Planning Board

MINUTES PLANNING BOARD OF THE BOROUGH OF MADISON REGULAR MEETING September 18, 2012 A regular meeting of the Planning Board of the Borough of Madison was held on the 18th day of September 2012 at 7:30 P.M., in Room #140, Hartley Dodge Memorial, 50 Kings Road, Madison, NJ. The meeting was called to order by Planning Board Chairman, Steve Tombalakian Mr. Tombalakian requested the reading of the Public Meeting Notice. Ms. Boardman read the following statement in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act. “Let the minutes reflect that adequate notice of this meeting has been provided in the following manner: At the reorganization meeting of the Board held on January 3, 2012, the Board by Resolution adopted a schedule of meetings. On January 4, 2012, a copy of the schedule of meetings was posted at the bulletin board at the entrance to the Hartley Dodge Memorial, was sent to the Madison Eagle and the Daily Record, and filed with the Borough Clerk all in accordance with the “Open Public Meetings Act”. The following roll call was recorded: Present: Michael Kopas, Mayor Conley who arrived at 7:50, John Forte, Astri Baillie who arrived at 7:47, Tom Johnson, Steve Tombalakian, Jeff Gertler, and Peter Flemming, Sr. who arrived at 8:20pm, Absent: Excused: Dr. Vincent Esposito Also Present: Vince Loughlin, Esq., Planning Board Attorney Susan Blickstein, Board Planner Frank Russo, Board Engineer Frances Boardman, Board Secretary Approval of Minutes: Copies of the minutes of the July 17, 2012 regular meeting were distributed to all Board members for their review prior to this meeting. Motion to approve the minutes was made by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Forte. A voice vote of “Aye” was heard by all eligible Board Members, with Mr. Kopas abstaining. Comments by the Public: Mr. Tombalakian opened the floor to the public for anyone who wished to be heard on any matter not on this evening’s agenda. Seeing no one wishing to be heard, Mr. Tombalakian closed this portion of the hearing. Planning Board September 18, 2012 Resolutions For Memorialization – There were no resolutions for memorialization. NEW BUSINESS – CASE NO. P 11-011 Dr. Louis DeBiasse (Louisyann Realty, Inc.) Block 1301, Lots 9.01 & 9.02 37 Elm Street Request for Extension of Time for Subdivision Deed Filing A letter dated, September 5, 2012 from Mr. Samuel DeAngelis, Esq. requesting an extension of time for filing of the subdivision deeds was hand delivered to the Board Secretary, Frances Boardman, and sent out to all Board Members and Professionals. Mr. Tombalakian asked the Board if there was any further discussion on this matter. Mr. Loughlin asked Mr. DeAngelis if three months were an adequate time frame in which to comply with the filing of the deeds, Mr. DeAngelis stated that it was. Mr. Tombalakian asked for a motion. The motion was made by Mr. Johnson seconded by Mr. Forte. The roll call was recorded as follows: “Ayes” – Mr. Gertler, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Forte, Mr. Kopas and Mr. Tombalakian “No” – None “Absent” – Dr. Esposito CASE NO. P12-005 Amended Application with Variances 122 Main Street, Madison LLC Block 1803, Lot 11 122 Main Street Mr. Samuel DeAngelis, Esq. representing 122 Main Street, Madison, LLC, began by giving the Board a brief synopsis of the history behind this application and why this application is now before the Board requiring an Amended Site Plan with 6 Variances from the Master Plan Sign previously approved. In May 2012, an agreement was signed with Walgreens to lease 9,500 square feet on the first floor of the building. Proposed signage was presented to Sign and Façade and the Borough Zoning Officer. Sign and Façade along with Mr. Arthur Metzler, proprietor of the building held many meetings trying to come up with a compromise that the Borough, Walgreens and any other potential tenants of the building Planning Board September 18, 2012 would be happy with. Mr. DeAngelis introduced his first witness. Mr. Arthur Metzler, 888 Old Mills Road, Franklin Lakes was sworn in. The following exhibit was marked: Exhibit A-1: Overall Building Exterior Elevations, Signs and Details. Revised 9/12/2012 Mr. Metzler purchased the property from Greenwood Properties in 2011 after the original Resolution was passed. A signage application was submitted in May 2012 to the Borough, this application was denied. Meetings took place with the Sign and Façade Committee. Each sign depicted in the exhibit was discussed in detail. Each sign was numbered on the exact location of the building. Walgreen’s will occupy 9,500 square feet of the first floor leaving 2,500 square feet yet to be leased. Walgreens will have two entrances neither of which is on Main Street. There will be minimal signage on the western elevation; all signage is intended to be up lit. All signs will be under the limestone band along the building. The blade signs on the West, South and East elevations will be created out of decorative wood. Originally blade signs were not a part of the Master Signage Plan. The South elevation was discussed next. AMA Consulting Engineers’ will be occupying half of the second floor. Signage for the second floor tenants will be under the limestone band and made of decorative wood. The East elevation shows a 50 square foot Walgreens sign centered in the middle of the