[00:00:01]
JUST GO.[Call to Order]
I KIND OF FEEL LIKE, UM, WELCOME EVERYONE.UM, CALL, UH, THE PLANNING BOARD, MEETING THE ORDER.
WE'LL STAND AND DO THE FLAG SALUTE.
THE PLEDGE WAS USED TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH HIS HANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD INVISIBLE LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.
FOR ALL PUBLIC NOTICE OF THIS MEETING, PURSUANT TO THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT HAS BEEN GIVEN BY THE MEDFORD TOWNSHIP PLANNING BOARD AND THE FOLLOWING MATTER, POSTING WRITTEN NOTICE ON THE OFFICIAL BULLETIN BOARD AT THE TOWNSHIP MUNICIPAL BUILDING, 48 HOURS PRIOR TO THE MEETING, FILING WRITTEN NOTICE WITH THE CENTRAL RECORD OF THE BURLINGTON COUNTY TIMES 48 HOURS PRIOR TO THE MEETING, FILING WRITTEN NOTICE WITH THE CLERK OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MEDFORD 48 HOURS PRIOR TO THE MEETING.
UM, I'M GONNA CALL, UH, I'D LIKE TO, UH, START WITH ROLL CALL.
WILL SOMEONE MAKE A MOTION? YOU CAN JUST, ANN CAN JUST CALL THE ROLL.
THAT WAS THE, THAT WAS THE EXECUTIVE SESSION PART.
FOR THE PUBLIC THAT'S WATCHING.
[4. Executive Session – Litigation, John and Linda Mahon]
WE GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.REQUEST IF REQUEST FOR SOMEONE TO MAKE A MOTION TO GO.
I REQUEST FOR SOMEONE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR US TO, UH, GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
I WE'RE NOW EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE'RE NOW BACK FROM THE, UH, CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION.
UM, WE'LL CONTINUE WITH THE AGENDA AND, AND NOW WE WENT
[5. Minutes: January 22, 2025 Reorganization and Executive Meeting]
INTO THE MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 22ND, 2025 REORGANIZATION EXECUTIVE MEETING.SO EVERYBODY CAN VOTE EXCEPT, UH, MR. JULIAN.
RIGHT? SO WE NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE THOSE MINUTES.
AND TO BE CLEAR TO, THAT WAS FOR BOTH THE, THE REORGANIZATION MEETING AND THE EXECUTIVE SESSION, MR. KIRK, THE, THE CORRECTION ON THERE, IT WAS JUST FOR THE REORG SLASH REGULAR MEETING.
I DIDN'T GET, THERE WERE NOTED THE REORG.
GOING FORWARD, GOING FORWARD, WE'LL CALL THEM OUT SEPARATELY.
[7. Reports: Insufficient escrow balances over 6 months]
UM, AND NOW WHAT DO WE GO ON THE REPORTS OF THE INSUFFICIENT ESCROW OVER SIX MONTHS? WE CAN, EXCEPT I DO HAVE SOME CORRESPONDENCE.I JUST WANT TO CHANGE THE AGENDA.
UM, THERE IS A NEW JERSEY PLANNER EVERYBODY GOT AND I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT ON THE FIRST PAGE, THERE'S AN NJPO LUNCH AND LEARN.
THERE'S TWO EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS THAT YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN.
YOU CAN GO ON THEIR WEBSITE AND CHECK THEM OUT.
IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, EMAIL ME AND I CAN SIGN YOU UP.
AND THE OTHER ONE I GAVE YOU IS JUST THE FIRST PAGE.
EVERYBODY WILL BE GETTING AN EMAIL FROM THE CLERK'S OFFICE REGARDING THEIR FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.
UH, STATEMENTS HAVE TO BE COMPLETED.
I WENT ON THERE TODAY, STARTS APRIL 1ST, THEN YOU HAVE TILL APRIL 30TH.
OTHER THAN THAT, UM, IT'S ALL YOUR CHAIRMAN.
IS ARE YOU SAYING THE FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES? ARE THEY OR THEY COMING OUT AFTER APRIL 1ST? AFTER A, YOU SHOULD BE GETTING AN EMAIL SHORTLY FROM THE CLERK'S OFFICE.
YOU CAN'T COMPLETE IT TILL APRIL 1ST.
I WENT ON TODAY TO TRY TO DO IT AND IT SAID NOT TILL APRIL 1ST.
BUT THEY DO HAVE TO BE COMPLETED BY SURGERY.
WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO, UH, THE REPORTS OF THE INSUFFICIENT ESCROW BALANCES OVER SIX MONTHS.
