PLANNING BOARD

PLANNING BOARD MEETING

BOROUGH OF WANAQUE

MINUTES

Regular Meeting

May 15, 2008

Meeting called to order by Chairman Foulon with a salute to the flag.

ROLL CALL:

Chairman Gilbert Foulon William Rucci

John Di Meglio David Slater

Mayor Dan Mahler Ed O’Connell

Joseph Graceffo John Shutte

Kevin Platt

PRESENT: Attorney Steven Veltri and Engineer Michael Cristaldi

ABSENT: Member Eugene Verba

READING: Open Public Meeting Announcement

This is Regular Meeting of the Wanaque Borough Planning Board and adequate notice has been given and it has been duly advertised by the placement of a notice in the Trends and the Herald News, mailed on January 18, 2008 and a notice thereof has been posted on the bulletin board in the Municipal Building in the Borough of Wanaque and a copy thereof has been on file with the Borough Clerk.

MINUTES: from the May 15, 2008 Meeting.

MOTION TO APPROVE: made by Member Slater, seconded by Member O’Connell, voting yes were Chairman Foulon, Mayor Mahler, Members Platt, Slater and O’Connell. Abstaining were Members Di Meglio, Graceffo, Rucci and Shutte.

COMMUNICATIONS/REPORTS: No questions asked.

APPLICATION STATUS: Engineer Cristaldi said there were no new applications.

NEW BUSINESS APPLICATION “Old Skool Addicts” (Automotive Repair), 1185 Ringwood Ave., Block 448 Lot 8.01, Haskell, N.J. The owner of the building is Cosimo & Theresa Santoro, 27 Dartmouth Rd., Wayne, N.J. The owner of the business is Arthur Typaczewski, 19 Bailey Ave., Bloomingdale, N.J.

Arthur Typaczewski, owner of the business came forward. Mr. Typaczewski explained he was here last month and the Board requested the landlord be at tonight’s meeting.

Theresa Santoro, owner of the building, came forward. Ms. Santoro said she didn’t know last month that she was to be there. Chairman Foulon explained that the reason is because the building is a mess and the Board doesn’t want tenants going into the building until it gets cleaned up. Ms. Santoro explained she went before the Board of Adjustment with an application to renovate the building and it cost her quite a bit of money. Ms. Santoro withdrew her application from the Board of Adjustment. So right now, she would like to rent the space so that she can do whatever has to be done to the building. Chairman Foulon doesn’t understand why she can’t clean up the building before renting it out and would be a lot easier to rent out. Atty. Veltri asked if Ms. Santoro would accept an approval subject to the condition that it has to be cleaned up and Ms. Santoro said yes. Ms. Santoro said she owned the building for about four or five years. Ms. Santoro said she had a beautiful layout for the renovation of the building but it seemed that it wasn’t going to be accepted by the Board of Adjustment so they withdrew the application. Chairman Foulon said that is no reason for letting the building deteriorate. Ms. Santoro said they hadn’t done anything to the building because they were planning to do so much to it and they didn’t want to throw away money and then end up with it costing them more. Ms. Santoro stated she has another building in Totowa that looks beautiful right now and it also took them a little while to get it like that and in order to fix a building you have to have tenants.

Chairman Foulon read the reports to Ms. Santoro and they were as follows:

Construction/Zoning Official:

The Electric Panel needs to be replaced.
New Sheetrock must be installed on the ceiling to provide one hour Fire Rating to Residential Units.
Insulation in ceiling required to meet Energy Code.
Bathroom Fixtures need to be replaced.
Heat needs to be in working order.
OK for Zoning.

Ms. Santoro stopped Chairman Foulon at this point and said she is going to do all that is required before the tenant moves in.

