Downtown Development Commission

DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION Committee Room - Hartley Dodge Memorial Building Date: July 18, 2019 Time: 7:30 pm* Note: Time Change MEETING MINUTES: 1) CALL TO ORDER: Chair Suzy Whitehorn opened the meeting at 7:32 pm. 2) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3) ROLL CALL MEMBERS PRESENT: R. Conley, J. Hoover, J. Hollenbach, S. Whitehorn, T. Honohan, L. Lajewski, D. Starker, E. Range, R. Rocco, R. Stern, Michael Pellessier MEMBERS ABSENT: B. Cramer, R. Landrigan, M. Tomaszewski, P. Flemming, J. Morris, M. Fabyanski, C. Brady, G. Herzog ALSO PRESENT: Lisa Ellis, Director of Business Development 4) OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT: In compliance with the open public meetings act, adequate notice of this meeting of the Downtown Development Commission was provided by distributing the Annual Meeting schedule to the Madison Eagle and Morris County Daily Record, posting a copy on the bulletin board at the main entrance to the Hartley Dodge Memorial Building, posting a copy on the Borough website, and filing a copy with the Borough Clerk, all on or about the first week of January 2019. Copies of said notice were made available to members of the general public. 5) APPROVAL OF JUNE 2019 MINUTES Motion to approve June 2019 Minutes as presented Moved by: E. Range and Seconded by: J. Hoover Voice Vote: Unanimous 6) TREASURER REPORT: There was no report. 7) FOUNDATION REPORT: There was no report. 8) MAYORAL REPORT: Mayor Conley reported that the Taste of Madison checks are ready for distribution. Each of the three partner entities is receiving $10,500.00 this year. 9) COUNCIL LIAISON REPORT: Council Member John Hoover spoke about the Atlantic Rehabilitation Institute Grand Opening on July 9 at the new facility at 4 Giralda Farms. He also gave a report on the Borough Council’s current Affordable Housing plans. In addition, he noted that June was declared Pride Month. 10) PLANNING BOARD REPORT: Mayor Conley gave the Planning Board report. He noted the Mack Cali application for parking improvements at Giralda 7 and that they will be pursuing parking improvements at Giralda 1 and 3 as well in the near future. 11) DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT REPORT a) Parking Update: The proposed amendments to parking ordinances were introduced at the Borough Council meeting on June 24 and will have hearings on July 22. These amendments were recommended by the Mayors Ad Hoc Parking Committee. Work on the acquisition of a parking application and automated license plate reader is ongoing. b) 14 Lincoln Place Redevelopment – Process Update: The process is currently in the appeal phase. 1|Page  Appeals of the HPC decision can be filed. c) Sidewalk/Outdoor Dining: Working to resolve some of the disparities and confusion between Sidewalk Dining and Outdoor Dining. The first is governed by an annual permitting process managed through the Borough Clerk’s office. The latter is a function of the Planning Board as outdoor dining is considered a conditional use in current zoning. There is a gray area, a new restaurant that does not need to go before the Planning Board has no way to obtain outdoor dining even on private property. Some type of hybrid process should be explored. d) Best Practices, Ideas, Information Sharing: i) “The Restoration of Historic Ghost Wall Signs in Mooresville, North Carolina” https://www.mainstreet.org/blogs/national-main-street-center/2019/07/10/historic-wall- signs-preserve-mooresvilles-past ii) “How Public Art can Boost the Pride (and Resilience) of Your Neighborhood” https://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2019/7/10/its-the-little-things-35 e) Articles/Information of Interest: i) “Hollister renovates medical suites for physician groups in Madison” https://njbiz.com/hollister-renovates-madison-physician-groups-medical-suites/ ii) “Murphy signs ‘land bank’ bill allowing cities to assemble, reposition blighted property” https://re-nj.com/murphy-signs-land-bank-bill-allowing-cities-to-assemble-revive-blighted- property/ iii) “Somerset closes on 31-acre transit village site in Somerville” https://re-nj.com/somerset-closes-on-31-acre-transit-village-site-in-somerville/ 12) CHAIRMAN/EXECUTIVE BOARD REPORT a) Bylaw Revisions: Minor Amendment i) Arts & Events Committee  Work with Madison Arts and Culture Alliance (MACA), Madison Music and Arts (MMA) MACA/MMA, Chamber of Commerce and other community partners on event development and support Sidewalk Sounds and Sidewalk Art Gallery.  Advise and support the Director of Arts and Events and programming for the Madison Community Arts Center.  Research and make recommendations regarding public art installations  Research and evaluate the viability of new events.  Work with Chamber of Commerce and other partners to make sure any new event is supported.  