TOWNSHIP OF MONROE

PLANNING BOARD MINUTES

MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING

January 23, 2020

Meeting called to order at 7:00 P.M. by Attorney Jerome Convery who led the salute to the Flag.

Attorney Jerome Convery 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 3, 2020;                   

Posted on the Monroe Township website; and

Sent to those individuals who have requested personal notice.

MEMBERS PRESENT:     Mr. Terence Van Dzura, Mr.  Lou Caron, Mr. David Rothman, Mr. Andy Paluri, Mrs. Karen Polidoro, Mr. Wayne Horbatt, Ms. Roslyn Brodsky and Councilwoman Elizabeth Schneider.  Also present for the Board were Attorney Jerome Convery, Planner Mark Remsa, Engineer Mark Rasimowicz and Director of Planning Mr. Joe Stroin.

MEMBERS ABSENT:        Mayor Gerald Tamburro, Alternate #1 Mr. Norman Olinsky and Alternate #2 Mr. John Riggs

NOMINATIONS:

Motion to appoint Mr. Terence Van Dzura as Planning Board Chairman made by Ms. Roslyn Brodsky and seconded by Councilwoman Betty Schneider and passed unanimously by all members of the Board present. (Nominations closed.)

Motion to appoint Mr. Lou Caron as Planning Board Vice-Chairman made by Mr. Wayne Horbatt and seconded by Mrs. Roslyn Brodsky and passed unanimously by all members present. (Nominations closed.)

Motion to appoint Mr. Jerome Convery as Board Attorney made by Ms. Karen Polidoro and seconded by Mr. Wayne Horbatt and passed unanimously by all members of the Board present. (Nominations closed.)

Motion to appoint Mr. Mark Rasimowicz as Board Engineer made by Mr. Andy Paluri and seconded by Mr. Wayne Horbatt and passed unanimously by all members of the Board present. (Nominations closed.)

Motion to appoint Mr. Mark Remsa as Board Planner made by Councilwoman Betty Schneider and seconded by Ms. Karen Polidoro and passed unanimously by all members of the Board present. (Nominations closed.)

Motion to appoint Center State Engineering as Engineering Consultant made by Mr. Andy Paluri and seconded by Mr. Wayne Horbatt and passed unanimously by all members of the Board present. (Nominations closed.)

Motion to appoint Ms. Laura Zalewski as Board Secretary made by Mr. Andy Paluri and seconded by Mrs. Roslyn Brodsky and passed unanimously by all members of the Board present. (Nominations closed.)

Motion to appoint Mr. Mark Remsa as Administrative Officer made by Mr. Wayne Horbatt and seconded by Ms. 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. David Rothman and seconded by Mr. Andy Paluri and passed unanimously by all members of the Board present.

Motion to adopt the dates for 2020 for the Planning Board made by Mr. Wayne Horbatt and seconded by Ms. Karen Polidoro and passed unanimously by all members of the Board present.

A motion to approve the December 4, 2019 Minutes made by Mr. Andy Paluri and seconded by Mr. David Rothman and passed with Councilwoman Betty Schneider and Ms. Karen Polidoro abstaining. 

PB-1217-19       SRV Trading, LLC; Request for Minor Subdivision with Bulk                                                        Variances; Block 51, Lot 3 3; Located on Gravel Hill Spotswood Road,                                        In the R-30 Zone

(Mr. Rothman, Mr. Horbatt and Councilwoman Betty Schneider recused themselves from this application.)

Represented by Mr. Walter Toto who stated this application is seeking a minor subdivision approval to create 2 lots.  One lot will be 30,000 square feet and the second lot will be 52,389 square feet.  The zone is R-30 residential, 30,000 square foot required.  There is an existing home to remain with a looped driveway and a proposed “flag lot” for a new dwelling.

Mr. Sharif Aly, applicant’s Engineer stated the property in question far exceeds the ordinance requirement of 30,000 square foot.  The 2 proposed lots both exceed the minimum required square footage.  The property is approximately 2 acres.  There are several variances requested.  We are requesting lot frontage, width, minimum front yard, buffer from ROW and side yard setback for accessory structure.  The ordinance states definitions is from setback for variance.  Sewer, water and gas are available, otherwise the R-60 standards would apply.  There is a sliver of wetlands in the rear.  Future lot 3.01 will be the existing dwelling on a 150x200 lot with 30,000 square feet.  That leaves 45 feet frontage for the proposed home in the rear.  We do meet all bulk requirements for the proposed home, except width and frontage are variances.  There is a well on property and that will be abandoned.  We do not propose curbing or sidewalk.

Mr. Mark Remsa, Board Planner, stated the setback ordinance definition, clearly identifies a variance.

Mr. Mark Rasimowicz, Board Engineer, stated there is a Township Ordinance that a contributions will be made in lieu of installing curbing and sidewalk, there is no waiver of it.  Also, additional grading to the neighbor’s home.  The well should be closed and the septic should be located on the map.

