The Bayonne City Council on Sept. 17 approved a package of ordinances and redevelopment resolutions, including final passage of several traffic and land‑use measures, authorization of an access agreement and a 30‑year lease for the Bayonne Fire Museum, and a resolution designating the yellow‑crowned night heron as the city bird.

The council opened and closed public hearings on multiple ordinances that had been introduced Aug. 13 and moved each to final passage. Several items drew no public protest and were closed by motion and voice vote. The measures included changes to the municipal traffic code, approval of redevelopment plans for specific blocks and lots across the city, and authorization of access and property agreements required under the Local Redevelopment and Housing Law.

Votes at a glance
- O‑1: Ordinance authorizing acquisition of real property (City of Jersey City) — second reading held and final passage ordered; roll call recorded as Aye from Booker, Carroll, Perez, Weimer and LaPalouse. Outcome: approved.
- O‑2: Ordinance approving redevelopment plan for 745–747 Broadway (Block 139, Lots 18 & 19) — public hearing held and final passage ordered; transcript records Councilman Carroll voting "No" on the final resolution while other members voted Aye. Outcome: approved.
- O‑3: Ordinance approving an access agreement between the City and 26 North Avenue Urban Renewal LLC (Block 297, Lot 3) — council discussed that the developer will deed a small portion of property to maintain sidewalk width and to create a pull‑in space; public hearing closed and final passage ordered. Outcome: approved.
- O‑4: Ordinance authorizing a 30‑year lease with the Fire Museum of Bayonne for city property at 10 West 40th Street (Block 77, Lot 26) — public hearing included supportive remarks from council members and museum representatives; final passage ordered. Outcome: approved.
- O‑5 through O‑8: Ordinances amending Chapter 7 (traffic) — these included deleting a restrictive parking zone, establishing no‑parking on portions of West 16th Street, prohibiting parking on Goldsboro Drive, and other traffic Code amendments; public hearings were opened and closed with no protests and resolutions ordering final passage were adopted. Outcome: approved.
- R‑1 through R‑6: Redevelopment designations and authorizations — the council designated multiple properties and directed planning actions or authorized negotiation of redevelopment agreements (including properties on Avenue C, Broadway and other locations). One redevelopment resolution drew a recorded dissent from Councilman Carroll; the remaining redevelopment resolutions were adopted. Outcome: adopted (see individual items above for dissent noted).
- CR‑17: Resolution designating the yellow‑crowned night heron as the official bird of the City of Bayonne — adopted; the resolution calls for signage in visible locations to raise public awareness. Outcome: adopted.

Several other procedural items were moved on consent, including communications and officers’ reports. The council set public hearings and final passage dates (many on Oct. 15) for a separate set of ordinances that were introduced at the meeting, including a $3,000,000 special emergency appropriation for payment of contractually required severance liabilities; those items were scheduled for public hearing and final passage on Oct. 15 in the Dorothy E. Harrington Council Chambers.

Why it matters: The adopted redevelopment designations and access agreements advance multiple private development projects and related public‑realm changes (sidewalks, parking, access). The traffic code amendments change parking and street use rules in multiple neighborhoods. The designation of an official city bird is symbolic but the redevelopment approvals and access agreements have direct effects on land use, public infrastructure and future project requirements.

What council noted: For several redevelopment items the council and developers said negotiations are voluntary and would rely on agreements with property owners; the transcript records council members stressing that condemnation is not proposed where the resolution says "non‑condemnation area in need of redevelopment." Council members also recorded concerns about parking adequacy tied to certain redevelopment phases, resulting in at least one recorded no vote.

Next steps: Several introduced ordinances and budget/appropriation actions were set for public hearing and final passage on Oct. 15. Redevelopment agreements will be prepared or directed to the planning board as required by the Local Redevelopment and Housing Law.