$2M Bond May Get Public Works a New Garage

The Livingston Council wants to bond more than $2 million to give the Public Works Department a new home, but it will have to compete against private interests eager to acquire the property.   

The council approved the first reading of an ordinance to bond $2,040,000 on Monday that will potentially move the public works' garage from its currently location at 357 S. Livingston Ave. to Okner Parkway — a little used roadway in the northwest corner of town. The vote introduced the bonding ordinance that will be up for the council’s final approval on Aug. 19. 

Mayor Rudy Fernandez said the move has been discussed for years. If the bonding is approved in August, it will give the township the green light to buy the property. 

“This will allow us to at least continue the dialogue,” said the mayor. “[Moving the garage] has been looked at by the township and also by other parties for quite sometime.”

The township wants to purchase 60, 66, 70 and 78 Okner Parkway. Located next to a township-owned baseball field, the low-trafficked side-street off of Route 10 is dotted with single-story businesses and undeveloped land. 

The construction of a public works’ garage would continue the township’s building of public buildings which includes town hall, the police department and public library. 

Councilwoman Deborah Shapiro cast the sole vote against the bonding ordinance because a private buyer is also interested in the property. 

Shaprio was in favor of improving the public works’ garage, but she criticized the township for interfering with a private sale and development on Okner Parkway that would add to the tax base.

“The property that we are looking at has been in negotiation by a private citizen to develop a sports complex there … that would be a benefit to the town,” said Shapiro on Monday. “We [the township] should not be interfering with that potential sale.”

She said she had conversations with the person “spearheading that enterprise” who said that sale was in the process of closing before Livingston “expressed an interest in this property. … Everything was lined up and ready to go.”

“I am all for the redevelopment of the pubic works [department] but not by virtue of taking away something — especially in such a late stage — where it was already going to go in.” 

Deputy Mayor Michael Rieber also voted to approve the bonding ordinance, but was not fully behind the move. 

“I’m not giving it all my support,” said Rieber. “We [the council] are introducing it to see what’s available.”

The mayor did did not seem deterred by competing against private interests.

“We do have a number of competing interests for this property, but nothing is set in stone yet,” said Fernandez. “... Ultimately, it’s making a decision that’s in the best interest of Livingston.” 

Located on the township’s busy main thoroughfare and near residential homes, the role and location of the township’s public works has outgrown its current capabilities. Among other issues, the property and garage are too small to adequately house all the equipment and vehicles under the care of the department.

The mayor also called the current location of the garage “prime real estate,” which could be sold if the garage moves and thus generate tax revenue for the township.

The properties on Okner Parkeway are by owned here different private businesses: 60 Okner Parkway Associates LLC owns Lot 8; R&K Associates LLC owns Lots 9 and 10; and Majestic Empire Holdings LLC owns Lot 11.

The four properties combined on Okner Parkway pay approximately $130,648 a year in township taxes, according to the Livingston Tax Assessor’s Office.