The next Jersey City Council Meeting (Wednesday, March 11 at 6:00 p.m.) will have a number of urbanist-related issues on the agenda open for public comment on their second reading.

1. Ordinance 26-010 (Franklin Avenue Bike Lane) — As part of the Enough is Enough Coalition and an organization committed to evidence-based street safety for all modes of travel, Better Blocks encourages its members to come out and show support for the proposed road changes that will convert Franklin Avenue to a one-way street for vehicle traffic and add a two-way protected bike lane. Two-way protected bike lanes improve safety for bikers and pedestrians and can provide a staging ground for emergency response vehicles. This is a critical first-step to improving street safety in the Heights of Jersey City.
   
2. Ordinance 26-013 (Creation of Zone 20 Permitted Parking) — Following the closure of the NJ Transit Park and Ride lot near the Liberty State Park light rail station to overnight parking, demand for on-street parking in the Communipaw neighborhood has surged. Ward A’s representative, Council President Denis Ridley, has introduced this ordinance to require on-street parking permits for certain residential streets in the neighborhood. This is another positive step for the city acknowledging the high demand for street parking and we encourage our members to come out and speak in favor of this change.
   
3. Ordinance 26-014 (Bird-safe Glass and Other Materials) — This has become a long-running controversy in Jersey City after it was introduced (and vetoed) last year. It was unexpectedly reintroduced without the Planning Division getting the chance to revisit and revise it. After considerable research and due diligence on the part of Better Blocks, it became clear that Planning that the ordinance did not reflect Planning’s intended mitigation strategies and was much costlier than the public had been led to believe [Better Blocks NJ]. The City Council has made some changes on height, Planning’s oversight, and exempting 100% affordable housing but, frankly, more amendments are necessary, especially for any projects offering affordable housing and the height coverage required by the ordinance.

We invite our members and followers not only to speak out on any of the aforementioned ordinances (no registration necessary for second readings) but to sign up now for the next city council meeting if you wish to leave a public comment in support of an amendment to the Powerhouse Arts District Redevelopment Plan to allow for 1,000 new mixed-income apartments, neighborhood amenities, and space for a public school at 150-156 Bay Street. 

Our goal is to sign up and speak early so we can all leave around 8:00 or 8:30 and then grab drinks nearby as part of a post-council speaking meet up. Even if you do not wish to speak, showing up to support policies you support matters. These sessions can be long but we hope a small gathering afterwards might make an evening in City Hall more appealing. 

If you wish to advocate for an item that is not on the agenda, like building housing at 150 Bay Street, then please: