Last night, I attended the special Village Board meeting on Orange Avenue.  It was not as largely attended as the Planning Board meeting a few months ago, but overall, good citizen participation. 

The most amazing part for me was one of the speakers during the Public ‘open session’ where citizens can make comments to the Board.   In attendance was the fourth great grandaughter of John Suffern, founder of Suffern, NY.  Carolyn Suffern Johnson flew in from Knoxville, TN to give remarks around her thoughts for the Urban Renewal project on Orange Avenue, based upon her family’s founding of Suffern.

You can go to www.orangeavenueproject.comfor more detailed interviews, pictures and information that she shared—which will be up in a few days on the SocialChord page dedicated to this robust discussion.

What I did want to share in this blog is the following message she wrote for me to share with Suffernites!

“I have been here once before in 1986.  I have done all my research on MSN bird’s eye view maps, which show no topography.  I was stunned by the beauty of this Village when I got here!  I also was taken by the charm of Lafayette Ave.  I have seen very few downtown areas that seem as vibrant.  I envy those of you who live here!”

The Village Board, by unanimous vote, accepted and adopted next steps to renew Orange Avenue.  Since I started out against this project; the details that were shared by the engineering firm and the real estate attorney were MUCH more improved, detailed and specific.  For a look at the plan, go to our Village goverment website: www.suffernvillage.comto download the plan under the “urban renewal” section.  Through Dagan LaCorte’s leadership, and his ability to better partner with concerned citizens, business owners and community members, the next steps are very open to citizen committee participation.

I would like Dagan, The Mayor and the other Trustees to continue to ‘go green’ on this project, really understand infrastructure concerns and impacts, build the citizen committe that really takes into consideration what would beautify this area and be ready for NJ Transit’s “one-seat ride” from Suffern and finally, NO use of eminent domain with one more shot at how to get David Chen, commercial building owner, to sell.

This is a reminder that next Monday, Oct 6th, is our next Suffern Village Board meeting around Orange Ave development.

I encourage all of us in District 11 to attend and understand if our Village Board members will take the advice of our Suffern Planning Board.

It is critical we continue to understand if the good suggestions of our planning board will be thoughtfully aligned to by our Trustees and Mayor/Deputy Mayor.

What a 48 hours, as I reflect today, Sept 11th, I am thankful for the opportunity to engage and support our neighborhoods and District 11 around Orange Avenue.To all those neighbors in the West Ward, on Chestnut Street, in the Park Avenue Condos, Park Ave, and lower Lafayette, many thanks for your input by email or your actual appearance at last night’s Village Planning Board meeting.   Beth and I, with your support and help, organized our 1st ’solution’ for the Orange Avenue Project.  We had created some questions that were circulated to help about 150 in attendance better understand the details of this plan and proposal.  It was through your individual perspective, opinion and suggestions that resulted in a vote to approve the project moving forward; however, with additional citizen driven requests met:

• Remove Phase II and III.
• Remove eminent domain.
• Go with MR50 zoning (I have to better understand this requirement)
• Go with 4 stories vs. 6.
• Help the Planning Board understand why part of Orange Ave, closer to Lafayette, was excluded.

Additionally, and more amazingly, it was identified that the citizens in the room want to help Suffern better understand what its downtown needs to bring residents to shop, eat, and be entertained.  They want to bring their marketing, promotional and online skills to the Village and to compliment the Chamber of Commerce and Rotary.  Other citizens brought to light more parking problems and there is an opportunity for our Village Board to understand, embrace change and make Suffern more shoppable and visitable!Finally, many people moved here and believe that Suffern is on the brink of “cool.”  All our answers to any problem or opportunity will be found amongst our citizens.  Let’s look there and build bridges. -Tara