Visioning mtg consensus: Be more like Metuchen Fords and Hopelawn residents would like more of a downtown BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer WOODBRIDGE - Fords resident Lisa Daly said she just wants to be able to walk in downtown Fords on a nice spring and summer day pushing her baby in the carriage. "The streets are so poor," she said. "The sidewalks on the side streets should be a violation and the curbing should be replaced." Since the sidewalks are the property owner's responsibility, Daly asked township officials if there was any way to work with the township to come up with the best price to buy the material in bulk to fix the sidewalks. Township officials said they would look into the idea. Daly was one of over 50 residents and business owners in Fords and Hopelawn, who came to the Our Lady of Peace Annex on New Brunswick Ave. on April 9 to voice their concerns, which included sidewalks, inadequate parking, traffic, garbage and suggested stores and restaurants that could make New Brunswick Avenue in Fords into downtown Metuchen. The community "visioning" meetings are part of a $60,000 initiative to explore the township's business districts and the surrounding residential areas for changes to the township's master plan. Fords and Hopelawn are the second sections of the township that the municipality is looking at. Township officials held three visioning meetings on the Iselin section of the township over the past few months. Mayor John E. McCormac introduced a 10-point strategy plan for the area in January as a result of the visioning meetings. Fords is the fifth most populated section of Woodbridge, with 15,032 residents in 2.6 square miles behind Iselin, according to the U.S. 2000 census. Hopelawn is an unincorporated area within the township. Fred Heyer and Susan S. Gruel, principals in the New Brunswick planning firm Heyer, Gruel & Associates, moderated the meeting. Unlike Main Street Metuchen, New Brunswick Avenue in Fords extends one mile, officials said. Heyer and Gruel displayed maps of the existing downtowns of New Brunswick Avenue in Fords and Hopelawn. Genette Falk, who is a broker for Century 21 on New Brunswick Avenue said the inadequate parking hurts the business. "The parking prevents people from coming into my office," said Falk. "There's not enough ample parking." Robert Gawroniak, who is an associate broker for Century 21, said their business in Fords cannot provide quality business because they can't accommodate their customers with adequate parking. Residents and business owners suggested empty spaces for parking including the space behind the Olsen Towers Senior Citizens building. They also said that there is a parking lot across from Fords Jewelers that no one uses because it is inconvenient. "People illegally park instead of using the parking lot," said Fords resident Jeff Mullins. "People speed up and down New Brunswick Avenue and it puts a burden on Woodbridge." Joe Volpe said the problem is the people are not yielding to the speed limit of 25 miles per hour. "People barrel up New Brunswick Avenue," said Volpe. "You can't do that in Metuchen because the cops over there are known to give out tickets. People who come out here to shop have to worry if they will get hit by a car." Jessica McLelland-Ayers, who moved to Fords with her husband and young child five years ago, said she would like to see a cultural aspect come into downtown Fords. "I would like to see book stores and maybe a coffee house," said McLelland-Ayers. "I want to be in a downtown, which is aesthetically pleasing. It's like the saying 'if you build it, they will come.'" Paul Lund Jr., of Hopelawn, said he would like to see more artsy and antique shops for local artists and also to bring back the one-screen cinema. "Rather than fight the mobs at Menlo [Park Mall]," said Lund, who is running for a council-at-large seat on the Township Council in this November's election. Volpe said he would like to bring the people, who go to Raritan Center in Edison to eat lunch, into downtown Fords. "I understand the difficulty of the parking," said Volpe. "But I would like people to spend time in Fords." Raymond Miller, who is currently the chairman of the township Planning Board and has been a member of the board for the past 16 years, voiced his concerns that most of the applications that the board has approved in Fords and Hopelawn have not been completed. "We recently approved the former tavern on Crowes Mill Road into a two story office building," said Miller. "The place was subject to fires, shootings and it was a complete eyesore, but nothing has been done. We approved a gas station, which looks okay. We approved a childcare center on New Brunswick Avenue … it's been a year-and-a-half and there is still a sign on the building that says the childcare center is coming. These applications are not being built. Plus, you can't make a left turn on New Brunswick Avenue." Carl Ingrassia, who owns a podiatric office on New Brunswick Avenue, said the problem is the municipal process and the township engineers who work on the planning and zoning boards. "I applied to get 17 parking spots behind my lot," said Ingrassia. "The township