PLANNING BOARD – REGULAR MEETING

PLANNING BOARD – REGULAR MEETING

BOROUGH OF NORWOOD

JULY 21, 2005

The Regular Meeting of the Norwood Planning Board convened at 8:02PM with Vice –

Chairman Demetrious Milli= aressis presiding. Mr. Milliaressis announced that this meeting is conducted in accordance with the Open Meetin= gs Act and advertised in accordance with the appropriate statute. Following indication of exit locat= ions as required, those present recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

SITE PLAN APPLICATION #711

SUBDIVISION APPLICATION #705

Mr. Milliaressis announce= d that the above-indicated applications withdrew for this evening only.

ROLL CALL

The following board membe= rs were present: Joseph L. Ascolese, = Ms. Guercio, Mr. Jacobs, Mr. Milliaressis, Mr. Sklow, Councilman Altenbach, and= Mr. Lamp. Mayor Kaplan arrived at 8:38PM. The following board m= embers were absent: Mr. Gallagher, Joseph Ascolese, and Mr. Savalia.

Robert Regan, the Board A= ttorney was present along with Joseph Neglia and Dan Vechesky representing the Board Engineering office.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Regular Meeting June 16, 2005

A motion was offered and = seconded to accept the minutes of the above-indicated meeting

Roll Call Vote: Joseph L. Ascolese, Ms. Guercio, Mr. Jacobs, Mr. Milliaressis, Mr. Sklow, Councilman Altenbach, and Mr. Lamp voted yes.

SITE PLAN APPLICATION #712

Block 100, Lot 5 – 435 Livingston Street

Commerce Bank (Friendly’s Restaurant)
Attorney Bruce Whitaker, = Ramsey, NJ came forward representing Commerce Bank in this application for Site Plan approval, which commenced in June with signage approval. As requested by the board during t= he June meeting, applicant provided notice to the public and submitted same to the board office and Mr. Regan for review.

Mr. Whitaker commented th= at the revised plans under review are dated July 05, 2005. The proposed structure is comprise= d of 4,101 sq.ft. including four drive-through facilities. Applicant intends to address the N= eglia Engineering Review Letter dated July 18, 2005. As pertains to parking (proposed 9’ x 18’ – required 10’ x 20’), Mr. Whitaker indicated that applicant proposes to revise space size in order to conform = to the parking code.

Brett Skapinetz, PE, swor= n and qualified as an expert at the last meeting, came forward with additional testimony. The Site Plan, consisting of eleven pages with revision date 7/05/05 was marked at Exhibit A-6, the Survey A-7, and colorized version of the Site Plan A-8. Mr. Skapinetz testified that subje= ct property is located in the “B” Business Zone and currently accommodates a Friendly’s Restaurant. Residential properties are situate= d to the north with businesses located to the east and west of the proposed site. The current site houses fifty-nine parking places with 76% impervious coverage, which applicant proposes to decrease. An open= trash enclosure shall also be removed. Proposed access to the site is via a single driveway from Livingston Street with counter cloc= kwise circulation throughout the parking lot as well as a separate lane for the drive-through teller locations. Applicant intends four drive-in teller windows with a walk-up ATM located inside the bank vestibule. <= /span>Although the plan provides thirty-one parking spaces, applicant proposes to increase= the size from 9’ x 18’ to 10’ x 20’ as required thereby reducing the number to twenty-seven. This number exceeds the required seventeen spaces and includes the removal of a parking place on Livingston Street in order to provide increased pedestrian circulation. Brick pavers are planned at the front    = ;            &n= bsp;

PAGE TWO, JULY 21, 2005

      = ;            &n= bsp;            = ;            &n= bsp;            = ;    Commerce Bank Continued

of the proposed building.= There are two sets of double doors= , one accessing the vestibule and ATM area and one into the main bank lobby which= is locked after banking hours. <= /p>
Employees total seven to = eight per shift and include two tellers dedicated to drive-through lanes. Hours range from 7:30AM to 8:00PM = Monday through Friday, 8:00AM to 6:00PM on Saturday, and 11:00AM to 4:00PM on Sunday.   Trash is remove= d by a private cleaning service six nights a week and disposed of off-site because= of its confidential nature. Appl= icant adheres to all local recycling requirements. Mr. Skapinetz testified that he rev= iewed the proposed Livingston Street-Scape Plan and applicant proposes to incorpo= rate same, including paver walkway and trees, pending Bergen County Planning Boa= rd approval.

The proposed plan involve= s one variance only - 90% Maxim= um Disturbed Land permitted, 100% intended because the site is currently fully developed. Removal of existing structure and parking necessitates full disturbance of the site; however, the proposed banking facility reduces the impervious coverage because of the landscaped = buffer at the rear of the property. =

Although several items ha= ve not yet been included in the proposed streetscape plan including the type of pavers, species of trees, landscaping, and lighting,   Mr. Whitaker = stipulated to meeting additional standar= ds as a condition of approval.

Additional discussion too= k place regarding trash disposal and both Mr. Skapinetz and Mr. Whitaker reiterated that a disposal company handles garbage and recyclables six nights a week a= nd an exterior trash enclosure is not necessary.

Following further discuss= ion concerning on-site traffic flow, speed bumps, and rumble strips, the applicant agreed to monitor tra= ffic after opening and if problems occur, install a control device if or as recommende= d by the Board Engineer and or the Planning Board.

