1 1 HUDSON COUNTY PLANNING BOARD 2 IN RE: ) ) TRANSCRIPT OF 3 MONTHLY MEETING ) PROCEEDINGS: ) 4 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _) Administration Annex 5 567 Pavonia Avenue Freeholders Chambers 6 Jersey City, New Jersey Wednesday, July 20, 2005 7 6:30 p.m. 8 B E F O R E: 9 MICHAEL HOLLOWAY, CHAIRMAN 10 RUSHABH MEHTA, COMMISSIONER 11 MARY E. AVAGLIANO, COMMISSIONER 12 RENEE BETTINGER, COMMISSIONER 13 JUDE FITZGIBBONS, COMMISSIONER 14 DANIEL CHOFFO, COMMISSIONER 15 BORIVOJ JASEK, COMMISSIONER 16 A L S O P R E S E N T: 17 THOMAS CALVANICO, ESQ., Board Attorney 18 STEPHEN MARKS, Board Secretary 19 Reported By: 20 MICHELLE GRUENDEL, C.S.R. 21 REPORTING SERVICES ARRANGED THROUGH 22 VERITEXT/NEW JERSEY REPORTING COMPANY, L.L.C. Kabot Battaglia & Hammer Suburban Shorthand 23 Waga and Spinelli Arthur J. Frannicola CSR 25B Vreeland Road 24 Florham Park, New Jersey 07932 Tel: 973-410-4040 Fax: 973-410-1313 25 2 1 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Meeting called to 2 order, please. 3 This meeting's been properly advertised? 4 MR. CALVANICO: Yes, Mr. Chairman. 5 This meeting, notice of this meeting was 6 forwarded for publication to the Jersey Journal. It 7 was also forwarded to the Clerk of the County, Clerk 8 of the Board of Freeholders for posting on the boards 9 as well, and the notices are in compliance with the 10 Open Public Meetings Act. 11 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Tom, I don't know 12 if your speaker is working. 13 MR. CALVANICO: I'll get closer. 14 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Steve, can we get 15 a roll call, please? 16 MR. MARKS: Commissioner Avagliano? 17 COMMISSIONER AVAGLIANO: Here. 18 MR. MARKS: Commissioner Bettinger? 19 Commissioner Choffo? 20 COMMISSIONER CHOFFO: Here. 21 MR. MARKS: Commissioner Dublin? 22 Commissioner Fitzgibbons? 23 COMMISSIONER FITZGIBBONS: Here. 24 MR. MARKS: Commissioner Jasek? 25 COMMISSIONER JASEK: Present. 3 MONTHLY MEETING 1 MR. MARKS: Commissioner Liggio? 2 Commissioner Mehta? 3 COMMISSIONER MEHTA: Present. 4 MR. MARKS: And Chairman Holloway? 5 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Here. 6 MR. MARKS: Mr. Chairman, we have a 7 quorum. 8 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Thank you. 9 Can we all stand to Salute the Flag, please? 10 (Flag Salute takes place.) 11 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Review and 12 adoption of minutes from June 15th, 2005. 13 Do I have a motion? 14 COMMISSIONER AVAGLIANO: Motion to 15 accept. 16 COMMISSIONER MEHTA: I will second. 17 MR. MARKS: Mr. Chairman, on a motion 18 made by Commissioner Avagliano and seconded by 19 Commissioner Mehta: 20 Commissioner Choffo? 21 COMMISSIONER CHOFFO: Aye. 22 MR. MARKS: Commissioner Fitzgibbons? 23 COMMISSIONER FITZGIBBONS: Aye. 24 MR. MARKS: Commissioner Jasek? 25 COMMISSIONER JASEK: Present. 4 MONTHLY MEETING 1 MR. MARKS: And Chairman Holloway? 2 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: I abstain. I was 3 absent. 4 MR. MARKS: Mr. Chairman, the motion 5 passes. 6 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Thank you. 7 At this time is there any public comments on 8 the Agenda this evening? 9 Okay. Status of application, Steve. 10 MR. MARKS: Mr. Chairman, for part 6A 11 on the Agenda, memorialization of resolutions 12 approved at last meeting: For SD-46-05, Licinio 13 Santos, 423-427 Scott Mobus Place, Harrison, New 14 Jersey; SP-53-05, Paterson Plank, LLC, Block 44, Lots 15 1-8, North Bergen, New Jersey; SD-56-05, Rozalski 16 Realty at 385 7th Street in Jersey City, New Jersey; 17 SP-62-05, Raja Adimoolan at 687 John F. Kennedy 18 Boulevard in Bayonne; and SP-63-05, Riverview 19 Historical Plaza, II, LLC at 31 -- 33 -- I'm sorry, 20 at 33-41 Newark Street in Hoboken, New Jersey. 21 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Thank you. 22 COMMISSIONER FITZGIBBONS: Make a 23 motion to accept. 24 COMMISSIONER CHOFFO: Second. 25 MR. MARKS: Mr. Chairman, on a motion 5 MONTHLY MEETING 1 made by Commissioner Fitzgibbons and seconded by 2 Commissioner Choffo: 3 Commissioner Avagliano? 