said I could only get six because of the runoff water. My engineer presented a design that would hold all the water underneath my property. The township engineers did not like the idea and denied my application. I see 300 patients a week and I only have six parking spaces. Plus my staff is parking on the grass. The process needs to be looked at." Sidney Pater said he would like to see street fairs in downtown Fords. "This will bring incentive for new businesses to come into town," said Pater. "This will also reduce taxes when new businesses come in." Neil Valladares, of Fords, said he was interested in opening an old-fashioned ice cream shop in downtown Fords, but was concerned about the inadequate parking. Valladares' idea brought a round of applause to the residents of Fords and Hopelawn who attended the meeting. "The fear in me is the parking," said Valladares. "I can easily go to Metuchen to get ice cream and walk downtown and not worry." Gloria Frontera of Hopelawn suggested that a school and a small library would be beneficial to Hopelawn. Township officials said they would hold another visioning meeting on Fords and Hopelawn in the near future. Residents can e-mail Susan Gruel and Fred Heyer more suggestions at mail@hgapa.com. Updates will be posted on the township Web site at www.twp.woodbridge.nj.us. Citizens building. They also said that there is a parking lot across from Fords Jewelers that no one uses because it is inconvenient. "People illegally park instead of using the parking lot," said Fords resident Jeff Mullins. "People speed up and down New Brunswick Avenue and it puts a burden on Woodbridge." Joe Volpe said the problem is the people are not yielding to the speed limit of 25 miles per hour. "People barrel up New Brunswick Avenue," said Volpe. "You can't do that in Metuchen because the cops over there are known to give out tickets. People who come out here to shop have to worry if they will get hit by a car." Jessica McLelland-Ayers, who moved to Fords with her husband and young child five years ago, said she would like to see a cultural aspect come into downtown Fords. "I would like to see book stores and maybe a coffee house," said McLelland-Ayers. "I want to be in a downtown, which is aesthetically pleasing. It's like the saying 'if you build it, they will come.'" Paul Lund Jr., of Hopelawn, said he would like to see more artsy and antique shops for local artists and also to bring back the one-screen cinema. "Rather than fight the mobs at Menlo [Park Mall]," said Lund, who is running for a council-at-large seat on the Township Council in this November's election. Volpe said he would like to bring the people, who go to Raritan Center in Edison to eat lunch, into downtown Fords. "I understand the difficulty of the parking," said Volpe. "But I would like people to spend time in Fords." Raymond Miller, who is currently the chairman of the township Planning Board and has been a member of the board for the past 16 years, voiced his concerns that most of the applications that the board has approved in Fords and Hopelawn have not been completed. "We recently approved the former tavern on Crowes Mill Road into a two story office building," said Miller. "The place was subject to fires, shootings and it was a complete eyesore, but nothing has been done. We approved a gas station, which looks okay. We approved a childcare center on New Brunswick Avenue … it's been a year-and-a-half and there is still a sign on the building that says the childcare center is coming. These applications are not being built. Plus, you can't make a left turn on New Brunswick Avenue." Carl Ingrassia, who owns a podiatric office on New Brunswick Avenue, said the problem is the municipal process and the township engineers who work on the planning and zoning boards. "I applied to get 17 parking spots behind my lot," said Ingrassia. "The township said I could only get six because of the runoff water. My engineer presented a design that would hold all the water underneath my property. The township engineers did not like the idea and denied my application. I see 300 patients a week and I only have six parking spaces. Plus my staff is parking on the grass. The process needs to be looked at." Sidney Pater said he would like to see street fairs in downtown Fords. "This will bring incentive for new businesses to come into town," said Pater. "This will also reduce taxes when new businesses come in." Neil Valladares, of Fords, said he was interested in opening an old-fashioned ice cream shop in downtown Fords, but was concerned about the inadequate parking. Valladares' idea brought a round of applause to the residents of Fords and Hopelawn who attended the meeting. "The fear in me is the parking," said Valladares. "I can easily go to Metuchen to get ice cream and walk downtown and not worry." Gloria Frontera of Hopelawn suggested that a school and a small library would be beneficial to Hopelawn. Township officials said they would hold another visioning meeting on Fords and Hopelawn in the near future. Residents can e-mail Susan Gruel and Fred Heyer more suggestions at mail@hgapa.com. Updates will be posted on the township Web site at www.twp.woodbridge.nj.us.