PB-24-07 Essex County Country Club B: 156; L: 1; Z: R-2

WHEREAS, the Board also considered the testimony and filed review letters of its professionals at the hearing including a planning report dated January 22, 2024 by Paul Grygiel, AICP, PP, Township Planning Board Planner and engineering reports by John Hess, PE, PP, CME, Township Planning Board Engineer dated January 29, 2024 and February 26, 2024; and WHEREAS, during the course of the hearings the Applicant’s attorney and Ms. Micaela Bennett, Esq. filed multiple letter briefs with the Board in support of their respective legal positions including: (a) Lisa A. John-Basta, Esq. letter brief dated February 23, 2024; (b) Micaela Bennett, Esq. letter brief dated Mach 5, 2024; and (c) Lisa A. John-Basta, Esq. letter brief dated March 22, 2024; and NOW THEREFORE, the Board makes the following findings of fact, based upon the evidence presented at its public hearing, at which a record was made: 1. {00458572} The Applicant is requesting approval for Amended Final Site Plan to construct a new 620 square foot halfway house near the southern end of the Applicant’s property. The Board affirmatively finds that the proposed halfway house is a customary accessory feature for a golf course based on the totality of the evidence presented during the course of the hearings.. The halfway house is located on the same lot as the principal golf course use and is incidental thereto in that it is a 620 square foot structure to be placed on an over 176-acre parcel of land that provides an amenity to the members and guests of the golf course inclusive of restroom facilities and a small walk-up snack/beverage bar. The Applicant submitted documentation of at least seven other golf courses within fifteen to twenty miles of the Applicant’s golf course in the State of New Jersey with similar halfway houses to the one proposed 4882-2653-9704.v1