20221101 - Planning Board Public Meeting Minutes

Ridgewood Planning Board

Regular Public Meeting

November 1, 2022

The following minutes are a summary of the Planning Board meeting of November 1, 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 7:45 p.m.

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

Public Comments on Topics not Pending Before the Board –  Denise Lima, 319 E. Glen Avenue, commented that residents who have 6-foot fences are allowing them to deteriorate because if they replace them they are restricted to 4-foot fences. Ms. Lima suggested allowing residents with 6-foot fences be permitted to update in kind. Ms. Lima commented that she is seeing a lot of non-historical colors and lighting in the historic central business district.

Committee/Commission/Professional Updates for Non Agenda Topics – Mayor Knudsen commented that she saw photos from many years ago of colors, such as red and orange, downtown.  In regards to the lighting, Mayor Knudsen said that Council members are looking into what is permitted and what has been done.

Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church, 155 Linwood Avenue, Block 2003, Lot 8 – Preliminary and Final Site Plan – Resolution of approval – Board members asked about the landscape plan, which has not yet been submitted. Mr. Wellinghorst said that he discussed the matter with Mr. Russo and the landscape would be submitted soon. The Board suggested adding to the resolution that the landscape plan should be submitted within 30 days. Board members asked about the condition in the resolution which states that light shields be installed for all lighting in the parking lot, and Mr. Wellinghorst stated that Mr. Russo said the shielding would be on all lights. The Board discussed the wording of the condition. Board members asked about the requirement regarding the E-V charging stations. Mr. Wellinghorst said the law is unclear regarding that matter. The condition in the resolution will say that the church will do what is required by law regarding the E-V charging stations.

The resolution was memorialized with the revisions discussed.

Tasko Enterprises, LLC, 315 E. Glen Avenue, Block 3106, Lots 20.01 and 20.02 – Adoption of Revised Resolution – Mr. Wellinghorst went over the revisions to the resolution. Board members asked Ms. Lima if the plantings were compliant with what the resolution required. Ms. Lima said that planting has been done and is aesthetically better and that although the number of trees may not be there, there isn’t room for additional trees. Ms. Lima said that there are no sprinklers so some of the arborvitaes are dying. Ms. Lima commented that a row of trees is between the properties, but no fence as the resolution required.

The resolution was memorialized.

Resolution of adoption of the Village of Ridgewood Master Plan – Mayor Knudsen thanked everyone for their hard work on the Master Plan. The resolution was adopted.

Discussion re: Ordinance amending permitted signs in the HC (Highway Commercial) Zone – Mayor Knudsen said that John Barree will be working on the amended ordinance with the Village attorney and it will be reviewed by the Council before it comes back to the Board.

Denise Lima, 319 E. Glen Avenue, asked where she could find details on the ordinance and asked if the property at 225 Paramus Road, which is in the HC zone, would be permitted to use any lighting that is approved for the shopping center.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

                                                                                      Jane Wondergem

                                                                                      Board Secretary

Date Approved:               December 6, 2022