Township Committee Hears Concerns Over Business Improvement District

In the face of criticism from two prominent members of the township’s business community and in the absence of its most vocal supporter, Springfield’s Business Improvement District was voted into law.

The business improvement district was and is headed by consultant Beth Lippman, who has run similar efforts in Livingston and Pompton Lakes. Under the terms of the Business Improvement District, businesses in the district collectively pay for improvements, promotions and maintenance.

The plan assesses and makes recommendations for all three of Springfield’s major shopping districts: the Morris Ave. downtown area, Mountain Ave. and route 22.

Two representatives from longstanding township businesses objected to the fees for collective improvements they said the improvement district would entail. While they agreed that improving Springfield’s downtown was a laudable goal, they argued that asking businesses to pay additional fees is unfair, particularly in the present economic climate. Officials and administrators argued that the cost would be minimal, and that the improvements were necessary.

Brad Denning of said his business has been hurt by the economy and that paying the BID fees would further stress his finances.

“I hardly see the benefit in taxing the businesses that are left in this town,” Denning said.

noted the recent extensive improvements undertaken at his Morris Ave. office, and objected to paying for businesses that are not making similar efforts.

“I think it’s unfair for us to be taxed for someone else’s benefit,” Singer said.

Singer believes delinquent property owners will have less incentive to improve their buildings if property owners are coerced to collectively pay for rehabilitation. He suggested that the township instead condemn buildings to force property owners to make improvements or relinquish the buildings.

Committee members and Township Administrator Anthony Cancro expressed confidence in the BID, noting that similar efforts have been successful in other municipalities. Springfield Mayor Hugh Keffer stressed that the business owners would have control over the BID’s direction.

“You, as a business owner, can choose the budget,” Keffer said.

BID steering board members spoke against an amendment that pulled properties, mainly industrial and manufacturing, from the list of BID properties. Steering board members argued that all business owners should take part in the bid.*

There was some concern about the methods through which the BID could raise money, with Singer expressing wariness over a clause in the BID ordinance allowing the bid to fund external improvements through grants and loans.

Committee member Jerry Fernandez has been a vocal champion of the BID, taking an active roll in the organization since it was introduced in August of last year. He was not at the meeting due to the death of his grandfather.

The ordinance amending the BID was passed 3-1, with Marc Krauss voting against it.

*The original article reported that Springfield Patriot Chamer of Commerce co-chair Scott Seidel argued that all business owners should take part in the bid. That was misleading. He objected to removing properties that were mostly or entirely office buildings or commercial properties (Classified as  "4A" properties) from the BID.