Perhaps one of the most egregious errors the Planner committed to date is connected to the approval of 33-37 Orange Road for 46 units per acre in conflict with the Master Plan and the existing zoning code.
As reported by the Montclair Times, August 22, 2019 – “Montclair’s errors cleared way for 46 units” – A series of mistakes cleared the way for more than triple the number of units intended. According to Janice Talley the board intended to have a density limit of 18 units per acre. A phrase exempting building with a commercial component from the density limit was inadvertently left in place. The Planning board asked the council to amend the plan – it was on the 9/25/18 agenda but was never addressed.
The project at 33-37 Orange Road, named The Clair, has 2 commercial units. Despite the completion and occupancy of the project in 2024, the commercial units were left vacant until very recently (July 2026).
The Planner’s actions have undermined the health of community, encompassing the environment, traffic, parking, housing, open space, financial and personal security. The only “success” the Planner can point to is her singular accomplishment that transferred the wealth of the Historic African American neighborhood located in the former red-lined District 21 to out-of-town developers.
The recommendations have been part of the master plan for two decades, and yet we are further away from where we need to be than we were when these predictable outcomes were first raised as a concern. There is no action, just policies and statements that are nothing but virtue signaling.
The Montclair Times September 26, 2016 Letters to the Editor section featured a letter from Martin Gonzalez “Master Plan: Show us the money” that reported on Janice Talley’s response when asked what economic analysis justified her Master Plan recommendations. Her response is classic: “Planning was about muddling through and that Montclair simply doesn’t have the necessary data available.”
The Montclair Times 9-26-2013
Montclair certainly does have the necessary data; the Planner statement is patently false.
The letter writer’s concern was (is) Montclair’s high taxes. Thirteen years later, the Planner must be proud that Montclair has the highest real estate taxes in the State.
I performed compliance auditing for a living. There could only be an error rate of 10 in a population of 200. The 2016 Master Plan reexamination lists 217 recommendations and only 13 are complete. What kind of success rate is that? 204 errors out of 217 – is a massive error rate and indicates a high rate of collusion and complicity between town and business leadership.
The Planner’s own words should haunt her “there’s always the implementation, making sure it actually happens as it’s planned”. Planning for Failure – Part I of 10
The Master Plan recommendations are a promise made to the residents that is unfulfilled. This is disenfranchisement not democracy.
References
- Montclair Times, 8/22/2019, “Montclair’s errors cleared way for 46 units”
- Montclair Times 9/26/2016 “Master Plan: Show us the money”
Read the whole series on Planning for Failure:
Planning for Failure – Part I of 10
The Town is not spending a dime on new infrastructure – Part II of Planning for Failure
A poor record of accomplishments – Part III of Planning for Failure
Mission, New, Washington and Wheeler Streets – Part IV of Planning for Failure
Encourage smart development – Part VI of Planning for Failure
Finance – Part VII of Planning for Failure
Montclair Progressive or Corrupt 