TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON
WARREN COUNTY
LAND USE BOARD
MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 8, 2004

Chairman Artigliere called the meeting to order at 7:30p.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 Washington Township, New Jersey, and notice was filed with the Township clerk on December 30, 2003.

ROLL CALL:

Members Present: Mayor Horensky, Mr. Dante, Mr. Klingel, Mr. Sodtalbers, Mr. Iwaniszyn, Mr. Strunk, Mr. Rossi, Mr. Artigliere, Ms. Pflugh

Members Absent: Mr. Parillo

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

COMMUNICATIONS: A list was provided to the Land Use Board members at the meeting.

MINUTES: A motion to approve the minutes from the August 25, 2004 meeting was made by Mr. Sodtalbers, seconded by Mr. Klingel, Vote: Sodtalbers, Klingel, Horensky, Dante, Iwaniszyn, Strunk, Rossi - Ayes, 0 - Nay, Artigliere, Pflugh - Abstained.

COMPLETENESS ONLY:

1.  Trade Zone Auto Sales - WTPB#2004-24 - Completeness for Preliminary Subdivision and Site Plan for Block 79, Lot 7.06. A motion was made by Mr. Strunk to deem the application incomplete per Mr. Cilo’s August 30, 2004 letter, seconded by Mr. Sodtalbers, all ayes motion carried.

2.  Hicks/CH Paving - WTPB#2004-25 - Completeness for a Final Major Site Plan for Block 30, Lot 5. A motion was made by Mr. Sodtalbers to deem the application incomplete per Mr. Cilo’s August 31, 2004 letter, seconded by Mr. Rossi, all ayes motion carried.

3.  Washington Storage, LLC., - WTPB#2004-23 - Completeness for a Minor Subdivision for Block 66, Lot 20.02. A motion was made by Mr. Sodtalbers to deem the application incomplete per Mr. Cilo’s August 10, 2004 letter, seconded by Mr. Iwaniszyn, all ayes motion carried.

DISCUSSION ITEMS:

1.  Washington Driving Range - WTPB#2004-13 - Continuation of Public hearing for a Variance application for Block 66, Lot 20.07. Deemed complete June 9, 2004.

Eligible to vote: Sodtalbers, Iwaniszyn, Artigliere, Klingel, Rossi, Pflugh, Dante

Mr. Strunk and Mayor Horensky recused themselves for this application.

The applicant was represented by Attorney Frederick Stem.

A motion was made by Mr. Klingel, seconded by Mr. Rossi to close the public hearing at this time, all ayes, motion carried.

Attorney S. Gruenberg briefly reviewed the application for the Board and the Public.

Attorney S. Gruenberg explained the positive and negative criteria has been satisfied for the type of variance being applied for. Recreational uses for the location were reviewed and hours of operation were discussed, 9:00 am - 10:00 p.m. There will be four  fields of play with no more than two fields in use at one time. There will be a maximum of seven to ten players on a team, forty to sixty on the site at any given time of rotation.

The following conditions will apply to the applicant’s approval:

1.  Hours of Operation 9:00 am. to 10:00 pm. Seven days a week.

2.  The lighting should be redirected downwards and should adhere to less than a ½ foot candle at the property line.

3.  A total of four playing fields with no more than two in use at any given time.

4.  No public address systems

5.  It is the applicant’s legal responsibility to maintain order.

6.  The applicant must plant 4" to 6" caliper trees at the appropriate location per the Land Use Board Planner.

7.  Replacement of large nets with shorter nets.

A motion to approve the variance application with conditions was made by

Mr. Sodtalbers, seconded by Mr. Iwaniszyn, Vote: Sodtalbers, Iwaniszyn, Klingel, Rossi, Artigliere, Pflugh - Ayes,  Dante - Nay,  0 - Abstain, motion carried.

A motion to approve bulk variances for setback and temporary accessory use  was made by Mr. Iwaniszyn, seconded by Mr. Klingel, Vote: Iwaniszyn, Klingel, Dante, Sodtalbers, Rossi, Artigliere, Pflugh - Ayes, 0 - Nay, 0 - Abstain, motion carried.

2.  M. Mojek - WTPB#2004-10 - Continuation of Public hearing for Preliminary and Final Site Plan application for Block 43, Lot 20.

Eligible to vote: Sodtalbers, Iwaniszyn, Artigliere, Klingel, Rossi, Pflugh, Dante

Mr. Strunk and Mayor Horensky recused themselves for this application.

The applicant was represented by Attorney Stuart Ours. Attorney S. Ours briefly reviewed the exhibits submitted at the last hearing, A-9 Letter from Alta Designs, A-10 Prior resolution, A-11 Letter from prior owner dated 11/25/02., A-12 Mansfield Township Ordinance.

