Committee
Recommendations
Excerpts from the Committee's
recommendations are below.
Economic Development Corporation (EDC)
A local economic development
corporation should be established to facilitate, coordinate and
advocate for the strengthening of
Fair Lawn
’s economic and commercial vitality.
The corporation would be able to seek and accept private
grants as well as county, state and federal funding.
The corporation would:
-
identify and recommend zoning changes that would
stimulate better commercial design
-
develop materials and strategies to recruit new
businesses and investment
-
improve the mix and quality of goods and services
offered within the commercial districts
-
work with local commercial property owners, the
River Road Special Improvement District, proposed Broadway Special
Improvement District, developers and corporate institutions
The corporation would receive
funding as may be needed to undertake its advocacy and
programming. We envision funding for the EDC to be shared
equally between the borough and the private sectors.
Broadway Special Improvement District
Similar
to the River Road Improvement Corporation, a new improvement
district should be established which would have commercial
property owners contribute funding for proposed improvements such
as increased maintenance, improved district signage and
supplemental security to the area. These funds would be used
solely to improve the appearance, safety and security of
Broadway. (See
Broadway: Problems to Address)
On the basis of our review, our
discussions on the district’s vulnerabilities and the strategies
most desired to treat those vulnerabilities, we have prepared a
work plan delineating actions, strategies and programs that
address those vulnerabilities.
With the acceptance of our recommended work plan, the
committee will proceed to lay the foundation of the organization
of a non-profit corporation and will identify prospective trustees
for the corporation.
In cooperation with prospective
trustees and with the support of the committee’s facilitator
(Don Smartt), the trustees would incorporate, develop their own
by-laws and would present for formal adoption by the mayor and
council, their first year work plan and budget.
Radburn Shopping Area
The members of the Business
Leadership Committee, representing the many diverse constituencies
and interests from within the larger community of
Fair Lawn, have assessed the strengths, vulnerabilities, opportunities and
threats to the Radburn commercial area (encompassing the business
zones in and abutting the NJ Transit railroad lines).
Committee members toured the
district and drew upon the knowledge of residents and business
owners. (See
Improving Radburn's Commercial Areas)
Findings
of the Committee:
·
The current design of the streets and sidewalks
disproportionately favor vehicles over pedestrians
·
The district lacks pedestrian oriented and
aesthetically pleasing elements such as wider sidewalks, trees,
benches, and pedestrian scaled lighting
·
Residents, local businesses and commercial property
owners would be well-served by the strengthening of the district
in an effort to attract diverse businesses
Recommendations
of Committee
The
Committee recommends the
development
of a ‘streetscape’ project on the public rights of way
incorporating the design elements, which were undertaken and
completed on
River Road
and in many other successful commercial districts throughout the
state.
The Committee recommends that the
design element of the project be coordinated under the auspices of
the proposed Economic Development Corporation.
Funding for the design element should be sought from both
the public and private sectors to emphasize the public/private
nature of this project.
Deputy
Mayor Steve Weinstein (left) is the chairman of the
committee. Don Smartt facilitates the group; he is
also the District Administrator for the