Nutley Community Preservation Partnership

Many mature trees were lost when the lot was clear-cut.

Bloomfield Avenue & North Spring Garden Avenue, before

Bloomfield Avenue & North Spring Garden Avenue, after

Upcoming Events... Upcoming Events... Upcoming Events... Upcoming

Our next general meeting is Tuesday, May 13. We're pleased to welcome Bob Summersgill of
the American Chestnut Foundation, which is working to restore the American Chestnut to America's forests. The tree was all but wiped out by a blight early in the 20th Century. Visit ACF.org for more information. (This program has been rescheduled from February, when it was canceled due to snow.)

NCPP Candidates Night Attended by More Than 300

The Candidates Night forum, held April 8 at Nutley High School, drew an estimated 300-plus audience. We couldn't be more pleased to see such interest in the upcoming election. To see an online video of the event, visit http://coral.nutleyschools.org/~webmaster/video/debate.html.

Thank you to all who attended, and to everyone at Nutley High School who made the event run so smoothly.

Second Annual Bowling Night Fundraiser, on March 8, was a great success!

The NCPP would like to thank everyone who turned out for our bowling fundraiser on March 8. It was a sellout crowd, a great time, and a chance to reconnect with neighbors and catch up on community events.

We especially wish to thank NCPP Vice President Janice Schoem for all of her hard work in making this event happen, and all of our wonderful members.

Recent News... Recent News... Recent News... Recent News...

Clover Street Application Approved

Six Homes to be Built on Former Farm Site

At a November meeting, the Nutley Planning Board, with the granting of six code variances, approved the construction of six new homes surrounding a to-be-built addition to Clover Street.

The plan was approved after a long approval process by the developer and a change in architect. Revised plans consist of downsized houses on the site and a reduction from an original request of seven homes to six.

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NCPP Participates in Earth Day

Starbucks Corp. Makes Donation to Group

Members of the NCPP were among those who picked up litter, spruced up parks, and planted flowers on April 19 as part of Nutley's Project Earth Day event, which drew an estimated 500-plus residents outside to help clean up the township.

Starbucks corporation, as part of the its Make Your Mark project, has pledged a $1,000 donation (Story continues)

Recent News... Recent News... Recent News... Recent News... Recent

Van Riper House before cleanup...

...done! Thank you to all of
the volunteers.

Neighbors Challenge Development in Court
Residents of Enclosure to Sue to Overturn Planning Board Decision
Several residents of the Enclosure Historic District have organized to stop construction of a project which they believe does not comply with current zoning laws or the township's master plan. The case will be heard in New Jersey State Superior Court.

The lawsuit was spurred by a developer proposal for remaking the site of the former Nutley Pools store on Passaic Avenue, near the intersection of Chestnut Street. The proposal includes the addition of several retail stores and office space at street level as well as 12 apartments above the new structure, along with the construction of an underground parking garage.

Despite a report from the township's planner, Kasler Associates of Springfield, the board ruled that the plan was within code regarding percentage of lot coverage. The site plan filed with the township states that the building will cover 32.7 percent of the lot; Kasler contends the lot coverage is "at least 65.8 percent."

In essence, the board ruled that because a portion of the building will be elevated, or on pillars, this area cannot be counted when calculating lot coverage, therefore reducing the proposed coverage to the lower number. Code defines lot coverage as "the total building area of all buildings on a lot, including uncovered porches and accessory buildings." Elevated areas are not specifically mentioned and are up for interpretation.
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To read the letter from local residents regarding the proposal, click here.

Garden Club Helps Spruce Up Van Riper Grounds
Dozens Turn Out to Plant, Pull Weeds, and Raise Awareness

On a recent rainy Saturday morning, volunteers from the NCPP Garden Club, the Van Riper Trust, and the Historical Society pulled weeds, dug planting beds, and generally cleaned up the grounds of the Van Riper House on River Road. Beds were dug, winter plantings were installed, and untold years' worth of weeds were removed in an effort to both spruce up the property and bring attention to the historical gem, the Van Riper House, which was built in 1703.

The building, lacking windows, running water, and heating, is in need of major renovation. While most of the historic details have been saved (including five fireplaces and a coffered ceiling), major work must be done in order to allow for public accommodation. The Van Riper Trust hopes to apply for a grant in 2008 in order to get the work going.