Tenafly council names redeveloper for Clinton Inn site
The borough approved a redevelopment agreement for a mixed-use Clinton Inn project with 95 homes, 20 affordable units, a 200-room hotel, and a $1,000,000 community benefit.
Two hosts walk through the week’s edition in conversation — designation of 145 dean drive llc, downtown committee and pool/programming updates, and what’s coming next. Generated by Aware, from this week’s verified summaries.
The agreement gives the borough more control than a standard site plan review, with quarterly updates, financial disclosures, and deed restrictions that keep the hotel from turning into housing.
A long-planned site finally got its next vote. The Mayor and Council unanimously approved Resolution R26-275, naming 145 Dean Drive LLC as redeveloper for the Clinton Inn property and adopting a redevelopment agreement for four lots along Dean Drive. Before the vote, Jamie Corsair disclosed that she works in-house for an entity that would rent and sell units in the project, and said claims that she had a financial stake were false.
David Fanslau said the agreement caps years of planning that began with a 2020 redevelopment designation and continued through a redevelopment plan hearing in 2022. He tied the latest version to Tenafly’s 2025 housing element and fair share plan, when the site became a sticking point in mediation over affordable housing. The revised plan swaps out an assisted living concept for 95 residential units, including 20 affordable units, while keeping a 200-room hotel. Fanslau said the project would include a banquet venue for 500, a restaurant open to hotel guests and residents, a grocery venue, a wellness facility, and safer pedestrian connections on the property.
The agreement adds conditions the borough would not usually get through ordinary site plan review, Fanslau said. The redeveloper must provide quarterly updates and proof of financial commitments, use in-house leasing and an in-house real estate agent, and get written borough consent before selling or leasing parts of the property. The deal also requires a $1,000,000 community benefit, with traffic improvements first and the balance reserved for open space or recreation work. The next major step is site plan review under the redevelopment framework the council just approved.
Downtown committee and pool/programming updates
Summer amenities are open, and downtown ideas are taking shape. Jenny Jackson told the council that the new pool is open, the new playground is open, and swim team enrollment is still available ahead of meets that begin in July.
Jackson said the downtown committee met the night before and discussed a student art banner project tied to the schools. The idea is to have students submit artwork for banners displayed downtown, a step she said could bring students and families into the business district.
The committee is also exploring a screen-free community event downtown. Jackson said the concept came from a local entrepreneur behind a company called Compana and would invite families, teens, and middle school students to spend a night off their phones with activities and restaurant participation. She said organizers were reaching out to restaurants including Axia and Simply Vietnamese and aiming for late summer or early fall. No votes were taken.
East Hill dog rules draw pushback
The council reviewed a revised resolution on dog-walking rules for the East Hill property near the Nature Center, then heard extended public comment on access, parking, wildlife, and enforcement. Afterward, borough officials said the measure was meant to tighten and formalize existing rules, not clear the way for development.
The rules affect where residents can walk dogs and how a sensitive public property will be managed.
Council introduces sewer machine bond ordinance
The council unanimously introduced Ordinance 26-21 to finance a new sewer jetter/vacuum machine for the Department of Public Works, with a $600,000 appropriation and borrowing authorization. A public hearing is set for July 13, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. or soon thereafter.
land/acquisition
Road scan data will shape paving
Staff showed an AI-based scanning system that logs pavement conditions and roadside assets while crews drive borough streets. They said the data should help Tenafly choose roads for added paving, estimate quantities and costs, and line up work with the Riverside Cooperative contractor between August and October.
Better road-condition data could shape which streets get paved next and how paving money is spent.
Complete Streets ordinance heads to hearing
The council introduced a Complete Streets policy on first reading and set a public hearing for September 8, 2026. The discussion framed it as a broad street-safety and grant-support measure, and one public commenter backed the idea while asking for dimmer electronic sign settings at night.
The policy could shape future street design and strengthen grant applications for pedestrian and traffic safety projects.
- Tenafly Mayor and Council. A member of the public praised the complete streets policy effort and credited advocacy groups for encouraging towns to adopt such ordinances. The speaker also supported the new electronic sign but urged a nighttime brightness reduction and recommended limiting the number of rotating messages so drivers can read them safely.