4 COMMISSIONER AVAGLIANO: I vote aye. 5 MR. MARKS: Commissioner Bettinger? 6 COMMISSIONER BETTINGER: Aye. 7 MR. MARKS: Commissioner Jasek? 8 COMMISSIONER JASEK: Aye. 9 MR. MARKS: Commissioner Mehta? 10 COMMISSIONER MEHTA: Aye. 11 MR. MARKS: And Chairman Holloway? 12 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Abstain. 13 MR. MARKS: Mr. Chairman, the motion 14 passes. 15 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Thank you. 16 Please note for the record that Vice 17 Chairwoman Bettinger is here. 18 MR. MARKS: Mr. Chairman, for section 19 6B on the Agenda, applications declared to be 20 exempt: The first item is SD-66-05, Christine 21 Peterson for 436-444 Mallory Avenue in Jersey City; 22 SD-67-05, Whiton Street Associates, for 250-254 23 Arlington Avenue in Jersey City, New Jersey; 24 SP-69-05, New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC, 5415 25 Tonnele Avenue in North Bergen, New Jersey; and 6 MONTHLY MEETING 1 SP-70-05, Sol Moskowitz at 1215 New York Avenue in 2 Union City, New Jersey. 3 COMMISSIONER CHOFFO: I'll make a 4 motion to declare these applications exempt. 5 COMMISSIONER BETTINGER: I'll second 6 it. 7 MR. MARKS: Mr. Chairman, on a motion 8 made by Commissioner Choffo and seconded by 9 Commissioner Bettinger: 10 Commissioner Avagliano? 11 COMMISSIONER AVAGLIANO: I vote aye. 12 MR. MARKS: Commissioner Fitzgibbons? 13 COMMISSIONER FITZGIBBONS: Aye. 14 MR. MARKS: Commissioner Jasek? 15 COMMISSIONER JASEK: Aye. 16 MR. MARKS: Commissioner Mehta? 17 COMMISSIONER MEHTA: Aye. 18 MR. MARKS: Chairman Holloway? 19 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Aye. 20 MR. MARKS: Mr. Chairman, the motion 21 passes. 22 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Thank you. 23 MR. MARKS: Mr. Chairman, for section 24 6C on the Agenda, site plans and subdivision 25 scheduled for hearing, the first application for 7 MONTHLY MEETING 1 public hearing tonight is SP-17-05, 360-362 14th 2 Street in Hoboken, New Jersey. 3 MR. MINERVINI: I am Frank Minervini, 4 the architect. Our attorney, Bob Matule, is not here 5 yet, so I ask, we can perhaps be pushed back a bit. 6 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: We'll hold off to 7 the next one. 8 MR. MINERVINI: Thank you. 9 MR. CALVANICO: We'll hold it. 10 MR. MINERVINI: Thank you. 11 MR. MARKS: Mr. Chairman, the next 12 application scheduled for public hearing is SP-26-05, 13 Theresa Taglia, applicant, for 1884 Kennedy Boulevard 14 in Jersey City. 15 MR. INGLESE: Excuse me. I'm John 16 Inglese, the architect. We're also waiting for our 17 attorney, John Campbell, who should be here soon. 18 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Okay. 19 MR. INGLESE: Thank you. 20 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Next in line. 21 MR. MARKS: Mr. Chairman, the next 22 application scheduled for public hearing is SP-45-05, 23 Antonio Morsella and Sabina Morsella, at 1006, 24 1006-1008 Paterson Plank Road in North Bergen. 25 MR. ALTAMURA: Good evening. 8 MONTHLY MEETING 1 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Good evening. 2 MR. ALTAMURA: My name is Leonard 3 Altamura. I'm the attorney for the property. 4 There were certain recommendations that we 5 received from Mr. Marks with regard to our 6 application to have a piece of the business at the 7 premises and we have complied with those 8 recommendations. 9 We have pictures of the planters that are 10 before the property to block any parking in front of 11 the premises as well as the sign, signs saying 12 private parking, do not enter, so I do have those 13 pictures. 14 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Okay. Could you 15 put them in evidence? 16 MR. CALVANICO: Why don't you have 17 them marked as exhibits, then, for the record. 18 MR. ALTAMURA: You want me to mark 19 them? 20 MR. CALVANICO: Please. 21 MR. ALTAMURA: Mark them P -- 22 MR. CALVANICO: You can have the 23 reporter do it. 24 (Photographs were received and marked A-1 for 25 identification.) 