May 5, 2021 Adopted Planning Board Minutes

TOWNSHIP OF WEST ORANGE PLANNING BOARD MEETING MEETING MINUTES May 5, 2021 The Township of West Orange Planning Board held its’ regular meeting May 5, 2021 at 7:30PM via virtual ZOOM videoconference. ‘Chairman Bagoff called the meeting to order at approximately 7:32 PM. He announced that notification of the meeting was given to the Township Clerk, and posted on the Township Bulletin Board, sent to the West Orange Chronicle and the Star Ledger, and posted on the Township's website calendar. This meeting has been properly noticed to the public in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act. No new matters will start after 10:30 P.M. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE - Chairman Bagoff requested all persons stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. ANNOUNCEMENTS - The next Planning Board regular mecting will be held Wednesday June 2, 2021 at 7:30 P.M. ROLL CALL Present: Dr. Robert Bagoff; Mr. Jerry Guarino; Councilwoman Susan McCartney; Mr. Lee Klein; Mr. John McNair; Mr. Peter Smeraldo, Jr; Mr. William Wilkes Absent: Mr. Andrew Trenk Also Present: Kenneth D. McPherson III, Esq., Attorney; Diana Chandler, (Proxy for Sean McCauley), Planning Board Secretary SWEARING IN: Mr. McPherson swore in Mr. John Hess (Town Engineer) and Mr. Paul Grygiel (Town Planner) Stevens Institute of Technology Presentation - Students (Greg Wu, Gabriel Almanza Nazarin, Nazrin Akther) introduced by Councilwoman Susan McCartney presented a “Sustainability Project” where Gabriel Almanza Nazarin said that the purpose is for West Orange to be put on the route to long term economic resiliency. - Chairman Bagoff asked Mr. Paul Grygiel to put together a review based on this presentation.

RESOLUTIONS -PB-19-09- 732 Eagle Rock Ave LLC (Modification of Condition of Approval) Motion: R. Bagoff Second: J. Guarino ADOPTED Bagoff: Smeraldo: Y Guarino: Y Y Trenk: Johnson: Wilkes: Klein: McCartney: YY McNair: 4 -PB-20-03- The Alpert Group LLC- (Variance and Preliminary and Final Major Site Plan Approval with Conditions) Motion: R. Bagoff Second: J. Guarino ADOPTED Bagoff: Y ¥ Smeraldo: Y¥ Guarino: Trenk: Johnson: Y Wilkes: Klein: Y McCartney: — Y McNair: Y -PB-21-03-Green Essex Partners Urban Retiewal LLC (Preliminary and final major site plan approval with Conditions) Motion: R. Bagoff Second: S.McCartney ADOPTED Bayoff: Y Simeraldo: Y Guatiho: Y Trenk: Johnson: Wilkes: Klein: Y McCartney: Y McNair: Y Discussion to Amend Rules & Regulations: Chairman Bagofff said that it is something that has been added to resolutions as a pro forma for a number of years. After speaking with Mr. McPherson, wanted to make sure this is adopted and added to all conditions as opposed to taking time and reading it into the record/put at the resolution as the latter is always sent to the applicant. If at any time an applicant disagrees with any of these conditions, they can bring it before the board for discussion. But the conditions are basic and make sense in applications.

Motion: R. Bagoff Second: J. Guarino APPROVED Bagoff: Y Smeraldo: Y Guarino: Y Trenk: Johnson: Wilkes: Y Klein: ¥ McCartney: —Y McNair: Y PB -21-04/ Tompkins Street Apartments Urban Renewal LLC Block: 6; Lot 36.01; Zone R-M Tompkins Street Seeking a C1 and C2 Variance -Mr. William Sullivan entered on the record for the applicant. -The first thing clarified is the address which this property doesn't have a street address. It's a vacant lot that's owned by the Township and he applicant is under contract to purchase in order to develop affordable housing. The proposal is to construct 17 low and moderate income apartments in a three story building and this project is connected with 18 Central Ave, so the applicant is seeking site plan approval and five bulk variances building height building coverage, lot coverage rear set back an onsite parking and after appearing before the Advisory Board, revisions were made to some of the plans to address those comments, and correcting the address was one of them. - Mr. David Erickson, was sworn in by Mr. McPherson and accepted as an Engineer. Testimony began in explain that currently this is a vacant lot measuring .34 acres in size in the RM zone, as Mr. Sullivan stated in connection with the Mixed Use Project approved by the board last month for 8:10. 18 Central Ave, with accessing parking on little screen as well as close proximity with the Highland Ave train station and to the Valley Rd Commercial Party. That which has shops, restaurants in the Luna State. Township our client is under contract. Purchased a lot from the Township. - Mr. Hess the board engineer had a comment on page three of his report (dated. April 29, 2021) about the spaces in the area closest to Mitchell St are striped for compacts. Mr. Erickson said that this building does not have a compact problem with simply reassigned. Differetit spaces events where they can park their part because we have when we don't have the Central Ave plan in front of us. There are 27 spaces in the area closest to the exit onto Mitchell St and then additional parking spaces that are further to the West kind of behind the houses on Metro Street, right? Outbreak and part of the Central Ave plan includes not just the 17 spaces reserved for the order. Remember this but not this add not just the 17 space is reserved for. This property, but also 22 spaces that are reserved

