Planning Board Meeting Undermines Public Trust

The Planning Board’s June 5th meeting violated State Law and denied the public its legal right to transparency and open government.

Key violations include:

• The Housing Plan not made publicly available 10 days in advance as required by State law.
• No agenda published to tell residents about the meeting.
• No Zoom access was provided, cutting off remote participation.
• The courthouse doors were initially locked, preventing entry.

A Vote for a Flawed Plan That Ignores Residents’ Voices

Despite these serious violations, the majority of the Board voted to pass a controversial Housing Plan that fails to protect all neighborhoods equally. Councilman Wilson was the only dissenting voice.

• While overlay zones were removed from some areas of the 1st and 3rd Wards, the 4th Ward remains vulnerable. Every neighborhood deserves equal protection.
• The City’s own experts admitted no other New Jersey municipality has used overlay apartment zoning this way to meet affordable housing obligations.
• The plan violates legal precedent: The NJ Supreme Court (Mt. Laurel II) requires that affordable housing planning must be sound, suitable, and adjacent to compatible land uses. This plan fails that test.

It’s Not Too Late—Fix the Plan and Follow the Law

Mayor Wildes and the Council President Wisotsky have the authority and the obligation to correct course.

We Call on Mayor Wildes to Immediately Reopen the Process and Schedule a Legal Public Hearing:

To comply with state law and restore public trust, we request the following timeline:

• By June 12: Amend the plan and issue legal notice for a new public hearing
• By June 23: Hold a fully compliant public hearing on the amended Housing Plan

We call on Council President Lisa Wisotsky to schedule a Council Meeting to approve the amended Housing Plan:

• By June 27: Convene a City Council vote on a revised plan that protects all Englewood neighborhoods, including the 4th Ward

A Smarter, Fairer Approach to Planning

We urge the Planning Board and the City Council:

• Use common-sense planning that focuses revitalization and new development in areas that would benefit—such as South Englewood, South Dean Street, and commercial and industrial corridors, not in residential neighborhoods. 
• Act immediately to give residents the legally required opportunity to review and respond.

Englewood Deserves Better

Transparency. Fairness. Equal protection. These are not optional—they are legal and moral obligations. It’s time to do what’s right.

Our city. Our homes. Our future.

Join the Movement. Let’s protect them—together.