Muhlenberg Study Needs Six Months

The planning firm up for consideration Monday for the Muhlenberg study projects a six-month process that includes four community meetings, two of which will broadly involve the public and stakeholders in a visioning process.

Public outreach is named as "Task 1" in the scope of services proposed by Heyer Gruel & Associates. A kickoff meeting with city planning staff will have three goals, according to documents in the packet for Monday's meeting: "to refine and confirm the work program and schedule; to define the community participation including preliminary identification of stakeholders; and to preliminarily identify key issues as the city and community sees them."

The early work will also include "a tour of the site and surrounding area with city officials and key project personnel to get a sense of the issues in the field."

To many in the quiet residential blocks around the shuttered Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center, the main issue is rejection of  the 600-unit apartment complex proposed by JFK Health Systems, owner of the property. JFK began promoting its plan last year and recently asked the City Council to agree to zoning changes that would permit the project. Last month, Rev. Gerald Lamont Thomas of Shiloh Baptist Church told the council he and others have been working for the last 14 months with JFK Health Systems "to keep a hospital presence as well as developing the land."

But not even possible loss of remaining medical services on the site has overcome the objections of residents who see the development as too much for the neighborhood.

The full document detailing the proposed scope of services for the study is available in the City Clerk's office and also in the council packet for Oct. 7 at the Plainfield Public Library's reference desk.

JFK Health Systems has made its rationale for development clear in this section of the Muhlenberg Moving Forward web site more than a year ago. Thomas conveyed a sense of urgency last month in his remarks, warning that JFK would leave if its proposal was not accepted. The proposed city-backed study may prolong the decision-making progress, but residents who have their back up over pressure from JFK are calling for a large turnout Monday in support of the study.

The meeting is 7:30 p.m. 8 p.m. in Municipal Court, 325 Watchung Ave.

--Bernice

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