DO WE NEED TO GO THROUGH THAT? HOW DOES THAT TYPICALLY WORK? I SEE SOME OF THESE, LIKE I'VE BEEN ON HERE A LONG TIME.
UM, WE, WE, WE DO OUR BEST TO TRY TO GET THEM.
WE REACH OUT TO THE APPLICANT.
LIKE IF SOME OF THE ENTITIES ARE JUST CURIOUS IF SOME OF THEM ARE DEFUNCT OR WHATEVER, DO YOU JUST EVENTUALLY TAKE 'EM OFF? OR HOW DOES THAT WORK? IT MAY BE, UH, THAT REALLY, THAT'S A, THAT'S A, LIKE I KNOW FRANK PP CUSTOM, THEY'RE, THEY'RE ADDITIVES.
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SO I THINK THE PURPOSE IN PUTTING THIS ON THE AGENDA IS JUST A REMINDER TO EVERYBODY THAT THE BALANCES ARE STILL OUT THERE AND THAT THE TOWN IS GONNA TAKE STEPS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, POSSIBLE TO COLLECT ON THEM.BUT I THINK THIS IS REALLY JUST A PUBLIC REMINDER FOR THOSE WHO OWE THE BOARD MONEY, THAT THEY STILL OWE THE BOARD MONEY AND THAT IT COSTS, OH, IT'S A LOT OF MONEY.
THE TAXPAYERS AND THE BOARD'S PROFESSIONALS A LOT IN THE MEANTIME ON THE WAY TO GET PAID.
IS THAT IT ON THAT? THAT'S IT.
UM, THE NEXT IS MEMORIALIZATION
[8.a. Resolution 9-2025 - HJCY Group, NJ, Inc., 3 Reeves Station Road, 302/39.02, SPR-5772 – approval of Preliminary and Final Major Site Plan, Design Waiver and Bulk Variance for improvements to a 25,850 sf building containing 5,850 sf of office space and 20,000 sf of storage space and five additional accessory buildings containing 17,490 sf of which 16,440 is for storage and a residential dwelling for property caretaker. ]
OF RESOLUTIONS RESOLUTION NINE DASH 2025 HJCY GROUP, NJ INC.APPROVAL OF THE PRELIMINARY MAJOR FINER SITE PLAN DESIGN WAIVER IN BULK VARIANCES FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO A 25,850 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING CONTAINING 5,850 SQUARE FEET OF OFFICE, 20,000 SQUARE FEET OF STORAGE AND FIVE ADDITIONAL ACCESSORY BUILDINGS CONTAINING 17,000 SQUARE FEET, OF WHICH 16,440 IS FOR STORAGE AND A RESIDENTIAL DWELLING FOR A PROPERTY CARETAKER.
SO DO I ASK FOR A MOTION, MOTION TO APPROVE THAT RESOLUTION? DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THAT RESOLUTION? SO MOVED.
MAY I, IS THERE ANYONE WHO CAN'T CALL ON THAT? I, I'M ONLY GOING TO, UM, ANNOUNCE THE PEOPLE WHO VOTE.
AND VICE-CHAIRMAN OF PURPOSE? AYE.
[9.a. Consideration of Resolution 10-2025, Reviewing and Recommending Adoption of Ordinance 2025-7, “Amending Certain Sections of the Development Regulations concerning Standards for Residential Garages and Sheds”.]
NEXT ITEM IS REFERRAL FROM REFERRAL FROM TOWNSHIP COUNSEL.CONSIDERATION OF RE RESOLUTION 10 DASH 2025 REVIEWING AND RECOMMENDING ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE 2025 DASH SEVEN AMENDING CERTAIN SECTIONS OF THE DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS CONCERNING STANDARDS FOR RESIDENTIAL GARAGES AND SHEDS.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? SO, SO MOVED.
IS THAT WHAT I SAY? I THINK AT THIS POINT MS. STELLAR, WERE YOU GOING TO DO A PRESENTATION? I, I THINK, OH, OKAY.
I THINK WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT IT.
'CAUSE WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT CONSISTENCY.
WE NEED TO, WE NEED NO, DON'T, DON'T APOLOGIZE.
SO WHAT THIS PROCESS IS, IS THAT THE GOVERNING BODY IS, UM, CONSIDERING AMENDING THE LAND USE ORDINANCES IN MEDFORD TOWNSHIP.
AND AS PART OF THAT, UH, WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN IS THAT THE BOARD NEEDS TO DETERMINE IF THE ORDINANCES ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE MASTER PLAN.
SO THESE, UH, ORDINANCES REALLY PRECIPITATED OUT OF THE ZONING BOARD ANNUAL REPORTS.
