TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON
WARREN COUNTY
LAND USE BOARD

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

MINUTES
FEBRUARY 8, 2006

Chairwoman Ms. Pietrangelo called the meeting to order at 7:30 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. Sodtalbers, Mr. Klingel, Mr. Rossi, Mr. Iwaniszyn, Ms. Pflugh, Ms. Pietrangelo, Mr. Birkner, Ms. Belz

Members Absent: Mr. Howell, Mr. Strunk

CORRESPONDENCE: A correspondence list was submitted to the Land Use Board members.

Item #6 - A Letter dated February 3, 2006  from Stires & Associates regarding Martron LLC, and a request for John Cilo Jr., Engineer to supply a compliance letter for Warren County regarding stormwater management requirements being me for the applicant.

The board agreed to the letter and the secretary will notify Mr. Cilo.

MINUTES: Minutes from the January 18, 2006 and January 25, 2006 meetings.

The minutes from January 18, 2006 meeting will be resubmitted for February 22, 2006.

A motion to approve the minutes from the January 25, 2006 meeting were made by Mr. Sodtalbers, seconded by Mayor Dempski, Vote: Sodtalbers, Dempski, Klingel, Pflugh, Pietrangelo, Iwaniszyn - Ayes, 0 - Nay, 0 - Abstain, motion carried.

RESOLUTIONS:

1. M. Finelli - WTPB#2005-34 - Resolution for a Minor Site Plan application with Variance relief for Block 30, Lot 6. This application was approved on January 18, 2006.

Eligible to Vote: Pflugh, Rossi, Iwaniszyn, Howell, Dempski, Birkner

A motion to approve the resolution granting Minor Site Plan approval with Variance relief was made by Ms. Pflugh seconded by Mr. Iwaniszyn, Vote: Pflugh, Iwaniszyn, Dempski, Rossi, Birkner - Ayes, 0 - Nay, 0 - Abstain, motion carried.

COMPLETENESS:

1. Hawk Pointe - WTPB#2006-2 - Completeness Review for a Preliminary Major Subdivision and Site Plan application for Block 65, Lots 2 & 4 and Block 65.02, Lot1 located on Route 31 South.                              

The applicant has requested this application be rescheduled for completeness only.

The Board rescheduled this application for the March 8, 2006 meeting for completeness only.

DISCUSSION ITEMS:

1. Land Use Board continuing budget discussion for 2006.

Chairwoman Ms. Pietrangelo stated the committee reviewed the new hourly rate of $16.82 for the land use board secretary and did not have a problem with it.

Ms. Pietrangelo stated she did wish to get the approval from the Land Use Board.

A motion to approve an hourly rate of $16.82 was made by Mr. Sodtalbers, seconded by Ms. Pflugh, Vote: Sodtalbers, Pflugh, Dempski, Klingel, Rossi, Iwaniszyn, Pietrangelo, Birkner, Belz - Ayes,0 - Nay, 0 - Abstain, motion carried. Mayor Dempski stated he would notify the committee.

2. Land Use Board member confirmation for educational programs.

Ms. Pflugh stated the rules for the courses for municipal land use law have not yet gone into effect. Ms. Pflugh stated her understanding of the rule as it is written right now is that organizations who will provide training will submit a training module, and at the conclusion of the course the students will be required to take an exam. Ms. Pflugh stated at this point this is not an approved course and it may be premature to take this course.

The following land use board members registered to take the course at this time:

Ms. Pietrangelo, Ms. Belz, Mr. Howell, Ms. Pflugh, Mr. Birkner.

Mayor Dempski and Mr. Strunk are exempt from taking the course.

Mr. Klingel, Mr. Rossi, Mr. Iwaniszyn and Mr. Sodtalbers will take the course at a future date.   

3. Mayor Dempski requested volunteers to review his draft copy of the open space and recreation plan. Mayor Dempski stated he would like to have the draft reviewed prior to submission to the land use board. Mr. Iwaniszyn, Ms. Pflugh and Mr. Birkner volunteered for the review.

Ms. Pietrangelo stated the Board should address any ordinance changes soon. Ms. Pflugh suggested an gap analysis should be done on the masterplan by Scarlett. The land use secretary will check with Scarlett regarding masterplan amendments and the cost for a gap analysis. Mayor Dempski stated he would like to take a look at the lighting ordinance the township has a minimum not a maximum and there is not any protection there. Mayor Dempski stated the sign ordinance is almost complete. Mayor Dempski requested a zoning packet for reference at the land use board meetings, the secretary will look into.

Mayor Dempski and the board had a brief discussion regarding center designation, regulation and having the planner look into it. Mayor Dempski stated the stormwater management plan is completed but the ordinances are not.

PUBLIC COMMENT:

Mr. F. Cregan of 62 Merlin Drive.
Mr. Cregan asked why couldn’t we make Washington Borough the center.

Ms. Pietrangelo stated Washington Borough is a center, the Township originally co-applied with the Borough.     

Mr. T. Prisk of 5 Osprey Court.
Mr. Prisk stated that Burger King lowered their lights and did a great job.

ADJOURNMENT: 8:20 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