Planning involves the identification of goals, objectives and expectations designed to meet measurable impacts, outcomes and outputs. At the end of a project or process, the impacts, outcomes and outputs should be compared to the goals and objectives set forth at the outset to determine the success of each project or process.
What happens when plans go awry due to poor planning, ineffective oversight, bad intentions, or worse dismissal of the failure to meet stated expectations?
At the very least there are wasted resources, including taxpayer funds, but worse, there is growing inequity, financial and environmental insecurity, and destruction of community. Exactly what is occurring in Montclair.
A search of the Montclair Times reveals over 380 references to Janice Talley, Montclair Township’s Director of Community Development and Planning since 2010. Talley possesses a professional planner license, however a review of the Montclair Times reporting on Ms. Talley’s actions between 1997 and 2019 reveals a very troubling pattern of a Township employee who consistently dismisses residents and planning board volunteers’ input and opinions on development in favor of developers’ interests.
In the September 9, 2010, Montclair Times article “Planning for the new planner” Ms. Talley was quoted “Ultimately the planner helps set the policy, working with all the other players, helping coordinate so all the players in the process are brought together and then… once we have our policy in place, there’s always the implementation, making sure it actually happens as it’s planned”.
Meetings held in 2012 to discuss updates to Montclair’s Master Plan promised a variety of transit options designed to reduce vehicular traffic. Group Melvin Design & Planning was paid to rewrite the plan. The cost was covered by a $200,000 grant from the Department of Transportation. (The Montclair Times November 8, 2012 “Going UP?”) Former Mayor Jackson was (is) a strong proponent for increasing density adjacent to the Township’s train stations to create ratables to offset rising property taxes. Although, evidence shows Montclair has the highest real estate taxes in the State, decidedly as a result of the increased density Jackson promoted.
As reported by NJ.com February 11, 2026 “NJ property taxes just hit another record high. See the town-by-town bills”. Montclair has the highest average property taxes in the state as a percentage of average property value. Even viewed as an absolute value, Montclair’s average real estate taxes rank number 13 out of 564 municipalities. This is not the outcome of increased density residents were promised.
In the same Montclair Times article dated November 8, 2012 referenced above, Robert Melvin (proprietor of Group Melvin Design & Planning) claimed growth is essential to Montclair’s future “it helps in the long-term sustainability, the economic sustainability and if you are promoting walking, environmental sustainability.” A decade and a half later, the opposite of this vision has been achieved. The Township is plagued by high taxes that, combined with treacherous crowded roadways, threaten the financial, environmental and personal security of all residents.
References
- Montclair Times 9/9/2010 “Planning for the new planner”
- Montclair Times 11/8/2012 “Going UP?”
- NJ.com February 11, 2026 “NJ property taxes just hit another record high. See the town-by-town bills”
Read Part II, the next installment of the series Planning for Failure: The Town is not spending a dime on new infrastructure – Part II of Planning for Failure
Montclair Progressive or Corrupt 