TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON
                                                                                 WARREN COUNTY
                                                                                LAND USE BOARD

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


                                                                                      MINUTES
                                                                               MARCH 29, 2006


Chairwoman 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.

Attorney S. Gruenberg swore in new Land Use Board member Mr.E. Zaret.

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

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

MINUTES: Minutes from the February 22, 2006 meeting.
A motion to approve the minutes from the February 22, 2006 meeting was made by Mr. Sodtalbers, seconded by Mr. Rossi, Vote: Sodtalbers, Rossi, Dempski, Klingel, Iwaniszyn, Pietrangelo - Ayes, 0 - Nay, 0 - Abstain, motion carried.

RESOLUTIONS:
1.  Pride Builders Inc. - WTPB#2005-27 - Resolution for a Preliminary Major Subdivision application for Block 47, Lot 9.04. This application was granted approval on February 22, 2006. Eligible to Vote: Rossi, Belz, Iwaniszyn, Pietrangelo, Dempski. A motion to approve the resolution with changes was made by Mayor Dempski, seconded by Mr. Iwaniszyn, Vote: Dempski, Iwaniszyn, Rossi, Pietrangelo - Ayes, 0 - Nay, 0 - Abstain, motion carried.

COMPLETENESS:
1.  McCullough Rd. Land Development - WTPB#2006-1 - Completeness review for Final Major subdivision approval for block 47, Lot 9 located on McCullough Rd.
This application was deemed incomplete on January 25, 2006. Engineer W. Gleba stated he met with the applicant’s Engineer on March 2, 2006 and there were still outstanding items which need to be submitted from the prior review on file with the secretary.

2.  Hawk Pointe/Asbury Farms - WTPB#2006-2 - Completeness review for a Preliminary Major Subdivision and Site Plan application for Block 65, Lots 2 & 4 and Block 65.02 Lot 1 located on Route 31 South. This application was deemed incomplete on February 8, 2006. The applicant was represented by Attorney L. Tubman, Ms. Tubman stated the current application has been terminated and a letter will be formally submitted to the Board secretary. Ms. Tubman stated the  applicant will however leave the escrow in place  and  will be submitting  a new application which  will be explained when the applicant proceeds with the conceptual presentation.

3.  Deerfield Estates/Joe Justo - WTPB#2005-33 - Completeness review for a Preliminary Major subdivision application for Block 74 Lot 5 located on West Asbury Anderson Road. This application was deemed incomplete on November 9, 2005 and resubmitted on February 22, 2006, still deemed incomplete on February 22, 2006.

Engineer W. Gleba stated he had been in contact by the applicant’s Engineer and the applicant’s plans are still under revision.
                                                                     
4.  Washington Estates/Nottingham - WTPB#2006- Completeness review for a  Final Major subdivision application for Block 28 Lot 5 located on Mine Hill Road.
The applicant was represented by Attorney M. Hubner and Engineer N. Wunner.

Attorney M. Hubner stated the applicant received preliminary approval on June 8, 2005 and conditions still needed to be satisfied. Mr. Hubner stated in June 2005 he requested a developer’s agreement from Township Attorney E. Glynn and in October he was told Attorney S. Gruenberg would be drafting the agreement. Mr. Hubner stated he submitted a draft agreement for Mr. Gruenberg to use and received nothing, Mr. Hubner stated this was not fair to his client. Mr. Gruenberg stated that at the time he had a personal situation going on and stated it was not fair to him or his client, Mr. Gruenberg stated he had a draft and also has a homeowner’s agreement. Mayor Dempski stated he would have had Mr. Glynn do it, we still have a duty on issues. Attorney S. Gruenberg swore in Engineer N. Wunner, Mr. Wunner reviewed the letter from Engineer W. Greba dated March 24, 2006. A motion to deem the application complete with waivers granted for items 4,7,11 and 14 was made by Mr. Sodtalbers, seconded by Ms. Pflugh, Vote: Sodtalbers, Pflugh, Dempski, Howell, Strunk, Klingel, Rossi, Iwaniszyn, Pietrangelo - Ayes, 0 - Nay, 0 - Abstain, motion carried. This application will be heard on April 26, 2006.

