River Edge Land Use Board

BOROUGH OF RIVER EDGE LAND USE BOARD MEETING MINUTES ZOOM MEETING January 12, 2022 Zoom - Meeting called order at 7:30 Chairman Caslin made the required announcement concerning the Executive Orders 103 and 104 Open Public Meetings Act and N.J.A.C. 5-39-1.1 to 1.7: Adequate notice of this meeting has been displayed on both the bulletin board at Borough Hall, and published in the Record and Ridgewood News for the people who are interested in this meeting. The meeting is being recorded electronically through ZOOM. To join the hearing via smart phone, computer or tablet. log in information and a link to the meeting will also be posted on the Borough web site at https://www.riveredgenj.org/. Roll call: Mayor Papaleo – Present Chairman Caslin - Present Mr. Mehrman – Present James Arakelian – Present Lou Grasso – Excused Ryan Gibbons – Present Michael Krey – Present Eileen Boland – Absent Dario Chinigo – Present Gary Esposito – Present Bruce Feffer – Present Mr. Esposito will be seated to vote tonight. ALSO PRESENT: Marina Stinley, Esq., Thomas Behrens and Mr. Costa Housekeeping – Mr. Alter wants the Board to pick up the materials for the January 26, 2022 meeting as they are somewhat voluminous. It is going to take the Board members time to go through these as it is a somewhat complicated application. Reorganization of the Land Use Board Election of officers Chairman – Nomination. The Mayor nominates Mr. Caslin; Mr. Arakelian – Second. All in favor – aye; any opposed, any abstained. There being none Mr. Caslin is Chairman.  Vice Chair - Nomination – Mr. Arakelian nominates Mr. Mehrman – Second – Mr. Gibbons. All in favor – aye; any opposed, any abstained. There being none Mr. Mehrman is Vice Chairman. Board Secretary - Nomination. Mr. Arakelian nominates Mr. Gibbons – Second- Mr. Mehrman. All in favor – aye; any opposed, any abstained. There being none Mr. Gibbons is Board Secretary. Professionals Board Attorney - Nomination. The Mayor nominates Marina Stinley, Esq. of the firm Cleary, Giacobbe, Alfieri and Jacobs, LLC - Second – Mr. Arakelian. All in favor – aye; any opposed, any abstained. There being none Marina Stinley, Esq. of the firm Cleary, Giacobbe, Alfieri and Jacobs, LLC remains the Board attorney. Planner – Nomination. Mr. Arakelian nominates Tom Behrens – Second - Mr. Gibbons nominates Mr. Behrens of Burgis & Associates – Second - Mr. Arakelian. All in favor – aye; any opposed, any abstained. There being none Mr. Behrens of Burgis & Associates remains the Borough's Planner. Engineer - Nomination. Mr. Arakelian – Nominates Robert Costa of Costa Engineering - Second – Mr. Mehrman. All in favor – aye; any opposed, any abstained. There being none Mr. Costa of Costa Engineering remains the Borough Engineer. Swearing in of New Appointments to the Board Mr. Feffer Class 4 regular member for a four year term; Mr., Krey is renewing Class 4 regular member for a four year term; Mr. Arakelian renewing Class 4 regular member for a four year term and Council Liaison, Councilman Chinigo, Class 3 member for a one year term. Everyone was sworn in. All in favor – aye; any opposed, any abstained. Approval of Minutes – Approval 12/22/21 minutes – Motion – Mr. Mehrman. Mr. Caslin points out a change under “Old Business”, second paragraph, seventh line needs clarification of 3.3.4%. Bogart to be changed to Bogert Ms. Stinley will double check and make necessary revision. Second – Mr. Gibbons. All in favor – aye; any opposed, any abstained. There being none minutes are approved. −2 - − Completeness Review – Alex and Danielle Sariyan, 275 Concord Drive, Block 705, Lott 1. Addition to existing dwelling with site improvements. Setback variance required. (Mr. Caslin turns the meeting over the Vice Chairman Mehrman at this time)  Mr. Behrens states that the documents for this application are all in order in terms of completeness. Ms. Stinley has reviewed the application and the proofs submitted by the applicants and they meet the minimum requirements of the Municipal Land Use Law and the Board has jurisdiction to proceed. Motion as to completeness – so made – Mr. Krey; Second – Mr. Feffer. Roll call – Mayor Papaleo – yes; Mr. Mehrman – yes; Mr. Krey- yes; Mr. Arakelian – yes; Councilman Chinigo – yes; Mr. Gibbons -yes; Mr. Feffer - yes; Mr. Esposito – yes. (Mr. Esposito is seated to vote this evening) New Business - Alex and Danielle Sariyan, 275 Concord Drive, Block 705, Lott 1. Addition to existing dwelling with site improvements. Setback variance required. Applicants are sworn in. The applicants have their professional with