DeFusco ATTACKS Planning Board! Rewards Developers! ONLY Doyle and Jabbour oppose!

Last Wednesday, seven members of the Council voted to increase lot coverage allowance for new construction from 60% [including egress stair from deck] to 62% [including egress stair from deck].

Only Jim Doyle and Emily Jabbour opposed. 

Make no mistake: this is a gift to the development community, who can build larger dwellings or larger decks and charge more per unit. It also "shrinks" the interior open space ("green donut") allowing a 2% reduction, reducing light and air for homeowners and tenants.   

This developer's bonus was sponsored by 1st Ward Councilman Mike DeFusco-- after the Planning Board had rejected it 7-1.  The Planning Board found the zoning change inconsistent with the intent and purpose of Hoboken's Master Plan; our Master Plan holds the donut sacrosanct. So does the Hoboken Zoning Board of Adjustment. (Note: DeFusco, who replaced Jim Doyle on the Planning Board, was AWOL for that meeting bringing his meeting attendance to a pathetic 50%.)

Now chew on this. 

Since protecting the interest of the development community is more important to Mike DeFusco than  protecting the residents of Hoboken, Mike DeFusco attacked the Planning Board-- that's the board he sits on when he's not playing hooky.   These are his own words, spoken to the City Council on July 11, 2018.

"Um, I feel frankly that the Planning Board is simply looking to maintain jurisdiction, not because its not good planning but because they are a bureaucratic board that looks to hold as much power as they can and I can understand why certain members of that board would like to see more projects go to them, it gives them more meetings to go to which gives them more play within the community, when it's our job as a council to define what lot coverage is. I spent 5 years on the zoning board and I can't tell you how many community dollars were wasted, were spent arguing this very topic, projects were approved or not approved this ordinance denies what a fire escape is and barely* impacts the donut."

-First Ward Councilman Mike DeFusco, July 11, 2018

*DeFusco admits this change impacts the donut, in defiance of the intent of purpose of Hoboken's Master Plan  ("barely.")  A 2% (or greater) increase in square footage per unit does not "barely" benefit the owner/developer-- it is a substantial financial bonanza at the cost of light and air to the neighboring residents. 

DEFUSCO DISSEMBLES (a.ka."bullshits") ABOUT "FIRE CODES" TO JUSTIFY DEVELOPER FAVOR 

In justifying his cash-bonanza to developers,  DeFusco dissembled about "fire codes" and the "law."  Snake oil for sale: 

• Obeying applicable fire codes does not require increasing building lot coverage from 60% to 62%.
• Obeying applicable fire codes does not require shrinking the interior 'open space' donut from 40% to 38%.
• Mike DeFusco does require developer cash funneled through PACs and Unions.  

FISHER, GIATTINO, CUNNINGHAM, RUSSO, RAMOS SIDE WITH DEVELOPERS

Let's call this, "When Good Lawmakers Go Bad."

Let's hear how former ZBA Commissioner Tiffanie Fisher justifies voting against the intent and purpose of  Hoboken's Master Plan, and overriding the decision of the Planning Board.

And Jen Giattino and Peter Cunningham, a.k.a. the Council Feather Flags*. Yep, they bow in the wind and can be moved around easily.  What the hell has happened to them?  All 3 ex-Reformers are responsible for ousting a competent steward of Hoboken's Master  Plan (Jim Doyle) to seat a political hack in the pocket of developers (Mike DeFusco), who cannot be bothered with attending meetings, who attacks the integrity and professionalism of those who do.  It is Trumpian: to appoint a person to a board who wants to undermine its objectives.

  *credit to Anonymous commenter

Fisher, Giattino and Cunningham own the decision to put DeFusco on the Planning Board; now they vote for developer favors with him.

I can't wait to see the reception Mike DeFusco gets from his Planning Board colleagues at the next meeting he decides to show up to!  Now that his colleagues know what he really thinks about them.