PUBLIC HEARING & DISCUSSION ITEMS:
1.  Trade Zone Auto/C. Basile - WTPB#2005-32 - Continuation of a public hearing for a Conditional Use Variance for Block 79 Lot 7.06 located at 488 Route 31 South.

Attorney S. Gruenberg stated the application has been rescheduled for April 26, 2006 with no further notice required.                           

2. Hawk Pointe/Asbury Farms - Conceptual presentation on Hawk Pointe’s pending application and on the undeveloped, commercially zoned portion of the property located on Rt. 31 south.
The applicant was represented by Attorney L. Tubman, Engineer P. Kavka and Architect Mr. Arsburger.  Ms. Tubman stated the pending application will be terminated and the escrow left in place. Ms. Tubman stated what was being presented this evening was a concept presentation for the commercial development. Attorney S. Gruenberg stated a conceptual presentation doesn’t obligate the board or applicant, it’s just an informal discussion.

Mr. Cotton stated the original GDP has been drastically reduced, a new design is being presented which will include a shop rite, bank, medical building, restaurant, retail and office space. Mr. Cotton stated just for right now they are interested in developing the shop rite, bank and medical site. Mr. Cotton stated a clock tower will divide the commercial area from the residential area. Ms. Tubman stated there was limitation in the
ordinance for a single commercial use and she would be requesting an ordinance change
before the township committee.

       Mayor Dempski noted the proposed restaurant and reminded Ms. Tubman there were no available liquor licenses in the township. Ms. Tubman stated they were transferable.
Mr. Cotton briefly reviewed the proposed shop rite and restaurant location. Mr. Cotton stated the topography rolls but they would provide pedestrian sidewalks and walkways coming from the residential area, the goal is to be pedestrian friendly.

       Ms. Pflugh stated the entire site is 12% to 15% impervious coverage, would you explore more impervious surfaces and consider more trees to be used as a buffer for noise.
Mr. Cotton stated there would be a landscape plan submitted with the site plan.

      Mr. Cotton briefly reviewed the proposed shop rite area of the site and stated  the Rt. 31 side of the store would resemble a series of shops. Mr. Cotton stated a wall would conceal the loading area where the trucks would be unloading.

      Planner S. Doyle addressed the following subjects:
      * medical building with shared parking
      * location of trees
      * loading area should not be a focal point
      * improvements for the Rt. 31 view
      * come back before the board with coah plans

     Engineer P. Kavka stated the elevations would be shown on the site plan and retail spaces for the concept are just an estimate. Engineer W. Gleba requested a re-orientation of the loading area,  two dimensional would be nice. Ms. Tubman stated we have accomplished what we should have this evening and the current application should be suspended. The applicant will return on April 26, 2006.

3.  Review of draft sign ordinance.
The proposed sign ordinance was reviewed and discussed at length all comments and changes should be addressed to the Mayor.

4.  Proposed light trespass ordinance:
 
The Mayor requested authorization for  the Land Use Board Engineer to review the proposed ordinance, the Board granted authorization.                                                                            

5.  Highlands requirements for zoning applications:
The Mayor requested authorization from the Land Use Board for the Planner to meet with the Township Zoning Official to discuss the Highlands, the Board granted authorization.

PUBLIC COMMENT:
Mr. F. Cregan of 62 Merlin Drive.
Mr. Cregan briefly addressed his concerns regarding various types of signs throughout the Township.

EXECUTIVE SESSION: 10:15 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
A motion to go into executive session to discuss “Pending Litigation” was made by Mr. Rossi, seconded by Mr. Iwaniszyn. A motion to return to regular session was made by Mr. Howell, seconded by Mayor Dempski, all ayes motion carried.

ADJOURNMENT: 10:50 p.m.
With no further business before the Board and no further public comment offered the meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully Submitted,

Margaret Housman, Secretary
Land Use Board