Planning Board Special Public Meeting Minutes 20162305

The following minutes are a summary of the Planning Board meeting of May 23, 2016. Interested parties may request an audio recording of the meeting from the Board Secretary for a fee.

Call to Order & Statement of Compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act: Mr. Nalbantian called the meeting to order at 7:50 p.m. The following members were present: Mr. Nalbantian, Mayor Aronsohn, Councilwoman Knudsen, Mr. Thurston, and Ms. Dockray. Also present were: Katie Razin, Esq., Blais Brancheau, Village Planner; and Board Secretary Michael Cafarelli. Ms. Bigos, Mr. Reilly, Ms. Patire, Ms. Altano, Mr. Joel, Mr. Abdalla, Gail Price, Esq., Board Attorney, and Christopher Rutishauser, Village Engineer were not present.

Public Comments on Topics not Pending Before the Board – No one came forward.

Preparation of Housing Element/Fair Share Plan (Continued Discussion) – Mr. Brancheau discussed the reexamination report. Board members questioned rezoning the parcel of land on route 17 east and include sound barriers. Barriers erected in Allendale, Saddle River and Normandy Court in Ho Ho Kus was cited. Mr. Brancheau agreed that some type of sound barrier would be appropriate however; he is concerned about the cost. Mr. Brancheau discussed the spending plan process and the need to identify special needs projects. Mayor Aronsohn said the Council might want to erect sound barriers near the Schedler property.

Board members continued the discussion about building on Route 17 and asked if they had to be specific or could they make a general statement regarding a sound study and what was a reasonable height. Mr. Brancheau said this was a possibility and twelve or fifteen feet was a reasonable height. Ms. Razin said there are different hours when noise needed to be dampened if near a commercial zone. She said the noise level is different for commercial and residential property.

Board members discussed the language Mr. Brancheau would use in finalizing his housing plan report on sound barriers. Board members wanted property that was not diminished in value and that creates a desirable environment in Ridgewood so the Village has a complex that people will want to live in. Some Members said the area is not a desirable location.

Mr. Brancheau said he updated his plans on open space because the land has changed. He said the Village must reserve certain amount of open space to be excluded from the vacant land to be developed. He said he has not been able to confirm or deny whether the Village is near the limit. He discussed the rules and said he does not have enough information that the Village can reserve additional open space beyond what the Village already has because some of the information is not available. Board members asked if there is additional open space and Mr. Brancheau said there is some.

Board members asked if potential lawsuits could affect the Planning Boards decision. Ms. Razin said the Planning Board needs to move forward and not consider the possibly impact of a lawsuit until the she hears otherwise.

Adjournment - The meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

                                                                                                Michael Cafarelli

                                                                                                Board Secretary

Date approved: June 20, 2017