Raritan Borough to Establish Redevelopment Advisory Committee

By Emma Uk

RARITAN, NJ - The Raritan Borough Council introduced an ordinance establishing a Redevelopment Advisory Committee, as redevelopment remains a contentious and confusing issue for residents in the borough. A public hearing and adoption of an ordinance takes place after an ordinance is introduced and is scheduled for Feb. 6. "There's been some concern from the public that the council votes to do a study, the planning board does the study and then it comes back to council, and there's just not enough information before we vote on it," said Mayor Nicolas J. Carra.

The nine-member Redevelopment Advisory Committee will help publicize redevelopment information and what’s happening between the council and the planning board. The committee will hold as-needed public meetings to discuss redevelopment, such as potential developer and financial agreements. The committee is required to put a 48-hour notice of their meeting, and the committee will include two council members – the mayor and a council person – plus two planning board members, two members of the public and three professionals, including the borough administrator, engineer and construction zoning official.