Residents pressed the Passaic City Council on Oct. 22 over a proposed concession stand at Braggs Park, raising worries about parking, potential competition with nearby small businesses and whether other services such as a community refrigerator were considered. Business Administrator Rick Fernandez and the mayor said the site has been vetted, the project is funded through Urban Enterprise Zone (UAZ) dollars and the transit authority reviewed the plan.

Parker Jake Brown, a local resident and managing director of Brown Waters Productions, asked whether the concession stand’s products would overlap with nearby stores and whether parking accommodations had been considered. “I’m concerned about the concession and unintentionally compete with small business already serving the area,” Brown said. He also suggested alternatives such as a community refrigerator or pantry and requested that his questions be included in the meeting minutes.

Business Administrator Rick Fernandez said discussions had considered overlap with local businesses and that the design aims to be a “grab-and-go” operation rather than a full hot-food vendor. “In terms of concerns whether they compete with existing businesses, if there's a concession stand, I would say that that would be a concern if there was a free food pantry as well,” Fernandez said, adding that a food pantry would pose additional logistical and funding challenges.

Fernandez said parking and traffic were studied and that engineering, UAZ staff and administration met with nearby stakeholders including Union Baptist Church and the VFW. He said the concession would be designed for quick stop-and-go use by commuters and park visitors. The mayor and administration emphasized that the existing bus stop would remain and that a residential parking permit program limits nonresident parking in the evenings: “...there are commuters right now that park their cars in the neighborhood and go work all day long and don't come back till late at night. This would actually alleviate not only anybody going to the Bridal, but also any commuters using the transit,” Fernandez said.

Several speakers from the neighborhood expressed strong opposition. Anthony Wade said placing a business near his block would disrupt a long-standing quiet neighborhood, citing concerns about late hours, lighting and traffic. John Connesenti raised separate but related concerns about nearby vacant buildings, citing deteriorated roofs, overgrown yards and asking whether the city had issued fines or complete remediation plans for specific Broadway properties. City officials responded that some of the Broadway properties are part of a larger redevelopment plan and that demolition and redevelopment are pending approvals and funding.

Council members and city officials told residents the project has been under discussion for roughly three years, that the city conducted outreach and town meetings and that the planning board and New Jersey Transit reviewed the concession’s bid specifications and signage. Fernandez and the mayor said the project will keep the pocket park function, will maintain the bus stop and will include a larger plaque honoring the Bragg family.

Funding and scope: city officials said the project is financed with UAZ sales-tax dollars. Council members reported initial estimates around $500,000, with later bids and additions increasing the projected cost to roughly $800,000 to $1 million; officials said additional UAZ funding was secured to cover the higher cost. Officials also said the concession concept has been discussed for several years and that chosen designs aim to be “relatively unique and not competitive with existing businesses.”

What remains unresolved: Residents asked for specifics about what products will be sold, final operating hours and any formal conditions that would protect nearby small businesses. Officials said the concession would not vend hot cooked meals as a standard and emphasized the grab-and-go nature of the proposal, but final vendor specifications and operating conditions will be determined in the procurement and permitting process.

The council did not vote on the concession itself at the Oct. 22 meeting; the discussion was part of public comment and administrative updates. Officials encouraged residents to participate in public meetings held by New Jersey Transit and in upcoming municipal hearings tied to any land-use approvals.

Ending: City officials said they expect to continue public outreach and to provide more detailed vendor specifications as requests for proposals and permitting advance. The administration reiterated that the Braggs Park improvements are funded through the UAZ and that the park will remain public space with added amenities.