City Council Meeting: April 3, 2025
The Lambertville City Council met at 7pm on Thursday, April 3, 2025. They discussed the ongoing lawsuit, introduced a few new ordiances that will benefit the city, and answered questions from the public.
Public Comments
Shaun, a Lambertville resident, asked about DEP testing and the K Hov law suite response from the city. He wanted the response to have more impact, and feels the city can make concessions and variances for affordable housing. He mentioned the Wells Fargo property in the center of town.
The Mayor explained that the city’s response may be part of a legal strategy, and that wells are being tested.
Cindy Ege said all DEP test data was sent to the state.
Mayor Nowick said the Wells Fargo site was only capable of producing one affordable unit, and the Mayor plans to make seeking affordable units an ongoing function of the city.
He said Village Apartments is still a viable site. He’s had some contact with the owner, and if there is something to share with the public, he will share it.
Councilman Lide was at the courthouse in Flemington earlier in the day, and he explained what happened in court.
Kelly Grant, the city’s lawyer, argued for Lambertville. The presiding judge is new, and Lide was impressed with his preparation. He said the judge was comfortable making procedural decisions, but not decisions about substantiative issues. They must determine if the site is developable. The judge wants the parties to make decisions, and is waiting in abeyance.
He said Fair Share supported K. Hovnanian’s position, because the city has spent ten years on affordable housing, but Lide felt the city can convince Fair Share that it is now seriously working on it.
The Mayor said he is in contact with DEP, and the city website has resources for testing, the spill fund, etc.
Shaun said four people had their applications lost, even with certified mail. Councilman Lide asked if the application information can also be emailed. Shaun said no.
Jeff, from Wilson Street, said he spoke with some lawyers he knows. They say the town isn’t willing to go after the hill, because it’s toxic with 71 contaminated wells in the area, and a remediated landfill. He said the lawyers told him, “If the city has no chance of winning, we should put our money into something else—like elections.”
He worried that development on the hill will flood and leak PFAS into town.
“Historic preservation needs to be changed,” he added, “because you can build a giant box next to a historic home.”
John, a local resident, asked if Village Apartments was off the list, and wondered why the city hasn’t looked into filing a federal fill fund claim.
They Mayor reiterated that Village Apartments was not off the list. He said didn’t know if the spill fund applied to private land.
Councilman Lide interjected and said the does city have standing.
Council explained that Village Apartments land would need to be raised on the Union Street side due to flood regulations.
Councilwoman Kominsky said, “We need to be tinkering with the city’s standards, because we’re starting to see very boxy structures.”
She expressed support for a robust response to PFAS, and said the attorney is now starting to look into it.
Councilwoman Lambert said, “We need to look at creative ways to get involved to build credence for the actions that citizens feel need to be taken.”
Mayor Nowick said the affordable housing committee is doing good work. He hopes more people will attend the meetings and/or look at the records.
Historical Ordinance
The Council will soon release a new historic ordinance. It will help the city become a Certified Local Government, which will open up grant opportunities and possibilities to change zoning and protect the city.
When the newly written ordinance came back from the state in its final form, the state described it as “perfect.”
Four Historic Preservation Commission members were present, but only Lisa Easton spoke. Easton is a Lambertville resident, and a highly qualified architect with 35 years of experience and many professional accomplishments. She reviewed the ordinance and called it, “a labor of love.”
“Historic preservation begins at the local government,” she said.
The new ordinance creates actionable items for how the city renders decisions.
Because private owners currently can demolish historic properties, they are amending the 2002 and 2006 ordinance so that demolition requests have to go through the HPC. The 2014 ordinance was also amended, and they are putting it all into one document to make a compilation of everything.
This will allow the HPC in Lambertville to operate as its own body.
It also brings the city up to compliance on the state and federal level, and avails grant funding for preservation that also allows Lambertville to address threats.
The Mayor said yesterday’s meeting was wonderful, with lots of engagement. He said the historic commission will look at heights, etc.
Easton mentioned that the HPC doesn’t override any other commission.
Councilwoman Kominsky said she feels some of the design criteria is vague. She hopes that the historic commission could look at these structures going up next to homeowners where the height and details are “out of whack.”
“We got by with a smaller home and no closet. We made do. Now everybody wants a deck,” she said. “We’ve seen it in Ocean City, and we play with ‘is the top floor a bedroom?’ We can’t play with a five story building next to a two story. They encroach.”
Councilwoman Kominsky said she would love for the city to deal with that now, because it’s happening all over town.
Easton said the first thing the HPC looks at is appropriateness. Different architectural styles get applied in different areas. The new ordinance considers context for the neighborhood by tax lot.
“We have 24 styles of homes in Lambertville,” Easton said, “You can’t put a high rise next to a gingerbread house.”
