Hudson River property owners assist waterfront development.

A prominent group of property owners along New Jersey's Hudson River waterfront has organized to better coordinate new development along the river, "left bank."

Calling itself The Hudson River Property Owners and Conservators Association (HRPOCA), the group of developers, corporate users, condominium associations and non-profit organizations has issued a mission statement declaring that it has been established "to provide an umbrella for developers and other stakeholders of New Jersey Hudson River waterfront property to develop the riverfront in an economically feasible manner consistent with public benefit and environmental sensitivity."

While initial activities will be confined to Hudson County, the ultimate aim is to include the entire New Jersey riverfront from Bayonne to the George Washington Bridge, according to Helen S. Manogue, a former executive with the Resolution Trust Corporation who has been appointed HRPOCA's first Executive Director.

Included in the organization's three-year agenda is a wide variety of activities, which include:

* Participating in the establishment and implementation of a consistent regulatory policy governing waterfront development permits, with special emphasis on view corridors, height limitations, public access and water quality management;

* Helping to develop appropriate mass transit opportunities along the Hudson River Corridor - including support for the creation of the Hudson/Bergen Light Rail Line;

* Developing an instrument for public funding to accelerate the completion of the Hudson River Walkway;

* Maintaining a Liaison Committee to interface with responsible environment and community groups and influence state policy to better market the benefits of development and occupancy in the corridor;

* Maintaining a Resource Committee to collect, analyze, share and package waterfront development statistics, including rent levels, sales price for space and operating costs.

* "Our role will be supportive, rather than confrontational," said Manogue. "We plan to interface with governmental agencies and responsible public activist groups, rather than oppose them. Our aim is to channel our individual expertise and abilities into a single voice to assist planned growth along the Hudson River waterfront in an orderly, responsible manner."

The group's co-founders and initial co-chairmen are Joseph Barry, president of the Applied Companies, Hoboken; and Carl Goldberg, a principal of Roseland Property Company, Roseland. Other charter members are a "Who's Who" of New Jersey development, including Arcorp Properties, Avalon Properties, Call Realty Group, Bellemead Development Corp., Hartz Mountain Industries, and the Related Companies.

Also holding charter membership are Colgate Palmolive, Liberty Landing Marina, Schiavone-Bonomo Corp., Union Dry Dock & Repair Co., Stevens Institute of Technology, Historic Paulus Hook Association, Hoboken Historical Museum, Liberty State Park Development Corp. and the Claremont Cove, Port Liberte, Riva Pointe and Roc Harbor Condominium Associations.