TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON
                                                                                 WARREN COUNTY
                                                                                 LAND USE BOARD

Municipal Offices                                                                                                                            350 Route 57 West
(908) 689-7209                                                                                                                           Washington, NJ 07882
MINUTES
NOVEMBER 8, 2006

Chairwoman D. 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. Strunk, Mr. Sodtalbers, Mr. Klingel, Mr. Rossi, Ms. Pflugh, Ms. Pietrangelo, Mr. Zaret
Members Absent: Mr. Howell, Mr. Iwaniszyn, Ms. Belz
Also Present: Attorney S. Gruenberg, Engineer W. Gleba

CORRESPONDENCE: A list was provided to the board members.

MINUTES: Minutes from the October 11, 2006 meeting.
A motion to approve the minutes from the October 11, 2006 meeting as written was made by Mr. Strunk, seconded by Mayor Dempski, Vote: Strunk, Demski, Sodtalbers, Klingel, Rossi, Pietrangelo - Ayes, 0 - Nay, 0 - Abstain, motion carried.

COMPLETENESS:
1. Benchmark Enterprises, LLC - WTPB#2006-13 - Completeness review for a variance application for Block 22 Lot 3.16 located at 390 Route 57 West. A motion to deem the application incomplete per Engineer W. Gleba’s letter dated November 3, 2006 was made by  Mr. Sodtalbers, seconded by Ms. Pflugh, all ayes motion carried.
Engineer W. Gleba left the meeting at this time.

DISCUSSION ITEMS & PUBLIC HEARINGS:
1. Conceptual presentation for Habitat for Humanity for Block 90 Lots 2 & 3 located on Butler’s Park Road. The applicant was represented by Attorney S. Ours.
Mr. Ours briefly described the property and affordable housing units.

Attorney S. Gruenberg stated the conceptual presentation was non-binding for the board and the applicant and would be subject to a formal application. Ms. Pflugh requested a demonstration of public health impacts including the flooding of the area.

Mr. Ours asked if would be possible some of the fees could be waived by the township. Mayor Dempski stated in terms of the administrative costs we could pay the fees out of our affordable housing trust fund if the township committee agreed to do so. Attorney S. Gruenberg stated due to the amount of variances involved you should have a planner give testimony when you apply. Mr. Ours stated he was getting a lot of support from professionals. Mr. Strunk asked Mr. Ours if he had given some thought of some of your arguments to justify it. Mr. Ours stated basically his argument would because of the location an old development subject to having been developed in small lots.

Attorney S. Gruenberg was handed a document reading concerns regarding the development of Butler’s Park Road, Mr. Gruenberg stated the document has an outline of issues for the area.

PUBLIC COMMENT:
Ms. Christine Christensen of 1231 Butler’s Park Road.
Ms. Christensen stated she owns two lots on Butler’s Park Road.
Ms. Christensen stated the area is environmentally sensitive and has tremendous habitat and is in the musconetcong watershed area. Ms. Christensen stated the loss of dense overgrowth is really critical to our lots and we want to preserve this environment.  Ms. Christensen stated there are real concerns of septic contamination for our wells. Ms. Christensen reminded the board a stream near the property may be soon be designated a category one stream. Ms. Christensen reviewed the maintenance of the road. Ms. Pietrangelo asked if there was a road in front of the lot, Mr. Ours replied there is a road but not a paved road. Ms. Pflugh stated she had concerns what the impact of increased impervious surface would have on the area. Ms. Christensen briefly described how the flooding impacts her home and the surrounding area. Attorney S. Gruenberg reminded everyone this isn’t a formal application before the board and the public concerns should be considered by Mr. Ours. Mr. M. Skuropacki of 1225 Butler’s Park Road, Mr. Skuropacki stated he didn’t see any benefit to allowing building in this area, the residents would rather benefit by allowing the trees to grow.  Mr. G. Huber of 1202 Butler’s Park Road stated he is probably impacted the worst by flooding, the road is sometimes covered by water by eighteen inches deep. Mr. Huber stated by allowing more building down there it would make it worse for all of us.

2. Discussion on utilizing anti-pay-to-play ordinances and regulations for Land Use Board professions. (Fair and open contract bids for 2007 professionals)

3. Discussion and review on the proposed 2007 land use board budget.

RESOLUTIONS:
1. Dale Coleman - WTPB#2005-25 - Resolution for a conditional use with bulk variance relief, approval granted on October 11, 2006 for Block 46 Lot 2 located at 138 Railroad Avenue.
Eligible to Vote: Sodtalbers, Iwaniszyn, Rossi, Belz
This resolution was rescheduled for the November 29, 2006 meeting.

2. Regency at Hawk Pointe/Asbury Farms - WTPB#2006-2 - Resolution for a Preliminary Major Subdivision and Site Plan application with Variance relief, approval granted October 11, 2006 for Block 65 Lots 2 & 4 and Block 65.02 Lot 1 located on Route 31 South.
Eligible to Vote: Howell, Sodtalbers, Klingel, Iwaniszyn, Pietrangelo,
This resolution was rescheduled for the November 29, 2006 meeting.
 
3. Unity Bank - WTPB#2006-3 - Resolution for a Preliminary Major Site Plan application with variance relief for Block 78 Lot 9 located at 5 East Asbury Anderson Road. Approval granted on October 25, 2006. Eligible to Vote: Strunk, Dempski, Klingel
This resolution was rescheduled to the November 29, 2006 meeting.

4. Martron LLC - WTPB#2006-12 - Resolution for a Final Site Plan application for Block 64, Lot 11 located at 283 Route 31 South. Approval granted on October 25, 2006.
Eligible to Vote: Strunk, Iwaniszyn, Dempski, Sodtalbers, Klingel, Pietrangelo, Zaret.
This resolution was rescheduled to the November 29, 2006 meeting.

ADJOURNMENT: 9:30 p.m.
With no further business before the board and no public comment offered the meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully Submitted,
Margaret Housman, Secretary
Washington Township LUB