The time is long past due for Union City Mayor Brian Stack to demand the resignation of the entire membership of the Zoning Board of Adjustment including its professionals. A review of the actions take by the Zoning Board these past two years discloses a complete disregard for the zoning ordinance of the city and for the quality of life of the city of Union City.
In the municipal election of 1998 thousands of citizens of the city volunteered their time and became involved rallying around the campaign of Brian Stack and his running mates against the candidacy of the Alliance slate of candidates who had controlled Union City for the previous dozen years. Upon becoming mayor in 2000 and especially since the election of 2002 the people of Union City were entitled to expect a change from the Alliance influence in our city.
The present Zoning Board is comprised of a membership, the majority of whom were appointed and have been aligned with the thinking and philosophy of the past. The professional advisor to this Board was first appointed more than 20 years ago. This has not changed.
In these past two years the Zoning Board has arbitrarily and capriciously handed out variances to the detriment of the quality of life of the people of our city. The present tragic parking problem in the city is a direct and proximate result of Zoning Board granting variances permitting construction without the necessity of providing the required off street parking. The result has been the loss of close to 1000 parking spaces in the streets of our city.
In addition, this Zoning Board had permitted construction in violation of the maximum permitted lot coverage. They have granted variances permitting coverage as much as 90% of the size of the lot. The zoning ordinance permits maximum coverage of 40% to 65%. The reason for this is to protect the quality of life of the people (retain open space).
To permit the present Zoning Board to continue will result in a betrayal of the people of Union City and the principles for which we joined together in the campaign of 1998.
It is time for Mayor Stack to appoint a Zoning Board who will protect the interests of the people of Union City and not cater to developers, builders and realtors who put profits before people.
Libero Marotta
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