Planning Board

1 1 CITY OF UNION CITY HUDSON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 2 PLANNING BOARD 3 : REGULAR MEETING : TRANSCRIPT OF 4 : --------------------: PROCEEDINGS 5 6 Union City High School Media Center 7 2500 Kennedy Boulevard Union City, New Jersey 8 9 Tuesday, November 28, 2023 Commencing at 6:00 p.m. 10 11 M E M B E R S P R E S E N T: 12 ALEJANDRO VELAZQUEZ, Chairperson YDALIA GENAO 13 ALICIA MOREJON FRANKLIN MEDINA 14 JOSE GUARENO, Alternate #1 HECTOR OSEGUERA, Alternate #2 15 M E M B E R S A B S E N T: 16 BRIAN T. STACK, Mayor 17 CELIN J. VALDIVIA, Commissioner CAROLINA FERNANDEZ 18 A L S O P R E S E N T: 19 CAROLINA FERNANDEZ 20 BRIAN CHEWCASKIE, ESQ. Board Counsel 21 CARLOS VALLEJO, Board Secretary 22 DAVID SPATZ, P.P. 23 24 SUSAN BISCHOFF, CCR, RPR 25 449 Columbia Blvd., Wood-Ridge, NJ 07075 201-933-8220 SBischoffccr@yahoo.com  2 1 A P P E A R A N C E S: 2 BIANCA PEREIRAS, ESQ. Attorney for Applicant, 1012 Palisade Ave. 3 BIANCA PEREIRAS, ESQ. 4 Attorney for Applicant, 2107 Bergenline Ave. 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  3 1 I N D E X 2 PAGE 3 CALL TO ORDER 4 4 SALUTE TO FLAG 4 5 ROLL CALL 5 6 ADOPTION OF MINUTES 6 7 HEARINGS 1012 Palisade Avenue 7 8 2107 Bergenline Avenue 9 9 ADOPTION OF RESOLUTIONS 12/13/14 10 ADJOURNMENT 16 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  4 1 MR. VALLEJO: May I have your attention 2 please? 3 Please take notice that on Tuesday, 4 November 28, 2023, at 6:00 p.m., a regular meeting 5 is scheduled for the City of Union City Planning 6 Board to be held in Union City High School, 7 located at 2500 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Union 8 City, New Jersey. 9 Adequate notice of this meeting has been 10 provided as follows: 11 Notice of this meeting setting forth the 12 time, date, location, to the agenda to the extent 13 known, was forwarded to The Jersey Journal, The 14 Record, and The Star Ledger, has been posted on 15 the bulletin board in City Hall, and has been made 16 available to the public in the Office of the 17 Municipal Clerk. 18 Before we do roll call for tonight's 19 meeting, can everybody kindly rise to salute the 20 flag, please? 21 22 (Whereupon the Pledge of Allegiance was 23 recited.) 24 25 MR. VALLEJO: Thank you.  5 1 ROLL CALL: 2 3 MR. VALLEJO: Roll call for tonight's 4 meeting. 5 Mayor Stack is absent. 6 Mr. Velazquez. 7 VICE CHAIRPERSON VELAZQUEZ: Here. 8 MR. VALLEJO: Commissioner Valdivia is 9 absent. Ms. Genao. 10 MS. GENAO: Yes. 11 MR. VALLEJO: Ms. Morejon. 12 MS. MOREJON: Yes. 13 MR. VALLEJO: Ms. Fernandez is absent. 14 Mr. Medina. 15 MR. MEDINA: Here. 16 MR. VALLEJO: Mr. Guareno. 17 MR. GUARENO: Here. 18 MR. VALLEJO: Mr. Oseguera. 19 MR. OSEGUERA: Here. 20 MR. VALLEJO: Let the record indicate 21 that there are six present. 22 * * * * 23 24 25  6 1 ADOPTION OF MINUTES: 2 3 MR. VALLEJO: All right. We're going to 4 adoption of minutes of regular meeting held on 5 September 26, 2023. Can I have a motion? 6 CHAIRPERSON VELAZQUEZ: I make a motion. 7 MR. VALLEJO: Motion by Mr. Velazquez. 8 MR. MEDINA: Second. 9 MR. VALLEJO: Seconded by Mr. Medina. 10 Roll call on the motion. 11 Mr. Velazquez. 12 CHAIRPERSON VELAZQUEZ: Yes. 13 MR. VALLEJO: Ms. Genao. 14 MS. GENAO: Yes. 15 MR. VALLEJO: Ms. Morejon. 16 MS. MOREJON: Yes. 17 MR. VALLEJO: Mr. Guareno. 18 MR. GUARENO: Yes. 19 MR. VALLEJO: Mr. Medina. 20 MR. MEDINA: Yes. 21 MR. VALLEJO: Mr. Oseguera. 22 MR. OSEGUERA: Yes. 23 MR. VALLEJO: Six in favor, motion 24 carries. 25 * * * *  7 1 1012 PALISADE AVENUE: 2 3 MR. VALLEJO: Can we do the 4 resolutions -- no, we have to wait for -- 5 MR. CHEWCASKIE: Let's just do it during 6 the resolution. There's no presentation tonight, 7 I'll explain it. 8 MR. VALLEJO: Let's go to the resolution 9 then. 10 MR. CHEWCASKIE: With respect to the 11 adjournment, Carlos, we're adjourning that to 12 January 23, 2024, without further notice. 