Plumbing Sub-Code Official

1. Permits required – bathroom not in working order.

Chairman Foulon said that Ms. Santoro hasn’t taken out the Plumbing Permits yet. Ms. Santoro said she hasn’t done anything yet because it’s subject to getting a tenant. Chairman Foulon said she should apply for the permits. Ms. Santoro said if the tenant had been approved she would have applied for the permits. Ms. Santoro said she has had someone come in to give her estimates. Atty. Veltri said to Ms. Santoro, is your position that if this is approved by the Board prior to the tenant moving in, you will get all the permits and make all the repairs? Ms. Santoro said of course. Member Rucci wanted to know if the tenant isn’t approved by the Board, then nothing will be done? Ms. Santoro said she knows she will still have to renovate some of it.

Chairman Foulon wanted to know if they have had an Ecra Inspection. Ms. Santoro said she didn’t think so. Chairman Foulon said that’s an environmental inspection when they come and drill sample holes etc. which has to be done in that type of business (previously the transmission business) especially where there’s oil etc. are being used; because no one knows if he was dumping oil in the ground. This will have to be done before she can even think about a new tenant. Chairman Foulon explained she will have to get in touch with the EPA and tell them you are changing the business from one type of automotive repair to another and there is oil involved.

Atty. Veltri’s understanding is that, Ms. Santoro is saying prior to her tenant opening up for business, she’s agreeing to make these repairs. Chairman Foulon added, that they want the repairs made not only to the tenant space, but also the parking lot that is in disrepair. Ms. Santoro said she hasn’t done the parking lot because she wants to separate all the water meters and that’s in the planning stages right now. Ms. Santoro also said that most of the parking lot is not being used because the back of the property is a mess and she plans on doing something with the back area, therefore, there will be plenty of parking back there.

MOTION TO APPROVE, HOWEVER, A CO WILL NOT BE ISSUED UNTIL ALL THE IMPROVEMENTS ARE DONE, AND THAT’S NOT JUST THE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SPECIFIC TENANT, BUT ALSO A START ON THE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ENTIRE BUILDING AND AN ECRA INSPECTION: made by Member Graceffo, seconded by Member Slater, voting yes were Chairman Foulon, Members Di Meglio, Mayor Mahler, Graceffo, Platt, Slater, O’Connell and Shutte. Member Rucci voted no.

NEW BUSINESS APPLICATION “World of Astrology” 1089 Ringwood Ave., Block 437 Lot 1.01. Owner of building is Dave & Mary Johnson, 3 Carltondale Rd., Ringwood, N.J. 07456. Owner of business is Gina Wallace, 106 Willard St., Garfield, N.J. 07026.

Ms. Wallace, owner of the business came forward. Ms. Wallace proceeded to say she’s been in this business for a long time. She sells crystals, oils, astrology books, and she does Astrology Chart Readings and Tarot Card Readings. Ms. Wallace said there is plenty of parking in the rear of the building and enough for at least eight or nine cars. There will be two employees, Ms. Wallace and her daughter.

Mayor Mahler informed Ms. Wallace that there is a Redevelopment Plan for that area and Ms. Wallace said she did hear that. Chairman Foulon said the Board did want her to know that there might be a chance of her relocating.

MOTION TO APPROVE: made by Member Rucci, seconded by Member Graceffo, voting yes were Chairman Foulon, Members Di Meglio, Mayor Mahler, Graceffo, Platt, Rucci, Slater, O’Connell and Shutte.

PUBLIC DISCUSSION: None/Closed

RESOLUTIONS: None

VOUCHERS: submitted by Richard A. Alaimo Engineering Associates for Invoice #041715 Project #P0495-0000-000 Fee Service – Mtg. Attendance for $380.00, Invoice #041716 Project #P0495-0177-000 “Arrow Metals” for $900.00, for a Grand Total of $1280.00.

MOTION TO APPROVE: made by Member Rucci, seconded by Member Graceffo, voting yes were Chairman Foulon, Members Di Meglio, Mayor Mahler, Graceffo, Platt, Rucci, Slater, O’Connell and Shutte.

MOTION TO ADJOURN AT 8:34 P.M.: made by Member Di Meglio, seconded by Member Rucci, carried by a voice vote.

________________________

Gerri Marotta

Planning Board Secretary