9 MONTHLY MEETING 1 (Photographs were received and marked A-2 for 2 identification.) 3 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Bob, do you have 4 any questions? 5 COMMISSIONER JASEK: Mr. Chairman, the 6 key word now is to maintain. The first part, to 7 install, is done. 8 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: All right. 9 COMMISSIONER JASEK: So I don't want 10 to see planters disappear. 11 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Any questions from 12 any of the Commissioners on this application? 13 COMMISSIONER FITZGIBBONS: You know 14 what, those -- in other words, Bob, you don't want 15 those planters removed? 16 COMMISSIONER JASEK: That's correct. 17 They have to stay forever. 18 COMMISSIONER FITZGIBBONS: All right, 19 you understand that? 20 MR. ALTAMURA: You like those planters 21 to stay there. 22 COMMISSIONER FITZGIBBONS: They have 23 to stay there. 24 MR. ALTAMURA: Then they stay there. 25 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: I have an issue. 10 MONTHLY MEETING 1 They're so small, people can pick them up and move 2 them at any given time. You have to understand that 3 they are there for a reason, so you don't have 4 anybody pulling into the property. 5 MR. ALTAMURA: Yeah. Well, of course, 6 you know, if they do do that, and that, that will 7 sooner or later come to, you know, you have 8 policemen, you have officers, people that, you know, 9 they will lose the permit to -- for the, for the 10 business. I mean, that is the -- if the resolution 11 can provide that if those planters are removed, then 12 the owner will lose the license to use those premises 13 for the business, and so I think they have a penalty 14 to be paid. 15 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: There's no -- 16 MR. ALTAMURA: That will be part of 17 your resolution, I suppose. 18 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Right. 19 But there's no other way of getting a little 20 better planters? These looks like the ones you just 21 pick up and move at any given time. 22 MR. ALTAMURA: Frankly, I do not have 23 the yard. From the picture, I can't -- maybe, maybe 24 you are right, you can pick them up. I do not know, 25 but I don't know how heavy they are. Maybe my client 11 MONTHLY MEETING 1 can say how heavy that they are, because they may 2 look light, but they may not be. 3 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: What do you think, 4 Bob? 5 COMMISSIONER JASEK: We should, we 6 should put into the resolution -- 7 MR. ALTAMURA: I understand that they 8 are reinforced concrete, made of reinforced 9 concrete. 10 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Your name? 11 MR. MORSELLA: My name is Antonio 12 Morsella, the owner of the property. 13 M-O-R-S-E-L-L-A. 14 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Okay. You can 15 speak -- I didn't hear what you said. 16 MR. MORSELLA: I said that the 17 planter -- I could not understand what, what's the 18 issue. 19 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: The issue is that 20 these planters need to stay there permanently. These 21 are not permanent planters. You need -- these aren't 22 something you can pick up tomorrow morning, move back 23 into the yard? What we're asking for you to do is 24 put permanent planters there, that will prevent 25 anybody to park there. 12 MONTHLY MEETING 1 MR. MORSELLA: We get concrete 2 planters. They are concrete. They're reinforced 3 concrete. 4 COMMISSIONER BETTINGER: Any special 5 size? 6 COMMISSIONER JASEK: No. Mr. 7 Chairman, we did not specify which -- any planters 8 which will be removed by kids or anything else. 9 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: They have to be 10 there all time, not moved. 11 MR. MORSELLA: Yes. We understand 12 you. 13 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Can I have -- any 14 more questions? 15 COMMISSIONER AVAGLIANO: The planters 16 could be, like, five foot long and maybe three feet 17 wide and they can't be moved. 