PITTSGROVE TOWNSHIP PLANNING BOARD
APRIL 21, 2004
7:30 PM
The regular meeting of the Planning Board of Pittsgrove Township was held on April 21, 2004 in the Municipal Building Courtroom. The meeting was called to order; compliance with the Open Meeting Act made and Flag Salute was lead by the Chairman Gregory Hickson.
Regular members present were: Gregory Hickson, Frank Pace, Mayor Peter Voros, Linda DuBois, Robert Ternay, Donald Garrison, Sheila Benson and Charles Hughes.
Alternate members present were: Kevin Foster, Christine Seeney, and Tanya Davis.
Members absent were: Nicholas Mesiano and Kenneth Shelton, Jr.
Planning Board Solicitor Gary Salber, Planning Board Engineer Ed Belski for Mark Brunermer and Secretary Nancy Huster were also present.
DESIGNATE
ALTERNATES TO VOTE
Due to the absence of regular members, alternate member Kevin Foster was designated to vote.
APRIL 6, 2004
On a motion by Linda DuBois and seconded by Frank Pace the minutes of the April 6, 2004 meeting were approved as submitted. All were in favor.
MAYERFELD, BERNIE – SUPERIOR COURT ORDER REGARDING VARIANCE REQUESTED FOR LACK OF REQUIRED AREA, FRONTAGE AND SIDE YARD SETBACKS – BLOCK 2502, LOT 2 – CLEVELAND AVENUE - $0 BALANCE IN ESCROW ACCOUNT
On a motion by Pete Voros and seconded by Robert Ternay an escrow deposit in the amount of $600.00 is required. All were in favor.
APPLICATIONS
MAYERFELD, BERNIE – SUPERIOR COURT ORDER REGARDING VARIANCE REQUESTED FOR LACK OF REQUIRED AREA, FRONTAGE AND SIDE YARD SETBACKS – BLOCK 2502, LOT 2 – CLEVELAND AVENUE
Bernie Mayerfeld was present with his attorney Michael Benson. Mr. Benson informed the public they could, at this time, make an offer to purchase the property for the value of a building lot.
Planning Board Solicitor, Gary Salber explained the Superior Court Order from Judge Forester dated April 5, 2004 allowing the construction of a single family on the lot if not purchased for a fair market value. He announced that copies of the order are available from the secretary.
The chairman opened the meeting to the public for any questions or comments.
The following comments were made from the public:
Leigh Pottle would like the judge to look at the property.
Mr. Sanchew stated Mr. Mayerfeld confronted him with the opinion that his porch was on Mr. Mayerfeld’s property.
Mr. Shoemaker suggested that he owned the property because he has maintained it for several years and obtained papers stating same. He was advised by Gary Salber, Planning Board Solicitor to contact his attorney regarding that matter.
Mr. Mayerfeld stated that he would accept $24,900 for the property.
Mr. Benson agreed to a continuation of this meeting in order for the applicant to obtain a written statement from the tax assessor for the value of the property.
On a motion by Frank Pace and seconded by Robert Ternay the application is continued to the May 19, 2004 meeting to allow Mr. Mayerfeld to obtain a written assessment value of the property. All were in favor.
DAYTOP VILLAGE OF NEW JERSEY,
INC. – USE VARIANCE AND MINOR SITE PLAN APPLICATION FOR A JUVENILE
RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT CENTER – HARDING HIGHWAY – BLOCK 204, LOT 3
John Falciani, attorney,
Rev. Joseph Hennen and Henry Haley, Engineer were present.
Mayor Pete Voros and
Committeewoman Linda DuBois stepped down from the board.
The Chairman announced that
the “Use Variance” would be addressed at this time.
Reverend Hennen described
the facility and its locations and operation and testified to the following
descriptions:
A facility is currently operating in Mendham,
North Jersey and twenty six children are from the South Jersey area.
Daytop was awarded a 3
million dollar grant from the Department of Human Services for an additional
facility. An additional 4.4 million dollars were awarded for operation of the
facility.
The facility is not a
corrections program. Admission to the program is voluntary and kids with a
history of sex abuse or violence are not accepted.
The children attending
would be ages thirteen through seventeen and the educational expenses are
billed to the school of origin.
The existing facility has
not had a problem with kids running away or causing problems in the community.
The Chairman opened the
application to the public.
Joe McCool was concerned
that we have no local police and asked what percentage run away.
Rev. Hennen stated that
approximately five or six left against the programs advice in the past thirteen
years.