building. This sign was placed in the center of the building for visibility purposes only. If it is moved further north Walgreens feel that it loses its visibility; and the position of the sign in the center of the building was a compromise with Walgreens and the Sign and Façade Committee. The North elevation shows a 50 square foot Walgreens sign over the entrance of their store front. Mr. Metzler stated that the building has four sides available for signage and it is the only one like it in town. This signage also requires a variance. Mr. Metzler concluded his presentation of the proposed signage to the Board. Ms. Baillie felt that three blade signs were excessive. It was stated by Mr. Metzler that none of the blade signs will be illuminated, but no lighting plan was provided for the meeting. The East elevation sign will have a filtered view once streetscape is completed by Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Mr. Gertler feels that our focus should be the quality of the signs. The awnings will be black with no signage on the awnings, with lighting underneath. However; Mr. Metzler hired HLV Lighting Group who recommended eliminating the up lighting under the awnings. Ms. Blickstein suggested that revised lighting plans be submitted. Mr. Metzler was asked the colors of the wood blade signs; he replied Sherman Williams White and Cardinal Red. Mr. Metzler spoke about the LEED Certification achieved for the building. A copy of a report received from YR&G, dated September 13, 2012 was provided to each Board member prior to the meeting Planning Board September 18, 2012 At this time Mr. Tombalakian asked the Board or its Professionals if it had any further questions for Mr. Metzler. Seeing no one with any further questions he opened the floor to the public. Mr. Craig Erezuma, 235 Main Street, Madison was sworn in. Mr. Erezuma is a member of the Sign and Façade Committee. Mr. Erezuma stated that the Sign and Façade Committee would have preferred to have the 50 square foot Walgreens 3/16” plexi glass signage now located in the middle of the building on the East Elevation – Drive Aisle moved more towards the northerly end of the building. Mr. Metzler stated that he would go back to Walgreens and discuss the Boards comments from this evenings meeting. Mr. Kopas states that the signage on the East elevation looks like a billboard. Mr. Tombalakian asked the public if they had any questions for Mr. Erezuma, seeing none he closed that portion of the hearing. Mr. DeAngelis began his closing statements. The applicant is trying to get approved this evening so that the deadline of November 15, 2012 can be met with his tenant. The tenant will not commit to moving in to the site on this date if the sign application is not resolved. The Board at this time began their deliberation. One major concern is the signage proposed on the East elevation as well as the blade sign proposed on the same elevation. Mr. Johnson feels that if Walgreens would consider going from three blades signs to two and moving the 50 square foot sign located on the East elevation over towards the windows this would be a fair compromise. Mr. Gertler stated that this building was presented as a Gateway into Madison’s downtown and not as an advertisement billboard. Others on the Board agreed. Mr. Metzler stated that he would bring back all of this evenings suggestions and comments to the Corporate Headquarters. It was determined that an amended signage plan as well as a revised lighting plan would need to be provided prior to a vote. This application was adjourned without further notice to the next regular scheduled hearing of the Madison Planning Board scheduled for October 2, 2012 at 7:30pm. OLD BUSINESS – There was no old business before the Board this evening. PLANNING DISCUSSION – • LED Lighting – Gas Stations At the public meeting of Mayor& Council held on September 10, 2012 the proposed ordinance regarding LED Price Point Signs at Gas Stations was listed for discussion. Following the discussion, the Borough Council was in agreement that the draft ordinance should be referred back to the Planning Board. Mayor Conley stated that the Council was concerned with the height of the logo and size of the LED Points in the proposed ordinance. He stated that the concession was that the Planning Board September 18, 2012 Sunoco sign on Kings Road is an appropriate size. Ms. Blickstein asked the Mayor to share more detailed information with her from the meeting. This agenda item will be revisited at the next meeting of October 2, 2012. • Solar Renewable Energy A memorandum, dated August 21, 2012 from Ms. Susan Blickstein was distributed to all Board members. Mr. Tombalakian advised the Board to read the memorandum and it would be revisited at the October 2, 2012 Planning Board meeting. Mr. Tombalakian inquired about the Green Village Road Redevelopment site. Mayor Conley and Ms Blickstein led a brief discussion regarding the Redevelopment and where the Borough and Board of Education stood at this point. CORRESPONDENCE – None at this time Since there was no further business to come before the Board, Mr. Tombalakian asked for a motion to adjourn the regular meeting, motion made by Mr. Johnson at 10:00 P.M.; seconded by Mr. Gertler. A voice vote of “aye” was heard by all members present and carried. Respectfully submitted, Frances Boardman Board Secretary