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MONTVILLE TOWNSHIP PLANNING BOARD
7:30 PM Start
195 Changebridge Road, Montville Municipal Building
MINUTES OF OCTOBER 27, 2011
No New Business to be Conducted Past l0: 00PM
Chairman Lipari welcomed the
public and applicants to the Montville Township Planning Board hearing of October
27, 2011 commencing at 7:30 p.m and asked that all present please turn off all
cell phones during the proceedings.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Performed
STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE
Stated for the
record by Liz Johansen
ROLL CALL
Art Maggio – present* Ladis
Karkowsky– Present
Mayor Jim Sandham - present* Committeewoman Deb Nielson – Absent
Russ Lipari,
Chairman - Present Gary Lewis,
Vice Chairman - Present
Larry Hines - Absent Tony Speciale (alt#1) - Present
John Visco- Present
Larry Tobias
(alt#2) – Present
Vic Canning -
Present
*entrance noted
Also Present:
Board Attorney: Michael Carroll, Esq.-
present
Board Engineer: Stanley
Omland, PE,
Omland Engineering - not present
Board Planner: Joseph Burgis, PP, AICP, Burgis
Associates - present
Principal Planner
/ Secretary: Meghan Hunscher, PP AICP
- present
Recording
Secretary: Liz Johansen -
present
***Mr. Maggio entered
SWEARING IN OF PROFESSIONALS
– Mr. Carroll swore in
all professionals
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Board of
Adjustment – Mr. Lewis
Mr. Lewis states that
there are currently two applicants, Joe Romola’s building on Changebridge Road and JCP&L – sound
wall by Schneider Lane. This application has been carried to December.
Board of Health –
Mr. Tobias
Mr. Tobias states the
JCP&L sound wall was discussed, a perfume factory on Main Road, Romola’s septic and well has
issues. The lead testing at Camp Dawson
came back negative.
Environmental Commission – Mr. Canning
Mr. Canning had
no report
Water & Sewer
– Mr. Maggio
Mr. Maggio had no
report.
Historic
Preservation Commission – Mr. Visco
Mr. Visco reports
that earth is being moved at 21
Brook Valley Road and a stop work order was
done.
Design Review
Committee – Ms. Nielson
Ms. Nielson was
not present to report.
Site
Plan/Subdivision Committee – Mr. Lipari Chair, Mr. Karkowsky, Ms. Nielson, Mr. Visco
(alt)
Mr. Lipari states the waiver
was approved for Valhalla Assoc.
Sovereign Bank minor site plan was discussed.
Economic Development Committee – Mr. Sandham, Mr. Speciale
No Report
Open Space
Committee – Mr. Karkowsky, Mr. Lipari, Ms.Nielson & Mr. Sandham
No report
Master Plan/COAH
3rd Round – Mr. Karkowsky, Mr. Lipari, Ms. Nielson, Mr. Lewis, Mr.
Visco (alt)
No report.
Cross Acceptance
Committee – Mr. Karkowsky, Mr. Lipari
No report
Highlands Legislation Review Committee – Mr. Lewis
Ms. Hunscher
indicates Montville
received a grant for conformance review modifications. Mr. Burgis reports that Highlands
accepted almost all the changes but do require some modifications.
Fire Department
Districts – Mr. Lipari – Towaco; Mr. Speciale - Pine Brook; Mr. Maggio - Montville
Mr. Lipari - no report, Mr.
Speciale –no report. Mr. Maggio - no report.
SECRETARY’S REPORT
Ms. Hunscher reports that she will
have the budget ready for the next meeting for discussion.
BOARD DISCUSSION
Mr. Sandham states that on
November 9, the Township Committee will be recognizing all veterans at
8pm. Ms. Hunscher will speak with Mr.
Bastone and Trudy Atkinson to get
the Zoning Ordinance on the next agenda.
PUBLIC DISCUSSION
Mr. Lipari opened the meeting
to the public. Seeing none, he asked for
a motion to close.