13 MR. VALLEJO: We'll go to 1012 Palisade 14 Avenue. 15 MR. CHEWCASKIE: Let's do 1012 Palisade 16 Avenue while Bianca is here. What has occurred is 17 the building department wanted additional clarity 18 in our amended resolution with regard to the roof 19 decks. We revised the prior resolution and 20 provided that to the board. It deals with a 21 renovation of an existing roof deck and also the 22 addition of a roof deck. 23 This has been before us now I think for 24 the fourth time. We added the language that was 25 required and I provided the resolution to the  8 1 board today. So I don't know if you wanted to add 2 anything? 3 MS. PEREIRAS: No, very simply -- good 4 evening, everyone. Bianca Pereiras on behalf of 5 the applicants. We're just following the 6 instructions of the building department. They 7 asked for specific verbiage, so thankfully your 8 counsel has agreed to pick that up. And, 9 hopefully, this will be the last time we're in 10 front of you for this application. 11 MR. VALLEJO: You want to dad for the 12 records, the certification? 13 MR. CHEWCASKIE: Right. There were 14 certain individuals who were not present for the 15 original application. I believe the transcript 16 was read, am I correct? 17 CHAIRPERSON VELAZQUEZ: Yes. 18 MR. OSEGUERA: Yes. 19 MR. CHEWCASKIE: So we can proceed. Why 20 don't we just do the resolution, we don't need to 21 vote on the application. 22 * * * * 23 24 25  9 1 2107 BERGENLINE AVENUE: 2 3 MR. CHEWCASKIE: And then the next 4 matter is 2107 Bergenline Avenue. I believe 5 you're requesting an adjournment? 6 MS. PEREIRAS: I am, counsel. Let me 7 give you my jurisdictional submissions? 8 MR. CHEWCASKIE: Sure. 9 I've had the opportunity to review the 10 affidavit of service, everything is in order. 11 I've also reviewed the affidavit of publication in 12 The Jersey Journal, so the board would have 13 jurisdiction to hear this case. 14 MS. PEREIRAS: Thank you very much, 15 Counsel. Unfortunately, my one and only witness 16 is sick this evening and won't be able to appear. 17 So I have no presentation for you this evening. 18 Respectfully, I am requesting adjournment of this 19 matter. 20 MR. CHEWCASKIE: And this matter -- 21 there's no December meeting, it would be adjourned 22 to January 23, 2024. If there's an extension of 23 time required, are you granting that extension? 24 MS. PEREIRAS: Of course, Counsel. 25 MR. CHEWCASKIE: I would suggest to the  10 1 board to grant the adjournment. 2 MR. VALLEJO: Can I have a motion to 3 adjourn this application for January 23, 2024. 4 CHAIRPERSON VELAZQUEZ: I make a motion. 5 MR. VALLEJO: Motion by Mr. Velazquez. 6 MR. GUARENO: Second. 7 MR. VALLEJO: Seconded by Mr. Guareno. 8 Roll call on the motion to adjourn the 9 application. 10 Mr. Velazquez. 11 CHAIRPERSON VELAZQUEZ: Yes. 12 MR. VALLEJO: Ms. Genao. 13 MS. GENAO: Yes. 14 MR. VALLEJO: Ms. Morejon. 15 MS. MOREJON: Yes. 16 MR. VALLEJO: Mr. Guareno. 17 MR. GUARENO: Yes. 18 MR. VALLEJO: Mr. Medina. 19 MR. MEDINA: Yes. 20 MR. VALLEJO: Mr. Oseguera. 21 MR. OSEGUERA: Yes. 22 MR. VALLEJO: Six in favor, motion 23 carries. No new notice. 24 MS. PEREIRAS: Thank you all very much. 25 And since I won't you see you before the end of  11 1 the year, merry Christmas. I'll see you next 2 year. 3 * * * * 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  12 1 ADOPTION OF RESOLUTIONS: 2 1. Resolution appointing the planning board 3 secretary for the year 2024. 4 5 MR. VALLEJO: Resolution number one, 6 appointing the planning board secretary for the 7 year 2024. Can I have a motion? 8 CHAIRPERSON VELAZQUEZ: I make a motion. 9 MR. VALLEJO: Motion by Mr. Velazquez. 10 MR. OSEGUERA: Second. 11 MR. VALLEJO: Seconded by Mr. Oseguera. 