f the Central Ave plan includes not just the 17 spaces reserved for the order. Remember this but not this add not just the 17 space is reserved for. This property, but also 22 spaces that are reserved for public parking. Mr. Hess also asked about can applicant designate a handicapped accessible space on the street and as a condition of approval. Which the applicant is certainly willing to approach the Township Council to obtain that designation.

- Inregard to lighting and the proposed lighting, the foot-candle limit that has been established by the ordinance. On the side of the building, which is adjacent to residential, you can see that the .5 exceed that the little bit over one. So the plan is to put shields on the wall mounted light fixtures. On North side. Side with a townhouse development and where we experience is in the parking area, so we would like to request this week as they are because it will also help with enjoying properties to provide safety in that part in there with a shield on light as well for the limit for light. -In regards to the landscape plan, there are foundation plantings along the side of the building North side of the building. As I stated before, this entire property is too rounded by 6, with the vinyl fence so they will be resizing the building. The lighting won’t be visible from any of the neighbors? Because this is an affordable housing project, and trying to limit the amount of maintenance and cost which is why there is a fence up on one of the recommendations within the add trees and it in the North West corner in the Southwest corner. There is room to see previous that if those two trees are added that would be the limit of leadership. Any species put in there will be using native and or well adapted species through the variances requesting related to testimony, the maximum building coverage allowed is 40% and applicant is proposing 45.3% and the maximurn block coverage for 55% maximum was allowed where this application is at 57.9 for the building problems with that applicant is required to have 17 units in this building. Rather than having side yard guarantee, it may be better deployed with the side yard setback so that isn’t an impact. But the minimum size of the building, the minimum size of unit for 17 units requires to have a building this size and causing the building. It’s really not a significant change only 5% over and then the rock property of only 2.9% over. It's more of a safety activities with the problem than anything else with the rear set back that the minimum under the ordinance being 30 feet. BOARD QUESTIONS -Mr. Jerry Guarino asked about the waste removal from this property, but will this be a private contractor or municipal waste? Mr. Erickson deferted to the architect. -Vice Chairman, Wilkes asked about the ability to walk through the

waste removal from this property, but will this be a private contractor or municipal waste? Mr. Erickson deferted to the architect. -Vice Chairman, Wilkes asked about the ability to walk through the building and other entrance. Mr. Erickson answered that he’s very familiar with the outside areas of the building. The architect should be able to answer that question for you about the inside of building. All those entrances will reqtiire keep the cost to get into the building then deferred to the architect. -Councilwoman McCartney asked about the handicapped parking spaces. She then opined to say that she thinks before approaching the Council about designating a new space, can we find out it theories already a space on Tompkins St that is designated parking will be tight. Well, they're saying that they have enough parking. Off site for this site, the only thing we need is for handicap. So if there's two handicapped people in the building, they'll have to apply for two on street handicap spaces, and my question was, is there one already there? Mr. Erickson said that he doesn’t know. Again, that would be for anybody on Tompkins and doesn’t know whether the planner who did this survey will know the answer to that or not either. Councilwoman also asked