18 MR. ALTAMURA: Well, had that been 19 made clear to us or had the letter specified that, we 20 would have complied, but we were told about the 21 planters and we got those planters. They are of 22 concrete and reinforced concrete. That's what we 23 were told. That is what we got. 24 COMMISSIONER AVAGLIANO: If you had a 25 problem with them, would you be able to change them 13 MONTHLY MEETING 1 and straighten it out? 2 MR. ALTAMURA: Well -- 3 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: We'll put it in 4 the resolution for that, that it's not supposed to be 5 moved at all. 6 MR. ALTAMURA: They cannot be removed, 7 we understand that. Of course, we understand that. 8 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Okay. Motion to 9 approve? 10 COMMISSIONER FITZGIBBONS: I make a 11 motion to approve on the resolution that those 12 planters are to be permanent, permanently placed 13 there forever. 14 COMMISSIONER CHOFFO: I'll second. 15 MR. MARKS: Mr. Chairman, on a motion 16 made by Commissioner Fitzgibbons and seconded by 17 Commissioner Choffo: 18 Commissioner Avagliano? 19 COMMISSIONER AVAGLIANO: I vote aye, 20 provided the planters are not removable. They're 21 stationary, for good. Concrete. 22 MR. MARKS: Commissioner Bettinger? 23 COMMISSIONER BETTINGER: Aye. 24 MR. MARKS: Commissioner Jasek? 25 COMMISSIONER JASEK: Aye. 14 MONTHLY MEETING 1 MR. MARKS: Commissioner Mehta? 2 COMMISSIONER MEHTA: Aye. 3 MR. MARKS: Chairman Holloway? 4 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Aye, with the 5 stipulation of the planters never to be moved. 6 MR. MARKS: Mr. Chairman, the motion 7 passes. 8 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Thank you. 9 MR. MARKS: Mr. Chairman, is everybody 10 able to hear okay? I could try to have the 11 air-conditioner turned down. 12 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: No. It's cool. 13 We're good. Thank you. 14 MR. MARKS: Mr. Chairman, should we 15 try the first application again? 16 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: If they're here. 17 MR. MARKS: SP-17-05, 360-362 14th 18 Street. 19 MR. MATULE: Good evening. Thank you 20 for your accommodation. I apologize for being a 21 little tardy. 22 Robert Matule, M-A-T-U-L-E, on behalf of the 23 applicant, 360-362 14th Street, LLC. 24 This is a request for a county site plan 25 approval for a building in Hoboken which has received 15 MONTHLY MEETING 1 zoning approval from the City of Hoboken. It's a 2 small property on the north side of the viaduct on 3 14th Street. 4 I have Mr. Minervini here, if we could have 5 him sworn and qualified. 6 MR. CALVANICO: State your name and 7 your -- 8 MR. MINERVINI: Frank Minervino, 401 9 Jefferson Street, Hoboken, New Jersey. 10 FRANK MINERVINI, having been first duly sworn 11 according to law, testified as follows: 12 MR. MATULE: Mr. Chairman, Mr. 13 Minervini has previously appeared before this Board 14 and has been qualified as an expert witness in the 15 field of architecture. If you'd like, I can go 16 through his qualifications. 17 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: That's okay. 18 We'll accept them. 19 MR. MATULE: Mr. Minervini, could you 20 please describe to the Board Members, and if you need 21 me to assist you in holding up the plans, I will, 22 what the applicant is proposing to do on the -- on 23 14th Street? 24 MR. MINERVINI: We are proposing -- 25 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Could you do me a 16 MONTHLY MEETING 1 favor, could you speak into the mike so our court 2 reporter can hear you? 3 MR. MINERVINI: Of course. 4 The proposal is for a four-story residential 5 building, four residential units above a first floor 6 parking space. The lot size is 50 feet by 50 feet. 7 Again, as Mr. Matule said, we are on the north side 8 of 14th Street directly adjacent to the viaduct. 9 Four residential units and four parking spaces, we're 10 proposing one garage door on the east side of our 11 front facade and one new curb-cut. 12 MR. MATULE: What's the width of the 13 curb-cut? 14 MR. MINERVINI: The width of the 15 curb-cut will be 12 feet. 16 MR. MATULE: And did you receive a 17 letter from the Engineering Department regarding this 18 application? 