Montclair Council Says 'No' to Eight Stories for CentroVerde

CentroVerde building No. 2 will remain six-stories tall.

The Montclair Planning Board's recommendation to deny developers a site plan amendment which would add two stories to a building proposed for Montclair Center was accepted by the mayor and council Tuesday night.

Representatives of Pinnacle Properties and LCOR, developers of the CentroVerde project, came before the Planning Board in recent months requesting approval for an 8-story, mixed-use building at the corner of Bloomfield Avenue and Valley Road, also known as building No. 2.

The developers asked for an additional two stories in exchange for funds to create a park out of a nearby municipal parking lot, as well as pay for streetscape improvements in the area. 

Third Ward Councilman Sean Spiller, who represents the area where CentroVerde is located, was the first to express his opinion at Tuesday night's council meeting.

"When looking at the project in totality, I would not feel comfortable supporting the additional stories for what has been offered," Spiller said.

Following Spiller, the other members of the council as well as the mayor expressed their reasons for accepting the Planning Board's recommendation.

Second Ward Councilwoman Robin Schlager and Fourth Ward Councilwoman Renee Baskerville both said they had heard nothing but opposition to eight stories from residents.

Deputy Mayor Bob Russo said while high-rises are not the "character" of Montclair, the township down the road will need "some development that increases our tax base and our ratables."

Councilman-at-Large Rich McMahon, who sits on the Planning Board, said despite having heard from people in favor of the developers' proposal, he would not ask to amend the redevelopment plan. 

McMahon said there are already a couple of seven-story buildings in town. Sections of the Siena building at Church at South Park streets a few blocks from the CentroVerde site are seven-stories tall.

"Since no one seems to be aware of them apparently, they are not the eyesore everybody thinks," he said.

Phase 1 of the CentroVerde project also includes a six-story, mixed-use building on Valley Road, as well as an existing parking deck. Phase 2 entails a lot at Bloomfield Avenue and Valley Road, where an approved redevelopment plan allows for a six-story apartment building or an eight-story hotel.

Pinnacle is expected to announce a potential hotel partner before the end of the year.