CentroVerde Developers Want Two More Stories in Exchange for Park

CentroVerde developers are asking the Montclair Planning Board to approve an additional two stories in exchange for a park, a request that could come to a vote at the Monday, Oct. 7 meeting of the board. 

Montclair Acquisition Partners (MAP) wish to bump the building proposed for the intersection of Bloomfield Avenue and Valley Road from six to eight stories. The developers told the Planning Board they would create a park in a nearby lot as part of the proposal.

Setbacks are also expected to be increased from five to seven feet starting at floor five in the amended proposal of the residential building with retail shops on the first level. 

At least one Planning Board member, Martin Schwartz, is publicly opposing the trade-off.

"We face a bulky, huge block of building design that is not optimum at six stories ... or a slightly improved building design with more set-backs at eight stories — mitigated by the paid for park and other substantial additional revenue," Schwartz posted on the Montclair Watercooler, a Yahoo Group.

Meanwhile, demolition of two former car dealership buildings is nearly complete to make way for CentroVerde.

Should the Planning Board approve the application? Share your thoughts in the comments.