Planning Board

MINUTES PLANNING BOARD OF THE BOROUGH OF MADISON REGULAR MEETING JUNE 2, 2015 A regular meeting of the Planning Board of the Borough of Madison was held on the 2nd day of June 2015 at 7:30 P.M., in the Court Room, 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 6, 2015, the Board by Resolution adopted a schedule of meetings. On January 7, 2015, 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: Steve Tombalakian, John Forte, Tom Johnson, Jeff Gertler arriving at 7:55pm, Astri Baillie, Peter Flemming, Mayor Robert Conley, and Tom Lewis Excused: Michael Kopas Absent: None Also Present: Susan Blickstein, Board Planner Vince Loughlin, Planning Board Attorney Frank Russo, Board Engineer Frances Boardman, Board Secretary Approval of Minutes: Copies of the May 19, 2015 regular meeting minutes were distributed to all Board members for their review prior to this meeting. A motion to approve the minutes was made by Mr. Flemming, seconded by Ms. Baillie. A voice vote of “aye” was heard by all eligible voting members and recorded. Comments by the Public: Mr. Tombalakian opened the floor to the public for anyone that wished to be heard on any matter not on this evening’s agenda. Seeing no one he closed that portion of the meeting. RESOLUTIONS FOR MEMORIALIZATION – CASE NO. P 15-008 Preliminary & Final Site Plan with Variances Normandy Fundsub Management Co., LLC Block: 3303, Lots: 1 & 2 Giralda Farms Resolution granting the Preliminary & Final Site Plan with Variances to Normandy Fundsub Management Co., LLC for the Preliminary & Final Site Plan with Variances on property located at Giralda Farms, Madison commonly known on the Borough of Madison Tax Map as Block 3303, Lots 1 & 2. 1 Planning Board June 2, 2015 The draft resolution was sent to the applicant’s Attorney, Mr. Thomas Melman, Esq. as well as the Planning Board members and its Professionals for review prior to this evening’s meeting. Mr. Tombalakian asked the Board and its Professionals if they had any further comments or questions concerning the resolution. Mr. Tombalakian asked for a motion to approve the resolution as drafted, a motion was made by Mr. Lewis, seconded by Ms. Baillie; the following roll call was recorded: “Ayes” – Mayor Conley, Ms. Baillie, Mr. Flemming, Mr. Tombalakian, Mr. Johnson, and Mr. Lewis “Nays” – None “Abstain” –Mr. Forte “Excused” - Mr. Kopas NEW BUSINESS – None OLD BUSINESS – CASE NO. P 15-001 Minor Subdivision & Preliminary & Final Site Plan with Variances KRE Madison NJ Urban Renewal, LLC Block: 3001, Lot: 28 Green Village Road School Special Use Area Redevelopment A transcript of this hearing was prepared by Michael Lombardozzi of Precision Reporting Service. Mr. Jim McCann, Esq. Applicant’s attorney began by reminding the Board of the application before them that was presented at hearing on April 7, 2015. This is a continuation of that hearing but subsequent to that hearing, the applicant made an arrangement with the Grace Church to include minor improvements on that site. These improvements have triggered several variances and design waivers. Mr. Thomas Bauer, Melillo & Bauer Associates, 200 Union Avenue, Brielle, NJ was sworn in. Mr. Bauer has testified previously before the Board and was accepted as an expert witness. The following exhibit, prepared by Mr. Bauer, was marked into evidence: Exhibit A-5: Color Power Point Presentation Each slide was presented and discussed in depth. The variances that are being requested with the work to be performed on the Grace Church property were discussed which include wall height, setback for the wall, steep slope disturbance and relief from the redevelopment plan for the chain link fence. Mr. Brian McMorrow, previously sworn in, came up to clarify the steep slope disturbance. Mr. Tombalakian asked the Board and its Professionals if they had any additional questions for Mr. Bauer or Mr. McMorrow, seeing none he opened the floor to the public for questions of Mr. Bauer. 2 Planning Board June 2, 2015 Mr. John Egan, 32 Crescent Road, Madison. Mr. Egan owns the property at 21 Green Village Road. Mr. Egan asked about the trees being left on the KRE property and also the setback of the wall being proposed as well as the location of the pool equipment and hours of operation. Mr. Bauer answered that the vegetation in that area will stay and the retaining wall is ten feet from the property line. Also the pool will be lit with subtle underwater lights, and an extensive amount of landscaping will be done in the pool area. Mr. Egan is concerned with the noise from the pool; Mr. Tombalakian stated that the noise decibels standards must be adhered to. Mr. Tombalakian asked if there were any further questions from the public, seeing none he closed that portion of the hearing. The next witness was Tad Radzinski, Sustainable Solutions Corporation, 155 Railroad Plaza, Royersford, Pa. Mr. Radzinski was sworn in and provided the board with his qualifications. Mr. Radzinski was accepted