Minutes · Sep 5, 2018
September 5, 2018
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The following members of the Public approached the podium to question Mr. French: Joyce Rudin, Woodland Avenue, West Orange, NJ Robert Rashkes, 35 Oak Crest Road, West Orange, NJ Dennis Percher, Maplewood, NJ Sally Malanga, 57 Ridge Road, West Orange, NJ Judy Rosenthal, Millburn, NJ Chairman Bagoff asked the Public if they had comments on the Application. The following members of the Public approached the podium and were sworn in under oath: Judy Rosenthal, Millburn, NJ Harvey Grossman, Esq., Public Advocate Robert Rashkes, 35 Oak Crest Road, West Orange, NJ Dennis Percher, Maplewood, NJ Sally Malanga, 57 Ridge Road, West Orange, NJ Joyce Rudin, Woodland Avenue, West Orange, NJ There were no further comments from the Public. Chairman Bagoff closed the public hearing; the Board deliberated. Chairman Bagoff recommended the Memorandum from Deputy Fire Chief Kingston dated August 10, 2018, be included in its entirely as a recommendation to the County. Vice Chairman Weston requested the Board restate its past recommendation that the County provide an updated Zoo Master Plan and Traffic Study prior to any further expansion at the Zoo. He recommended the County provide a Traffic Management Plan per Mr. Klein’s suggestion. He suggested the County look for natural planting alternatives to the screening of the west wall of the parking structure. Vice Chairman Weston stated that the County presented the applications for Courtesy Review; if the Board did not hear the applications, the Township would have no input; he acknowledged the County did implement many of the Board’s recommendations. He stated the Zoo complex was a major asset to the community; however, he recognized the area was at a near tipping point with all the exhibits, amusements, and traffic. Chairman Bagoff recommended the County submit a landscaping plan that identified the tree species for removal and species to be replanted. 12
Council President McCartney stated she saw an immediate need to address the traffic going east and west on Northfield Avenue. She stated there was a need for a Traffic Impact Study. She stated she had requested better signed during previous hearings. She stated that as part of the traffic management plan, signage was a necessity at the new intersection. She requested repairing the streetlight at the Education Center. She requested the installation of the emergency blue light buttons as with previous applications. Captain Keigher recommended a Traffic Management Plan be implemented working with the County Sheriff’s Department and the West Orange Police Department. He recommended the County provide the West Orange Police Department their Emergency Management Plan. Recommendations: 1. Applicant should complete and submit a Master Plan for the Turtle Back Zoo before making any more capital improvements. Applicant should incorporate Complete Streets Planning policy which has been adopted by both the County of Essex and by the Township of West Orange into the Turtle Back Zoo Master Plan and all future improvements; 2. Applicant should complete and submit a Traffic Study for the Turtle Back Zoo including appropriate signage before making any more capital improvements to the Zoo property. 3. Provide a Traffic Management Plan which explains how traffic will be managed on heavy use days. 4. The western façade of the new parking garage should be covered with a natural “green” wall or other sustainable screening to visually buffer the garage from the reservoir area, rather than the proposed mesh. 5. Repair the street traffic light at the Zoo entrance. 6. Provide a Landscaping Plan which should include a tree removal/tree replacement plan. Tree replacement should be with trees having similar or greater DBH than trees being removed. 7. Comply with all of the comments of the West Orange Fire Department in its memo by Deputy Chief Fred Kingston dated August 10, 2018. 8. Install blue-light emergency station in or near the new parking deck. 9. Work with the West Orange Police Department in
by Deputy Chief Fred Kingston dated August 10, 2018. 8. Install blue-light emergency station in or near the new parking deck. 9. Work with the West Orange Police Department in handling traffic issues along the Northfield Avenue corridor. 10. Utilize pervious pavers or other approaches to reducing stormwater drainage for all improvements on the Zoo property. The Board voted on Application PB-18-06C as follows: Motion: Chairman Bagoff Second: Vice Chairman Weston Cardoza: Yes Trenk: Yes Keigher: Yes Wegner: Absent Klein: Yes Weston: Yes 13
McCartney: Yes Wilkes: Yes McPherson: Yes Bagoff: Yes The Board voted on Application PB-18-07C as follows: Motion: Vice Chairman Weston Second: Chairman Bagoff Cardoza: Yes Trenk: Yes Keigher: Yes Wegner: Absent Klein: Yes Weston: Yes McCartney: Yes Wilkes: Yes McPherson: Yes Bagoff: Yes Chairman Bagoff announced the discussion on the Master Plan Reexamination would be carried to the next regular meeting. MEETING ADJOURNED at approximately 11:06 P.M. Minutes adopted February 6, 2019. a — C Robin Miller, Secretary Township of West Orange Planning Board THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING BOARD WILL BE WEDNESDAY MARCH 6, 2019 AT 7:30 P.M. IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER. 14
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- Sep 29, 2026
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