- Tenafly Mayor and Council. A second resident praised DPW’s storm response and described how DPW cannot move trees entangled with live wires until utility crews address the wires. The resident emphasized that DPW crews must coordinate with utility crews to avoid fatalities and noted crews were out clearing streets after the storm.
- Tenafly Mayor and Council. During public comment, a resident urged prioritizing pedestrian safety and lower speeds (including Vision Zero concepts), questioned spending on very old traffic-light controllers, and requested specific signal replacements. The resident also raised an unresolved stop-line repainting issue and criticized July 4 lightning safety and communications around the delayed fireworks and emergency response needs.
- Tenafly Mayor and Council. After the initial speaker, the Mayor asked if anyone else in chambers or on Zoom wished to speak. No additional public comments were made, and the Mayor closed the public comment period.
- Tenafly Mayor and Council. During opening public comment, a member of the public asked for information about guidelines, paperwork, access, and costs for use of municipal spaces and raised concerns about noise and crowd control related to FIFA events coinciding with church services and a feast weekend. Officials responded that the administrator was addressing the issues and explained the permit process generally.
What we didn’t fit in this Sundays edition
Tenafly had 53 more items this week. Here are sixfour — the rest are on Aware.
- GOVERNANCEPolice chief departure and recognition event. Council members reported that Chief Chamberlain would leave on July 30, with a reception at the police station/firehouse, and said a ceremonial swearing-in for the deputy chief as new chief would be scheduled. Another committee report also urged residents to attend the event recognizing the retiring chief.
- GOVERNANCEFood truck permit loophole discussion and potential code clarification. Officials discussed a perceived loophole allowing food trucks to obtain an annual permit for 100 hours and then park repeatedly or for consecutive days at a location. The Council debated balancing revenue and business opportunities against impacts on downtown restaurants, and directed staff to return with parameters and input, including from the Chamber.
- GOVERNANCEPublic hearing and adoption: dumpsters for multi-family and non-residential structures (solid waste management). The Council held the public hearing and adopted Ordinance 26-17 amending Chapter 19 (Solid Waste Management) to add a section on dumpsters for multi-family and non-residential structures. No public comments were offered, and the ordinance passed unanimously.
- GOVERNANCETree management ordinance practices and tree fund expenditure concerns. The Council discussed a draft tree management ordinance and related resolutions, including state compliance and allowable uses of tree-related funds. Council members raised concerns about preventing “slush fund” spending, avoiding double-paying for work already done by staff, coordinating with utilities, and balancing proactive safety with cost control.
- GOVERNANCEStorm response discussion focuses on trees and utility lines. A resident praised DPW's storm response and explained that crews cannot remove trees tangled with live wires until utility workers make the area safe. In the administrator's report, council also discussed proactive trimming near utility lines, storm response responsibilities, and the costs and legal issues around undergrounding utilities.
- GOVERNANCEOpening Public Comment Period — Questions and concerns about event permits, noise, and crowd control near church during FIFA-related events. During opening public comment, a member of the public asked for information about guidelines, paperwork, access, and costs for use of municipal spaces and raised concerns about noise and crowd control related to FIFA events coinciding with church services and a feast weekend. Officials responded that the administrator was addressing the issues and explained the permit process generally.
- GOVERNANCEOfficials announce summer events and FIFA activities. Council members and the mayor announced a series of community events, including concerts, a fall festival, Juneteenth recognition, Stars & Stripes festivities, fireworks, a Nature Center program, and a new resident event. They also promoted FIFA-related downtown activities, including viewing events, a passport challenge, and a contest with a $1,000 prize.
- GOVERNANCECouncil update: firefighter equipment grant application support. A Council member reported that the Borough is applying for a grant for firefighter equipment and that Congressman Dohammer’s office would write a letter supporting the application. The member noted prior grant applications had been unsuccessful and expressed hope for success this year.
- GOVERNANCERanked choice voting discussion and potential resolution supporting state legislation. A Council member introduced ranked choice voting as a concept and discussed pending state legislation in the Senate and Assembly. The Council discussed that municipalities cannot implement it alone due to county ballot control, and considered circulating the bills and possibly adopting a resolution supporting state legislation.
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