FROM THE INDEPENDENT PRESS (NJN Publishing)
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
By PAT KELLEY
MILLBURN -- Requests for proposals for planning services in preparing the township's downtown redevelopment plan have been mailed to approximately 30 planning firms and are due back in Town Hall by 5 p.m. on March 19.
The 19-page document, which was mailed out from the Township Administrator's office, provides detailed information about the township and the redevelopment area as well as submission requirements for applicants. It notes that addenda to the RFP, including responses to questions received from planners, will be posted on the township's web-site, www.twp.millburn.nj.us by March 13. A pre-proposal meeting was held at Town Hall on March 2. Potential planning candidates were invited to attend this initial question and answer session.
All proposals will be reviewed by the township's Planning Board to determine whether the candidates meet the basic qualifications. A short list of qualified candidates will then be interviewed and a final candidate will be referred to the Township Committee for approval.
According to the schedule set forth in the RFP, all applicants will be evaluated by April 4 and interviews will begin on or about April 9. The goal is to identify a qualified applicant by the week of April 16.
Once a planning firm is hired, members will work with the newly-formulated re-development sub-committee to put together a downtown re-development plan.
Township officials also are looking for qualified traffic engineers to assist in evaluating downtown traffic and parking issues.
A request for proposal (RFP) for a downtown traffic study was recently mailed out to traffic engineering firms in conjunction with the RFP mailing for a planning firm.
The RFP specifically mentions problematic traffic situations including the congestion and queuing that occurs at the intersections of Essex and Main streets and Main Street and Millburn Avenue. In addition, it asks the applicants to address pedestrian safety and parking availability.
Applicants are being asked to identify and evaluate a minimum of three solutions to reduce traffic and enhance safety at the designated intersections.
Included in the RFP is an optional scope of work entailing an analysis of the intersection of Lackawanna Place and Glen Avenue, an intersection that officials say has line-of-sight and traffic safety issues.
Responses are due back on March 16.