Planning Board Minutes July 7, 2015

The following minutes are a summary of the Planning Board meeting of July 7, 2015. 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: Mayor Aronsohn called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Following members were present: Mayor Aronsohn, Charles Nalbantian, Nancy Bigos, Susan Knudsen, Richard Joel, David Thurston, Isabella Altano, and Khidir Abdalla. Ms. Peters and Mr. Reilly were not present.

Reorganization – Administration of Oaths of Office to New Members and/or Reappointments – Ms. Price administered the oaths of office to Mayor Aronsohn, Class I Member; Nancy Bigos, Class II Member; Susan Knudsen, Class III Member; Richard Joel, Class IV Member; Ms. Peters, Class IV Member; Kevin Reilly, Class IV Member; David Thurston, Class IV Member; Isabella Altano, Alternate #1 Member and Khidir Abdalla, Alternate #2 Member.

Roll Call – The following members were present Mayor Aronsohn, Ms. Bigos, Mr. Nalbantian, Councilwoman Knudsen, Ms. Altano, Mr. Thurston, and Mr. Joel, Ms. Dockray, Also present were: Gail Price, Esq., Board Attorney; Blais Brancheau, Village Planner; and Michael Cafarelli, Board Secretary. Mr. Reilly and Ms. Peters were not present.

Resolution appointing Gail Price, Esq. as Board Attorney for July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016 – The resolution was adopted.

Nominations for election of Chairman – Charles Nalbantian was nominated and elected as Chairman.

Nominations for election of Vice Chairman – Richard Joel was nominated and elected as Vice Chairman.

Appointments to the Site Plan Review Committee – Mr. Joel, Ms. Bigos and Mr. Thurston were appointed to this committee.

Appointment to the Site Plan Exemption Committee – Mayor Aronsohn was appointed as the Planning Board member on this committee.

Appointments of Master Plan Reexamination Committee – Councilwoman Knudsen, Mr. Reilly, and Ms. Peters were appointed to this committee.

Appointment to the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) – Ms. Altano will be the liaison to the HPC.

Appointment to the Open Space Committee – Ms. Dockray will be the liaison to this committee.

Resolution of Adoption in the Matter of Compliance with the Requirements of the Open Public Meetings Act, Items A-H as attached hereto for the year beginning July 7, 2015, through June 30, 2016 – The resolution was adopted.

The Reorganization Meeting was adjourned.     

Chairman Nalbantian called the regular Planning Board meeting to order. The following members were present: Mayor Aronsohn, Mr. Nalbantian, Ms. Bigos, Councilwoman Knudsen, Mr. Joel, Ms. Dockray, Mr. Thurston, Ms. Altano, and Mr. Abdalla. Also present were: Gail Price, Esq., Board Attorney, Blais Brancheau, Village Planner; Christopher Rutishauser, Village Engineer; and Michael Cafarelli, Board Secretary. Mr. Reilly and Ms. Peters were absent.

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

Correspondence received by the Board – Michael Cafarelli reported there was none. Mr. Rutishauser and Ms. Price discussed letters received from Onyx, K & S, Toll Brothers, Avalon Bay, and Mr. Bruinooge asking to receive official notice. Ms. Price said the letters were perfunctory.

Village of Ridgewood Sustainable New Jersey Certification Plans – Mr. Rutishauser discussed the work the Green Team is doing to get the Village certified. He said the Planning Board should consider including it in the Master Plan. Mr. Rutishauser said he would like the Board to consider maintaining the canopy cover provided by the trees in town as the Village's trees took a toll during Hurricane Sandy.   

There was a discussion about working with PSE & G to use certain techniques to trim trees without injuring them. Mr. Rutishauser said he would ask PSE & G to send a representative to a Planning Board meeting and Board members thought it made sense to have a dialogue with them.

Board members asked about the bike lanes on Garber Square, if the lanes would be extended, if it were safe to ride a bicycle in the downtown area, consider lowering the traffic speed to seven to 15 miles per hour, and if there would be a provision for bike racks.

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Approval of minutes from – June 16, 2014 and June 17, 2014.The minutes were adopted as drafted.

Executive Session – At 8:36 p.m., the Board moved to executive session.

The Board reconvened and adjourned at 9:13 p.m.

                                                                                                Respectfully submitted,

                                                                                                Michael Cafarelli

                                                                                                Board Secretary

Date approved: June 21, 2016