June 3, 2026 Planning Board Regular Meeting Minutes

© The widening needed to extend southward onto Crestmont property. o That widening would: = Provide additional pavement = Lengthen the left-turn lane at Laurel Avenue m Create a separate left-turn lane onto Oval Road o Installing the traffic signal also required: a Signal equipment = Underground utilities = Overhead utilities co Those improvements also extended onto Crestmont property. As coordination with Crestmont progressed, the engineering team recognized additional issues at the Country Club: © Crestmont already had operational and circulation problems independent of the roadway project. © The existing one-way circulation system: a Enters from Laurel Avenue u Passes the clubhouse and drop-off area = Serves the parking lots = Exits through the lower parking lot before reaching Eagle Rock Avenue Mr. Pehnke described problems with the existing Crestmont exit: o» The driveway meets Eagle Rock Avenue at a sharp acute angle. o ‘This geometry makes it difficult for drivers to look over their shoulder when checking for traffic. © Sight distance to the right is restricted by roadway curvature and vegetation. © Seasonal vegetation growth further worsens visibility. © The driveway also routes vehicles through the parking lot, creating unnecessary conflicts. Because of these conditions: © Crestmont worked with the engineering team and West Essex Highlands to combine the public roadway improvements with the Club’s own operational needs, © The Club also incorporated parking improvements it had already been planning. o The result is the integrated application before the Planning Board. Mr. Pehnke summarized the principal site improvements: © Approximately 36 new parking spaces would be added. o Parking would comply with modern design standards. o Internal circulation would improve. o The exit roadway would no longer pass through the parking lot. © Overall on-site vehicle circulation would become safer and more efficient. He then described the proposed new exit driveway: 0° The driveway would be reconstructed at a proper grade. o It would intersect Eagle Rock Avenue at approximately 90 degrees, instead of the current acute angle. It would connect directly to the new signalized intersection. This would: = Improve Crestmont’s internal circulation u Improve safety = Improve traffic operations = Provide signal-controlled egress Mr. Pehnke emphasized the broader public

ignalized intersection. This would: = Improve Crestmont’s internal circulation u Improve safety = Improve traffic operations = Provide signal-controlled egress Mr. Pehnke emphasized the broader public benefits: 20