November 29, 2023 Planning Board Special Meeting Minutes

Rear yard is 45 feet, it does not exceed ordinance requirement. The applicant will comply with the comments from the board engineer Mr. John Hess. BOARD QUESTIONS Mr. Alpert asked if they will be using solar panels. Mr. Calebrese said he hasn’t discussed it with the applicant. Mr. Alpert asked if there will be cooking surfaces in the comfort station. Mr. Calebrese said that there will be no cooking surfaces. Mr. Guarino asked if they reached out to the neighbors. Mr. Calabrese said that he did not. Mr. Guarino asked if there will be any music or public announcements coming from the comfort station. Mr. Calebrese said that there will not. M. Smeraldo asked if there will be any gas line. Mr. Calabrese said that no gas line will be installed. Mr. Cardoza asked if there will be staff at the comfort station. Mr. Calabrese answered in the affirmative. Mr. Cardoza asked if the bushes will be native. Mr. Calabrese said that they will be native. PROFESSIONAL QUESTIONS Mr. Hess asked if they anticipate any impact on the residential neighborhood. Mr. Calabrese said that he does anticipate any impact. Mr. Hess asked if there will be any electric heating. Mr. Calabrese said that the comfort station will be winterized at the end of the season. PUBLIC QUESTION Micaela Bennet asked if there will be any internet in the comfort station. Mr. Calabrese said no. Kevin Malanga at Ridge Road asked if Mr. Calabrese could describe the vegetative screening between the comfort station and the property line to the South. Mr. Calabrese said that currently is a wooded area with trees. Kevin Malanga asked how many planting islands are prosed in the parking lot. Mr. Calabrese said that 3 are being proposed. OBJECTOR PRESENTATION Micaela Bennet calls Mr. Peter Steck as a planning expert and he was sworn under oath. Mr. Peter Steck has testified as a planner for the Essex County Country Club in previous applications. Mr. Steck has reviewed the comfort station plans. Comfort station definition in the dictionary is a place for restrooms for the public. Mr. Steck says that this is more than a comfort station. No low shrubs at the end of cul-de-sac Applicant is supposed to identify wetland areas. Comfort station is very unusual in an 18-hole golf course. The R-2 does allow golf courses and club house. Mr. Steck suggests burden of the applicant to show that it qualifies as a

y wetland areas. Comfort station is very unusual in an 18-hole golf course. The R-2 does allow golf courses and club house. Mr. Steck suggests burden of the applicant to show that it qualifies as a customary accessory structure. If it is not a customary accessory use, it triggers a “d” variance which can only be heard by the Zoning Board. No evidence presented in adequacy of parking being proposed. Mr. Steck objects to the placement of the building.