Georgiana McCool questioned
the location for the facility which is close to a bar.
Jeff Walker, adjacent
property owner asked what is required to fulfill the grant and would all kids
be from south jersey.
Barbara Ernst also was
concerned with no local police available and the danger the residents would be
to the community.
Rev. Hennen noted that the
facility was not for detoxification.
Diana Hickson asked if
inspections would be preformed and by whom.
Rev. Hennan commented that
the Department of Health, Fire Inspector and other agencies perform unannounced
inspections.
Jeanette Gerlack is in
favor of the facility that has helped kids known to her. She commented that the
program is needed in this area because there are many problems with drugs.
Karen from Turnersville
told her personal story about her son and how Daytop saved his life.
Samuel Perez raises alpacas
on adjoining property and spoke of his concern that the kids might disturb the
sensitive animals.
The chairman informed Mr.
Perez that his concerns could be addressed during the site plan review.
Susan Foose Atlantic County
resident is in support of any intervention that will help families and children
because her child lost the battle with a drug overdose.
Kathleen Dobbs testified
that Daytop is a good program that helped her 16 year old son.
Kathleen Foster from
Gloucester County told her story about her son and how he was on the waiting
list to attend Daytop, a model program, when he died.
Barbara Walker questioned
who is responsible for the children and commented that the Township already has
Mission Teens.
On a motion by Frank Pace
and seconded by Robert Ternay the board called a five minute recess. All were
in favor.
The meeting was reopened by
the Chairman.
Henry Daly, Professional
Engineer who prepared the plan for Daytop addressed the allowed uses in the
property location zone. He feels that a “use variance” is warranted because it
is a beneficial use to the community being similar to a hospital or medical
facility.
There being no further
comments and/or questions from the audience, the chairman closed the public
portion of the meeting.
The Planning Board
Solicitor Gary Salber instructed the board that six affirmative votes are
required and it must be the member’s opinion that the use will not be a
detriment to the zoning plan of Pittsgrove Township.
On a motion by Robert
Ternay and seconded by Frank Pace it was the board’s opinion that the facility
would be a betterment to the community and the use variance was granted.
Roll Call Vote: All were in
favor.
VICTORY ASSEMBLY OF GOD CHURCH – ROUTE 40, BLOCK 103, LOT 7
INFORMAL REVIEW
Due to the late hour a
motion was made by Frank Pace and seconded by Robert Ternay to allow Victory
Assembly twenty minutes for their informal review discussion with the board.
All were in favor.
Ross Livitski, Esquire
presented the site plan for discussion of the proposed parking and driveway.
Some board members were
concerned with the frontage setback of the building.
The Fire Marshall Charles
Hughes stated that the plan is currently being reviewed for fire safety
requirements.
CLIFTON HITCHNER – MINOR SUBDIVISION – WILLOW GROVE ROAD,
BLOCK 202, LOT 57 – LOT LINE ADJUSTMENT APPROVED 4/6/04
DAVID & JOYCE KRAMER - MINOR SUBDIVISION - PALATINE ROAD, BLOCK
1203, LOT 50 – ONE NEW LOT APPROVED 4/6/04
HARRY & ARLENE PADDEN –
RAINBOW CIRCLE, BLOCK 1512, LOT 75 – BULK VARIANCE GRANTED 4/6/04 FOR
ADDITION TO HOME THAT DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIRED SIDE YARD SETBACKS
WILLIAM SCHMIDT – ALMOND ROAD, BLOCK 1801, LOT 32 – BULK
VARIANCE GRANTED 4/6/04 FOR ADDITION TO HOME THAT DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIRED
SIDE YARD SETBACKS
The resolutions stated
above will be distributed to the Planning Board members for review and adoption
at the next regular Planning Board meeting.
REDESIGNATION OF LANDIS AVENUE - JIM SHUSTER, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE – Initial Discussion 2/3/04
It was noted that the committee is still attempting to obtain at least three proposals for the study.
PROPOSED ORDINANCE – SOIL PROTECTION DRAFT PREPARED BY HARRY DARE DISTRIBUTED 4/6/04 – Initial Discussion 2/3/04
To be continued at a later date.
ADOPT
A ROAD PROGRAM – ROAD ADOPTED 8/99 –LAST ROAD CLEANING WAS 3/28/04 – next
cleaning due 7/04 (four times a year)
No Business
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned on a motion by Peter Voros and seconded by Frank Pace. All were in favor.
______________________
Nancy L. Huster, Secretary