Have Your Voice Heard on May 7th!

The Board of Adjustment Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, May 7th is the last and final meeting to speak out against the proposed storage facility.  This meeting will include time for public comment, and we need all hands on deck to make this movement a success.  The more people who speak out in opposition to the storage facility, the stronger our case is.There is strength in numbers and our coalition is prepared to show up. 

We are asking everyone who attends to make a public comment and we’ve prepared some talking points and things to consider when making a public comment. 

Things to keep in mind: 

• Anyone can make a public comment, but residents and Clifton taxpayers are the most influential commenters. 

• Your public comment should reflect your personal perspective and experience. This issue is personal to many of us, and that makes a strong case in front of the board. 

• It is okay to repeat comments - there is no downside to multiple people saying the same thing. 

• Voice your support and love for City Green’s Farm Eco-Center. Tell the Board how much you value and appreciate the community asset that is the City Green Farm Eco-Center and how the storage unit will negatively impact your experience on the farm. 

Here are some prompts to help you articulate your opposition to the storage facility:

• Use your personal experience in Clifton of City Green as a reference point. This issue is personal to many of us and we should say so!

• Show your love for City Green! 

There are many specific reasons to oppose the storage facility, including:

• A new storage facility should be placed in an existing commercial zone - not residential. This Use Variance is unwarranted.

• Industrial and commercial buildings will diminish the aesthetic and do not fit into the neighborhood. 

• Storage facilities are aggressively lit and will increase light pollution in the area. 

• Residential development/"neighbors" close to the farm creates more community and fits in with the neighborhood. Residents care about and participate in their community.

• Self-storage facilities are among the lowest tax ratables for municipalities. They take up valuable space in the community without contributing to supporting the community financially.

• The approval of this project would prioritize financial gain for the owner, an individual, over the good of the surrounding community.

• Storage facilities and the quantity of users will impact the quality of life of the community - from the potential for more crime to additional pollution.

• Storage facilities are land-consumptive non-places. They take up valuable space that could be devoted to other uses that better the community.

• The City of Clifton, Passaic County, State of NJ, and federal government have invested millions of dollars into preserving the agricultural history of Clifton and creating City Green’s Farm Eco-Center as a demonstration of local food production in an urban area. 

• The Farm Eco-Center hosts community gardeners, school field trips, horticulture therapy, high school interns, and volunteer opportunities. We want to maintain our neighborhood as a space for community engagement and as a beacon of sustainability and growth, NOT commercial development. 

  • Anything that diminishes the positive contribution of City Green should not be approved!

• What kind of community do we want to be? Are we the type of community that would put up a commercial warehouse next to an open space and organic farm?

Join us on May 7th and have your voice be heard! We need you to tell the Board of Adjustment NO new storage facility in a residential zone! 

Download our flyer to share with your community!

May 7th Storage Facility Flyer.

Download • 1.74MB