20211005 - Planning Board Public Meeting Minutes

Ridgewood Planning Board

Regular Public Meeting

                                                                                                                                          October 5, 2021

 

The following minutes are a summary of the Planning Board meeting of October 5, 2021. 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, Councilwoman Reynolds, Richard Joel, Dianne O’Brien, Melanie Hooban, Darlene Johnson, Igor Lyubarskiy and Sergio Alegre. Also present were Stephen Wellinghorst, Esq., Board Attorney; Chris Rutishauser, Village Engineer; Maryann Bucci-Carter, Village Planner and Jane Wondergem, Board Secretary. Chief Van Goor, Debbie Patire and Fran Barto 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 – There were no comments or updates at this time.

 

Tasko Enterprises, LLC, 315 E. Glen Avenue, Block 3106, Lots 20.01 and 20.02 – Application for Amended Major Subdivision approval, related variances and proposed easement. (Carried from September 7, 2021 without further notice and without prejudice to the Board) David Rutherford, Esq., was present with the applicant. Mr. Rutherford referred to his letter to the Board dated August 8, 2021, stating their position on the issues of the demolition of the dwelling on lot 20.01. Mr. Rutherford said he spoke with Mr. Marc Leibman, who represents Ms. Lima, regarding the easement.

 

Tibor Latincsics, previously sworn, displayed and testified in regards to prior exhibits showing the proposed location for the new dwelling for lot 20.01.

 

Denise Lima asked about the easement and Mr. Latincsics explained and showed the easement on the plot plan.

 

Board members asked about the setback of the dwelling on lot 20.01. Mr. Latincsics said it would be set back 60 feet at the applicant’s instruction. Board members asked about relocation the garage to the rear of the house. After further discussion between the Board members and the applicant, the applicant agreed to have the house on lot 20.01 setback 45 feet and make the garage a side-loading garage.

 

Ms. Lima asked that the application have conditional approval until the easement is done.

 

Ms. Bucci-Carter asked about the fencing for both lots and that it be shown in the final drawings. Ms. Bucci-Carter suggested that anything agreed to should be listed as a condition in the resolution.

 

Mary Lou Posten, 418 Sterling Place, asked about the split rail fence which was to be at the end of the new driveway. Mr. Latincsics showed that it was on the plan. 

 

The hearing was carried to November 2, 2021, at which time the resolution would be ready.

 

Public Hearing re: preliminary investigation for The Valley Hospital property, Block 3301, Lot 51, as area in need of redevelopment and/or rehabilitation. Beth McManus, Village Planner handling Affordable Housing and the Valley Hospital site, was present and asked the public hearing be carried to November 2, 2021, without further notice.

 

Ms. McManus stated that there are 2 procedures moving forward at this time: 1) The Village needs to meet its obligation under the 2016 litigation of the Court decision in regard to the Valley Hospital and 2) the Village needs to meet its obligation to take certain actions in regard to affordable housing based upon its settlement agreement with Fair Share Housing Center.

 

Ms. McManus said that regarding The Valley Hospital, the Court required that the Village rezone the H-Zone District to ensure that the existing facility is compliant with zoning. Ms. McManus crafted an ordinance to present to the Council for discussion and will be reviewed by the Board on October 19. The Hospital requested that the H-Zone ordinance be reviewed prior to the preliminary investigation, enabling the Village to work with The Valley Hospital on the process. Ms. McManus and Mayor Knudsen went over the time line.

 

Ms. McManus further explained the process of and reasoning behind the redevelopment process and said the Village is obligated to designate the site as an area in need of redevelopment and to adopt a redevelopment plan which would provide for affordable housing on the property.

 

Ms. Bucci-Carter clarified the process of identifying an area in need of redevelopment and asked for a copy of the settlement being referred to and asked for clarification of the amendment of the H-Zone ordinance.

 

Ms. McManus explained that the two settlement agreements that require the Village to take two separate actions which can’t be combined or altered and the time constraint.

 

Board members had questions about the two settlements and the Board’s part. Ms. McManus gave a brief history of The Valley Hospital hearings and Mayor Knudsen explained that everyone was represented in the settlement discussion and that what was discussed tonight was the outcome.

 

Ms. Bucci-Carter commented on 2 different ways to adopt a redevelopment plan. Ms. McManus explained the court decision and there was discussion regarding the process and the settlements. Mr. Wellinghorst explained why a temporary H-Zone would not be appropriate in this situation.

 

Jonathan Drill, Esq., present on behalf of The Valley Hospital, said he would email the documents to Ms. Bucci-Carter and briefly spoke of the court orders.

 

Discussion re proposed Ordinance to amend Chapter 190 of the Village Code authorizing and encouraging EVSE, Make-Ready parking spaces and establishing standards for design and implementation. Ms. Bucci-Carter explained that the proposed ordinance regarding electric vehicle parking came about because of State legislature and a model ordinance was provided specifying the mandatory requirements. Ms. Bucci-Carter explained the particulars of the proposed ordinance and some of the issues that could come from it, such as if electric vehicles are in an E-V space, they must be connected and how it would be enforced. Ms. Bucci-Carter said the ordinance would have its own chapter in the Village Code.

 

Board members asked about the cost of installing the equipment for the spaces. Mr. Rutishauser said it would depend on the wiring and the type of charger used. Board members asked if the town, or the property owners, could charge for the spaces. Ms. Bucci-Carter said they could charge, but the amount could not be dictated, but the prices must be on a sign.

 

Adoption of Minutes:   The minutes from September 7, 2021 and September 21, 2021 were adopted as drafted.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 10:01 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

                                                                                      Jane Wondergem

                                                                                      Board Secretary

 

Date Approved:            October 19, 2021