19 MR. MINERVINI: Yes, I did. Letter 20 dated March 10, 2005. One of the concerns was that 21 our driveway apron not exceed 12 feet. We revised 22 that. Another concern or request was that our 23 connections to our street utilities be made below the 24 sidewalks. We will try to do that. At this point 25 it's not known whether there are any utilities for 17 MONTHLY MEETING 1 this site or not, because right now it's a vacant 2 site, but there was a building there previously. At 3 this point we think there will be new utilities, so 4 we can control that, so I think the answer will be 5 yes, then, we can do that, and another request was to 6 show detailed grade elevations and the locations of 7 the viaduct details, which we do on sheet Z-2. 8 MR. MATULE: Sheet two of the plans 9 that have been submitted? 10 MR. MINERVINI: Correct. Revision 11 date of March 28th, this year. 12 MR. MATULE: That's pretty much it. 13 Pretty straightforward, four-family house. 14 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Bob, do you have 15 any concerns? 16 COMMISSIONER JASEK: Mr. Chairman, I 17 don't have any concern about this. 18 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Neither do I. 19 Any more questions? 20 COMMISSIONER FITZGIBBONS: I make a 21 motion to approve. 22 COMMISSIONER BETTINGER: I'll second 23 it. 24 MR. MARKS: Mr. Chairman, on a motion 25 made by Commissioner Fitzgibbons and seconded by 18 MONTHLY MEETING 1 Commissioner Bettinger: 2 Commissioner Avagliano? 3 COMMISSIONER AVAGLIANO: I vote aye. 4 MR. MARKS: Commissioner Choffo? 5 COMMISSIONER CHOFFO: Aye. 6 MR. MARKS: Commissioner Jasek? 7 COMMISSIONER JASEK: Aye. 8 MR. MARKS: Commissioner Mehta? 9 COMMISSIONER MEHTA: Aye. 10 MR. MARKS: Chairman Holloway? 11 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Aye. 12 MR. MARKS: Mr. Chairman, the motion 13 passes. 14 MR. MATULE: Thank you, very much. 15 MR. MINERVINI: Thank you, very much. 16 MR. MATULE: Have a good evening. 17 MR. MARKS: Mr. Chairman, the next 18 application is SP-26-05, Theresa Taglia, applicant, 19 for 1884 Kennedy Boulevard, Jersey City. 20 MR. CAMPBELL: Good evening, Mr 21 Chairman, Members of the Board. My name is John 22 Campbell. I'm an attorney representing the applicant 23 in this matter. 24 I do have our engineer present. I think he 25 can explain the application quite briefly. 19 MONTHLY MEETING 1 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Thank you. 2 State your name, please. 3 MR. INGLESE: Yes. John Inglese, 4 I-N-G-L-E-S-E. I'm the architect and the engineer of 5 the project. 6 MR. CAMPBELL: Mr. Inglese, you're 7 licensed in New Jersey and have testified before this 8 and many boards in the past? 9 MR. INGLESE: Yes and yes, but the 10 last time I testified before this Board was probably 11 in excess of 10 years ago, so -- 12 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Excuse me. Can 13 the attorney swear you in, please? 14 JOHN INGLESE, having been first duly sworn according 15 to law, testified as follows: 16 MR. CAMPBELL: I'm repeating my 17 previous question Mr. Inglese, and the answers are 18 still the same? 19 MR. INGLESE: Yes and yes. 20 MR. CAMPBELL: I'd offer him as an 21 expert. 22 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Thank you. 23 MR. CAMPBELL: Mr. Inglese, could you 24 describe the project, briefly, please? 25 MR. INGLESE: Certainly. 20 MONTHLY MEETING 1 The subject property is a vacant piece of 2 land on the east side of Kennedy Boulevard, just 3 north of the intersection of Kennedy Boulevard and 4 Bergen Avenue in Jersey City. It's a triangular 5 piece of property, roughly triangular. The Boulevard 6 actually is curved at that point, a slight curve. 