Motion to close: Mr. Lewis, Seconded by Mr. Maggio. Roll call:
Unanimous
PLANNING BUSINESS
Board discussion of draft Zoning Ordinance
and Public Hearing -
Mr. Lipari introduced Mr.
Lewis and thanked everyone. Mr. Lewis
turned the discussion over to Mr. Burgis.
Mr. Burgis states the following:
The plan reflects the needs
for Montville. The ordinance was made more readable. The Lake Valhalla
club has been required to come before the Board of Adjustment for all
changes. The zoning has been changed to
a recreation zone. Banquets are allowed
in the definition of country club and the township will not define what a member
is. Event parking is allowed on softball field for a maximum of 3 events a
year. The lights are limited to low
bollard style lights in the grove area.
Setback requirements are in the ordinance. Outdoor events have to end by
9pm except for a maximum of 3 events per year by special permit. Mr. Canning questioned if there will be a
permit fee for more than three events.
There will not be a fee. Mr.
Tobias questioned if weddings will still be allowed. Mr. Burgis states that no functions currently
taking place will be eliminated. There are currently 90 parking spots.
Mr. Lewis asked Mr. Burgis
what Club functions or activities that currently take place under the Club’s
current zoning would no longer be permitted after adoption of the new zoning
ordinance. Mr. Burgis indicated that
there would be no change from what is currently permitted.
***Mr. Sandham entered
Public Comments
Dennis O’Brien asked for a
clarification if weddings are allowed.
Mr. Burgis states that they are allowed.
He states that the concern for the future is that someone can purchase
club and turn it into catering hall. He
would like only Montville
residents to be able to use it. Mr. Burgis states the principal use has to be a
country club. Mr. Sandham states that
many civic associations use the club.
Casey Nix also questioned if
the building could become a stand alone banquet facility. Mr. Burgis again stated no.
Josh Mann, Esq. attorney for
the objectors, states the neighbors are upset about the 3-4 weddings per
weekend. Mr. Sandham is upset that the neighbors and the club could not come to
a resolution on their own. Mr. Lewis questioned what the neighbors complaints
were. Mr. Mann states car alarms going
off, lights on all night and buses idling in the parking lot.
Tom Fleischell, President of
the Board of the Lake Valhalla Club, states that the Club feels the Planning
Board has met their mandate to develop a zoning ordinance that follows the
Master Plan. They had an internal
meeting with the members and thought it was productive. He asked for reasonable amount of time to
foster a resolution with the neighbors.
Parking is not an issue for the weddings. Thursdays and Fridays are the busiest days in
the summer. There will be no weddings in
July and no parties on Thursdays and Fridays in the summer.
Karen Quinn states that the
club is not working with the neighbors.
Jim Watkins states that he
hears noise occasionally but thinks the club does fine with regulating the
events.
Don Bauman complained about
parking for softball and use of restroom facilities across the street from the
softball field. He also states that cars
double park on Vista Rd.
Motion to close public discussion: Mr. Lewis, Seconded
by Mr. Karkowsky. Roll call: Unanimous
BREAK – 5 minutes
Mr. Burgis states the
ordinance is meant to eliminate inconsistencies. On Changebridge
Road they have expanded retail uses. South end of Changebridge Road now allows limited
restaurant use. Route 202 Corridor
allows for apartments over retail, recognizing existing development patterns. Parking standards are addressed. The current numbers of required spaces were
high and were adjusted to follow surrounding town standards and nationally
recognized standards.
Homeowner regulations have
been changed to allow for fewer deck variances.
Home-based offices will now be allowed.
Doctor’s offices were inadvertently omitted. Building height measurements were
adjusted. Impervious coverage
calculations were simplified.
Houses of worship are allowed
only in the Industrial zone. Current
houses of worships will be allowable uses in the residential zones.
Mr. Maggio questioned if the
tree ordinance has been addressed. Ms.
Hunscher states it is scheduled to be addressed next year separately.
