Planning Minutes | Jan 25, 2018
TOWNSHIP OF MONROE PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING | January 25, 2018
Meeting called to order at 7:00 P.M. by Mr. David Rothman who led the salute to the Flag.
Mr. David Rothman 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 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 5, 2018;
Posted on the Monroe Township website; and
Sent to those individuals who have requested personal notice.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Mr. David Rothman, Mr. Len Levene, Mr. Andy Paluri, Mrs. Karen Polidoro, Mr. Louis Caron, Mr. Terence Van Dzura, Mr. Wayne Horbatt, Alternate #1 Ms. Roslyn Brodsky, Councilwoman Elizabeth Schneider and Mayor Gerald Tamburro. Also present for the Board were Attorney Jerome Convery, Planner Mark Remsa, and Engineer Mark Rasimowicz.
MEMBERS ABSENT: (All present.)
NOMINATIONS:
Motion to appoint Mr. David Rothman as Planning Board Chairman made by Mr. Len Levene and seconded by Mr. Andy Paluri and passed unanimously by all members of the Board present. (Nominations closed.)
Motion to appoint Mr. Len Levene as Planning Board Vice-Chairman made by Mr. Andy Paluri and seconded by Mr. Lou Caron and passed unanimously by all members present. (Nominations closed.)
Motion to appoint Mr. Jerome Convery as Board Attorney made by Mr. Andy Paluri and seconded by Mr. Terry Van Dzura and passed unanimously by all members of the Board present. (Nominations closed.)
Motion to appoint Mr. Mark Rasimowicz as Board Engineer made by Mr. Lou Caron and seconded by Mr. Len Levene and passed unanimously by all members of the Board present. (Nominations closed.)
Motion to appoint Center State Engineering as Engineering Consultant made by Mr. Len Levene and seconded by Mrs. Karen Polidoro and passed unanimously by all members of the Board present. (Nominations closed.)
Motion to appoint Mr. Mark Remsa as Board Planner made by Mr. Andy Paluri and seconded by Mr. Terry Van Dzura and passed unanimously by all members of the Board present. (Nominations closed.)
Motion to appoint Ms. Laura Zalewski as Board Secretary made by Chairman David Rothman and seconded by Mrs. Karen Polidoro and passed unanimously by all members of the Board present. (Nominations closed.)
Motion to appoint Mr. Robert Hudak as Administrative Officer made by Mr. Lou Caron and seconded by Mrs. Karen Polidoro and passed unanimously by all members of the Board present. (Nominations closed.)
Motion to adopt the Rules and Regulations of the Planning Board made by Mr. Len Levene and seconded by Mr. Andy Paluri and passed unanimously by all members of the Board present.
Motion to adopt the dates for 2018 for the Planning Board made by Mr. Terry Van Dzura and seconded by Mr. Wayne Horbatt and passed unanimously by all members of the Board present.
A motion to approve the November 29, 2017, Minutes made by Mr. Andy Paluri and seconded by Mr. Len Levene and passed with Mr. Caron, Mr. Horbatt and Councilwoman Schneider abstaining.
A motion to approve extension of approval forAB Monroe, LLC (previously approved for DW Land, LLC) file (PB-1126-12)made by Mr. Terry Van Dzura and seconded by Mr. Wayne Horbatt and passed unanimously by all members of the Board present.
PB-1200-17 Karen Gelzer; Request for Minor Subdivision with Bulk Variance; Block 18, Lot 8.05; Located on Union Valley Road in the R-30 (Residential) Zone
Applicant requested to be carried to the March 22, 2018 meeting without additional notice.
PB-1195-17 Countryside Developers, Inc.; Request for Preliminary Major Subdivision and Preliminary Site Plan; Block 36, Lots 1.09, 3, 6, 9.01, 9.02 & 11.01; Located on Spotswood Englishtown Road in the R-ARAF (Residential – Age Restricted Affordable Housing) Zone
Represented by Mr. Hoff who stated this application is seeking preliminary sibdivision and site plan approval. The property is 132 acres. We are proposing 213, 1 and 2 bedroom market rate units and 53 age restricted affordable units. This is part of the affordable housing litigation that was solved in Court.