7 What's been proposed is a new, three-story, 8 four-family dwelling with a single indoor garage with 9 three parking spaces. The building sits between two 10 other adjacent two-family dwellings. There is one 11 curb-cut on the north side of the property. That's 12 actually an existing curb-cut that is presently used 13 by the neighbor to the north. In our planning 14 negotiations with the city, we designed the building 15 to incorporate our access, to use that same driveway 16 as that neighbor's driveway is existing right now, 17 about two-thirds on our property, and so we've 18 designed the building to be able to keep that, allow 19 that neighbor to keep his car in that space and then 20 use the driveway together. This way, not multiplying 21 curb-cuts and saving the parking space for the 22 neighbor. 23 MR. CAMPBELL: You've conferred with 24 the County Engineering Department on this project? 25 MR. INGLESE: We did go back and forth 21 MONTHLY MEETING 1 a bit. They wanted additional information to verify 2 locations of crosswalks and traffic signals, which we 3 did. The last modification we made was to add a 4 planter in front of or alongside of our driveway in 5 order to better direct the cars into the curb-cuts, 6 that no one would skip off the side of the curb-cut. 7 MR. CAMPBELL: To your knowledge, you 8 satisfied the request of the Engineering Department? 9 MR. INGLESE: I believe so. 10 MR. CAMPBELL: That's all I have, Mr. 11 Chairman. 12 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: How big is your 13 planter? 14 MR. INGLESE: Our planter? Our 15 planter is approximately six feet long and two feet 16 wide. It's a planter box at the, at the property 17 line. It's inside our property. 18 COMMISSIONER CHOFFO: Excuse me. Is 19 it still pending approval -- 20 MR. INGLESE: No. We have planning 21 approval. 22 MR. CAMPBELL: We have Zoning Board 23 approval from Jersey City, yes. 24 COMMISSIONER CHOFFO: -- from Jersey 25 City? 22 MONTHLY MEETING 1 MR. INGLESE: I should note that the 2 changes that the County requested regarding that 3 curb-cut were discussed with Jersey City Planning 4 staff and they were in concurrence with what we 5 wanted to change to satisfy the County's requests. 6 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: You might have 7 mentioned this, but the owners of the property south, 8 I'm sorry, north of your property, they still use 9 that driveway? 10 MR. INGLESE: That's correct. That's 11 correct. 12 We're maintaining their parking space, which 13 is partly on their lot and partly on ours, and garage 14 on the easement. 15 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Bob? 16 COMMISSIONER JASEK: Mr. Chair, there 17 was extensive communication between my staff and 18 Jersey City Planning Board between the architect for 19 the applicant. We came to the solution -- 20 originally, we supposed to close this driveway, open 21 one which is little further from the crosswalk. 22 After getting all the facts about the neighbor being 23 friends, being on their property and other 24 complications, we came to the solution that the 25 driveway will stay basically where it is. It will be 23 MONTHLY MEETING 1 realigned a little bit so both the parties have 2 access and it will be just next to the crosswalk, not 3 directly at the crosswalk. 4 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Any other 5 questions? 6 COMMISSIONER BETTINGER: What is the 7 cross street on Kennedy Boulevard? 8 MR. INGLESE: The cross street across 9 Kennedy Boulevard, excuse me, across Kennedy 10 Boulevard is Fowler. 11 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Any other 12 questions? 13 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Motion to 14 approve? 15 COMMISSIONER CHOFFO: I'll make a 16 motion. 17 COMMISSIONER BETTINGER: Motion to 18 approve. 19 COMMISSIONER CHOFFO: Second. 20 COMMISSIONER AVAGLIANO: I'll second 21 it. It's a excellent application. It's much better 22 than the illumination I saw. 23 MR. MARKS: Mr. Chairman, on a motion 24 made by Commissioner Bettinger, seconded by 25 Commissioner Avagliano: 24 MONTHLY MEETING 1 Commissioner Choffo? 2 COMMISSIONER CHOFFO: Aye. 3 MR. MARKS: Commissioner Fitzgibbons? 4 COMMISSIONER FITZGIBBONS: Aye. 5 MR. MARKS: Commissioner Jasek? 6 COMMISSIONER JASEK: Aye. 7 MR. MARKS: Commissioner Mehta? 