TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON
                                                                               WARREN COUNTY
                                                                               LAND USE BOARD

Municipal Offices                                                                                                                        350 Route 57 West
(908) 689-7209                                                                                                                       Washington, NJ 07882

                                                                                       MINUTES
                                                                                 APRIL 12, 2006


Chairwoman Pietrangelo called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m.

ADEQUATE NOTICE was given as follows: Notice was sent to the “Star Gazette” and “ Express Times.” Notice was posted on the municipal bulletin board in the township administration building in Washington Township, New Jersey and notice was filed with the Township clerk on December 23, 2005.

ROLL CALL:
Members Present: Mayor Dempski, Mr. Strunk, Mr. Sodtalbers, Mr. Klingel, Mr. Rossi, Mr. Iwaniszyn, Ms. Pflugh, Ms. Pietrangelo, Mr. Zaret, Ms. Belz
Members Absent: Mr. Howell
Also Present: Attorney S. Gruenberg, Engineer W. Gleba, Planner S. Doyle

CORRESPONDENCE: A correspondence list was provided to the land use board members.

PUBLIC HEARING & DISCUSSION ITEMS:
1. D. Coleman - WTPB#2005-25 - Continuation of a public hearing from February 22, 2006 for a conditional use with bulk variance relief for Block 46, Lot 2.
Eligible to vote: Sodtalbers, Klingel, Rossi, Iwaniszyn, Pietrangelo, Belz, Zaret Mayor Dempski and Mr. Strunk stepped down for this application.

The applicant was represented by Attorney Alan Lowcher and Planner Liz Calhoun.
Mr.  Lowcher requested the application not be voted on until the May 10, 2006 meeting, the board agreed. Attorney S. Gruenberg swore in Mrs Denise Coleman and Planner L. Calhoun. Mr. Lowcher reviewed the variances for the existing garage.

Mrs. Coleman stated the proposed apartment would be for her father who is having some health problems that need watching. Mrs. Coleman stated she owned D&P enterprises & landscaping, Mrs. Coleman submitted a tag from trees, exhibit A-6  that were planted in her back yard for screening. The trees planted for screening have the growth potential to be 50' in height by 15' in width and will create a natural dense hedge.
Mrs. Coleman submitted pictures of the trees showing growth after three years and to date,
Exhibit A-7 - A-9. Mrs. Coleman submitted  photo A-10 which is the view from the deck facing the neighbors.
Planner S. Doyle asked the applicant what would happen to the apartment after it is vacated,
Mrs. Coleman stated the kitchen would be removed and the property would not become a rental property. Mr. Klingel asked how the applicant’s father would access the apartment if he could not climb the stairs, Mr. Coleman stated they thought maybe an elevator chair on the steps or ramp if it became necessary. Mr. Coleman stated everything would be done to code.

Planner L. Calhoun addressed issues from the board Engineer’s letter dated February 18, 2006 and the board Planner’s letter dated February 9, 2006. Mr. Zaret asked what if there were a fire, would you consider a fire suppression system, the applicant said yes.

Ms. Belz stated she had concerns regarding ventilation because the apartment is over a garage, do the windows meet the code, Mr. Coleman stated the apartment was built to code.

PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Ms. Cindy Hissim of 334 Washburn Avenue.
Attorney S. Gruenberg swore in Ms. Hissim.
Ms. Hissim stated her property borders the Colemans, there are trees there now but they are not high enough. Ms. Hissim stated she had concerns regarding privacy and people coming and going. Exhibit A-10 was reviewed showing the Hissim’s pool and deck.

Attorney S. Gruenberg briefly reviewed the variance issues, the balcony not mentioned on the original application, the garage being larger that what was originally applied for.Attorney S. Gruenberg requested the applicant return at the May 10, 2006 meeting and research the height measurements before returning.

Attorney S. Gruenberg stated the application will be continued on May 10, 2006 without further notice being required.

BREAK: 9:30 - 9:40 p.m.
Mayor Dempski and Mr. Strunk returned to the Board at this time.

2. James & Valerie Hudock - WTPB#2005-25 - Completeness review for a variance application for an above ground pool for Block 17, Lot 6.01 located at 1 Jackson Parkway.

A motion to deem the application complete with waivers granted for completeness only was made by Ms. Pflugh, seconded by Mayor Dempski, Vote: Pflugh, Dempski, Sodtalbers, Klingel, Rossi, Iwaniszyn, Pietrangelo, Zaret, Belz - Ayes, 0 - Nay, 0 - Abstain, motion carried.
The public hearing for this application was scheduled for May 10, 2006 at 7:30 p.m.

3. Open Space and Recreation Plan - Public Hearing, Mayor Dempski stated there would be two public hearings for the plan, one for the land use board and one for the township committee.
Mayor Dempski reviewed the OSRP benefits, content, reviewers, green acres applications, OSRP goals, funding, conservation and recreation.

PUBLIC COMMENT:
Ms. Kerry Miller from ANJEC.
Ms. Miller stated she would like to congratulate Mayor Dempski and the open space committee for their work. Ms. Miller briefly reviewed other towns in New Jersey and their returning to their open space base plan. Ms. Miller suggested the addition of a map for potential habitat and include easements on the open space plan.

Mr. Mark Murray of 54 Kinnaman Avenue
Mr. Murray stated he was a member of the open space committee and would like to say what a wonderful job that was done and the amount of work that was put in on the OSRP.
 
Mr. Murray stated he would like to suggest beefing up the conservation element and noted one very important property in the township which is a turtle bog habitat and is not preserved.
Mr. Murray stated he would provide the block and lot number to possibly include it under the conservation element for a potential targeted acquisition.

Mr. Frank Cregan of 62 Merlin Drive
Mr. Cregan stated the southern part of the township offers enormous potential for open space preservation, but it seems to be lacking in effort on the plans. It seems to be a concession to commercial property development. Mr. Cregan stated he would like to see more effort targeting the potential commercial space to preserve it as open space.

3. Proposed ordinance review for the PVD zone - The board briefly reviewed the proposed ordinance for the PVD zone and multiple revisions that were presented by the board and board planner. The ordinance will be discussed at a future date.

PUBLIC COMMENT:
Mr. Thomas Prisk of 5 Osprey Court.
Mr. Prisk stated the age restriction should be age 55 not 62.

4. Highlands discussion - The board scheduled a highlands presentation for the May 24, 2006 review meeting at 7:30 p.m.

PUBLIC COMMENT: No public comment was offered.

ADJOURNMENT: 11:25 p.m.
With no further business before the board and no public comment offered the meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully Submitted,

Margaret Housman, Secretary
Land Use Board