The current debate about how these multi-unit housing projects will affect revenue do NOT INCLUDE significant controversy about a new hotel proposed to be build AT GLENPOINTE. There seems to be broad resident acceptance that literally 8 years (2007) after the Township had given the Sansari firm new zoning approval for building a high-rise apartment complex (a project for which no ground was ever broken), the firm had again sought new approvals – this time for a hotel . The PROJECTED addition of over $750 annually of new revenue from the hotel’s TAXES – when added to the revenue generated for the town from the guest’s occupancy tax – probably makes it a win-win. However, it is noteworthy that after getting all the new approvals, there is again no movement at the site itself!
The development debate, however, is not about that hotel but about the value for the town of approving many very large multi-unit housing proposals most of which do not include (indeed specifically exclude) commercial elements. Multiple articles heralding these potential revenue gains have appeared in Township reports and in various local media. Indeed, official Township entities have, in the past 8 months been moving rapidly to approve multiple “specific-location” changes/amendments to the Township’s 2007 Master Plan, none of which would have been permitted under the original Master Plan and its related zoning rules. Almost all of the projects remain what Township tax assessor describes as being “speculative”. One (Alfred Avenue) is not expected to materialize at all in less than a decade (2026) at best. Still, Tax Assessor Jamie Tighe has recently developed a report sent to the Township Manager and now circulating widely in town that attempts to claims that were all of these projects to be approved and implemented, the Township would see an increased revenue of many millions in tax revenues that are described as not involving significant increases in public expenditures to accommodate them and their new residents.
Assessor’s Project List with Assessment Projections
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One more question: what is the status of the most heralded revenue generator (sans cost) “development project — the two-sided digital billboard that was to have been plced at the Englewood/Teaneck border on Route 4 heading west. A bid that promised to generate up to $240K per year was accepted by the Council (split vote). The “winning bidder” to lease the property and set up the two-faced billboard is trying to get the state’s DOT to approve the project but to do so – reportedly – the company must figure out how to 
keep an business owner from inside the Alfred Avenue area to NOT exercise its right to put up an approved bill board which would immediately invalidate the billboard proposed by the Township. So after Council approved the leasing company’s bid last summer, the winner did not return the signed agreement for several months. Then no action. As recently as January the company asked the town to extend the time from when it had promised to move ahead with its plan – and got a short extension. Then the company again asked Teaneck to give it much more time and Council in April 2016 did just that with a resolution that gives the company until the end of January 2017 to sort out all of the regulatory problems . Meanwhile the actual status of potential approval by DOT for the one on Township land is apparently not known. What was it that Council told itself in December 2015 told the Council on its retreat? – “This is simple, let’s just do it” and discussed not being deterred by “treehuggers”. There was far more to it than that, obviously. It is unclear when Council or the Manager will actually fully level with residents about what is going on with the billboards project.
Immediately below: One of many media stories and editorials criticizing the proposed Avalon Bay multi-unit residential facility at the current World of Wings site.