them, Mr, Doster (architect). Mr. Doster is sworn in, His address is 295 Bloomfield Avenue, Suite C, Caldwell, NJ 07006. The applicants are on a corner lot and they are seeking two front yard variances. Mr. Doster gives the following overview of the project. He refers to sheet A-01 site plan and bulk schedule. A-7 is proposed addition, The applicants are proposing an addition to the right hand side of the existing structure which would put the applicants beyond both of the 30 foot front yard setbacks. On Concord Drive the applicants would be at 21.0 feet and Fifth Avenue 25.6 feet. One of the existing setbacks on Concord Drive is existing non-conforming, so the applicants are seeking relief for both front yard setbacks. Mr. Behrens asks Mr. Doster if the applicants looked into developing a conforming addition. He would like Mr. Doster to tell the Board why they came up with the design they did as to why this is a better alternative versus a conforming addition. He refers to Exhibit A-02 proposed floor plans. A-1 first floor plan. Expansion of the family room, gas fireplace, larger kitchen and a dining room space. The addition on the first floor is15', 5 1/2”, they are utilizing the existing concrete slab and they are proposing a new front portico. The second floor the applicants are proposing a master suite with master bathroom. An existing bedroom will be utilized as an office. Sheet A-03 proposed exterior elevations. Stoner veneer for the lower portion of the house with a nice water table, vinyl siding, with a new asphalt roof, board and batten siding on one of the gables. The subject property is a little over 10,000 square feet. It has a consisting non-conforming front yard setback of 22.7 feet from Concord Drive. The new proposed setback on Concord 21.87 feet and the proposed setback on Fifth Ave. frontage is 25. 69 feet and the reason for the addition on that location is because of the where the house is currently situated. The average building height is under the maximum permitted height of 30' and its a relatively flat lot so it does not seem to be an issue. Mr. Doster clarifies that the front yard for Concord Drive is 21.07 not 21.87. Mr. Mehrman would like to have a large bush at the intersection at the corner of the property to be removed as it impedes the sight distance going up towards Fifth looking at the traffic coming from the south. The applicants agree to remove the bush. Motion to open to the public. So moved – Mr. Arakelian; Second – Mr. Gibbons. Jan Halder, 249 Concord Drive, Ms. Halder wanted to say she was fine with the project and wanted to congratulate the applicants on the birth of their twins. Motion to close to the public. So made – Mr. Gibbons; Second – Mr. Arakelian. All in favor – aye; any opposed, any abstained. Motion to approve the application – So Made – Mr. Gibbons moves that 275 Concord Drive, Block 705, lot 1 be granted two variances for front yard setback for Concord −3 - − − Drive and Fifth Avenue and will abide by all advisements from Mr. Costa and take out all permits and remove of the existing planting on the corner of Concord and Fifth Avenue for safety reasons. Second – Mr. Feffer. Roll call – Mayor Papaleo – yes; Mr. Mehrman – yes; Mr. Krey- yes; Mr. Arakelian – yes; Councilman Chinigo – yes; Mr. Gibbons -yes; Mr. Feffer - yes; Mr. Esposito – yes. Motion passes. Board Member Comments Mr. Mehrman asks Mr. Behrens if River Edge received their Census report. Mr. Behrens explains that some information s available on line. He does not know to what extent anything has been submitted to the Borough directly. Things are behind because of Covid. Mr. Gibbons confirms work session for January 18, 2022 and its been published in the paper. Mr. Arakelian advises that the approval to the strip mall on Kinderkamack had conditions with that approval and he is pleased to tell the Board that Bessler door situation, the tripping hazard on Monroe has been rectified and with the new fencing he believes they are very close to compliance. Mr. Mehrman asks Mr. Costa about Sonny G's tent which was to be reviewed for structural safety. Mr. Costa advised that they did not come to him. Mr. Mehrman suggests that he pull the minutes of that memorialization because as he recalls that before they erected anything that the Borough Engineer was to review it for structural stability. Mr. Costa advises that Suez Water was at Park and Lincoln fixing the water main leak. Motion to adjourn the meeting. So made – Mr. Arakelian; Second – Mayor Papaleo. All in favor – aye; any opposed, any abstained. Meeting adjourned 8:30,/ p.m. -4- −2 -