Harrison Redevelopment Agency Meets on Mon. August 12, 2024 at 1p.m.

On Monday, August 12, 2024, the Harrison Redevelopment Agency (HRA) will convene at the Harrison Town Hall on the 3^rd floor Mayor’s Conference Room at 1:00 p.m. This marks the Agency's first meeting following the announcement that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has selected a site in Harrison for a Toxic Sludge Plant aimed at processing Agent Orange sludge from the Passaic River and is having a Public Meeting on Tuesday, August 27. 2024 at the Harrison High School located on Kingsland Avenue in Harrison.

The proposed location is the PSE&G property which comports with a statement made by Mayor James Fife, who is also the Chairman of the HRA made almost two years ago at the August 29, 2022 meeting. That statement “Of course, you have the biggest piece Public Service,  the EPA is holding that up.  We were going to do some planning over there but the EPA is going to using it for the [Passaic] river dredge.  We don’t know how long that is going to be it could be 10 years.  But It is up to EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)  and PSE&G (Public Service Electric & Gas)  to decide what is going on there.”  Mayor James Fife subsequently denied he made the statement and has refused to take a position on EPA’s plan to build a Toxic Sludge Plant in Harrison.  Read more about it in our article entitled, Concealment, The Truth & Lies About EPA’s Toxic Sludge Plant in Harrison NJ.

Recap of the Previous Meeting

The last meeting, held on May 13, 2024, navigated a series of routine approvals and updates. Chaired by James Fife, the meeting saw unanimous consent on matters ranging from the approval of past meeting minutes to the authorization of bill payments and advancing redevelopment plans. Notably, discussions touched on the revised site plans for the former RCA property, indicating a focused progression on redevelopment efforts.

Proposed Parking Agreement

A significant point on the upcoming agenda is the resolution to approve an interlocal agreement concerning the management of parking facilities during events at the Red Bull Arena. This agreement involves a collaboration between the Town of Harrison and the HRA, which aims to streamline operations and revenue sharing from the parking facilities adjacent to the NJ Transit/Amtrak and PATH railroad lines.

The proposed arrangement outlines that the Town will manage the lots, with revenues being shared with the HRA. After covering expenses and Advance’s share, the net parking fees will be split, with any excess beyond $160,000 annually retained by the Town. It is not clear from the Resolution what the Town of Harrison, HRA, and the owner of the parking lots will get from parking fees on the lot.  Hopefully, someone at the meeting will clarify the financial aspect of the agreement.

Environmental and Community Impact

The meeting is expected to attract heightened public interest, particularly on the environmental ramifications of the proposed Toxic Sludge Plant. Community members are concerned about potential health risks and environmental degradation, which could stem from handling toxic materials within the town’s limits. The proposed site of the EPA Toxic Sludge Plant is in a residential community literally across the street from luxury apartment buildings and down the street from other luxury apartment buildings. Questions have been raised as to why the Mayor & Council and the Harrison Redevelopment Commissioners have not opposed EPA’s plan given the fact that it has taken the Town of Harrison 26 years to transform what used to be contaminated industrial properties into a residential community with modern luxury apartment buildings. James Fife, who is both the Mayor of Harrison and the Chairman of the Harrison Redevelopment Agency, has known about EPA’s plan for over two years but has failed to oppose the proposal to have what is now a residential community host the Toxic Sludge Plant.

The meeting is open to the public, and residents are encouraged to attend to voice their concerns and stay informed about the developments that will shape the future of Harrison.

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