposed of in the regular garbage bins.
- An assessment of the Borough’s water tower on Northstar Ave. yielded important information for DPW to assess the system’s health. Pittsburgh Tank & Tower Company placed cameras in the tank for a complete inspection of the 230,000 gallon, 110 year old water tower. Although the company utilizes a proprietary system to repair leaks, they determined it was not appropriate for these circumstances, leaving the Borough with the task of planning for a total replacement of the water tower at a cost of $1.1 million.
- Mayor Kennedy shared the exciting news regarding an additional grant for the Hopewell Train Station restoration. The Borough will receive $150,000 more than it had anticipated for the much-needed repairs of the historic landmark. Completion is anticipated to be October 27 barring any delays. See MercerMe’s coverage, Hopewell Borough Secures Grant for Train Station Restoration, Plans New Art Installation.