The Neglia Engineering Re= view Letter dated July 18, 2005 was marked as Board Exhibit One and Mr. Whitaker commented that applicant has addressed the parking space size aspect, eliminated the variance, and addressed the comments pertaining to disturbed land.   A brief discussio= n took place concerning a discrepancy in the zoning ordinance and site plan requirements concerning parking within 30 feet of the street right-of-way l= ine and the board agreed that no variance is required.

Concerning grading and dr= ainage, Mr. Skapinetz testified that the proposal reduces both the amount of imperv= ious coverage and storm water runoff because of the additional green space inclu= ded in the landscape plan. An ons= ite system collects runoff and discharges into an existing storm drain on Livingston Street. Mr. Skapinetz additionally testifi= ed to stipulating to all requests and recommendation of the Board Engineer concer= ning drainage and grading and Councilman Altenbach pertaining to the streetscape plan. Some discussion took pl= ace concerning a contribution to the streetscape fund and Mr. Whitaker so stipulated.

A discussion took place concerning fencing and Mr. Skapinetz commented that white plastic material = is an inferior choice and, at the board’s suggestion, agreed to investig= ate colorized composite materials. Applicant also agreed to modify lighting to include acorn-globe type fixtures.

Mayor Kaplan arrived at t= his time.

The board moved and secon= ded to open the meeting to the public; all voted yes.

C “Chubby” Bo= cchino, 455 Livingston St., c= ame forward. At the previous meet= ing, Mr. Bocchino was placed under oath concerning this application. As a resident within 200 feet and = as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Norwood Fire Co., Mr. Bocchino welcomed Commerce Bank to the community and wished them well.

PAGE THREE, JULY 21, 2005

Commerce Bank Continued

Christine Hageman, Norwood Environmental Commission, came forward, was sworn for testimony, and spoke = in agreement with Mr. Bocchino’s comments.

As no one else came forwa= rd, the board moved, seconded and voted to close the meeting to the public.

In response to board ques= tions, Mr. Skapinetz testified that the security system includes a central alarm system and the column signage is new brick on four sides.

RESOLVED: A motion was offered by Mr. Jacobs and seconded by Joseph L. Ascolese to appr= ove Application #712 with stipulations as set forth on the record and in the resolution to be prepared by Mr. Regan.

ROLL CALL VOTE: Joseph L. Ascolese Ms. Guercio, Mr. Jaco= bs, Mr. Milliaressis, Mr. Sklow, Councilman Altenbach, and Mr. Lamp voted yes.<= /p>

The applicant agreed to p= ost the preliminary plan in the borough hall building for the benefit of the public= .

DISCUSSION

Withdrawn Application Fee

A brief discussion took p= lace concerning the application withdrawn at the beginning of the evening and the board’s proposed cancellation fee.&n= bsp; Mayor Kaplan advised that the Borough Attorney is currently research= ing the matter and, at this time, charges are not in effect.

RESOLVED: The board offered and seconded a motion to compel both applications to renotice the public. All members voted yes

DISCUSSION – = CUMBERLAND FARMS

Block 91, Lot 1 – 575 Broadway – Signage

Following discussion, con= cerning the proposed signage change from vertical to horizontal, the board agreed applicant shall submit improved photographs/renderings and appear in person for   board review prior = to a decision and that a formal site plan application shall not be required.

RESOLUTION OF APPROVAL

Site Plan Application #712 – Signage

Block 100, Lot 5 – 435 Livingston Street

Commerce Bank

RESOLVED: Councilman Altenbach offered a motion, seconde= d by Ms. Guercio, to accept the above-indicated Resolution of Approval pertainin= g to signage only.

ROLL CALL VOTE: Joseph L. Ascolese, Ms. Guercio, Mr. Jac= obs Mr. Milliaressis, Councilman Altenbach, and Mr. Lamp voted yes.

OPEN & CLOSE TO PUBLIC

The board moved, seconded= , and voted to open the meeting to the public.

C. “Chubby” B= occhino, Livingston Street, commented that it is unfair to the public that Norwood Plaza LLC cancelled their appearance without notice to the public and that the property in ques= tion is also in need of maintenance. The board agreed to advise the Construction Code Official in order that he might inform the applicant’s counsel. Mr. Bocchino also stated, for the record, that he is neither a former owner nor principal of that project.

Since no one else came fo= rward, the board moved, seconded, and voted to close the meeting to the public.

PAGE FOUR, JULY 21, 2005

REPORTS

Zoning Subcommittee

Historic Preservation Committee

The board agreed to table= the above-indicated reports until the next meeting or additional information is available.

APPROVAL OF VOUCHERS

Councilman Altenbach offe= red a motion, seconded by Mr. Jacobs, to accept the following vouchers for paymen= t:

           &n= bsp;            Robert T. Regan      = ;            &n= bsp;            = ;    $1,625.00

           &n= bsp;            Neglia Engineering Associates   $= 3,017.00

All members voted yes.

As there was no further b= usiness before the board, the meeting adjourned at 9:03PM.

           &n= bsp;            = ;            &n= bsp;            = ;                   &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;

           &n= bsp;            = ;            &n= bsp;            = ;           Linda Grove, Board Clerk

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