PLANNING BOARD MEETING
BOROUGH OF WANAQUE
MINUTES
Regular Meeting
March 19, 2009
Meeting called to order by Chairman Gilbert Foulon with a
salute to the flag.
ROLL CALL:
John Di Meglio David
Slater
Mayor Dan Mahler Eugene
Verba
Joseph Graceffo Ed
O’Connell
Kevin Platt
PRESENT:
Attorney Steven Veltri and Engineer Michael Cristaldi
ABSENT:
Member John Shutte
READING:
Open Public Meeting Announcement
This is a 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 16,
2009 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 January 15, 2009 Meeting. There was no meeting in February.
MOTION TO APPROVE: made by Member Rucci, seconded
by Member Di Meglio, voting yes were Chairman Foulon, Members Di Meglio, Mayor
Mahler, Graceffo, Platt, Rucci, Slater and O’Connell. Member Verba abstained.
COMMUNICATIONS REPORT: No questions asked.
APPLICATION STATUS REPORT: Eng. Cristaldi reported
that there is one new application for Robert Barbagallo
for a Minor Subdivision, 10 Mountain Avenue, and asked to be carried to the
April Meeting because they didn’t get their notices out on time.
PUBLIC DISCUSSION:
No one came forward.
NEW BUSINESS APPLICATION “Near 2 You” (Consignment & Gift Shop), 1141 Ringwood Ave., Block 436 Lot 7, Haskell, N.J. Owner of building is Scott Walker, 207 Wanaque Ave., Pompton Lakes, N.J. and owner of business is Amanda Conklin, 60 Hopkins St., Hillsdale, N.J.
Amanda Conklin owner of the business came forward. Ms. Conklin said the business will be taking in second-hand clothing, toys, home décor, and electronics and will also have new merchandise such as new electronics like Sharper Image quality and new clothing.
All inspections are in compliance except for the Fire Prevention Bureau and they are requesting Ms. Conklin to install a 10 lb. Fire Extinguisher and repair the emergency light. Ms. Conklin said that the Fire Extinguisher has been installed along with the new light-up exit sign. Member Platt said he would go back for a re-inspection.
MOTION TO APPROVE: made by Member Graceffo, seconded by Member Rucci, voting yes were Chairman Foulon, Members Di Meglio, Mayor Mahler, Graceffo, Platt, Rucci, Slater, Verba and O’Connell.
RESOLUTIONS: None
VOUCHERS: submitted by Richard A. Alaimo Engineering Associates for Invoice #048207 Project #PO495-0178-000 Barbagallo for $525.00, Invoice #047871 Project #PO495-0000-000 for Mtg. Attendance for period ending 1/21/09 for $190.00, Invoice #047010 Project #PO495-0000-000 for Mtg. Attendance for period ending 12/31/08 for $380.00, for a Grand Total of $1095.00.
MOTION TO APPROVE: made by Member Di Meglio,
seconded by Member Graceffo, voting yes were Chairman Foulon, Members Di
Meglio, Mayor Mahler, Graceffo, Platt, Rucci, Slater, Verba and O’Connell.
Chairman Foulon announced the Board received a memo from
the Building Inspector, Jeff Brusco regarding 613 & 617 Ringwood Ave.,
Block 235 Lot 13 “Stokem Realty Corp.”. Chairman Foulon said he spoke with the
Building Inspector earlier today and basically it’s the people who own the
Chinese restaurant (Chen’s) on Ringwood Ave. want to move to another building
and put several different uses in it and also housing. In the memo, the
Building Inspector asked the Board to answer several questions.
Atty. Veltri offered to answer these questions. In the
letter he said, Number 1 is yes (Do they Need Site Plan Approval?), Number 2 is
yes (Do they need County Approval?), Number 3 is yes (Do they need a Use
Variance? As there are two buildings on one lot and mixed uses on one lot),
Number 4 is a statement (It is presently an existing non-conforming use) that
Atty. Veltri agrees with, Number 5 is yes (Do they need New Business
Applications?), Number 6 is yes (Chinese cooking releases odors – Is this our
concern? As there are residential homes close to this location.), and Number 7
(Parking is limited and a more intensive use with multiple tenants may cause a
parking and traffic problem.) is going to be part in parcel of any application
they make. On the site plan, Atty. Veltri said he thinks it’s clearly an
expansion of a non-conforming use and that type of variance goes to the Board
of Adjustment and not the Planning Board and this is Atty. Veltri’s opinion and
doesn’t think this is a Planning Board Application.
Member Di Meglio said if the Chinese Restaurant makes two businesses out of this property, that means there will be another sewer hook-up and that could cost about $8,000.00 and the applicant should be aware of that.
Atty. Veltri said if there’s ever an issue with regard to
an interpretation from anyone, there’s a provision in the Land Use Act that it
goes to the Board of Adjustment, they are the people that interpret things, but
if it’s a question of jurisdiction, Atty. Veltri never has a problem trying to
answer these questions.
Chairman Foulon told the Board he and the committee had a
meeting with the developer of Valley View earlier this evening and they’re
still looking to do away with the age restriction on this development. There
was a meeting last month that Chairman Foulon was not at, and the Committee
said if it did go to age restriction it would be limited to a maximum of 96
units and they came back with a plan showing 114 units and the Committee told
them no. Chairman Foulon, himself, is not in favor of changing age restriction
to a non-age restriction development and he thinks most of the residents of the
Borough are also against it. Nothing can really be done unless the zoning is
changed and Chairman Foulon will keep the Board posted as time goes on.
Chairman Foulon brought up the topic of appointing a
Planner to the Board. Mayor Mahler said Borough Administrator Tom Carroll
advertised for a planner back in December and applications were submitted. The
Board Secretary gave Chairman Foulon contracts tonight to sign from the Alaimo
Group appointing them as the Planner for the Planning Board. Chairman Foulon
asked the secretary to hold back on submitting these contracts because he
wanted to see what other applications were submitted. Chairman Foulon added
that it is the duty of the Planning Board to appoint the Planner. Member Rucci
said he would also look into this matter and discuss it with Tom Carroll.
MOTION TO ADJOURN AT 8:20 P.M.: made by Member Di Meglio, seconded by Member Slater. Carried by a voice vote.
______________________________
Planning Board Secretary