$80 million in funding to replace the town’s aging water infrastructure. “Everyone knew it had to be done. And I’m the one who’s going to do it,” he relays. What many are unaware of is that South River has its very own electricity grid station, giving it an advantage in today’s highly volatile energy market. Thanks to a recently made battery project, the borough has managed to avoid the utility rate that left a major damp on the rest of the state in 2024. “We are ahead of the curve, and we intend to stay that way.” CUTTING RED TAPE: REFORMING LOCAL GOVERNANCE Beyond redevelopment and infrastructure, Guindi has diverted his attention towards the slow, bureaucratic processes that have stifled growth for decades. “Previously,it took three or four months for a developer to get certain approvals. That’s unacceptable,” he said. In response, he led a referendum to merge the zoning and planning boards into a single Land Use Board. “Now it’s a one-stop solution. You present us with your plan, and get an answer right away. That’s how we encourage investment.” The Mayor points out that one of the major aspects he is focusing his efforts on, is ways to add to the housing stock as part of the overall housing vision he has in mind for his community. Not just because South River needs more housing, but because its current stock is restrained, and even in some cases, it’s unsafe. “There’s an illegal multi-family housing compound taking place because we aren’t provided with the right legal options,” he explains. “We certainly need more units, senior housing, commuter apartments, 279 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 07 SOUTH RIVER, NJ
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