Support existing events. Motion to approve adoption of above noted minor amendment to the DDC Bylaws pending adoption of Borough ordinance reflecting amendments. Moved by: E. Range and Seconded by: D. Starker Voice Vote: Unanimous 13) STANDING COMMITTEES (CURRENT): Informational only, no discussion planned except as highlighted a) Sign & Façade: Suzy Whitehorn, Eric Range, Leslie Lajewski, Tom Honohan, Karen Giambra i) There have been 4 applications reviewed and referred to the Borough Zoning Officer since the June DDC meeting:  Five Guys, 233 Main Street  Sunday Motor Co. Café, 27 Kings Road  Intrepid Gym, 82 Main Street 2|Page   Towne Gardens Apartments, 17-33 Madison Avenue b) PIC (Public Improvement): Suzy Whitehorn, Chair; Russell Stern, Bob Rocco, Peter Flemming, Brad Cramer, John Morris, John Hoover i) The committee met on Tuesday, July 16 at 8:00 am at HDM. The only topic on the agenda was the METC Park Project. The following areas were discussed and a site visit is being planned:  Project Background  Basic Aspects of the Project (a) Working with the METC to incorporate their programing needs (b) Incorporation of Public Art (Sculpture) (c) Tree Work (d) Sidewalk Improvements (e) Design Work  Establishing Potential Project Partners  Potential funding sources c) Marketing and Economic Development: Suzy Whitehorn, Eric Range, Bob Conley, Russell Stern, Leslie Lajewski, Deb Starker, Carla Brady, Melanie Tomaszewski, Jim Hollenbach, John Morris, Michael Pellessier, Karen Giambra i) Update/Timeline - New branding to be presented to Council, via summary, individual meetings and scheduled presentation. d) Arts & Events: Suzy Whitehorn, Deb Starker, Melanie Tomaszewski, Carla Brady, Tom Honohan, John Morris, John Pietrowski, Jerry Vezza, Karen Giambra, Michael Pellessier, Eric Hafen i) The first meeting of the Committee was held on Wednesday, July 17 at 10:00 am in the Madison Community Arts Center. The following is an outline of the discussion:  The purpose of the committee was reviewed and refined (see amendment to bylaws proposed above).  A list of current and potential future events was reviewed.  Director of Arts & Events Eric Hafen reported on upcoming programing scheduled and proposed for the Madison Community Arts Center. The first fundraising event, “Madison Swings”, for the space is scheduled for Saturday, September 21. 14) AD HOC COMMITTEE AND PROJECT UPDATES: These are listed primarily for informational purposes only the items highlighted will be discussed. a) Taste of Madison (March 23, 2020 Tentative): There was no report b) May Day (May 2, 2020): There was no report. c) Madison IntoYellow (TBD): There was is no report. d) DDC/MACA Sidewalk Art Gallery & Gala (inactive) e) Farmers Market (Thursdays, May 23 - October 24, 2019) i) Update: The weather has been a challenge over the course of the first several weeks but otherwise the market is flourishing. There was discussion of possible relocation sites for the 2020 season. Further investigation will need to be done. f) Drew University Town Tour (August 24, 2019) ii) Drew Voucher Proposal: Drew proposed that instead of the current system of Drew contacting the restaurants directly and arranging for the lunches, the students would each be given a $10 Chamber Gift Check. The discussion centered on the logistical difficulties associated with this plan. Over 400 Gift Checks would have to be printed. The consensus was that the program 3|Page  would be continued but as it has been done in the past and the lunch, allowance per student will be $10.00. Motion to continue the Drew Town Tour lunch subsidy program at a cost of no more than $10.00 per student and the program format will remain unchanged. Moved by: B. Conley and Seconded by: B. Rocco Voice Vote: Unanimous g) Bottle Hill Day (Saturday, October 5, 2019) a. Update: The planning for Bottle Hill Day is moving at a great pace. The Entertainment Committee has booked all of the performers for the stages. A volunteer to lead the planning of for the Beer Garden is needed and Russell Stern offered to take this on. Vendor applications and sponsorships are being secured. h) Downtown Concert Series w/METC (June 28, July 12, July 26, August 9, August 23 and September 6, 2019): There was no report. i) MACA/DDC Holiday Arts Festival (Friday and Saturday, November 29 and 30, 2019): There was no report. j) Rose City Summerfest: There is no report. 15) OLD BUSINESS: There was none discussed. 16) NEW BUSINESS – OPEN IDEA SHARING a) Restaurant Week (October 5-12) i) The DDC, Chamber and local restauranteurs are bringing restaurant back to Madison this fall. It is scheduled for October 6 through 11. An incentive will be offered to diners. Motion to approve up to $5,000.00 in support of Restaurant Week in October, details to be determined by the committee for marketing and promotion. Moved by: E. Range and Seconded by: J. Hoover Voice Vote: Unanimous 17) INVITATION FOR DISCUSSION FROM THE PUBLIC: There was no discussion. 18) ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn at 8:31 pm Moved by: E. Range and Seconded by: B. Conley Voice Vote: Unanimous NEXT MEETING: The August meeting has been cancelled. Thursday, September 19 at 7:15pm, Committee Room - Hartley Dodge Memorial Building. Executive Board Meeting TBD. 4|Page