PLANNING BOARD MEETING
BOROUGH OF WANAQUE
MINUTES
January 15, 2009
Reorganization
& Regular Meeting
Meeting called to order by Mayor Dan Mahler with a salute to
the flag.
ROLL CALL:
Gilbert Foulon William Rucci
John Di Meglio David Slater
Mayor Dan Mahler Ed O’Connell
Joseph Graceffo John Shutte
Kevin Platt (came in at 7:40 P.M.)
PRESENT: Attorney Steven Veltri
and Engineer Michael Cristaldi
ABSENT: Member Eugene Verba
This is a Reorganization and 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 December 19, 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.
INDUCTION OF
PLANNING BOARD MEMBERS:
Mayor Mahler swore in Gilbert Foulon and William Rucci. Member Platt was sworn in later in the meeting.
NOMINATION FOR
CHAIRMAN: Member Graceffo nominated Gilbert
Foulon, seconded by Member Slater. No other names were presented.
NOMINATION FOR
VICE CHAIRMAN: Member Shutte nominated Joseph Graceffo,
seconded by Member Rucci. No other names were
presented.
NOMINATION FOR
BOARD ATTORNEY: Chairman Foulon nominated Steven Veltri,
seconded by Member Shutte. No other names were presented.
NOMINATION FOR
BOARD ENGINEER: Chairman Foulon nominated Alaimo Engineering, seconded
by Member Graceffo. No other names were presented.
NOMINATION FOR
BOARD PLANNER: Chairman Foulon said he wants to appoint a committee to
find a planner. No Planner was appointed.
Mayor Mahler turned the meeting over to Chairman Foulon at
this point.
Chairman Foulon told the Board that they need a Planner this
year because they have to start on the Master Plan. The Master Plan was put off
because of the Highlands Commission and that’s been done and they now know
where the boundaries are and are probably three or four years behind on the
Master Plan and it has to be redone by law. Chairman Foulon would like to
appoint a committee of three people to do some investigating and come up with a
Planner by the next meeting. Members Dave Slater, Bill Rucci
and Kevin Platt agreed to be on the committee.
Member Rucci mentioned he read in
the Record Newspaper that West Milford is putting off the Master Plan because
the County is going to be writing the Master Plan for those towns that are
affected by the
Mayor Mahler swore in Kevin Platt at this time.
ADJOURNMENT OF THE
REORGANIZATION MEETING AT 7:49 P.M.: made by Member Rucci,
seconded by Member Di Meglio. Carried
by a voice vote.
REGULAR MEETING
Regular Meeting called to order by Chairman Foulon with a
salute to the flag at 8:03 P.M.
ROLL CALL:
Chairman Foulon Joseph
Graceffo David
Slater
John Di Meglio Kevin
Platt Ed
O’Connell
Mayor Dan Mahler William
Rucci John Shutte
PRESENT: Attorney Steven Veltri
and Engineer Michael Cristaldi
ABSENT: Member Verba
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 December 19,
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 December 18, 2008 Meeting.
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,
O’Connell and Shutte.
COMMUNICATIONS
REPORT: No questions asked.
APPLICATION STATUS
REPORT:
NEW BUSINESS
APPLICATIONS: “Institute for Therapeutic Massage” (Chiropractic
Business) 1069 Ringwood Ave., Suite #215 and “Institute for Therapeutic
Massage” (Classroom for Therapeutic Massage School) 1069 Ringwood Ave., Suite
#217. Owner of building is Bald Eagle Urban Renewal,
Lisa Helbig owner of businesses
came forward. Ms. Helbig explained she already has a
business at this location and that this is an additional classroom for the
Massage Therapy School Suite #217 and there is a space for the Chiropractic
Business Suite #215 where her brother-in-law will be doing his practice and is
a separate business. Ms. Helbig is actually
sub-leasing her space to her brother-in-law for the Chiropractic Business.
MOTION TO APPROVE:
made by Member Graceffo, seconded by Member Slater,
voting yes were Chairman Foulon, Members Di Meglio,
Mayor Mahler, Graceffo, Platt, Rucci,
Slater, O’Connell and Shutte.
PUBLIC DISCUSSION: None
RESOLUTIONS: None
VOUCHERS: None
Mayor Mahler reported on the Candle Factory Property. Mayor
Mahler said the Administrator, Borough Attorney and himself had a meeting with
the gentlemen from the Candle Factory as a result from a discussion with the
Planning Board. Some issues came up and one issue which was when the project
originally came forward there were 86 units approved townhouses on the
Boulevard and the town bought that property for Open Space and sold the sewer
rights to the developer of the Candle Factory. Since they were doing senior
housing, their engineer did a calculation and said that the 86 units sewer flow
was equivalent to 114 units of senior citizens and that’s how that number of
units got from 86 to 114. Mayor Mahler spoke Tuesday night with Bill Kelly,
Engineer for the local Sewer Authority and Mayor Mahler asked Mr. Kelly about
his interpretation of the sewer calculation. Mr. Kelly said he believed that
the developer wanted to change his application and change it from senior to
unlimited; therefore, Mr. Kelly would have to redo the calculation and probably
go back to “DEP” for a new Sewer Extension Permit because the Sewer Extension Permit was based upon so
many gallons and use by seniors. Mayor Mahler mentioned this to the Borough
Administrator the next day and the Administrator said that’s probably true and
if they go for a new Sewer Extension Permit they will have to adhere to the new
COAH regulations which is one for five at 20% because every new Sewer Extension
Permit has to adhere to the 20%. Mayor Mahler told the Administrator that the
developer should be made aware of this and before we go any further with him we
want him to have this resolved with the “DEP” and with COAH, because there’s no
use in making any kind of decision until the developer has these things ironed
out.
Chairman Foulon said to Mayor Mahler that the Mayor & Council did not pass the ordinance on changing
the zoning for that project and Mayor Mahler said that’s correct. Chairman
Foulon then said, therefore that zone is still age restricted and if its still
age restricted why would he want to add more units. Mayor Mahler said the
developer is looking for the Borough to take away the age restriction and wants
to add three (3) units. The reason he wants to add three (3) units is because
under the old COAH rules if he adds four (4) he has to make the fourth one a
COAH unit, therefore he adds three (3) without changing the rules. Chairman
Foulon said why should he appoint a committee to work
with the developer because as far as the Board’s concerned he’s got to go ahead
with the original plan. Mayor Mahler said the developer is claiming that
because of the current economic condition he can’t sell the senior units. Mayor
Mahler said at the present time, the developer has a couple of major issues
with the sewer and COAH issue.
Mayor Mahler went on to say that there was a meeting on
Tuesday about the abandoned project on
Mayor Mahler said the Borough would like Phase I completed
or tear it down. Member Graceffo said his choice is
to tear it down. Member Shutte told the Board that one of the foundations on
one of the homes is deteriorating so badly he doesn’t know what’s holding it
up.
Atty. Veltri suggested that the
Board might want to form a completeness committee for any major application
that comes through for the Planning Board. Chairman Foulon said the Engineer
for the Board reviews applications. Atty. Veltri said
that any major project, before it gets on the Agenda, a committee is used so an
application cannot be put on the Agenda without anyone looking at it. Atty. Veltri said if the Board wants they can wait about
appointing a committee until they get an application that would need a
committee. Chairman Foulon said he didn’t think there would be any major
applications for a while.
Member Graceffo mentioned on
MOTION TO ADJOURN
AT 8:27 P.M.: made by Member Slater, seconded by Member Di Meglio. Carried by a voice vote.
_______________________________
Gerri Marotta
Planning Board Secretary