City Council

MINUTES OF THE PLANNING BOARD/BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT OF HIGH BRIDGE BOROUGH Meeting Date: December 20, 2021 – 7:30 p.m. Meeting Location: High Bridge Rescue Squad, 95 West Main Street, High Bridge, NJ 08829 1. CALL TO ORDER: This is a 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 Democrat and the Express Times on June 3, 2021, and the notice of and agenda for this meeting was posted on the bulletin board in the Borough Hall. 2. FLAG SALUTE: Led by presiding officer. 3. ROLL CALL: Board Member Conroy, present Board Member Musnuff, absent Councilwoman Ferry, absent Board Member Delgado , present Board Member Suozzo, present Chairman Dhein, present Board Member Giordano, present Board Member Wescoe, absent Mayor Lee, present Also present were Board Attorney Todaro, Board Secretary Barbara Kinsky, Board Alternate Alan Mart,who sat in on the Board for missing members, and two members of the Public. 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: November 15, 2021 Motion to dispense with the reading of the prior meeting’s minutes: Motion/ Second: Giordano/Lee Voice vote: 7 yes votes, motion passed. Motion to approve the November 15, 2021, meeting’s minutes. Motion/Second: Giordano/Lee Conroy, yes; Delgado, yes; Giordano, yes; Suozzo, yes; Musnuff, absent; Wescoe, absent; Ferry, absent; Dhein, yes; Lee, yes, Mart, yes. 7 yes votes, motion passed. 6. NEW BUSINESS: a. Informal Review (30 minutes) Requester: Victor Vinegra: regarding 77 Main Street, Block 19.02 Lot 79 Mr. Victor Vinegra introduced himself and Kevin Fichiera. Mr. Vinegra has been a professional planner, engineer, and land surveyor in the State of New Jersey for 30 years. Kevin Fichiera is the owner of the property at 77 Main Street in High Bridge. Mr. Vinegra explained that the original plan for this property was to do a larger project. Mr. Vinegra explained that they investigated the possibility of purchasing a small piece of property from the Municipality to accommodate parking. Unfortunately, the property they were looking into purchasing was on the Borough’s ROSI and permission is needed from NJDEP and Green Acres to utilize it. Mr. Vinegra stated that the project has been downsized to accommodate the property size. The proposed project will be two-stories with retail on the first floor and three one-bedroom apartments on the second floor. There would also be an overhang that would cover parking. The project would also have internal garbage and an internal staircase. Mr. Vinegra explained that the reason for this informal meeting was to get the Board’s non- binding opinion regarding the parking limitations. Three parking spaces would be provided in the rear for tenants but there would not be additional spaces for retail. Mr. Vinegra did state that there is the possibility of purchasing parking permits for municipal spots in the Commons lot nearby the property. Discussion and comments ensued with the Board regarding the proposed project. Items discussed included other retail ideas besides a bike shop, having an ADA adaptable apartment on the first floor and 2 apartments on the second floor, COAH/low-income housing responsibility, proximity to the Columbia trail and retail parking spaces. b. Resolution PB-17-2021: Motion to adopt 2022 January reorganizational meeting date: Monday, January 10, 2022. Motion/Second: Giordano/Mart Conroy, yes; Delgado, yes; Giordano, yes; Suozzo, yes; Musnuff, absent; Wescoe, absent; Ferry, absent; Dhein, yes; Lee, yes, Mart, yes. 7 yes votes. Motion passed. c. Discussion regarding 2022 meeting dates for January, April, June, and November. Brief discussion ensued with the Board regarding potential meeting dates for 2022. An announcement was made by the Chairman asking if any Board Member had any other business they would like to discuss. Mayor Lee asked for clarification regarding the proposed amendment to the Ordinance regarding the determination of Completeness for Planning Board and Board of Adjustment applications. Attorney Todaro explained that currently the Board is the only entity permitted to grant completeness. The proposed amendment would allow for Completeness to be determined by the Board, a subcommittee of the Board, designee(s) of the Board or the Boards professional(s). The Board would then vote by resolution at the reorganizational meeting as to which entity would determine Completeness for that calendar year. 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/Second: Musnuff/Mart Voice vote: 7 yes votes, motion passed. Meeting ended at 8:15 p.m. Next Meeting Date: January 10, 2022 Meeting Location: Digital Zoom meetings due to the Covid-19 pandemic Meeting Time: 7:30 P.M.