Business & Tech

Stakeholders Explore Ideas to Improve Downtown Summit

Residents and business owners suggested pedestrian safety, the city's historical status, religious institutions, senior citizens, and Wifi access be considered for inclusion in final downtown action plan, which is set to be released this fall.

Imagine a city with “complete streets” trimmed with illuminated crosswalks, bicycle paths, and vehicle and bicycle sharing initiatives, cohesive signage that lets you know you are in the downtown area, charging stations for electric cars, “green roofs” and “green buildings” to reduce energy costs, and transformable work and residential spaces.

This type of development could be in Summit’s future, as the city and its Planning Board just initiated a comprehensive planning study of the downtown area. But to start, the City of Summit and Edward J. Snieckus of Burgis Associates — the city’s planning contractors — hosted a town hall meeting Wednesday night in Council Chambers to gain feedback and ideas from business owners and residents. 

That feedback will be considered for inclusion in a viable action plan, which should be completed and presented to the public this fall, Snieckus said.

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To kick off the meeting, Snieckus outlined his preliminary findings and plans for downtown Summit and the surrounding areas —including Summit, DeForest and Morris avenues as well as Broad Street — focusing on economic development, marketing signage, parking inventory and strategies, streetscape, and connectivity to the downtown area.

Since parking inventory and access to it are so important to this plan, Snieckus said a separate public meeting will be held in Summit in the near future to discuss it. A date and time have yet to be announced.

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The planner highlighted the city’s strengths, which include a strong town center, a walkable public streetscape, architecturally detailed and scaled buildings, a focus on workplace and business, a strong connection to government services, access and connections to mass transit, a traditional street grid, public gathering spaces, several health and wellness opportunities, and a solid, functional web presence.

“Many communities turn to Summit as an example for where they want to be with their downtown,” Snieckus said. “I think you should be very proud. I’m sure you are very proud of your downtown.”

In many communities in Morris and Bergen counties, the planner said vacancy rates in office buildings are increasing and those communities are considering the creation of town centers in place of the office buildings. Those towns want to emulate what Summit has, he said.

“You have a significant feature and many others are trying to model the same feature,” he said.

Snieckus said there are several goals for Summit that will become a part of the city’s master plan, including the preservation and enhancement of the city's existing character and structures. But he said Summit also needs to:

  • encourage diversity of uses and activities to enhance the existing business environment.
  • assist Summit Downtown Inc. in creating a regional marketplace identity of retail, service and commercial uses.
  • refine existing and future regulations to contribute to economic viability and represent the contemporary needs of downtown.
  • encourage cooperation of merchants, property owners, residents and government.
  • continue to strive for an identifiable, cohesive district image, which is important to brand the downtown for residents and visitors.
  • recognize historic landmark buildings.

To meet these goals, Snieckus said pedestrian safety needs to be improved; streetscape features need to be expanded to create more pedestrian and bicycle linkages between activity centers; alleyways need to be improved for pedestrian activity; outdoor dining areas need to be enhanced; and building facades, the train station area and the park need to be improved. 

Right now, the city’s business areas are primarily used for health care and social services, scientific, technical and professional businesses as well as retail trade and financial services, the planner said. The first floors in the downtown are primarily used for retail followed by mixed retail and commercial uses, offices, public parking and restaurants. However, existing upper floor spaces are primarily used for mixed retail, commercial and residential, followed by retail uses and residential uses.

Gateways into the city, such as Broad Street and Summit Avenue, must depict to residents and visitors alike that they are entering the downtown area, Snieckus said. That can be done by installing gateway columns and banner poles, which could establish and reflect historic qualities that the city already has.

The planner also suggested improving alleyways by beautifying them with pathways, signage and more attractive building facades.

Public Feedback

Several residents had a lot of positive feedback about the presentation. But many residents also offered suggestions on what else should be included in the plan.

Councilman David Bomgaars noted that the plan did not include the many religious institutions that exist in Summit, and it should. 