THERE ARE, UM, OTHER THINGS THAT PROBABLY SHOULD BE MANAGED OUT OF THE ZONING BOARD ANNUAL REPORTS, BUT THEY PROBABLY WOULD BE BEST MANAGED, UM, THROUGH A REEXAMINATION REPORT BECAUSE THEY WILL REQUIRE SOME LANCE, UM, DISCUSSION.
SO THESE ARE RELATIVELY EASY AND MINOR CHANGES THAT CAN BE MADE TO MAKE THE ORDINANCE EASIER AND MORE EFFICIENT FOR HOMEOWNERS IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND THAT'S WHAT IT'S BASICALLY ABOUT.
THE FIRST ONE, UM, IS ABOUT, FIRST PART OF IT IS ABOUT RESIDENTIAL GARAGES AND ALL WE DID WAS TAKE OUT, UM, UH, A CAPACITY AND A NUMBERS FROM THE DEFINITION, WHICH REALLY SHOULDN'T PUT, UM, STANDARDS LIKE AREA STANDARDS AND A DEFINITION.
IT'S NOT REALLY GENERALLY A GOOD IDEA.
AND WE MOVED THAT TO, UH, THE AREA WHERE GARAGES ARE, UH, REGULATED IN THE STANDARDS.
AND WE ALSO TOOK A LITTLE SECTION THAT WAS SORT OF SMASHED INTO ONE BIG PARAGRAPH AND WE JUST SEPARATED IT.
UM, AND WE MADE SOME CLARIFICATIONS ABOUT THE BUILDING HEIGHT AND ABOUT GARAGE DOOR HEIGHT.
UM, BECAUSE WE HAVE, UH, GARAGES AND I, I'LL USE, THERE'S ONE AT THE CORNER OF, UM, HARTFORD ROAD AND, UM, UNION THAT, UH, IS SORT OF A LOT HIGH WALLS AND A, A SQUASHED ROOF.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO AVOID THAT AND MAKE RESIDENTIAL GARAGES LOOK RESIDENTIAL.
UM, THE SECOND THING THAT THE ORDINANCE DOES IS IT TALKS ABOUT SHEDS.
UM, WE HAVE, UM, VARIOUS STANDARDS FOR SHEDS.
SO IF YOU HAVE A SMALLER PROPERTY, YOU'RE ALLOWED 200 SQUARE FEET AND YOU'RE ALLOWED ONE SUCH STRUCTURE.
IF YOU HAVE A MID-SIZE PROPERTY, YOU'RE ALLOWED 400 SQUARE FEET, BUT THEY HAVE TO BE SEPARATED INTO TWO STRUCTURES.
SO WHAT WE DID WAS WE MODIFIED THAT AND SAID YOU COULD HAVE ONE 400 SQUARE FOOT STRUCTURE OR YOU COULD HAVE ONE 200 SQUARE FOOT STRUCTURE AND ANOTHER POOL CABANA THAT'S 200 SQUARE FEET ON THESE LARGER LOTS.
AND WE DID THE SAME THING STEPPING UP TO AN THE NEXT SIZE LOT SAID INSTEAD OF HAVING THREE 200 SQUARE FOOT STRUCTURES, YOU CAN HAVE ONE 600 SQUARE FOOT STRUCTURE.
AND THEN WE DID ANOTHER MODIFICATION WHERE WE JUST SAID THAT SHEDS THAT ARE 200 SQUARE FEET OR LESS ON
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THE SMALLER LOTS IN TOWN, LOTS LESS THAN A HALF AN ACRE CAN BE ABOUT FIVE FEET AWAY FROM THE SIDE OR REAR PROPERTY LINE.AND THEN ANYTHING LARGER THAN THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE THE STANDARD SETBACK.
WHICH WOULD WE MODIFY TO 10 FROM 15.
SO THAT WE'RE GIVING PEOPLE A LITTLE BIT MORE FLEXIBILITY, PARTICULARLY ON THE SMALLER LOTS.
YOU KNOW, THINKING OF LOTS SAY ON ALLEN AVENUE, LOTS IN DEERBROOK AND OAKWOOD AND BIRCHWOOD AND LAKE PINE.
UM, A LOT OF THOSE DISTRICTS WOULD BE, UM, AFFECTED BY THIS.
UM, BUT NOT CERTAINLY THE LARGER LOT DISTRICTS.
SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS ASSIST THE, THE PLANNING BOARD.
THE PLANNING BOARD AND THE COUNCIL ARE TRYING TO ASSIST THE ZONING BOARD IN TRYING TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF VARIANCES THAT ARE SOUGHT.