Bill Iellimo questioned the zoning
for the Sunoco property. It’s zoned I-2A. He would like to put in a restaurant along
with retail. He would like zoning changed to B1 so as to not be limited to type
of retail. Mr. Burgis states that the
proposed ordinance would allow retail uses with a limit to one (1) restaurant,
up to a maximum of 3 units per building.
Mr. Lewis suggested that the B-1 zoning requested is highway zoning and
not suitable for Changebridge Rd. Mr. Sandham states that he would be able to
apply for variance for more tenants. Mr.
Tobias questioned if the property has been purchased. Mr. Iellimo states he has purchased it.
Mr. Burgis agreed to place
term “social events” before “members” to clarify.
Motion to close public discussion: Mr. Lewis, Seconded
by Mr. Speciale, Roll call: Unanimous
Motion made to send zoning ordinance to the Township
Committee for review and approval with the amended “member social events”
phrase: Mr. Lewis, Seconded by Mr.
Visco, Roll call: Unanimous
WAIVERS
There were no waivers to come
before the board.
INVOICES
Burgis Associates – Master
Plan for: $5,400; Zoning Ordinance for: $12,318.75; $1,113.75; O/E for:
$472.50; $371.25; $405
Omland Engineering – O/E for:
$202.50; Trust for: $405, $506.25, $101.25, $67.50, $438.75, $168.75
Michael Carroll, Esq. – Trust
for: $101.25, $33.75, $438.75, $1,012.50 (Pizza Hut), $33.75, $810, $33.75,
$202.50, $472.50
Johnson, Murphy – Trust for:
$32
Motion to approve: Mr. Sandham; Seconded: Mr. Maggio;
Roll call: Unanimous
RESOLUTIONS
Approval Resolution PSOIL11-08
Gaber, Akram – 9 Patrick Ct.
– B: 1, L: 11.61 – soil movement application – Approved.
Eligible: Maggio,
Karkowsky, Nielson, Lewis, Hines, Speciale, Visco, Tobias, Canning, Lipari
Motion to approve as presented: Mr. Canning Seconded:
Mr. Lewis; Roll call: Unanimous
CORRESPONDENCE
There was no
correspondence to come before the board.
MINUTES
Planning Board
meeting minutes for September 22, 2011.
Eligible: Maggio, Karkowsky, Nielson,
Lewis, Hines, Speciale, Visco, Tobias, Canning, Lipari
Motion to approve: Mr. Canning; Seconded: Mr. Visco;
Roll call: Unanimous
Planning Board
subcommittee meeting minutes for September 29, 2011. Eligible: Karkowsky, Nielson, Visco, Lipari
Motion to approve: Mr. Karkowsky; Seconded: Mr. Canning;
Roll call: Unanimous
Planning Board
subcommittee meeting minutes for October 20, 2011. Eligible: Karkowsky, Nielson, Visco, Lipari
Motion to approve: Mr. Visco; Seconded: Mr. Karkowsky;
Roll call: Unanimous
Master Plan
subcommittee meeting minutes for October 13, 2011. Eligible: Lewis, Karkowsky, Nielson,
Visco, Lipari
Motion to approve: Mr. Lewis; Seconded: Mr. Visco;
Roll call: Unanimous
LOI/DEP NOTIFICATIONS
None.
LEGAL/LEGISLATIVE
UPDATES
None
OLD BUSINESS
None
NEW BUSINESS
Courtesy presentation for proposed Montville Township
Library sign
Motion to approve: Mr. Tobias; Seconded:
Mr. Karkowsky; Roll call: Unanimous
CONCEPTS
None
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business the board unanimously adjourned at
10:25pm by Mr. Karkowsky, seconded by Mr. Sandham; all in favor.
Respectfully submitted,
________________________________
Liz Johansen, Recording Secretary
Certified true copy of minutes adopted at
Planning Board meeting of November 10, 2011.
____________________________________
Meghan
Hunscher, Sec.
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