SECAUCUS, NJ—Hartz Mountain Industries has abandoned plans to build an apartment complex at a former carpet center here and Secaucus Mayor Michael Gonnelli blames the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission for the project's demise.

The Secaucus-based development firm had proposed to build a 469-unit apartment complex at 100 Park Plaza Drive, part of the Harmon Meadow Plaza development, according to The Record.

"Hartz demolished a building that was functionally obsolete," Hartz spokesman Ron Simoncini states. "We and the Meadowlands Commission currently disagree on what constitutes an area in need of redevelopment. Unfortunately, this difference of opinion has forced us to shelve our plans for what would have been an exceptional 469-unit apartment community that local officials endorsed without reservation."

Mayor Gonnelli claims the commission's actions in connection with the project have been motivated in part because of his past criticism of the agency.

Commission spokesman Brian Aberback countered by saying the agency "strongly objects to and is deeply troubled by the mayor's assertions that the action taken is retaliatory" against him or the town of Secaucus. See story in The Record.