20220118 - Planning Board Public Meeting Minutes

 Ridgewood Planning Board

Regular Public Meeting

January 18, 2022

The following minutes are a summary of the Planning Board meeting of January 18, 2022. 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. Joel called the meeting to order at 7:49 p.m.

Roll Call – The following members were present: Mayor Knudsen, John Young, Councilwoman Reynolds Richard Joel, Dianne O’Brien, Frances Barto and Sergio Alegre. Also present were Stephen Wellinghorst, Esq., Board Attorney; Christopher Rutishauser, Village Engineer; Maryann Bucci-Carter, Village Planner and Jane Wondergem, Board Secretary. Debbie Patire, Melanie Hooban, Darlene Johnson and Igor Lyubarskiy were absent.

Public Comments on Topics not Pending Before the Board –  There were no comments at this time.

Committee/Commission/Professional Updates for Non Agenda Topics – Ms. O’Brien reported that the Historic Preservation Commission met and reviewed two proposed signs and a proposed awning for restaurants in the Central Business District. Ms. O’Brien said the Commission also discussed the Historic Preservation element of the Master Plan.

Mr. Joel announced that the Master Plan Phase 2 discussion will be held on February 15, and the hearing regarding the preliminary investigation for The Valley Hospital property will take place at the February 1 Planning Board meeting.

Tasko Enterprises, LLC, 315 E. Glen Avenue, Block 3106, Lots 20.01 and 20.02 – Adoption of Memorializing Resolution -  Mayor Knudsen asked to have a couple amendments made to the conditions of the resolution in regards to the easement agreement, specifying the timeline for the agreement to be executed and that the agreement should be reviewed by the Board in addition to the others listed in the resolution.

Mr. Wellinghorst said that he had discussed the progress of the easement agreement with the attorneys involved and that they are very close to completing it. Mr. Wellinghorst said that an easement agreement runs with the property.

Mayor Knudsen made a motion to adopt the resolution as amended, Ms. O’Brien seconded, and the resolution was memorialized.

Denise Lima, 319 E. Glen Avenue, asked to make comments on the resolution. Ms. Lima questioned the setback from the driveway easement, stating that she understood it should have been 50 feet from the easement.

Mayor Knudsen made a motion to reopen the resolution discussion, and the Board voted to reopen the matter.

The Board discussed the questions from Ms. Lima. Mr. Wellinghorst explained that the resolution did not change the variances granted in 2018. Ms. Lima expressed concerns about access and asked who she should go to with her concerns regarding the easement. Mr. Wellinghorst explained that the Planning Board does not enforce, but that she can reach out to Code Enforcement and the Police Department with any problems.

Mayor Knudsen asked that the time for an executed easement agreement be changed from 45 days from today to 25 days.

David Rutherford, Esq., counsel for Tasko Enterprises LLC, reported on the progress for the easement agreement.

The resolution was memorialized as amended.

Adoption of Minutes:   The minutes from January 4, 2022 were adopted as drafted.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

                                                                                      Jane Wondergem

                                                                                      Board Secretary

Date Approved:            February 1, 2022