Minutes: February 10, 2021

Call to Order

Meeting was called to order by Chairman Theobald at 7:00 p.m. Meeting held via Zoom Webinar.

Statement of Compliance

Pursuant to the Open Public Meetings Act, adequate notice of this regular meeting has been provided to the public and the press on January 18, 2021 by delivering to the press such notice and posting same at the municipal building.

Record reflects that Mr. Spoerl and Council Member Auberger advised the board of their absence.

Attorney Kienz administered the oath of office to Cory Stoner, PE as the Vernon Township land use board licensed engineer for calendar year 2021.

Public Participation

Chairman Theobald opened the meeting to the public.

Seeing no one wishing to comment, Chairman Theobald closed the meeting to the public.

Land Use Board Discussion Items (Action May or May Not Be Taken)

An Ordinance Amending Article XII Stormwater Management of the Township of Vernon Code

Board engineer Stoner explained the proposed ordinance is an amendment to the existing Stormwater Management Ordinance located in section 330 of the township code. The purpose is to update the Vernon Township code to current NJDEP standards and requirements. He added one major change includes a section on green infrastructure while not mandatory is suggested by NJDEP to increase water naturally back into the ground. Mr. Stoner noted the change may be more difficult for new development but is consistent with the master plan to promote environmental sensitivities. Board planner Caldwell agreed that the proposed ordinance is consistent with the township master plan.

Motion: Motion that the proposed stormwater ordinance is consistent with the master plan and the land use board recommends town council to move forward was made by Ms. Cocula and was seconded by Ms. Wexler.

ROLL CALL: WEXLER: Y; MCPEEK: Y: COCULA: Y; WHITAKER: Y; RAPERTO: Y; MITCHELL: Y; TADRICK: Y; VIZZINI: Y; THEOBALD: Y.
Motion passed.

Town Center Redevelopment Plan

Board planner Caldwell stated the board received the Town Center Redevelopment Plan for review dated January 28, 2021 which includes 172 tax lots. She added the review is to create a town center area which is consistent with the master plan as well as the state approved town center plan.

Ms. Caldwell explained the permitted uses including retail, commercial, micro-brewery, outdoor dining, theater, amphitheater as well as temporary outdoor activities. She further explained the map includes an overlay zone showing the light industrial zone within the town center. Ms. Caldwell detailed the plan’s standards for parking, landscape design, architecture, lighting, signage and green building. Ms. Caldwell explained that any deviations to the plan requested by a developer can be handled through a C or bulk variance by the land use board. She added that any changes in uses or expansion of non-conforming uses not permitted in the town center must be brought before the township council for approval.

Ms. Caldwell recommended the land use board refer the Town Center Redevelopment Plan to the township council for consideration of Introduction. Mr. Stoner confirmed that one parcel in the town center is excluded from this plan. Ms. Caldwell confirmed the RT 515 parcel is included in its own redevelopment plan. Mr. Whitaker noted the table of contents needs to be updated as pages do not coincide. Ms. Caldwell stated she will make the corrections to update the page numbers.

Board discussed and approved the addition of verbiage to specify lighting color and intensity for consistency in town center area.

Chairman Theobald opened the meeting to the public. Seeing no one from the public wishing to comment, Chairman Theobald closed the meeting to the public.

Motion: Motion was made by Mr. Whitaker to recommend Town Center Redevelopment Plan with recommended changes to the town council and was seconded by Ms. Cocula.

ROLL CALL: WEXLER: Y; MCPEEK: Y: COCULA: Y; WHITAKER: Y; RAPERTO: Y; MITCHELL: Y; TADRICK: Y; VIZZINI: Y; THEOBALD: Y.
Motion passed.

Minutes

January 13, 2021: Regular Meeting Minutes (Wexler, Williams, Auberger, Spoerl, McPeek, Cocula, Whitaker, Raperto, Theobald)

Motion: Motion was made by Ms. Wexler to approve regular minutes of January 13, 2021 and was seconded by Mr. McPeek.

ROLL CALL: WEXLER: Y; MCPEEK: Y: COCULA: Y; WHITAKER: Y; RAPERTO: Y; THEOBALD: Y.
Motion passed.

Appendix A: Escrows, Board Fees, Bond Reductions and Escrow Closures

1. Board Fees
   1. Board Attorney: Glenn Kienz, Weiner Law Group LLP
      1. 1. Board Attorney - Glenn Kienz, Weiner Law Group LLP
      2. Land Use Board Business - Services through 12/23/20 ($352.00)
      3. Aqua New Jersey - LU# 7-17-3 - Services through 12/9/20 ($192.00)
      4. Farm 94, LLC - LU# 9-20-6 - Services through 12/11/20 ($80.00)
   2. Board Planner: Jessica Caldwell, J. Caldwell & Associates
      1. Land Use Board Business - Services through 12/22/20 ($1,355.00)
      2. Land Use Board Business - Services through 12/28/20 ($4,625.00)
      3. Diamond Comm. LLC - LU# 10-18-7 - Services through 12/18/20 ($1,000.00)
      4. 515 Vernon Property LLC - LU# 7-20-4 - Services through 12/08/20 ($937.50)
   3. Board Engineer: Cory Stoner, Harold E. Pellow & Associates
      1. Land Use Board Business - Services through 10/6/20 ($202.40)
   4. Board Recording Secretary: Irene Mills ($75.00)

Motion: Motion was made by Ms. Cocula to approve the Board fees and was seconded by Ms. Wexler. All members were in favor. Motion passed.

2. Request for Escrows to Be Closed
   1. LU# 2-19-2 - Viviana Florea - Block 557, Lot 3 - Minor Subdivision with Variances ($518.00)
   2. LU# 6-19-7 - SIX Sigma Inv. Group LLC - Block 410, Lot 1 - Minor Subdivision ($684.55)
   3. LU# 7-15-9 - Sandra Kreutzer - Block 559, Lot 4 - Bulk Variances for an Addition (283.50)

Motion: Motion was made by Mr. McPeek to approve the request for escrows to be closed and was seconded by Mr. Whitaker. All members were in favor. Motion passed.

Ms. Cocula thanked Ms. Caldwell and Mr. Stoner for their informative presentations.

Adjournment

There being no further items of business to be conducted on the agenda, a motion was made by Mr. McPeek and was seconded by Ms. Cocula. All members were in favor. Meeting adjourned at 7:37 pm.

Respectfully Submitted
Irene Mills, Recording Secretary