Public hearings announced for proposed natural gas pipeline

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) announced four public hearings that will take place next month on the proposed natural gas pipeline that Spectra Energy wants to build through parts of Hudson County into New York.

If approved by FERC, the proposed pipeline would include the construction and operation of 19.8 miles of new and replacement 42- and 30-inch-diameter pipeline, six new metering and regulating stations, and other related facility abandonments and modifications in Linden, Jersey City near the Hoboken border, and Bayonne. The pipeline would then cross the Hudson River into New York to connect the company's existing pipeline infrastructure in the region to Manhattan and Staten Island.

Before FERC can render a decision on the project, it is required to hold public hearings.

Two of the four public hearings will take place in Hudson County, while the remaining two public hearings will take place in New York. One hearing has been scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 18, at 7 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Bayonne, at 669 Avenue C. The next evening, on Wednesday, Oct. 19, at 7 p.m., there will be another public hearing in Jersey City at Ferris High School, at 35 Colgate St. in Jersey City.

Public hearings will be held on Mon., Oct. 17, in Staten Island; and Thursday, Oct. 20, in Manhattan. Those meetings will also be held at 7 p.m. FERC recently released its draft of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed pipeline project and is now seeking public comments.

FERC officially refers to the pipeline project as the New Jersey - New York Expansion Project proposed by Texas Eastern Transmission LP and Algonquin Gas Transmission LLC (Docket No. CP11-56-000). To read the full draft of the Environmental Impact Statement, visit http://www.ferc.gov/industries/gas/enviro/eis/2011/09-09-11-eis.asp. Written comments are due by Oct. 31. - E. Assata Wright

Omni files for dismissal in BMC property dispute

In a lawsuit that has huge implications for the revitalizations of the Broadway shopping district, Omni Healthcare has asked for a dismissal in a suit over a piece of property it purchased from the previous owners of the Bayonne Medical Center.

The suit alleges that Omni did not pay the $5 million purchase price that was promised in the original agreement.

Omni intends to build Bayonne’s first nursing home on the property located on Broadway between East 29th and East 30th streets, adjacent to the Bayonne Medical Center. This is a key piece in the city’s medical profession zone that would draw more medical facilities to the area as a means of restoring economic health to the ailing Broadway shopping district.

A court hearing is set for Sept. 26 to rule on the dismissal motion.

Community outreach to donate clothing

Local activist Lucille Porter, in conjunction with Emmanuel Pentecostal Church in the Greenville section of Jersey City, will be doing a community outreach program that will donate shoes and clothing to the needy in front of Xtra Supermarket, 260 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Jersey City, from noon to 2:30 p.m. This is similar to a program conducted at Steven Gregg Park in Bayonne in the past.

The event will also feature the choir from her church.

“I’m even going to sing,” she said. “We’ll be giving out clothing, shoes, and toys.”

Those who wish to donate to the cause can drop these off earlier on Saturday for her to distribute.

“I’ll be there at about 10 a.m.,” she said.

Christie administration abolishes Council on Affordable Housing

The Christie administration on Wednesday announced that the reorganization plan to abolish the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) was completed as part of an affordable housing reform effort. Affordable housing responsibilities have been transferred to the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA).

COAH attempts to interpret court rulings about housing laws that towns build certain numbers of affordable units for every new market-rate unit. Some towns, including Secaucus, have felt that certain formulas unfairly pushed them to build more units than necessary.

"The governor and I believe every person in New Jersey is entitled to a safe and decent place to live, but that housing and land use decisions should be made locally," said DCA Commissioner Lori Grifa in the announcement. "The transfer of the functions of COAH to the DCA will enable that, and, we believe, will reduce the bureaucratic log-jam and frustration that has chilled housing development for the last few years. The Department of Community Affairs will work with municipalities on affordable housing, not against them."

Muralo sells building to Haddad for $3.75 million

According to a report in a national business magazine, the Muralo Company Inc. sold its industrial building to The Haddad Organization LTD for $3.75 million. The Haddad Organization is a New York City clothing firm, which owns facilities on East Fifth Street in Bayonne.

Located near Ingham and East Second Street, the one-story building has about 49,000 square-feet of space, and is no longer needed by Muralo, which is a Bayonne-based paint company.

OTW facility still in the works, despite ownership change at race track

According to reports, new ownership of the Meadowlands race track in East Rutherford, which is expected to take charge by Dec. 5, will not affect plans for the development of the off-track wagering facility being developed by The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority on Route 440 in Bayonne.