Fort reuse panel hires planning consultant
$1M contract runs through April 2009
BY LINDA DENICOLA
Staff Writer

After sifting through proposals from eight master planning firms, the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Planning Authority (FMERPA) has chosen one.

The vote to engage EDAW Inc., consultants with offices in multiple locations, including New York and Alexandria, Va., as the Reuse and Redevelopment Planning Consultant at a cost of $1 million was unanimous.

The contract runs through April 25, 2009, and can be extended if necessary. But, said FMERPA Chairman Robert Lucky, "We have to give the master plan to the Department of Defense in eight months."

With the approval of a master planning firm, FMERPA is poised to begin the important work of mapping out the redevelopment of Fort Monmouth, which covers approximately 1,126 acres in three towns.

Executive Director Frank Cosentino explained that the process of reviewing all of the applicants followed a prescribed course that was meant to ensure fairness.

Each of the five members of the review team, which included Cosentino, Deputy Director Rick Harrison, Lucky, Eatontown Mayor Gerald Tarantolo and Ellen Stein, state representative from the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, considered each application independently without knowing the company name because each firm was given a number.

All of the information was put on a spread sheet and ranked in three tiers.

"At this point, cost became a factor," Cosentino said, adding that two companies stood out and each was asked to make a one-hour oral presentation.

"Each of the master planners who submitted bids gathered a team together: environmental specialist, transportation engineers and so forth. Each sub consultant will submit to EDAW how they will meet our requirements," Cosentino said.

According to a press release provided by FMERPA, EDAW will lead a team of associated professionals that includes market and economics professionals; environmental consultants specializing in base reuse analysis and conveyance mechanisms; transportation and infrastructure engineers; historic preservation experts; community participation experts; architectural specialists; planners with a focus on compliance with statutory requirements including COAH and affordable housing; and public relations experts who will coordinate all public communications to ensure the three communities and Monmouth County are informed.

Other EDAW projects include the Governors Island Master Plan, N.Y,; Fort Devens Reuse Plan, Mass.; Philadelphia (Pa.) Navy Yard Master Plan, and Fort McPherson Vision Plan, Atlanta, Ga.

Cosentino said FMERPA is very pleased with the selection. After reading the list of items the company is going to be working on, he said, "This is the stuff we can sink our teeth into as a community."

FMERPA was created under state statute to develop a comprehensive conversion and revitalization plan for Fort Monmouth.