December 4, 2013

asked if any consideration of something softer like a track. Mr. Piga said the surface would be paved; bicycles would be using the path. Mr. Weston said that it was a good plan, but said he was concerned with how the plan interfaced with the more natural areas of the Complex as it moved away from the Zoo area. Mr. Gurland asked if there would be lighting around the perimeter of the path, and if the railing would be around the entire perimeter of the path. Mr. Piga said that whatever lighting was already in place would be continued all around the pathway; he said the only railing would be along the dam and the bridge facing the landside of the bridge. Mr. Gurland asked if the railing had to be ADA compliant. Mr. Piga said it did not because the pathway did not meet the criteria for a handrail; the area was flat. Mr. Gurland asked if draining the reservoir was that part of the project. Mr. Piga said the reservoir was not being drained; it was a natural occurrence due to current drought conditions. Mr. Eben inquired if Mr. Piga knew how many additional people would be attracted to the project. Mr. Piga said the project was not so much a new attraction; he did not believe it would increase usage to more than just those persons currently using the pathway. The purpose of the project was to make safety improvements to the area. Currently people were gaing down the 70-ft ditch in to the spillway area. Mr. Eben opined that the improvements would attract a greater number of people than just those currently using the area; he asked where people would be parking to use the area because parking was already an issue. Mr. Piga said the existing parking would be utilized; there was parking near the Zoo, Mc Loone’s parking lot, plus the area across the street from the paddleboat attraction. Referring to the (Acting Township) Planner’s Report dated November 22, 2013, Mr. Eben said that it appeared that parking was not being considered; he opined that he loved the project but was concerned about parking issues. Mr. Taraschi advised the Board that the County Executive was present and could answer questions regarding parking concerns. Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr., Essex County Executive was sworn in and accepted as an expert witness. Mr. DiVincenzo said that the County wanted to bring thousands of people to the area, not just to the Zoo and the Arena. He said the County was

Executive was sworn in and accepted as an expert witness. Mr. DiVincenzo said that the County wanted to bring thousands of people to the area, not just to the Zoo and the Arena. He said the County was currently in the midst of building a new Education Center for young people; the buses dropping off those students would be parking in the parking lot in the area of the paddleboat attraction; a new 600-car parking deck was planned to be built behind the Codey Arena. An architect was currently preparing the plans and the project would be presented to the Board in the near future. The Education Center would be completed in June 2014; the garage would be built in September 2014. Mr. Eben said he had a question about soil erosion control; he said there was no reference on the plans. Mr. Piga said the Applicant had already gotten approval (from the State), for the soil erosion control; he said the plans that Mr. Eben had were just conceptual. Mr. Eben asked if there were going to be any emergency call boxes; Mr. Piga said there were currently no plans for call boxes. Referring to the railing on the bridge, Mr. Eben wanted to know what the spacing was between the two-by-two horizontal rail. Mr. Piga said he believed the spacing was in the three (3) inch range. Mr. Eben asked if the proposed County Logo signage on the bridges would be the only signage; he asked if there would be a whole lot of banners on the bridges. He opined that the current banners on the fences were excessive and uncalled for; he questioned whether the County applied for sign permits before banners were installed. NAPLANNING.BRD\WP\MINUTES(2013\12-4-13 Draft Minutes. doc 4