12 Roll call on the motion. Mr. Velazquez. 13 CHAIRPERSON VELAZQUEZ: Yes. 14 MR. VALLEJO: Ms. Genao. 15 MS. GENAO: Yes. 16 MR. VALLEJO: Ms. Morejon. 17 MS. MOREJON: Yes. 18 MR. VALLEJO: Mr. Guareno. 19 MR. GUARENO: Yes. 20 MR. VALLEJO: Mr. Medina. 21 MR. MEDINA: Yes. 22 MR. VALLEJO: Mr. Oseguera. 23 MR. OSEGUERA: Yes. 24 MR. VALLEJO: Six in favor, motion carries. 25 * * * *  13 1 ADOPTION OF RESOLUTIONS: 2 2. Resolution to approve the planning board 3 schedule for the year 2024. 4 5 MR. VALLEJO: Resolution number two, 6 approve the planning board schedule for the year 7 2024. Can I have a motion? 8 MR. GUARENO: Motion. 9 MR. VALLEJO: Motion by Mr. Guareno. 10 CHAIRPERSON VELAZQUEZ: Second. 11 MR. VALLEJO: Seconded by Mr. Velazquez. 12 Roll call on the motion. Mr. Velazquez. 13 CHAIRPERSON VELAZQUEZ: Yes. 14 MR. VALLEJO: Ms. Genao. 15 MS. GENAO: Yes. 16 MR. VALLEJO: Ms. Morejon. 17 MS. MOREJON: Yes. 18 MR. VALLEJO: Mr. Guareno. 19 MR. GUARENO: Yes. 20 MR. VALLEJO: Mr. Medina. 21 MR. MEDINA: Yes. 22 MR. VALLEJO: Mr. Oseguera. 23 MR. OSEGUERA: Yes. 24 MR. VALLEJO: Six in favor, motion pass. 25 * * * *  14 1 ADOPTION OF RESOLUTIONS: 2 3. 1012 Palisade Ave. Block: 186. Lot: 42. 3 Applicant proposes the legalization of a ground 4 floor apartment to convert them from a two family 5 to three families. Applicant also proposes the 6 addition of a stair bulkhead. The approved 7 resolution was memorialized on 10-23-2018. The 8 applicant's attorney requested that the board 9 amend the resolution. 10 11 MR. VALLEJO: Resolution number three, 12 1012 Palisade Avenue. 13 MR. CHEWCASKIE: If I may, Mr. Vallejo? 14 This was a resolution that I revised today to add 15 a few more words as to the roof decks, which we 16 just described during the earlier hearing in order 17 that the building department can issue the 18 permits. The approved drawings indicated that the 19 roof decks were -- well the approved drawings 20 indicated the roof decks. The resolution was 21 revised I believe six or seven months ago. That 22 resolution indicated the roof decks; however, the 23 building department was concerned because one was 24 new and one was renovated. Those were the words 25 that were added to identify the two roof decks.  15 1 One was on the building itself, which was 2 existing. And then there was one added to the 3 garage. So that's the resolution. 4 MR. VALLEJO: Can I have a motion to 5 adopt the resolution? 6 CHAIRPERSON VELAZQUEZ: I make a motion. 7 MR. VALLEJO: Motion by Mr. Velazquez. 8 MR. GUARENO: Second. 9 MR. VALLEJO: Seconded by Mr. Guareno. 10 Roll call on the motion. Mr. Velazquez. 11 CHAIRPERSON VELAZQUEZ: Yes. 12 MR. VALLEJO: Mr. Guareno. 13 MR. GUARENO: Yes. 14 MR. VALLEJO: Ms. Genao. 15 MS. GENAO: Yes. 16 MR. VALLEJO: Ms. Morejon. 17 MS. MOREJON: Yes. 18 MR. VALLEJO: Mr. Medina. 19 MR. MEDINA: Yes. 20 MR. VALLEJO: Mr. Oseguera. 21 MR. OSEGUERA: Yes. 22 MR. VALLEJO: Six in favor, motion 23 passes. 24 * * * * 25  16 1 ADJOURNMENT: 2 3 MR. VALLEJO: There being no other 4 application on tonight's agenda, can I have a 5 motion to close tonight's meeting? 6 CHAIRPERSON VELAZQUEZ: Motion. 7 MR. GUARENO: Second. 8 MR. VALLEJO: Motion by Mr. Velazquez. 9 Second by Mr. Guareno. 10 All in favor? 11 12 (All Board Members indicate in the 13 affirmative.) 14 15 16 (Whereupon the meeting was adjourned at 17 6:10 p.m.) 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  17 1 C E R T I F I C A T E 2 3 4 5 6 I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing is a 7 true and accurate transcript of the testimony and 8 proceedings as taken stenographically by me at the 9 time, place, and on the date hereinbefore set 10 forth. 11 12 13 14 SUSAN BISCHOFF, CCR, RPR LICENSE NO. 30XI00233700 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25