MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING
OF THE PLANNING BOARD OF THE BOROUGH OF MOUNTAIN LAKES
January 25, 2007
Chairman Mike Lightner read the Open Public Meeting Advertisement Notice: Adequate notice of this meeting was given to the Citizen and the Daily Record, was posted with the Borough Clerk and the Bulletin Board, and made available to all those requesting individual notice and paying the required fee. Members beginning new terms signed the Oath of Office.
ROLL CALL:
Board Members Present: Nix, Palmer, Pitcher, Melikian, Dunn, Batty, Webb, Shaw, Davis, Lightner Absent: Selver Also Present: Attorney Peter Henry
REORGANIZATION:
Election of Chairman: Mike Lightner was nominated by Frank Dunn, seconded by Rob Pitcher. Election of Vice-Chairman: Barbara Palmer was nominated by Rob Pitcher, seconded by Sandy Batty. The Chair and Vice-Chair were approved unanimously by single ballot.
Appointment of Board Attorney: Rob Pitcher recommended Peter Henry of Dillon, Bitar & Luther, seconded by Sandy Batty. Appointment of Board Engineer: Mike Lightner recommended William Ryden of Anderson and Denzler, seconded by Rob Pitcher.
Appointment of Planning Consultant (as needed): Mike Lightner recommended Duggan Kimball, seconded by Rob Pitcher. Appointment of Secretary and Administrative Officer: Mike Lightner recommended Marge Jackson, seconded by Louise Davis. The previous four appointments were approved by 9-0 roll call vote.
Designation of Newspapers: The Citizen was designated as the paper of record and The Daily Record as the second paper of notice for 2007.
Designation of Meeting Dates: 2007 meeting dates were approved with a start time of 7:30:
February 22 June 28 October 25
March 22 July 26 November 29
April 26 August 23 December 13
May 24 September 27 January 24, 2008
Barbara Palmer pointed out that the 2/22 meeting fell within a school vacation week. She, Armen and Steve indicated they could not attend that meeting. The Board decided to leave the meeting scheduled for that date since they were not aware of any applications in process.
REVIEW OF MINUTES: The November 30, 2006 minutes were approved by voice vote with changes regarding the Highlands Council report on page two.
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
DEERING / CARTER 8 Oak Lane / 34 Briarcliff
Bl. 81 Lot 2.01 / Lot 1.02 Appl. #07-228
Minor Subdivision RA zone
Glenn Carter and Paul Deering presented their application to make an equal swap of 634 square feet of property between lots 2.01 and 1.02. There are no improvements or impervious surfaces involved in either of these pieces of property. It is simply a swap to make both pieces of property more conforming.
On Carter’s property, the swap adds frontage along Briarcliff Road, decreasing the nonconformity from 79.5’ to 92.5’ (100’ required.). On the Deering property, the existing sideyard nonconformity is eliminated, increasing the setback from 22’ to 30’ (25’ required.)
Carter noted that there may be overhead utilities in the easement and he agrees to have that be part of the resolution. Peter Henry said that it is now running over the Deering property. There could be a grant to preserve the right to have the utilities run over the property. Henry said that language should also be included in the perfection of the deeds.
In response to Board questions, Carter said that there is a wall along the back of Deering’s property with a strip of land that belongs to Carter. This subdivision/ land swap makes sense for both property owners.
Peter Henry said that there is no map of structures on either property, so we don’t really know that there are no changes in variances required.
Joan Nix thought that the elimination of the narrow Carter property next to Deering’s on Oak Lane would change the front yard exception along Oak Lane. Board members disagreed.
Rob Pitcher moved that the subdivision be granted, seconded by Gary Webb, to be perfected by minor subdivision deeds, with the condition of the utility easement, etc. The motion was carried by 9-0 roll call vote.
REPORTS: Steve Shaw reported that on January 22, resident Chris Palazzi made a presentation to Council on the concept to rebuild the buildings of the Mountain Lakes Market and the adjacent brick building. It was evident that both buildings would be reconstructed, creating 10 additional condo units with parking below. Two of the fifteen units would be affordable housing. They would need variances for building height and for parking off of Pollard Road. Council suggested that they come to the Planning Board with their concept and eventually their site plan. Rezoning would be required to allow the mixed use concept. There would also be a request for bulk requirement modifications. The Board discussed the possibility of the need for rezoning or the concept of spot zoning for those two buildings.
Shaw also reported that the appellate court struck down Coah’s third round rules. Sandy Batty said this decision challenges the growth share methodology. Joan Nix said she is very uncomfortable with the concept of the Borough releasing land for development. Louise Davis said that the Borough had intended for this land to be flexible; it is not a full lot.
Steve Shaw said that he agreed with Sandy Batty that a Committee should be formed to consider how the Highlands Master Plan would impact Mountain Lakes. Sandy said that, in the past Mountain Lakes has formed committees to study proposed concepts. Shaw said that until technical guidelines are released, it would be difficult to assess the plans. There was discussion as to whether it should be handled by professionals or a local committee. Batty, Shaw, Nix and Melikian agreed to form a committee.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Marge Jackson, Secretary