Plannng Board

City of Trenton Planning Board Conference and Public Hearing Thursday, December 20, 2021 Via Microsoft Teams or phone: 609-436-9298 The Conference ID is 412 046 968# Members in Attendance: John McBride, Vice Chair Randy Baum Jamie Carpenter Marcus Green Jeff Halpern Joe Harrison Patricia Ni’ma-Mohammed Anthony Santora Charles Romanow Members Not in Attendance: Dan Fatton, Chair Wanda Swiggett Staff in Attendance: Jeff Wilkerson, Principal Planner Michael Kolber, Senior Planner George McGill, Planning Board Attorney Cherry Oakley, Planning Board Secretary PUBLIC HEARING Current Planning Board Membership (as of 12/20/21) Class Term Ending Date Board Member I (Mayor’s Representative) Mayor’s Term Marcus Green II (City Employee) 12/31/21 Anthony Santora III (City Council 12/31/21 Joe Harrison Representative) IV (City Resident) 12/31/22 Patricia Ni’ma- Mohammed IV (City Resident) 12/31/23 Randy Baum IV (City Resident) 12/31/21 Jeff Halpern IV (City Resident) 12/31/23 Dan Fatton IV (City Resident) 12/31/21 Wanda Swiggett IV (City Resident) 12/31/22 John McBride ALTERNATES IV (City Resident) 12/31/21 Jamie Carpenter IV (City Resident) 12/31/22 Charles Romanow 1 Mr. McBride Opened meeting at 6:01pm Table the approval of the minutes of the public hearing of November 22 Member Aye Nay Ab- Motioned Seconded stain John McBride, Vice Chair X Randy Baum X X Marcus Green X Jamie Carpenter X Joe Harrison X X Anthony Santora X Charles Romanow X Mr. Kolber announced that the DRAFT Land Ordinance Public Comment period has been extended until January 31, 2022. The Board is encouraged to comment via the website to log participation. Mr. Kolber stated that there is a desperate need of Zoning Board Members and asked potential nominations be sent to the City. Mr. Wilkerson indicated that the scores from the Review Committee for the RFPs for the Board’s professionals will be reviewed and the Board can decide to accept the recommendations from the committee or make adjustments as they see fit. Case called at 6:09pm. Item #1 21-P-537SC: 537 South Clinton Avenue- TRENTON NJ Applicant/Owner seeks preliminary and final major site plan approval, (c) bulk variance for minimum rear yard size, and lot consolidation to enlarge an existing, vacant building and convert to a restaurant. Construction will include a 410 square foot addition at the rear, a 500 square foot second story addition, and a 270 square foot loft space in the attic. The Site is located in the Business B Zoning District and in the Roebling Gateway Redevelopment Plan Area; Location 537 South Clinton Avenue; City Tax Map: Block(s) 15801, Lot(s) 7,8, & 9; Applicant: Jorge Chacon, 55 Endicott Road, Hamilton, NJ 08690. Mr. Jorge Chacon indicated that his attorney is not here tonight. He is only present because he wanted to request additional time as his engineer is not finished with his work as per the recommendations. Requesting postponement until February 24, 2022 at 6pm on this platform. No new notice will be required. The Applicant agreed to waive the time that the Board has to act. Adjourn this matter to the public meeting to be held 2/24/22 at 6pm on this platform Member Aye Nay Ab- Motioned Seconded stain John McBride, Vice Chair X Randy Baum X 2  Marcus Green X X Jamie Carpenter X Joe Harrison X Anthony Santora X X Charles Romanow X Case called at 6:15pm. Item #2 Amendment to Central-East Redevelopment Area Plan The Trenton Division of Planning has proposed amendments to the Central-East Redevelopment Area Plan to allow for mixed-use development in part of the district. Trenton City Council has referred this amendment to the Planning Board to review against the Trenton250 Master Plan. Mr. Wilkerson explained that they are proposing these amendments because there is a developer that is seeking to become the designated developer for this area. The City agrees with this designation and there are some corrections needed for this area that were not previously noticed. He noted that the guiding principles are aligned with the proposed development. He noted that expanding the mixed use would add positively to what is in the area. Referencing a drawing of the area and an aerial photo he demonstrated the footprint of the expansion of the mixed-use area. Mr. Wilkerson described what is being proposed in the area such as multi-family units and a police substation. The Board noted that caution and attention should be paid to the park that is obscured by so many buildings in that area for security reasons. The Jefferson Vincent Park aka Faircrest Park should be considered a ‘neighborhood amenity’ and also considered for inclusion in the Redevelopment Plan. Inclusion in the Redevelopment Plan, however, would require a full blight study. The Board could acknowledge the existence of the park as adjacent to the area. Proposed language: ‘Jefferson Vincent Park is adjacent to this Central East Redevelopment Area and serves as an amenity to the neighborhood. Redevelopment of this area should be cognizant of the park and the issues associated with the low visibility into the park, and that plan should try to address these issue as part of the Redevelopment Plan.’ Mr. Wilkerson indicate the property will be subject to the RB requirements. The mixed use lots will be described by Lots and Blocks so that the entire area does not become subject to Mixed Use. There is a deadline to respond to City Council in order to address the amendments. Memorialize the Resolution read into the record by Mr. McGill Member Aye Nay Ab- Motioned Seconded stain John McBride, Vice Chair X Randy Baum X Jamie Carpenter X Marcus Green X Jeff Halpern X X Joe Harrison X Patricia Ni’ma-Mohammed X 3  Anthony Santora X Charles Romanow Selection of the Board’s professionals Mr. Wilkerson explained the process used to get responses for those who are interested in being considered for the Board’s professional. He noted that there were 3 responses for the Board Attorney and 1 for each of the other roles. He reviewed the average scores for each of those responding. Approve Taylor Design Group as a Planner and landscape Architect Member Aye Nay Ab- Motioned Seconded stain John McBride, Vice Chair X Randy Baum X X Jamie Carpenter X Marcus Green X Jeff Halpern X Joe Harrison X Patricia Ni’ma-Mohammed X X Anthony Santora X Charles Romanow X Approve CME for engineering Member Aye Nay Ab- Motioned Seconded stain John McBride, Vice Chair X Randy Baum X X Jamie Carpenter X Marcus Green X Jeff Halpern X X Joe Harrison X Patricia Ni’ma-Mohammed X Anthony Santora X Charles Romanow X Approve Brightview for traffic engineering Member Aye Nay Ab- Motioned Seconded stain John McBride, Vice Chair X Randy Baum X Jamie Carpenter X Marcus Green X X Jeff Halpern X Joe Harrison X Patricia Ni’ma-Mohammed X 4  Anthony Santora X X Charles Romanow X Approve McGill Hall for the Board’s Attorneys Member Aye Nay Ab- Motioned Seconded stain John McBride, Vice Chair X Randy Baum X X Jamie Carpenter X Marcus Green X Jeff Halpern X Joe Harrison X X Patricia Ni’ma-Mohammed X Anthony Santora X Charles Romanow X Meeting Adjourned at 7:45pm Cherry Oakley, Planning Board Secretary 5