Councilwoman Kominsky added, “People say, ‘Oh no! They’re gonna be the paint police,’ but it’s actually good. They help.”
Councilwoman Lambert said Lambertville wanted to become Certified Local Government because of the 100 year flood.
Easton said Hunterdon is inventorying all historic properties in the county.
Councilman Stegman said it’s a great document, and that Hurricane Ida pushed the city to figure out how to regulate historic properties.
“What do we have to do in the short term to have the commission comment on building outside the CBD?” he asked.
Easton said we could expand the CBD or create other historic districts, because right now changes can happen outside of the district—like taking down a porch.
The new ordinance combines four ordinances into one, with stronger language.
Councilman Stegman said he would like building changes to have to go through the HPC, and not just the Zoning Board.
Councilman Lide thanked Easton, and said he would support expanding the historic districts.
The Mayor expressed his deep appreciation.
Also acknowledged were Stew and Deb, who worked on the project.
The Mayor will introduce the ordinance on April 17th.
Farmer’s Market
Lambertville is getting a farmer’s market on Sundays starting on June 1st and running through October. It will be located in the library parking lot.
Construction Fees
Construction fees will soon increase. Councilman Stegman said most of the increases are under $10.
Expanded Cannabis Hours in the CBD
The Council approved an ordinance to expand hours for any dispensary that has been operating in good standing for a period of 12 months or more in the CBD.
Pump Station Elevation
The Council approved elevating the pump station at 2 Coryell Street. It will be raised to be above flood level.
More Resolutions
The Council passed several other resolutions, including one related to police academy training for new recruits, and one to provide appropriations.
As the Mayor introduced the 2025 municipal budget, he shared some advice Cindy Ege gave him when he first started out as mayor.
“Whatever you do, ask yourself how we’re going to pay for it,” she told him.
“I hold that in my head all the time,” he said.
The municipal tax rate increase for a $400k house will be approximately $39.
The introduction of the 2025 municipal budget was voted in.
Short Term Rental Applications
The short term rental application deadline was March 31st.
Sidewalks
The Department of Public Works surveyed city sidewalks and will be sending out notices. Trip hazards must be addressed by the property owners.
Public Comments
Judy from North Union Street said she still doesn’t know what the city is planning to do for affordable housing. She asked if Village Apartments is still in the running, and expressed upset about the development on the hill. She was unclear about the flood requirements and the HPC’s role in this new approach.
The Mayor said Village Apartments is not going to be part of the fourth round mechanism by the end of June, and won’t be part of the Fair Share Housing element for the fourth round.
Councilman Lide said the HPC changes allows the city to protect historic structures outside of the CBD by expanding the historic district, and they won’t need to rely on construction officials to determine significant damage.
Shaun said he had been asking for months about ground water on the hill. He wondered if the developer was aware that they can’t have rain gardens or detention basins.
The Mayor said he’ll look up an email that was previously sent in response to Shaun’s question, and if it’s not clear the Mayor will answer again. Cindy Ege brought up the email. The answer was that the developer needs to do a site plan, and the project still needs to meet the requirements for storm water control, but without an actual project it’s hard to determine or reject it.
Dave from Brunswick Avenue said there was a lot of talk about technology, but it’s hard to hear what is being said if people don’t use the microphones.
“We need to get that a priority in 2025. For citizens. For good government. You need to get it done,” he said.
Councilman Lide reiterated his story about the court case, because Dave couldn’t hear it earlier.
Stephanie was online. She asked if it would be wise to have someone from the HPC on the Zoning Board.
The Mayor said board memberships are set by ordinance, and the Zoning Board is the place for appeals, so there may be issues. He felt it was a good idea and will look into it.
Jeff said landmark and historic districts are interchangeable. If the level of PFAS is large, the federal government could get involved. He pointed out that with privatized clean up, a clean up contractor can work for the property owner.
“Putting 40 units of affordable housing on a contaminated site is environmental racism,” he said, and he also expressed concern that development at the Finkle’s site will impact traffic.
Councilman Lide said the hill is not a great place for affordable housing. The Village Apartments location is walkable, and he wants to show Fair Share that the city is working on nice affordable housing.
John from Hancock Street asked what designates something as historic since Finkle‘s had been there for 100 years. He also felt the Council was opening the city up for legal action if only dispensaries in the CBD can expand hours.
The Mayor said the attorney was careful in drafting the amendment for cannabis, and he felt confident in that. A survey determines if a property is considered historical or not. He cited The Strand as probably being notable, or important. Finkle’s, he doubted.
Councilwoman Kominsky said “opining about it now” was not a good idea.
Councilman Lide said cannabis tax revenues were $222,000 last year.
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