City Council

MEETING MINUTES OF THE PLANNING BOARD/BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT OF HIGH BRIDGE BOROUGH Meeting Date: September 16, 2019 Meeting Time: 7:30 P.M. Meeting Location: High Bridge Rescue Squad, 95 West Main Street, High Bridge, NJ 08829 1. CALL TO ORDER: This is regular meeting of the Planning/Zoning Board of the Borough of High Bridge. Adequate notice of this meeting has been given in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act in that a Notice was published in the Hunterdon County Democrat and the Express Times on December 20, 2018 and the Notice of and agenda for this meeting were posted on the bulletin board in the Borough Hall. 2. FLAG SALUTE: Led by presiding officer. 3. ROLL CALL: Coleen Conroy, present; Pablo Delgado, present; William Giordano, present; Don Howell, present; Keith Milne, present; Tom Wescoe, present; Chris Zappa, present; Steve Dhein,, present; Michele Lee, present. Planning Board member Tom Wescoe entered at 7:35pm. Also present were two members of the public including press, Planning Board attorney William Caldwell and Planning Board Secretary, Barbara Kinsky. 4. PUBLIC COMMENTS: It is the policy of the Planning Board/Board of Adjustment that all public comments on an issue shall be limited to five (5) minutes per person and no person may make more than one (1) comment per subject. Comments may be made on any subject pertaining to Board issues. Comments pertaining to Public Hearings should be saved for that section of the agenda. No debating between residents. Comments should be addressed to the Chairman and Board members at the public microphone. NONE 5. READING AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES: June 17, 2019 Motion to dispense with the reading of the prior meetings minutes: Motion: Zappa Second: Giordano Voice vote: Nine ayes and Chairman Dhein abstained. Motion carried. Motion to approve the June 17, 2019 meeting minutes. Motion: Zappa, Second: Giordano Voice Vote: Nine ayes and Chairman Dhein abstained. Motion carried. 6. NEW BUSINESS: A. Review and recommendation of the capital improvement projects outlined in the memo from the Board Planner, Darlene Green. Motion to approve Resolution PB07-2019 with a determination that the Borough’s action is consistent with the Transportation Plan as indicated. Zappa, Second: Howell Coleen Conroy, aye; Pablo Delgado, aye; William Giordano, aye; Don Howell, aye; Keith Milne, aye; Tom Wescoe, aye; Chris Zappa, aye; Steve Dhein, aye; Michele Lee, aye. Nine ayes, motion carried. Discussion: Chairman Dhein explained to the Board that capital projects that are referenced in the Master Plan need to be reviewed by the Board. He also explained that due to the fact that Streetscape also involves State and Federal monies that this project is also being reviewed by the Board. Mr. Milne ask if the project was already done on Washington and if this review is after the fact. Mr. Dhein explained that yes it is after the fact, but we were not aware that this needed to be done and now that we are we will checking on future capital projects. Mayor Lee asked if the next phase of Washington Avenue will need to be brought to the Board. Chairman Dhein confirmed that it would. Councilman Zappa explained that the job is being done in phases due to grant monies. B. A review of Ordinance #2019-029 for consistency with the Master Plan. Discussion: Chairman Dhein expressed his concern and dissatisfaction regarding not being notified about this Ordinance until the day of the meeting. He stated that in the future he will advise the Board not to act on material when received so late. Councilman Zappa explained the events that led up to the creation of this ordinance, in short that a homeowner on Mine Road whose lot is less than half the size compared to other lots in the R-2 zone. This homeowner came to a Council meeting and spoke to Council regarding wanting to put an addition on the back of his house where there is plenty of space to build. Because of his lot size he does not meet the zoning requirements. Mr. Howell expressed concerns as to how the Ordinance is written, and he stated that as it is written it would allow the homeowner to encroach even further past set back lines. Mr. Milne inquired as to why an ordinance was written for a single resident and Councilman Zappa explained that this is not the case, it simply has brought to light an issue that already affects many residents in the Borough. Mayor Lee explained that the forming of this Ordinance was based on similar Ordinances used in other towns. Mr. Milne stated that his understanding of the ordinance was that it would avoid the need for a homeowner to get a variance and save money. Mr. Zappa explained that this would give relief to homeowners whose lots became non-conforming after the last zoning laws were passed. Mr. Howell expressed his concern that this Ordinance would make each lot custom fit and have different requirement. Mayor Lee reminded the board that a zoning permit would still be required, and would not open the door for every house that was built before 1980 to do whatever they want. Concerns were also expressed regarding how this would not allow the Board to weigh in on such issues. The Board also expressed concerns regarding the large number of non-conforming houses in the Borough and how this Ordinance would affect them. A discussion ensued regarding the possible effects on those non-conforming lots. The Board also discussed what a non-conforming lot entails. Mr. Delgado expressed his concerns regarding how complicated the variance process is and how an Ordinance could help simplify issues for homeowners.. The Board attorney, Mr. Caldwell, was asked by the Board to review the variance process. Mr. Caldwell also explained to the Board what their role is in regards to the Master Plan, and what consistency with the Master Plan means. Motion to accept Ordinance #2019-029 as being consistent with the Master Plan: Motion; Giordano Second: Zappa After discussion the Board declined to vote. Motion to table the above motion and ask Council to defer the 2nd reading until after the Board can review it: Zappa Second: Giordano. Nine ayes, motion carried. Coleen Conroy, aye; Pablo Delgado, aye; William Giordano, aye; Don Howell, aye; Keith Milne, aye; Tom Wescoe, aye; Chris Zappa, aye; Steve Dhein, aye; Michele Lee, aye. 7. VISITOR: A. Introduction of new Borough Engineer, John Ruschke. Chairman Dhein explained that Mr. Modzelewski did sign the service agreement at the beginning of the year which means that we do have a contract with Mott Mac and therefore Mr. Ruschke will now be our Planning Board engineer. Mr. Ruschke introduced himself to the Board and gave a brief overview of his experience and credentials. 8. PUBLIC COMMENTS: : It is the policy of the Planning Board/Board of Adjustment that all public comments on an issue shall be limited to one(1) minute per person and no person may make more than one (1) comment per subject. Comments may be made on any subject pertaining to Board issues. Comments pertaining to Public Hearings should be saved for that section of the agenda. No debating between residents. Comments should be addressed to the Chairman and Board members at the public microphone. NONE 9. ADJOURNMENT: Motion to adjourn: Milne; Second: Howell Voice vote: Nine ayes, Motion carried. Next Meeting date: November 18, 2019 Meeting Location: High Bridge Rescue Squad, 95 West Main Street, High Bridge, NJ 08829 Meeting Time: 7:30 P.M.