Mr. Terry Sherman, 2ndgeneration Land Developer. Described the entire project in full detail. To add, the age affordable will have 43 units with 1 bedroom and 10 units with 2 bedrooms and 1 manager unit. We agree to 25% of market rate units to be completed and have a C.O. before any affordable units are to be started.
Mr. Mark Zelina of Maser Consulting, applicant’s Engineer, stated they are requesting several waiver and variances. Described all engineering of property. We have 132 acres and only 69.2 acres will be developed. There is an area that can be used as recreational use. No roadway is proposed to that, but there is a lane proposed. We do not want to encourage cars or hanging out in the area. No lights are proposed in that area. Parking spaces we are seeking a waiver from 10x20 to 10x18. Described in detail the flow of the age restricted affordable units and the parking. Described the market rate units in detail and agreed to deed restrict additional bedrooms. Agreed to most items in professional reports, except those we are seeking waivers on. There was an environmental study done, there was a dry cleaner on site many years ago and the land was contaminated. We are not proposing any building in that area.
Mr. Harvey Yesowitz, applicant’s Traffic Engineer described the traffic flow into and out of the site. There are 2 points of access, one for the market rate units and the other for the age restricted affordable units. We can look at the roadway between now and final to make sure all traffic flow and patterns are consistent with all approvals in the area. There is no proposed center lane and if a car is turning, the shoulder is available to pass by.
Mr. Mark Rasimowicz, Board Engineer, has no objections subject to applicant’s compliance with report dated November 3, 2017.
Mr. Mark Remsa, Board Planner, has no objections subject to applicant’s compliance with report dated December 4, 2017.
Mr. Len Levene asked about the water level.
Mr. Andy Paluri asked if COAH plan is same as this plan. (Yes.) What level of service the traffic signal was and concerned about the back up of cars. Has a center lane been looked at for both directions turning. The shoulder is not the answer, because it is illegal to pass on the shoulder when a car is turning. That should be looked at before final.
Mrs. Karen Polidoro stated she was not aware of a Phase I Environmental study. She would like to review it and report back.
Mr. Lou Caron also had concern of the environmental study and what were the chemicals used.
Mr. Terry Van Dzura asked if a center lane was provided for turns. (Applicant stated they would look into that, before final as well.) Also, no lights are proposed in multi purpose area, but are there lights on the backs of the units in case at night there is something going on or an emergency. (No, just normal lights on a home type of lighting to be there.)
Ms. Roslyn Brodsky asked about the handicap parking in the age restricted affordable units. She stated she thought it would not be enough and parking spaces are a far walk. Is there an elevator in the building. (Yes.)
PUBLIC:
Mr. Simmonds, 594 Buckelew Avenue, asked is sewer and water will be available. Stated he was told from Mr. Tucker years ago that once Toll started building, the residents would have access. Well we don’t.
Ms. Michelle Arminio, 9 Nathaniel Street, asked for the block and lot numbers of the contaminated property. (Block 36, lots 9.02 and 3).
(Public portion closed.)
Motion to approve made by Mr. Terry Van Dzuraand seconded by Mr. Lou Caronand passed with Mr. Andy Paluri voting no.
MEMORIALIZATION
PB-1193-17 Jonkat Construction, LLC, a motion to approve made by Chairman David Rothman and seconded by Mr. Len Levene and passed with three (3) Aye votes and six (6) abstentions. (Mr. Levene, Chairman Rothman and Mayor Tamburro voted yes.)
PB-1183-17 KRE Acquisition Corp., a motion to approve made by Mr. Andy Paluri and seconded by Mr. Terry Van Dzura and passed with Mr. Caron, Mr. Horbatt and Councilwoman Schneider abstaining.
PUBLIC PORTION
Mr. Charlie Lerman asked what the status is of the traffic signal at the intersection at Spotswood Englishtown Road and Mounts Mill Road. There have been several horrific accidents in the past several weeks and would not like to see any life lost. Please push the County to expedite the signal to be fully functioning very soon.
A motion to adjourn at 10:10 p.m. made by Mr. Andy Paluriand seconded by Mr. Wayne Horbattand passed unanimously by all members of the Board present.
Respectfully submitted,
LAURA ZALEWSKI
PLANNING BOARD SECRETARY