Lion Gate Property Ordinance Vote Pushed Back

The Lion Gate property is going to have to wait a couple of days.

Officials were set to tackle questions about the property at Wednesday's organizational meeting, but have delayed discussing the ordinance until their Jan. 6 meeting. 

Mayor-Elect Michael Venezia said the ordinance was held over to keep the New Year’s Day meeting, where he and his slate of candidates will be sworn into office, a ceremonial affair.

Per an item in the original agenda, the new council planned to vote on acquiring the Lion Gate Drive property, Bloomfield Life reported. 

Current plans for the Lion Gate-Scientific Glass project call for constructing 104 townhouse units at 8 Lionsgate Drive off Broad Street near Bay Avenue, at the old Scientific Glass site.  Critics of the plan, notably including councilman Nick Joanow, believe the project entails serious risk of flooding and will contribute to overcrowding. 

The ordinance will allow Bloomfield to acquire the property for use as a park and recreational space through eminent domain.