Mr. Andy Paluri asked if the existing home will stay as is, if they change something, will they need to come back to the Board.  Can we require them to come back to the Board, as a condition.  What is the speed limit and access to the driveway.

Mr. Sharif Aly, stated the home will remain, but it will not require further board approvals if compliant to the zone requirements.

Mrs. Karen Polidoro asked about the seasonal ground water and suggested a tree removal and plating plan.

Mr. Bernard Reilly, objector Attorney, cross examined and stated the Township does not allow flag lots.  Asked if the existing home had plans.  Asked what the ROW width was on the street.

Ms. Allison Coffin, applicant’s Planner, stated the proposed application is for detached single-family dwellings which are permitted in the R-30 Zone.  We are requesting the following bulk variances from the code: minimum lot frontage where 150 feet is required and we are proposing 44.78 feet for proposed lot, minimum lot width where 150 feet is required and we are proposing 44.78 feet for proposed lot, minimum front yard setback where 50 feet is required and we are proposing 11.13 feet for existing dwelling, minimum buffer from ROW where 60 feet is required and we are proposing 11.13 feet for existing dwelling, minimum side yard setback for accessory structure where 20 feet is required and 11.30 feet for existing garage.  We are also requesting a design exception from or providing curbing and sidewalks where both are required.

Mr. Bernard Reilly, objector Attorney, cross examined planner testimony.

PUBLIC:

Joy Douglas Lasko, 120 Gravel Hill Spotswood Road, stated there is no public benefit only to the developers.  Adding already to the overburden school systems and it is all about money.

Bill Douglas, 106 Gravel Hill Spotswood Road, I own the adjacent property and change is always difficult.  The properties have always backed up the woods and this new house would be detrimental to neighbors with a house in the back.

Jeanine Barrett, 108 Gravel Hill Spotswood Road, (hired the objector attorney) stated she lives downhill from the property.  Resided there for over 20+ years and her husband more than 45+ years.  Nothing benefits the neighbors.  Taking the woods away will add more water and more runoff.  I will walk out my backdoor and look into someone’s front door.  My property is 3.5 acres and feel if this is approved, I will have a better chance also because I have more frontage along the road.  I feel we should be entitled to same approval.

Mr. Walter Toto asked if she had any type of business on her property.  (She stated her husband stores tile for his business.)

William Bonnewitz, 108 Gravel Hill Spotswood Road, stated he bought the property next door so he was not close to neighbors, if he wanted homes that close he would’ve bought in a  neighborhood.

Mr. Walter Toto submitted a Facebook post onto record from Mr. Bonnewitz.

Charles Dancer, 49 Monmouth Road, grew up at 108 Gravel Hill Spotswood Road, stated his father Mr. Bonnewitz has had ongoing heath issues since learning of this.  This will only add more stress.

Jennifer Hluchy, 436 Schoolhouse Road, asked the Engineer to comment on the drainage issue and to clarify where it is going.  (Mr. Sharif Aly stated a stormwater management plan will be required if approved.)

Kathleen Leonard, 8 Cypress Drive, stated she has not seen a topo map and is also concerned with the water problem.  Water flows downward.

Bruce Bastek, 414 Spotswood Gravel Hill Road, also stated this area is flooded all the time. 

Jacob Egierd, 10 Andrew Drive, wanted to submit a petition he had online.  (Chairman Van Dzura stated that public can show up and be heard and state things on the record, we will not accept a petition.  The meeting was properly noticed.)  This application is detrimental to the surrounding homes, it is only a financial benefit to the owners and should not be approved.

Chris Lesko, 120 Gravel Hill Spotswood Road, stated he purchased his home in 1997 and have seen many homes built in that time.  Water is a main concern.  We need to address that first.

Mr. Mark Rasimowicz, Board Engineer, has no objections subject to applicant’s compliance with report dated June 9, 2019.

Mr. Mark Remsa, Board Planner, has no objections subject to applicant’s compliance with report dated April 6, 2019.

Motion to approve made by Mr. Lou Caron and seconded by Ms. Roslyn Brodsky and motion failed with 3 nays (Mr. Paluri, Ms. Polidoro and Chairman Van Dzura) and 2 (Mr. Caron and Ms. Brodsky) ayes.

MEMORIALIZATION

PB-1219-19              JMJ-4, LLC, a motion to approve made by Mr. David Rothman and seconded by Mr. Lou Caron and passed with Councilwoman Betty Schneider and Ms. Karen Polidoro abstaining.

A motion to adjourn at 10:20 p.m. made by Mr. David Rothman and seconded by Mr. Wayne Horbatt and passed unanimously by all members of the Board present.

Respectfully submitted,

 LAURA ZALEWSKI

PLANNING BOARD SECRETARY