UM, SO THAT, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THE, THE ZONING BOARD IS VERY BUSY, ACTUALLY TOO BUSY.
SO DOES THAT, SO THIS CHANGE WILL MAKE PEOPLE NOT HAVE TO GO TO THE ZONING BOARD SOMETIMES.
WE HAVE ISSUES WITH BUILDING AND LOT COVERAGE, UM, THERE.
SO THAT IS A, IS A PROBLEM PARTICULARLY IN SOME OF THE SMALLER LOT AREAS.
BIRCHWOOD, UM, ALLEN AVENUE, UM, YOU KNOW, LAKE PINES WHERE THERE ARE SMALLER LOTS.
SO THE THERE THAT CAN BE AN ISSUE.
BUT AGAIN, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE MANAGED IN A DIFFERENT WAY BECAUSE THAT WILL REQUIRE THE, THE MUNICIPALITY TO GO TO PINELANDS AND, AND SORT OF DISCUSS HOW THAT, WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
WOULD THE GARAGES, YOU HAVEN'T LIKE, LIKE IT, IT'S THREE CAR GARAGES, RIGHT? CORRECT.
SO YOU HAVEN'T CHANGED IT TO ALLOW SIX CAR GARAGES? NO, WE HAVE NOT.
NO, NO, WE HAVEN'T ADJUSTED THE CAPACITY OR THE SIZE.
IT JUST MEANS, AND THAT'S FAIRLY STANDARD.
MORRISTOWN HAS A SIMILAR YEAH.
IT'S NOT UNUSUAL TO HAVE THOSE TYPES OF RESTRICTIONS ON GARAGE CAPACITY.
AND IT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE MASTER PLAN BECAUSE WE TALK A LOT ABOUT COMMUNITY CHARACTER IN THE MASTER PLAN AND THAT'S BEEN SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN TALKED ABOUT, UM, SINCE THE 1970S WHEN THE FIRST MASTER PLAN WAS REALLY DONE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
SO, UM, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS YOU REALLY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT LOTS OF STRUCTURES, LARGE STRUCTURES, THEY'RE NOT RESIDENTIAL AND CHARACTER, THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE ACCESSORY.
UM, AND THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE, UM, PART PARCEL OF RESIDENTIAL USE.
THEY'RE NOT TO BE USED FOR A BUSINESS, THEY'RE NOT TO BE USED FOR, UM, YOU KNOW, STORING MASSIVE THINGS.
IF YOU REALLY NEED A REAL LARGE STORAGE AREA, MAYBE YOU SHOULD RENT STORAGE SOMEWHERE.
SO IT'S THOSE KINDS OF THINGS THAT YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO REINFORCE THAT WE'RE GONNA ALLOW SOME LARGER BUILDINGS ON LARGER LOTS.
UM, BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN ON SOME OF THE LARGER LOTS PEOPLE WILL PUT TWO A HUNDRED SIXTY EIGHT SQUARE FOOT SHEDS ON AND IT REALLY LOOKS KIND OF SILLY
SO IT'S ALMOST LIKE A DETACHED GARAGE OR SOMETHING, RIGHT? IT COULD BE A WOOD SHOP, IT COULD, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DO ALL KINDS OF THINGS IN, IN SPACES LIKE THAT.
SO THIS CAME ABOUT BASED OFF THE ASSESSMENT OF THE NUMBER OF VARIANCES THAT WERE COMING TO THE ZONING BOARD, RIGHT? SO THE, EVERY YEAR THE, THE LAND USE LAW REQUIRES THAT THE ZONING BOARD ISSUE AN ANNUAL REPORT.
AND SO THEY DO THAT EVERY YEAR AND HAVE FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
AND SO THEY ARE REQUIRED TO GIVE THAT REPORT, THEY GIVE IT TO THE PLANNING BOARD AND IT COMES TO THE GOVERNING BODY.
UM, AND SO THOSE REPORTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR, YOU KNOW, REVIEW IF, IF YOU'D LIKE TO SEE THEM.
UM, SO YOU GET THEM EVERY YEAR.
AND YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT THE ZONING BOARD IS TOO BUSY AND THIS, BY MY ESTIMATION, YES, THEY ARE TOO BUSY.
THIS WILL HELP DRIVE DOWN THE AMOUNT OF THROUGHPUT THROUGH VARIANCES.
ARE THERE OTHER CATEGORIES THAT WILL COME BEFORE THIS BOARD? SO WOULD THERE BE, UH, WHAT DO YOU MEAN? LIKE, OR LIKE SHEDS ARE NOW A TOPIC THAT WERE YOU, THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ELIMINATE A LOT OF THOSE VARIANCES.
