By Susan C. Moeller / Senior Reporter

LYNDHURST (Nov. 18, 2009, 12:45 p.m.) — Lyndhurst Mayor Richard DiLascio promised concerned property owners that the township’s board of commissioners would not use eminent domain to take their homes and businesses as part of a redevelopment effort called Project Tomorrow. He also offered owners an opportunity to opt out of the planning board’s investigation of areas that might be blighted enough to be tagged for redevelopment.

The assurances came at the commissioners’ Tuesday, Nov. 10 meeting, after The Leader publicized the list of properties originally included in the Project Tomorrow resolution.  The resolution authorized the planning board to begin an investigation into several parcels of land for evidence of under-utilization or deterioration sufficient to justify a declaration that the areas are in need of redevelopment.

The resolution, which was unanimously approved by the board, contained a typographical error. And, because of that mistake, a row of homes on Lake Avenue was inadvertently included in the study area, DiLascio explained.

A number of property owners attended the meeting to express their concern about the future of their buildings.

“I am very nervous that you guys are going to do something that you are not disclosing to everybody today,” said Lisa Gurkas, whose home was one of those accidentally included in the resolution.

DiLascio apologized for the error, and then described the goals and objectives of Project Tomorrow — “to preserve neighborhoods and preserve property values.”

“It’s really designed to enhance the property owner’s value,” DiLascio said. “We want to see revitalization on Ridge Road, Valley Brook and Stuyvesant.”

The original resolution included numerous businesses on Ridge Road, but, DiLascio said, the board’s primary focus is the property it already owns or is negotiating to buy.

“We don’t believe in exercising eminent domain,” DiLascio said. “No one ever would come in and take your property.”

At the end of the evening, most of the property owners in the room had asked to have their lots removed from the study. One man initially opted out, but apparently changed his mind after listening to DiLascio and asked to be included again.

Robert Benecke, whose firm, Benecke Economics, was hired by Lyndhurst to help with redevelopment planning issues, added further detail to DiLascio’s descriptions of Project Tomorrow at a special meeting of the planning board Wednesday, Nov. 11.

The program will help commercial areas to flourish so that residential properties are not unduly burdened with support of the town, he said. And the program will help to ensure that property maintenance codes are equally enforced, Benecke said.

There are perks for those who participate, Benecke added.

If a redevelopment area is declared, property owners in it may be eligible for grants or tax abatements when they invest in their property. “That is a huge benefit,” he said.

“We’re not here to be adversarial,” Benecke said. “We’re here to be engaging.”

“This is nothing compulsory,” said Commissioner of Public Works Brian Haggerty.

“There aren’t any gotchas,” Benecke added.

The board’s amended resolution was not available for review at press time.