Attorney S. Gruenberg stated the applicant must comply with Mr. Fischer’s Geoscience reports. The applicant’s Geoscience representative Mr. Brouse briefly answered questions by the Board regarding Geoscience issues. Engineer J. Cilo stated the Township Engineer should inspect the basin before a CO can be issued. Attorney S. Ours briefly summarized the application and stated the only real change from the original application was the size of the building and additional stormwater management criteria.

No further comments were presented and all conditions would have to be met.

A motion was made by Mr. Klingel, seconded by Ms. Pflugh, to close the public hearing, all ayes motion carried.

A motion to grant a use variance was made by Mr. Sodtalbers, seconded by Ms. Pflugh,

Vote: Sodtalbers, Pflugh, Dante, Klingel, Iwaniszyn, Rossi, Artigliere - Ayes, 0 - Nay 0 - Abstain, motion carried.

A motion to grant Preliminary and Final Site Plan approval with conditions met was made by Mr. Sodtalbers, seconded by Mr. Dante, Vote: Sodtalbers, Dante, Klingel, Iwaniszyn, Rossi,

Artigliere, Pflugh - Ayes, 0 - Nay, 0 - Abstain, motion carried.

Break: 9:00 - 9:10

3. R. Hodge - WTPB#2004-17 - Public hearing for a Variance application for Block 78, Lot 2. Deemed complete August 11, 2004. The public hearing for this application will be continued on September 29, 2004. The Board did not have jurisdiction on this application to proceed and requested the applicant notify the County Department of Transportation of the pubic hearing.

4. Route 31 Properties, LLC., WTPB#2004-22 - Public hearing for a Site Plan application for Block 64, Lot 10. Deemed complete August 25, 2004.

The applicant was represented by Attorney Joseph Novak and Engineer Jess Symonds.

Attorney S. Gruenberg stated proof of service was provided and the Board had jurisdiction to proceed with the application. Attorney J. Novak stated the building was previously known as Williams Paper Products, and is a pre-existing, non-conforming structure.

Attorney S. Gruenberg swore in applicant Anthony Desapio and Engineer Jess Symonds.

Engineer J. Symonds reviewed the site and detention areas. Engineer J. Symonds stated

the water main location was on South Lincoln Ave. and the property was serviced by existing public water.

Mr. Desapio stated he wanted to improve the current parking environment. Mr. Desapio stated the building would be used for professional office space for physicians of Warren

Hospital. Engineer J. Cilo asked how doctors would be located at the site and how many parking spaces would be provided. Engineer J. Symonds stated there would be forty six parking spaces provided, more than the ordinance requires. The Board briefly discussed with the applicant’s engineer the number of doctor’s that would be permitted to practice at the proposed location.

A motion  to grant bulk variance approval with the conditions listed below was made by Mr. Strunk, seconded by Mr. Sodtalbers, Vote: Strunk, Sodtalbers, Dante, Klingel, Iwaniszyn, Rossi, Pflugh, Horensky - Ayes, Artigliere - Nay, 0 - Abstain, motion carried.

1.  ½ foot candle at parking line.

2.  Lights off by 10:30 p.m.

3.  No sign maybe erected without the applicant submitting to the Board a sign plan which complies with the Washington Township ordinance.

4.  Compliance with Mr. Cilo’s August 25, 2004 report in total including performance guarantee and maintenance bond.

5.  The amount of employees, doctors and patients was unspecified and would be calculated by the square footage of the building.

A motion to grant Preliminary and Final Site Plan approval was made by Mr. Strunk, seconded by Mr. Rossi, Vote: Strunk, Rossi, Horensky, Dante, Klingel, Sodtalbers, Iwaniszyn, Artigliere, Pflugh - Ayes, 0 - Nay, 0 - Abstain, motion carried.

5. Smith Motor Company - WTPB#2003-13 - Applicant Jeff Smith appeared before the Land Use Board to request a waiver from landscaping found on sheet 9 of the preliminary site plans. The Board agreed to the waiver request not to plant around the detention basin except for four oak trees, which are to be planted between the house and Rymon Road.

The size of the oak trees shall be 2 - ½" to 3" caliper, spaced roughly 50 feet apart.

A motion to grant a waiver for relief from Preliminary Site plan requirements for plantings was made by Mr. Strunk, seconded by Mr. Rossi, Vote: Strunk, Rossi, Dante, Klingel, Iwaniszyn, Pflugh - Ayes, 0 - Nay, 0 - Abstain, motion carried. Mr. Artigliere and Mr. Sodtalbers stepped down for this application.

6. Carl Martin - Heritage Conservancy

Mr. Martin and his associates presented  a demonstration for the Board on how the Heritage Conservancy could  benefit Washington Township and other surrounding communities.

ADJOURNMENT: 11:45

With no further business before the Board the meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully Submitted,
Margaret Housman, Secretary
Land Use Board