TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON
WARREN COUNTY
LAND USE BOARD

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

 MINUTES
JUNE 30, 2004

Chairman Artigliere 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” December 30, 2003. Notice was posted on the municipal bulletin board in the Township

Administration Building in the Washington Township, New Jersey, and notice was filed with the

Township clerk on December 30, 2003.

ROLL CALL:

Members present: Mr. Sodtalbers, Mr. Parillo, Ms. Pflugh, Mr. Klingel, Mr. Artigliere, Mr. Iwaniszyn, Mr. Strunk, Mayor Horensky.

Absent: Mr. Dante, Mr. Rossi

Also Present: Attorney S. Gruenberg, Engineer J. Cilo Jr., Planner S. Doyle

COMMUNICATIONS: A list was  provided at the meeting.

MINUTES: May 26, 2004, June 9, 2004

A motion to approve the minutes of May 26, 2004 was made by Mr. Strunk, seconded by Mr. Klingel Vote: Strunk, Klingel, Artigliere - Ayes, 0 - Nay, Horensky, Iwaniszyn, Pflugh, Parillo, Sodtalbers - Abstain, motion carried.

A motion to approve the minutes of June 9, 2004 was made by Mayor Horensky, seconded by Mr. Strunk, Vote: Horensky, Strunk, Klingel, Sodtalbers, Pflugh, Iwaniszyn - Ayes, 0 - Nay, Artigliere, Parillo - Abstain, motion carried.

DISCUSSION ITEMS:

1. Hawk Pointe, R. Cotton  - WTPB# 2004 - 8 - Application for GDP amendments for Block 65, Lots 2, 2.02, 3, 3.03 & 3.04. A motion was made by Mr. Strunk too deem the application incomplete for non-payment of tax, seconded by Mr. Sodtalbers, Vote: Strunk, Sodtalbers, Parillo - Ayes,  Pflugh, Klingel, Iwaniszyn, Horensky - Nay, 0 - Abstain. A motion was made by Ms. Pflugh, seconded by Mr. Parillo to deem the application incomplete for non-payment of tax and per Engineer J. Cilos, January 3, 2004 letter, Vote: Pflugh, Parillo, Sodtalbers,  Klingel, Artigliere, Strunk, Iwaniszyn, Horensky, motion carried. A sub-committee was formed to meet with Asbury Farms’ representatives and the Township’s professionals. The appointees were Mr. Klingel, Mr. Parillo and Ms. Pflugh. 
                                                                            
2. Washington Driving Range - WTPB#2004-13 - Public hearing  for a Variance application for Block 66, Lot 20.07. Deemed complete June 9, 2004. Attorney F. Stem  represented the applicant. Attorney Stem stated the applicant is seeking a use variance for relief for a commercial paintball facility. Attorney Gruenberg swore in witness Mel Maravilla as an expert witness in paintball. Mr. Maravilla presented to the board his credentials and stated for the last year he was the owner and operator of a paintball facility in Toms River, NJ.

Mr. Maravilla stated he was a member of the paintball training and safety institute, which is responsible for safety and manufacturing standards of paintball equipment. Chairman Artigliere asked Mr. Maravilla is he had any experience with outdoor paintball facilities.

Mr. Maravilla stated he has assistant managed outdoor facilities and has seen seventeen in the state of New Jersey, three in Pennsylvania., two in Maryland and one in Virginia.

Mr. Maravilla was accepted as an expert witness. Mr. Maravilla stated the paintball  facility for the most part would be peaking on  Saturdays and Sundays, two fields would be operational at any given time rotating in five to ten minute sessions. Mr. Maravilla stated at any given time the maximum number of players on the field would be forty players possibly another twenty players waiting for the game to be over. Mr. Maravilla stated the majority of the age group would be twelve to seventeen years old. Mr. Maravilla reviewed the playing area of the Washington Driving Range, (Exhibits A-1 & A-2)  the Boundaries and the netting. Mr. Maravilla stated the paintballs for the most part would fall within the playing field itself. Vice Chairman B. Klingel asked what the approximate distance is from the playing field to Route 31. Mr. Maravilla stated future testimony would address the question.

Chairman L. Artigliere asked what the hours of operation would be.  Mr. Maravilla stated the current hours are from 9:00 am. to 10:00 pm., and would remain the same. Chairman L. Artigliere asked if paintball could be played with lower intensity lighting and reduced height of the lighting. Mr. Maravilla said possibly the lighting could be looked into.

Chairman L. Artigliere stated there was a situation that exists with the current lighting that was a problem for the tax payers in the community who live in the vicinity of the Driving Range. Mr. Maravilla stated another witness would address lighting issues.