as an expert witness. The following exhibit was marked into evidence: Exhibit A-6: LEED & Energy Star Certification A slide presentation was presented to the Board and professionals with respect to the LEED certification that will be used in this project and how it will be achieved. All buildings on the site will be LEED and Energy Star Certified. Water efficiency was mentioned. The LEED and Energy Star certification has been going on since the inception of this project and Mr. Radzinski is confident that there will be no problem earning the LEED certification, as well as the Energy Star Certification for these buildings. Mr. Tombalakian asked the Board and its Professionals if they had any questions for Mr. Radzinski. Mr. Gertler asked about wastewater from bathrooms and kitchens for irrigation use. Mr. Radzinski stated that it depends on local requirements. Many jurisdictions do not allow for this and is usually regulated as sewage. Dr. Blickstein asked for a current version of the LEED checklist. Mr. Radzinski stated that one could be provided but is continually updated as they continue with the design process. The floor was then opened to the public for questions of Mr. Radzinski, seeing none he closed that portion of the hearing. A brief ten minute break was taken at 8:45 pm, the meeting reconvened with all Board members present. Mr. Dean Marchetto, previously sworn in at the last hearing of April 7, 2015 continued his testimony as to the revised set of plans before the Board. After the last hearing changes were made to the architectural plans to further enhance the architectural qualities of the back facades of the buildings. The following slide presentation was marked into evidence: Exhibit A-7: Color Rendering of Façade Changes 3 Planning Board June 2, 2015 This exhibit was not available for the case file and a hard copy will be supplied to the Board secretary. Mr. Marchetto went through the slide discussing each modification that was made to the facades. Mr. Tombalakian asked the Board and its professionals if they had any questions for Mr. Marchetto, seeing none he opened the floor to the public for questions. Mr. O’Dell, 15 Green Village Road, Madison asked Mr. Marchetto why the façade of building A which faces his back yard cannot mimic the beautiful front façade. Mr. Marchetto stated it uses the same materials but in a less decorative way. Mr. Tombalakian asked if there were any further questions from the public for Mr. Marchetto, seeing none he closed that portion of the hearing. Mr. Michael Tobia, 546 Van Buran Road, Morristown, was sworn in as an expert witness. Mr. Tobia and Mr. McMorrow testified to the parking management plan. The following exhibit was marked into evidence: Exhibit A-8: Parking Management Plan prepared by Bohler Engineering A color coded plan was provided to help understand how parking was distributed around the site. Parking was discussed at length. The discussion included the number of parking spaces needed and the number provided. Overnight parking in the drive aisle between Buildings A & B. The owner will provide a management staff; that will provide a level of security and monitor parking at the site. Dr. Blickstein asked that an annual monitoring report be submitted to the Board with respect to the parking. A brief ten minute break was taken at 10:10 pm, the meeting reconvened with all Board members present. At this time Mr. Tobia discussed the variances being requested one by one in detail. Several of the variances discussed included sign variance, retaining walls and heights, side yard setback, non-perpendicular parking on 2 sided street, canopy in front of Building A, frontage of Buildings C & D which do not front a public street. Design waivers are also being requested as a part of this application including the parking lot width and the landscaping in the parking lots and the perimeter of the site. Finishing up his testimony Mr. Tobia knows that effort still needs to be put into the parking in the drive aisle entering from Kings Road, however; many items that have been worked on have complied with the Redevelopment Plan including the variety of housing types, the architecture, the Community site, Green Space and 1st floor retail and appropriate buffering. At this time Mr. Tombalakian asked the Board and its professionals if they had any further questions for Mr. Tobia. Seeing none he opened the floor to the public for questions on the testimony by Mr. Tobia. Seeing none he closed that portion of the hearing. This applicant will return on Tuesday, June 16, 2015 at 7:30pm for the continuation of the hearing. 4 Planning Board June 2, 2015 PLANNING DISCUSSION –None CORRESPONDENCE – None Since there was no further business to come before the Board, Mr. Tombalakian made a motion to adjourn the regular meeting at 10:45 P.M; seconded by Mr. Johnson. A voice vote of “aye” was heard by all members present and carried. Respectfully submitted, Frances Boardman Board Secretary 5