TOWNSHIP OF MONROE

ZONING BOARD MINUTES

MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING

October 27, 2020

Meeting called to order at 7:00 P.M. by Chairwoman Carol Damiani who led the salute to the Flag.

Chairwoman Carol Damiani read the Sunshine Law as follows: In accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act, it is hereby announced and shall be entered into the minutes of this meeting that adequate notice of this meeting has been provided by the following:

Posted on January 6, 2017 on the Bulletin Board of the Office of the Township Clerk, Municipal Complex, 1 Municipal Plaza, and remains on file at that location for public inspection;

Posted on the Bulletin Board of the Office of the Township Clerk;

Posted on the Bulletin Boards within the Municipal Complex;

Printed in the Home News Tribune and Cranbury Press on January 3, 2020;           

Posted on the Monroe Township website; and

Sent to those individuals who have requested personal notice.

MEMBERS PRESENT:      Chairwoman Carol Damiani, Mr. Marino Lupo, Mr. Louis Masters, Mr. Michael Maiolo,  Mr. Gary Busman, Ms. Rajani Karuturi, Alternate#1 Mr. Donato Tanzi, Alternate #2 Mr. Richard Lans, Alternate #3 Mr. Arnold Jaffe and Alternate #4 Mr. Nicholas Morolda.  Also present for the Board were Attorney Mark Moon, Planner Mark Remsa, Engineer Mark Rasimowicz and Director of Planning & Zoning Mr. Joe Stroin.

MEMBERS ABSENT:        Vice Chairman Vincent LaFata.

A motion to approve the September 29, 2020 Minutes made by Mr. Gary Busman and seconded by  Mr. Louis Masters and passed unanimously by all members present.

BA-5155-17              Walter Koziatek and Dianne Koziatek; Request for Bulk Variance; Block 106.04, Lots 1-11; Located on Columbus Avenue and Duane Street, In the R-30 Zone

Represented by Mr. Walter Toto who stated the applicants are Walter and Dianne Koziatek.  They are requesting a bulk variance for a wooded vacant lot on the property known as Block 106.04, Lots 1 through 11located in both Monroe Township and Jamesburg Borough.  Tax property is located at the intersection of Columbus Avenue and Duane Street.  The Property is in the R-30 Residential District Zone. They are proposing to construct a new single-family detached house.

The Board received reports from the Board’s Planner, Mark A. Remsa (“Remsa”) dated October 9, 2017 with a second review dated December 24, 2019 and a third review dated March 6, 2020 (the “Remsa Report”); and the Board’s Engineer, Mark J. Rasimowicz, P.E. (“Rasimowicz”) dated August 10, 2020 (the “Rasimowicz Report”).

Mr. Dan Doran, applicant’s Engineer stated the property is irregularly shaped and contains about 27,500 square feet mostly vacant and mostly wooded area.  It is located at the northeastern corner of Duane Street and Columbus Avenue in the northern portion of Monroe Township.  The southeastern tip of the Property is located in the neighboring Township of Jamesburg.  The pavement of Duane Street and Columbus Avenue encroach upon the applicant’s property with Franklin Street, an unimproved street, forming the northern boundary of the Property.  To the north and west of the Property are vacant woodlands. To the south and east of the Property are detached single-family dwellings.  We are seeking variances for fence height, lot area, front yard setback, lot frontage and lot width.  We are also seeking the following design exceptions from the requirements to provide sidewalks and street trees.  We understand as a condition of approval to make contribution to the Township’s sidewalk funds in the amount to be determined by the Township’s Engineering Department.

Mr. Marino Lupo asked who would be responsible for snow removal, garbage and busing of students.  (Applicant to provide that information.)

Mr. Richard Lans asked if Fire and First Aid can access site.  (Informed they are an outside agency who must review and approve.)

Public:

Ms. Lisa Reid, Duane Street, requested clarification as to the distance of the proposed dwelling from their respective properties with one neighboring property owner objecting to the proposed development based on the fact that this property owner purchased the adjacent property without having a dwelling next door and wanted to keep the Property as a vacant lot. 

Ms. Janice Rodrigo, 9B Duane Street, also objected to this application.

Ms. Susan Kozar, 12 Duane Street, requested clarification as to the Applicant’s installation of curbing and the design exception to the requirement for installation of sidewalks.

Mr. Mark Rasimowicz, Board Engineer, has no objections subject to applicant’s compliance with report dated August 10, 2020.

Mr. Mark Remsa, Board Planner, has no objections subject to applicant’s compliance with report dated March 6, 2020.

Motion to close public portion made by Mr. Marino Lupo and seconded by Mr. Louis Masters and passed unanimously by all members of the Board present.

Motion to approve made by Mr. Marino Lupo and seconded by Mr. Gary Busman and passed unanimously by all members of the Board present.

BA-5189-20           Kings Row Properties, LLC c/o Steve Rubin; Request for
Use and Bulk Variances; Block 82, Lots 4.01 and 4.02; Located on Rhode Hall Road, In the R-30 Zone

(See attached transcript.)

MEMORIALIZATION

BA-5188-20             PDC Atlanta, LLC, a motion to approve made by Mr. Louis Masters and seconded by Chairwoman Carol Damiani and passed unanimously by all members of the Board present.

A motion to enter into Closed Session at 10:00 pm made by Mr. Marino Lupo and seconded by Mr. Louis Masters and passed unanimously by all members of the Board present.

A motion to end Closed Session at 10:20 pm made by Mr. Gary Busman and seconded by Mr. Louis Masters and passed unanimously by all members of the Board present.

 A motion to adjourn at 10:400 p.m. made by Mr. Marino Lupo and seconded by Mr. Gary Busman and passed unanimously by all members of the Board present.

Respectfully submitted,

 LAURA ZALEWSKI

ZONING BOARD SECRETARY