Ms. Pflugh asked the witness if the current screening would catch the balls and prevent splattering in other areas. Mr. Maravilla stated a buffer zone would be established and the paintballs would remain within the Driving Range property. Mr. Sodtalbers asked what would be done to  control possible situations within other areas of the property. Mr. Maravilla stated that within the playing field players are never aloud to remove their masks, when they exit the field a mandatory barrel sock must be on the gun at all times and all policies would be strictly enforced.

Mr. Sodtalbers asked what facilities would be provided for clean up after the games.

Mr. Maravilla stated paper towels would be available and there is really very little to be cleaned up.  Planner S. Doyle asked the witness where the clean up of the equipment would take place if something miss fires in the chamber. Mr. Maravilla stated that the person would be permitted to use the restroom.  Planner S. Doyle asked the witness if the tree row would remain, Mr. Maravilla stated all trees would remain. Mr.Maravilla addressed questions concerning the netting locations for the paintball fields. Mr. Maravilla stated there would be four playing fields only two will be used at a time.

PUBLIC COMMENT:
5 Osprey Court, Thomas Prisk Mr. Prisk asked what will happen to the current telephone poles and nets that are presently located on the property.

Chairman Artigliere stated this question would be addressed by a future witness.

Planet Self Storage, Diane Hoffman, Manager Ms. Hoffman asked if the paintball operation would be loud. Mr. Maravilla stated that there would be a zero tolerance for profanity.

15 Peregrine Drive, John Hughes
Mr. Hughes asked the witness if out of the seventeen communities you are aware of has there been any police action at outside the premises of these parks. Mr. Maravilla stated not that he was aware of.62 Merlin Drive, Frank Cregan

Mr. Cregan asked why there has been a decline in paintball in wooded areas.

Mr. Maravilla stated the game was shifting to more of the open type of atmosphere.

Mr. Cregan asked that there is some difficulty pulling in and out of the facility.

Chairman Artigliere asked that the question be addressed by their traffic witness.

2 Tamzen Terrace, Charles Harmon
Mr. Harmon asked why couldn’t the net be over the top of the field.

Mr. Maravilla stated there would be enough of a buffer zone to prevent most of the balls from leaving the playing area. Mr. Maravilla addressed questions on security in the parking lot.

Mr. Maravilla stated there will be someone monitoring the parking lot.

105 Rymon Road, Camille Brown
Ms. Brown has concerns of noise issues. Mr. Maravilla stated the facility will have enough of a buffer area to help with any noise.

16 Merlin Drive, Anthony Barbella
Mr. Barbella asked where the participants would be coming from. Mr. Maravilla stated the participants will be coming from Morris, Hunterdon and Warren County area.

Mr. Stem gave the Board a brief view of the features of the application and the uses of the site.  Mr. Stem stated there is adequate parking and buffers concerning the adjoining properties.

Mr. Stem concluded his presentation for the evening and will resume testimony on July 14, 2004 without further notice being required.

3.  W. Witkowski - WTPB# 2004-15 - Public hearing for a “C” Variance application for Block 34, Lot 7. Deemed complete June 9, 2004. The public hearing for this application will be heard on July 14, 2004, without further notice being required.

4. Ed Mark 31 - WTPB# 2004-12 - Resolution for Site Plan approval for Block 65, Lot 8.03

The application was deemed complete on April 28, 2004 and approved on June 9, 2004.

Eligible to vote: Dante, Klingel, Pflugh, Sodtalbers, Iwaniszyn. The resolution was tabled until the July 14, 2004 meeting.

5. McCullough Road Land Development, LLC - WTPB#2004-14 - Completeness,  Minor Subdivision application for Block 47, Lot 9. Deemed incomplete on May 26, 2004.

A motion was made to deem the application complete and continue the public hearing on July 14, 2004, without further notice being required by Mr. Parillo, seconded by Mr. Klingel Vote: Parillo, Klingel, Sodtalbers, Pflugh, Iwaniszyn, Horensky, Strunk, Artigliere - Ayes, 0 - Nay, 0 - Abstain, motion carried.

6. M. Mojek - WTPB# 2004-10 - Completeness, Public hearing for Preliminary & Final Site Plan application for Block 43, Lot 20. Deemed incomplete on June 9, 2004. A motion was made to

deem the application complete and continue the public hearing on July 14, 2004, without further notice being required by Mr. Klingel, seconded by Mr. Sodtalbers, Vote: Klingel, Sodtalbers, Parillo, Iwaniszyn, Artigliere, Pflugh - Ayes, 0 - Nay, 0 - Abstain, motion carried.

EXECUTIVE SESSION: 10:40 - 10:50

A motion was made by Mr. Klingel, seconded by Ms. Pflugh to go into Executive Session to discuss “Personnel” and “Pending Litigation” all ayes motion carried. A motion to come out of Executive Session was made by Mr. Klingel, seconded by Ms. Pflugh, all ayes motion carried.

ADJOURNMENT: 10:50

Respectfully Submitted,
Margaret Housman
Land Use Secretary