TRENT LEVITT FOR FLEMINGTON BOROUGH COUNCIL

Smart redevelopment policy can help stabilize rents and reduce the tax burden of single-family homeowners. I have pushed for and will continue to push for development policy that achieves these goals. I'll also work to enact modest rent control to stabilize rents and make increases more manageable and predictable for working families.

In my time on council, we've enacted stronger stormwater regulations in line with NJ DEP guidelines, worked to protect trees, increased the budget for the Shade Tree Commission, and promoted land use decisions that will lead to fewer vehicle trips and protect open space. Every home built in Flemington is a home not being built over farms and forests. I'm currently working on an ordinance that will reduce light pollution and help preserve the night sky for Flemington and all of Hunterdon County.

We all want more things to do! And we're working to get them here! Last year, the council and I worked to update our business district zoning to expand the permitted uses and cut red tape to let a wider variety of exciting new small businesses open without having to go through costly variance hearings and appeals.

We've also worked to increase the housing supply. New residents in this Borough are one of the keys to unlocking economic redevelopment. We need more built-in customers to support our downtown retail, we can't just rely on visitors from Raritan Twp and beyond!

A few additional points on economic revitalization:

#1 The vast majority of our economic activity has moved out of the historic walkable core of the Borough and onto our State Highways. I would guess that Walmart or Costco each generate more revenue than every business on Main St combined. Every additional big box store or fast food restaurant is another $5-$10 million that will never ever touch Main St.

#2 People are spending more time than ever at their homes. When you live in a McMansion, you never need to leave. Everything you could want is right there. How is a movie theater supposed to compete with a Netflix / Tubi / HBO Max basement home theater with more square footage than your average Borough home? How can an arcade compete with an Xbox? It can't and that's why those don't exist anymore. For more information on movie theater economics specifically, watch this great video.

#3 More shopping is done online than ever. Same issue with the big box stores, that's millions that will never be spent downtown.

#4 If you can walk to a business you are more likely to shop there.

#5 Liquor licenses are a state issue, please email your wonderful state legislators here.

Traffic safety has been one of my top priorities in my first term. We've calmed traffic throughout the Borough to reduce vehicle speeds, making it safer to walk and drive around town. We've recently installed the first set of Rapid Rectangular Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) that I pushed the Borough to purchase in last year's budget. This first set is being installed at our highest priority intersections where over 70 children cross the street every day going to and from school. These flashing lights will increase stopping compliance up to 98% and make it easier to notice pedestrians day and night. It's been a very good start, but there's so much more work to do!