BRIDGEWATER TOWNSHIP
PLANNING BOARD
Regular Meeting
Monday, April 27, 2009
—MINUTES—
CALL MEETING TO ORDER:
Chairman Fross called the regular meeting of the Bridgewater Township Planning Board to order at 7:00pm at the Senior Citizens Center located at 455 Somerville Rd., Bridgewater, New Jersey.
OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT ANNOUNCEMENT:
Adequate notice of this meeting has been given in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act N.J.S.A 10:4-6. On April 23, 2009, proper notice was sent to the Courier Newspaper and the Star-Ledger and filed with the Clerk at the Township of Bridgewater and posted on the bulletin board in the Municipal Building.
Please be aware of the Planning Board policy for public hearings: no new applications will be heard after 10:00 pm and no new testimony will be taken after 10:15 pm.
SALUTE FLAG:
There was salute to the flag.
ROLL CALL:
Mr. Rodzinak – present Mrs. Joanne Kane - absent
Ms. Barbara Kane – present Mr. Leven – present
Councilman Albano – absent Mayor Flannery – present
Chairman Fross – present Mr. Hayes, Alt. #1 - present
N. Janine Dickey, Alt. #2 - present
Others present: Board Attorney Thomas Collins, Township Planner Scarlett Doyle, Township Engineer Robert Bogart, Grace Karanja, Planning Board Administrative Assistant
APPROVAL OF BOARD MINUTES:
March 23, 2009 Regular Meeting – Motion by Mayor Flannery, second by Mrs. Barbara Kane, the March 23, 2009 regular meeting minutes of the Planning Board were adopted, as amended on a unanimous voice vote of those present and eligible to vote.
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MEMORIALIZATION OF RESOLUTIONS:
465 UNION, LLC – The Learning Experience
Block 230 Lot 6 (Union Avenue and Finderne Ave)
#44-08-PB, Preliminary & Final Site Plan w/variances
DECISION: Approved w/conditions 3/23/09
Motion by Mayor Flannery, second by Mr. Rodzinak, the above referenced resolution for Preliminary Site Plan with variances was adopted, as amended, on the following roll call vote:
AFFIRMATIVE: Mr. Rodzinak, Mrs. Barbara Kane, Mayor Flannery, Chairman Fross
OPPOSED: None
ABSTENTIONS: None
ABSENT: Mrs. Joanne Kane, Councilman Albano
NOT ELIGIBLE: Mr. Leven, Mr. Hayes, Mrs. Dickey
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BOARD BUSINESS:
ORDINANCE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF BRIDGEWATER AMENDING CHAPTER 126 (LAND USE) ADDING SECTION 126-376 (SCHEDULE OF AREA, YARD AND BUILDING REQUIREMENTS) TO THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF BRIDGEWATER AND INCREASING THE MAXIMUM PERCENTAGE OF IMPROVED LOT COVERAGE IN THE R-50 AND R-40 ZONES
Township Planner Doyle gave a brief summary of the above referenced Ordinance. After careful consideration, the Board agreed as follows:
- The proposed Ordinance is consistent with the Township Master Plan.
- The proposed Ordinance is recommended for adoption, as written.
Motion by Mayor Flannery, second by Mrs. Barbara Kane, the above captioned Ordinance, was endorsed, as written, on the following roll call vote:
AFFIRMATIVE: Mr. Rodzinak, Mrs. Barbara Kane, Mayor Flannery, Mr. Leven, Mr. Hayes, Mrs. Dickey, Chairman Fross
OPPOSED: None
ABSTENTIONS: None
ABSENT: Mrs. Joanne Kane, Councilman Albano
NOT ELIGIBLE: None
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HEARINGS AND DELIBERATIONS:
GAGLIOTTI, Gary
Block 906 Lot 511 (Off Loller Drive)
#25-06-PB, Preliminary Major Subdivision - no variances
PROPOSAL: (7 buildable lots are proposed)
TIME: Ext. to 6/30/09
It was confirmed for the record that the hearing for the above referenced matter has been carried to June 22, 2009. New notice will be provided by the applicant.
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NORTH BRIDGE CENTER, LLC
Block 509 Lots 3, 4, 6 (North Bridge St. and 6th Ave.)
#04-08-PB, Final Site Plan
PROPOSAL: Construction of a new office building with bank
TIME: 45= 6/1/09
The applicant was represented by Counsel, Larry Powers, Esq. The applicant presented testimony by Marcus Rosenau. Mr. Rosenau, the project Architect was sworn in and qualified. His qualifications as an Architect were recognized and accepted by the Board. Mr. Powers explained that the applicant has revised the final site plan to incorporate the recommendations set forth in the report of the Township Engineer dated April 17, 2009 and is prepared to confirm the same and explain the changes to the building as described in the report of the Township Planner dated April 22, 2009.
Mr. Rosenau testified that the applicant has made some revisions to the final architecture of the building as described in the report of the Township Planner and he confirmed that those are the only changes. He explained that the change in the height of the floor space of the building was done to reduce costs and to improve energy efficiency. He stated that a door had been added to the west side of the building to provide emergency access to ground level with a stairway. He said that the windows have been added to the loading dock area to provide natural light and visibility. He explained that the building height had been reduced and that the changes made have been shown on the architectural drawings.
Chairman Fross opened the hearing to the Board and then the public for questions. There were no questions from the Board or the public. Chairman Fross then opened the hearing to the Board for deliberation.
The Board stipulated on the following conditions:
· The applicant shall comply with the report of the Township Planner dated 4/22/09
· The applicant shall comply with the report of the Township Engineer dated 4/17/09
Motion by Mr. Rodzinak, Second by Mrs. Barbara Kane, the above referenced application for a final site plan, was approved, subject to the conditions discussed, on the following roll call vote:
AFFIRMATIVE: Mr. Rodzinak, Mrs. Barbara Kane, Mayor Flannery, Mr. Leven, Mr. Hayes, Mrs. Dickey, Chairman Fross
OPPOSED: None
ABSTENTIONS: None
ABSENT: Mrs. Joanne Kane, Councilman Albano
NOT ELIGIBLE: None
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OTHER BOARD BUSINESS:
The Board did not conduct any other business.
MEETING OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Chairman Fross opened the meeting to public for non-agenda items. With hearing none, Chairman Fross closed the public portion of the meeting.
ADJOURNMENT:
It was the consensus of the Board to adjourn the meeting at approximately 7:30pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Grace Karanja,
Assistant Planning Board Secretary
ADOPTED 5/12/09