“Get ideas as to what will attract those parishioners. There are weddings with a lot of people, and a lot of funerals,” Bomgaars said. “What will attract those folks into the downtown to shop or to use our restaurants?”

Denise Miles, a resident who lives in the city's senior citizen housing, said more thought needs to be put into what can be done for senior citizens as well as children. She also said meetings should be more widely publicized and offered to spread the word about any upcoming meetings.

Judith Josephs, director of the city’s community programs, said she would like to see consideration for bus stops and shaded benches in the downtown area for senior citizens to utilize. That way, they could ride into the downtown area on the senior citizen minibuses, and shop and rest at their leisure. She also said some crosswalks and sidewalks need to be improved.  

Summit business owner Leslie Herman said her main concern is pedestrian safety, as the corner of Franklin Place, Union Place and Summit Avenue is "atrocious." 

“I can look twelve ways ten times and I still sometimes don’t see someone trying to cross the street,” Herman said. “I’m especially concerned with the building of residences on Franklin and now you’re going to have a lot of people. You need lights on the crosswalk.” 

Robert Steelman, a licensed real estate broker based in Summit, said he thinks it would be more beneficial for the city to focus on the community itself to determine how to improve the downtown area versus looking at nearby towns, such as Berkeley Heights, Chatham and New Providence.

Steelman also said pedestrian safety needs to be improved in the downtown area, as he doesn’t feel safe crossing any street.

Miles D. Mac Mahon had a very positive outlook on all that Summit has to offer. 

But all too often, Mac Mahon said "a conversation about the city becomes a listing of complaints and expressions of resignation. This is a meeting about planning. My hope is that we can plan for a community of joy. Planning must go beyond real estate and utilities. It must plan facilities, not as goals in themselves, but as means to an end — to make Summit a joyful city."

Claire Toth, a member of the Historic Preservation Commission Leadership Committee, noted that the city is on the national register of historic places, and that should be included in the downtown plan.

“You mentioned a couple of different times the historic nature of some of the buildings. But having the entire downtown on the natural register is a huge asset and something that should be a part of the plan,” Toth explained. “Economic study after economic study has shown that historic districts are good for the economy.”

Toth also noted that the signage in the downtown, especially at the gateways, should show that residents and visitors are entering into a historic district. 

“A number of other historic districts throughout the area have a consistency of look throughout the downtown that we do not, and that segways into the second group. You talked about the alleyways, the markings, the signage. The signage in downtown Summit is all over the place. The colors are different; the fonts are different. It just doesn’t look consistent,” Toth explained. “If we’re rebranding the downtown, there should be a consistent look. Maybe you can’t make businesses go along with it, but anything that’s public should look the same so you know this is all downtown Summit.”

Nicholas Minoia, managing partner of Diversified Realty Advisors, suggested the Summit Hotel be included in the plan, as it is historic, it has been a big part of the community for decades and is within walking distance of the downtown area.

He also disagreed with Steelman, noting that it’s important to compare Summit to other towns and areas to shop, such as Short Hills Mall, to see what they are doing right and wrong.

Some residents called on city officials to help prospective business owners set up shop in Summit, including long-time resident Hugo Falls, who had a few bad experiences of his own. Mayor Ellen Dickson said the city is looking to loosen zoning regulations.

Mike McTernan, a First Ward Republican council candidate, suggested wifi zones and broadband access be offered within the downtown area, which would really differentiate the downtown, attract more business and a whole different population. Beth Kinney, director of the city’s Department of Community Services, said the city is leveraging the school district’s fiber network to two city buildings. However, she is not sure if the network would have enough capacity to expand beyond that but noted that the department is looking into it.

Christa Anderson, the city’s zoning officer, asked if it would be possible to promote late night activities in the downtown so residents feel they can safely go into the downtown area late at night and find something to do. Snieckus said they could look into limited entertainment after hours at restaurants.


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