News

The Planning Board split approval on an application for minor subdivision and preliminary and final site plan with variances for CP Management Group II LLC. The property in question, located at 92 South Livingston Avenue, was previously home to Bank ofAmerica. The applicant proposes to subdivide existing Lot 3 to create two new lots. The existing, now-vacant building would be expanded on one of the new lots to house a child care center, Lightbridge Academy. A Starbucks with a drive-through is proposed to be constructed on the second lot.

The Board closed its evidential hearing on April 11, including public comment, but decided to meet on the application one last time for deliberations among the members before voting on the matter.

Essex County, in cooperation with Livingston Township, North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, New Jersey Department of Transportation, and the Federal Highway Administration, will host a public information session to inform local residents, officials, businesses and the general public of the proposed modern roundabout at the intersection of Walnut Street and West Hobart Gap Road. The purpose of this session is to inform the public of the project’s progress to date, its purpose and need, and to solicit public input and comments. The meeting will be held at the Livingston United Methodist Church onThursday, May 23, from 6 to 8 p.m., with a presentation at 6:30 p.m.

At the Monday, May 6, Township Council regular meeting, after hearing more testimony from residents and developers, the Council closed a hearing that had been open for five meetings. The hearing was for an ordinance that proposed conditional use of block 6300 in the Coventry section of town, which would allow an assisted living facility to be built on the property.

Over multiple meetings, residents had previously expressed their concerns about the development, and subsequent traffic and safety problems it may cause. Their testimony prompted the Council to leave the hearing open as they awaited more information and input from the county and the developer.

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newark, which is constructing two single family homes in Livingston, will host a “Community Friendraiser” on Wednesday, May 15, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Livingston Senior Community Center. The event is free to attend, and light food and beverages will be served.

Habitat and the township are partners in this endeavor, said Jackie Coombs-Hollis, Livingston’s land use and planning administrator.

Habitat is hosting the event to build a strong relationship with the community as it builds homes in town.

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The Livingston Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying the driver involved in a hit-and-run accident with a pedestrian at the intersection of East Harrison Place and South Livingston Avenue.

At 10:23 p.m. on Thursday, police responded to Nero’s Grille on South Livingston Avenue for a report of an employee that was struck by a vehicle. When officers arrived, they spoke with the victim, a Nero’s employee, Larry Price, 36, of East Orange.

Price said that he had left work and was walking to a bus stop. He was in the process of crossing East Harrsion Place, walking northbound. Price said he was about four steps into the street when he realized that a vehicle was coming at him. He was struck before he could react. A dark-colored pickup truck, possibly a Dodge RAM, made a right turn from South Livingston Avenue onto East Harrison, striking Price in the crosswalk.

Dozens gathered at the Livingston Oval gazebo on Tuesday evening, April 30, to raise awareness for autism.

The Shine a Light on Autism event was run by Bob Gebroe, chairman of the Livingston Advisory Committee for Disabilities, who noted some recent troubling statistics that have been released about New Jersey’s autism rate and the importance of raising funds to support our children on the autism spectrum.

According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study released last month, New Jersey preschoolers have the highest autism rate in the country. The rate among children has tripled in a generation, with one in 35 New Jersey children being diagnosed with autism by age four, based on the most recent surveys. In 1992, the autism rate was at one percent. Nearly a decade ago, in 2010, it was at three percent. According to the study, the rate jumped another 43 percent from then to 2014. One in 23 four-year-old boys in the state is now diagnosed with autism.

The status of the superintendent search had not been mentioned at the April 29 Board of Education meeting before Rachel Selvin asked about it during public comment.

“We intend to have a permanent superintendent maybe in the next two weeks,” said Board president Buddy August, to the surprise of the audience.

“The Board has conducted an extensive number of interviews,” commented interim superintendent Jim O’Neill. “They have become fairly expert at finding a candidate to meet our needs.

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Livingston Philanthropies, Inc. (LPI) has begun a major campaign to purchase a vehicle for pick-ups and deliveries to the poor and homeless of Essex County. “Having moved 38,000 pounds of warm coats, thousands of pounds of family clothing, thousands of toiletries and cosmetics gift bags and myriad of other diverse donations in personal vehicles, LPI is overdue for a small truck,” said the Livingston-based charity’s founder and director, Jeff Friedman. “In fact, such a conveyance is essential to maintain our continued level of service and to assure future growth potential.”
As a result, Friedman has put out “a call to local car dealers and corporate employees.” He noted, “It’s not a huge stretch to imagine that local car dealership owners have been following LPI’s progress in the West Essex Tribune. Or, perhaps Tribune readers who hold corporate positions with major automobile companies are aware of LPI’s eight years of service to the ‘poor, homeless and disenfranchised.’

PINNACLE OF PARKS: At the Monday, April 22, Township Council meeting, township employee Jennifer Walker was honored for becoming a certified Park and Recreation executive, an achievement reached by only one other person in the state. Mayor Al Anthony congratulated Walker on reaching the “pinnacle of her profession.” Liliana Branquinho, senior and adult enrichment and special events supervisor for the township, said it is important for residents to know that “we have the pinnacle of recreation professionals in Livingston.” Walker thanked the township, her family, and her colleagues, many of whom came Monday with signs, for their support. MI Photo

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The new Littel People’s Park is expected to be ready for use this summer, according to township officials.

Township manager Barry Lewis said the area is being cleared this week, after which the floor of the playground will be installed. Once that is done, construction of the new playground can begin, which is expected to take about four weeks.

Livingston’s Department of Public Works removed the old playground, which was in poor condition, in January to make way for a brand new one. The new playground, which will feature a rubberized surface, has already been purchased.

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