ARE THERE OTHER INITIATIVES LIKE SHEDS THAT COULD COME ACROSS? OH, THAT, THAT, SO AS I INDICATED, IT'S REALLY THE, THE BUILDING AND LOT COVERAGE THAT, THAT WE HAVE ISSUES WITH ON THE SMALLER LOTS, PARTICULARLY THE UNDERSIZED LOTS.
LIKE I, YOU KNOW, LIKE DECKING OR OTHER THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
DO, DO, DO YOU SEE A LOT OF APPLICATIONS FOR ZONING THERE? SO THERE ARE SOME, UM, APPLICATIONS FOR SIDE YARD SETBACKS AND THINGS LIKE THAT WHERE WE HAVE SOME ISSUES WITH SOME, UM, EXISTING NONCONFORMITIES WHERE THE SIDE LOT LINES ARE MAYBE, UH, A LITTLE TOO, UM, A LITTLE TOO WIDE WIDER THAN THEY SHOULD BE.
SO THERE ARE THINGS LIKE THAT THAT WE COULD CHANGE.
BUT AGAIN, UM, THAT, THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE OKAY WITH PINELANDS, I WOULD THINK.
UM, BUT WE WOULD REQUIRE A LITTLE BIT MORE STUDY TO JUST MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE, UH, DOING THE RIGHT THING.
SO WE'VE DONE THAT IN OTHER TOWNS.
UM, ONE OF THEM IS DELANCO WHERE THEY HAVE A LOT OF EXISTING STRUCTURES AND THEY HAD PEOPLE HAVING TO COME IN.
THEY WANTED TO TAKE A, A HOUSE SOMEWHAT LIKE IN, IN THE HISTORIC VILLAGE HERE, WHERE THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, BUILT IN THE 19 HUNDREDS AND THEY WANNA BUILD A WALL AND ADD THEIR KITCHEN.
'CAUSE A LOT OF THOSE OLD HOUSES DIDN'T REALLY HAVE A KITCHEN.
SO WE JUST MODIFIED THE SIDE YARD SETBACK SO
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THAT THOSE OLD HOUSES COULD DO THAT WITHOUT COMING TO THE BOARD.'CAUSE CLEARLY IT'S EXPENSIVE TO PUT ADDITIONS ON YOUR HOUSE AND HAVING TO GO TO A BOARD AND JUMP THROUGH THAT HOOP WHEN YOU'RE REALLY JUST FOLLOWING A WALL THAT'S, YOU KNOW, SIX FEET AWAY FROM THE SIDE LOT LINE VERSUS 10.
IT JUST LITTLE THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO IT CAN, THOSE THINGS CAN BE DONE.
AND, AND THAT WOULD ALSO MITIGATE SOME OF THE VARIANCES THAT ARE COMING INTO THE ZONING BOARD.
BUT REALLY BUILDING IN LOT COVERAGE IS A, IS A MAJOR ISSUE FOR THEM.
SO, UM, NOW CAN I SHOULD, UH, WE, SOMEONE WILL MAKE A GO AHEAD.
SO I, I BELIEVE IF I'M READING THE EMAIL CORRECTLY, THAT THE TAX OF ATTORNEY PROVIDED THE BOARD WITH A FORM OF RESOLUTION TO ADOPT IF THE BOARD WAS IN AGREEMENT THAT THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE IS CONSISTENT WITH MUNICIPAL MASTER PLAN AND RECOMMENDING ITS APPROVAL.
SO IT WOULD BE A MOTION TO APPROVE THAT RESOLUTION.
SO I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
IS IT RESOLUTION NINE DASH? NO.
I'VE READ THE ONE ABOVE BY THAT'S FINE.
UM, I GUESS AT THIS POINT, UM,
SO, UH, I GUESS WE'LL OPEN AND MAKE A MOVE.
THERE'S NOTHING WELL THERE'S NO ONE HERE.
SO THERE'S NO NEED TO OPEN OKAY.
SO THEN I GUESS AT THIS POINT WE'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOIN ADJOURN.
AS THE CHAIRMAN, YOU ENTERTAIN MOTION.
BOARD MEMBERS MAKE THE MOTION.
SO THAT'S WHY I SAID I'D LIKE TO ENTERTAIN YOU TO MAKE A MOTION.
YOU COULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
I JUST SPENT WAY TOO MANY WORDS AND TIME.
WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN, RIGHT? YOU OKAY? AND A SECOND.