about the bikes storing the bikes indoors. Where Mr. Erickson responded that is also another architect question. OK, thank you. -Chairman Bagoff asked, if the bike racks are being put outside, will that increase the impervious coverage? Mr. Erickson answered that it’s a gravel path to access it and gravel bike rack will be used. PUBLIC QUESTIONS/COMMENT. -Ms. Gayle Benson (20 Tompkins Street) asked about parking spaces being approved for all or just residents on Tompkins Street. Mr. Erickson answered that there is sufficient parking in addition to those spaces for the residents of the new building on Central Ave. Those spaces are not needed for the residents on Central Ave. -Ms. Isabella Freeman (716 Northfield Avenue) Quick question, because New Jersey State is moving to stop sales of gas powered vehicles by 2035 that is provision. Is there electric start charging station plan for this 17 unit property? Mr. Erickson testified that there is an agreement to a charging station. Can state that for the record, the Board will remember that that was a condition of approval. If more people have electric cars, they would go to the management and request more electric charging stations in management to make this occur. -Ms. Carolyn Verderamo (10 Tompkins Street) t have several questions. Alright? What is the standard for number of parking spaces in an apattment building? That current property? Planners have to have. If there are 17 units, I'm on the ithpression should be 35. It, can we please defer that to the planner? We're gonna hear about that. We're gonna have a lot of planning. A parking testimony, just not by this witness. OK, well then I have a question on. The back lite the set back in the back whete the property owned the property people. The apartment dwellets going to store. They're garbage on a daily basis. If you only have 13 and a half feet. Mr. Erickson. Do you know where the garbage storage is or is that for the architect? Mr. Erickson responded that the trash area will be next to the building, not only on a concrete pad with a 6 foot high vinyl fence along with entire property line. NO FURTHER QUESTIONS -Mr. Erickson testimony concluded. -Ms. Mary Johannesen entered on the record, was swort in by Mr. McPherson anid was accepted as an expert in the field of architecture and began her testimony. The building contains 17 apartments, 3 one

Ms. Mary Johannesen entered on the record, was swort in by Mr. McPherson anid was accepted as an expert in the field of architecture and began her testimony. The building contains 17 apartments, 3 one bedroom. 10 two bedroom and four three bedroom. The apartments will be sized in accordance with the Uniform Housing affordability controls and in compliance with the Affordable Housiig agreement in place for this propetty. The building consists of 17 apartments plus a small area for the leasing management Office. There are two main entrances for the building. The front entrance you see here, which leads you into this small car door with stair one that serves 5 apartments in the front of the building. Including the management office, which is just to the left as you see here. There's a sidewalk that extends along the North side of the

building to the second resident entrance that leads you to this stair Carter, where there are 12 apartments. The North side is the primary main entrance. There is another door connecting leading to the South yard. And that is there so residents can take their trash out and bring it and put it in the trash cans that were previously discussed just to the left of the building that will be enclosed by the fence along the front and the left side or the South side of the property. -In regards to the elevations and facade materials which are indicative of the elevations on all four sides of the building. The building consists of brick around the base of the building with horizontal siding, single hung windows, all very residential in design with a sloped roof and asphalt shingles. From the front entrance, there are two steps up, as well as an ADA compliant ramp to the front door which forms a small covered front porch. On the North or East side of the residence is the 2nd entrance shown which once again is a covered entrance for the residents to utilize. Both entrances will be ADA compliant. There will be 188 fully accessible unit in the building on the Ist floor. - Ms. Johannesen confirmed that all residents’ belongings will all be contained within their apartments. Theh went through the sustainability checklist and the commitments that making to make this building sustainable. Sustainability features include Energy Star labeled kitchen appliances, windows and bathroom exhaust fans. Watersense plumbing fixtures will be utilized for the toilets, sittk faucets, the showers and the kitchen faucets. Applicant is providing green and recycled content materials consisting of hatdwood or engineered hardwood flooring, porcelain tile in the high ttaffic areas. Cabinets and counters tops that do not contain any formaldehyde. LED lighting throughout. Occupancy sensors on the lighting so that when a spaces are not occupied, the lights will be lower or off. There will, even though this is a very small construction project, there will be 4 waste management plan specified for recycling of construction debris during constructioh that will reuse or salvage any suitable materials to divert construction waste from the landfills. Then touched upon the sloped roof with an asphalt shingle specified as a 30 year architectural grade shingle which will need little to no maintenance. -In

ivert construction waste from the landfills. Then touched upon the sloped roof with an asphalt shingle specified as a 30 year architectural grade shingle which will need little to no maintenance. -In regards to sighage, Ms. Johannesen explained that there are no signs proposed, however a street address nutnber will be provided so that for emergency services the building can be identified. BOARD QUESTIONS -Chairman Bagoff asked, where the mailboxes will be. Ms. Johannesen answered that the mailboxes are in a kiosk in the front yard. Chairman followed up by asking if any of the water runoff can be used to water the gardens and the trees that are there is impossible. Ms. Johannesen responded that they would be agreeable to looking at providing like a rain barrel at one of the OR multiple sites. But she couldn't comment on the volume of a downspout, so that can be harvested and then utilized for watering onsite.