8 COMMISSIONER MEHTA: Aye. 9 MR. MARKS: Chairman Holloway? 10 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Aye. 11 MR. MARKS: Mr. Chairman, the motion 12 passes. 13 MR. INGLESE: Thank you, very much. 14 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Thank you. 15 MR. MARKS: Mr. Chairman, the next 16 application scheduled for public hearing is 17 SD/SP-65-05, NZ Funding, LLC at 170-172 Kennedy 18 Boulevard in Jersey City. 19 MR. ALAMPI: Thank you, Mr. Chair, 20 Board Members. Good evening. My name is Carmine 21 Alampi, A-L-A-M-P-I. I'm the attorney for NZ 22 Funding, LLC. 23 NZ Funding is the developer of a property on 24 Kennedy Boulevard and Grant Avenue. It's on the 25 seaside of Kennedy Boulevard diagonally across from 25 MONTHLY MEETING 1 the Comcast facility. This property consists of two 2 parcels which are being joined together as one. It's 3 approximately 7,600 square feet and it received 4 approval from the Jersey City Board of Adjustment to 5 allow the development of 20 residential units with 19 6 parking spaces on grade. The building was designed 7 in such a way so that there would be no vehicular 8 ingress and egress across the sidewalk on Kennedy 9 Boulevard, but rather, all activity, vehicular 10 activity would be on the side street, Grant Avenue. 11 I have Mr. Dean Marchetto, a licensed 12 architect and planner tonight, and I have 13 representatives of Dresdin Robin with us. I'm not 14 sure you need their testimony, but they'll be here 15 for specific questions. 16 I'll turn it over to Mr. Marchetto, if you 17 place him under oath. 18 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Thank you. 19 Tom, will you swear him in, please? 20 DEAN MARCHETTO, having been first duly sworn 21 according to law, testified as follows: 22 MR. ALAMPI: Mr. Marchetto, you're 23 assisted this evening by Vincent Marchetto; is that 24 correct? 25 MR. MARCHETTO: Yes, I am. 26 MONTHLY MEETING 1 MR. ALAMPI: And you are a licensed 2 architect and licensed planning consultant of the 3 State of New Jersey? 4 MR. MARCHETTO: Yes, I am. 5 MR. ALAMPI: And you've testified 6 before this County Board on many occasions, haven't 7 you? 8 MR. MARCHETTO: Yes, I have. 9 MR. ALAMPI: Mr. Chairman, will you 10 accept Mr. Marchetto's credentials? 11 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Yes. 12 COMMISSIONER AVAGLIANO: Yes. 13 MR. ALAMPI: Dean, very briefly, could 14 you describe the site itself and what that exhibit is 15 that you have to the extreme left-hand side? 16 MR. MARCHETTO: Sure. 17 I have with me four exhibits this evening. 18 On the right, on my right, on this side here is an 19 overall site plan application set of plans which were 20 submitted to the Board for your approval. It shows 21 the site location at Grant Avenue and Kennedy 22 Boulevard. The location is a corner site at this 23 location. On the second page of this application is 24 the site plan itself, which is a blowup at a larger 25 scale. On my left is a photograph of the existing 27 MONTHLY MEETING 1 conditions of the site. It's a vacant lot and it's 2 on the corner of Kennedy and Grant. It's on the east 3 side of Kennedy Boulevard. 4 What we're proposing to do here is a new 5 residential building. It's a modern building that's 6 designed to fit in with the existing context of the 7 older Jersey City buildings and the apartment 8 buildings typically found on Kennedy Boulevard. 9 As part of our initial research, what we did 10 was we went up and down Kennedy Boulevard and we took 11 some photographs to try to get a flavor of what, what 12 these types of buildings typically look like, and 13 Kennedy Boulevard has many prewar buildings that are 14 typically mid rise height made out of brick with cast 15 stone detail, and this is a typical type of Jersey 16 City, Kennedy Boulevard architecture that is 17 comprised mainly of punched window openings, that 18 means cut window openings, brick facades and cast 19 stone detailing, so with this in mind, we set out to 20 design our project on Grant Avenue. 21 This is our design for the building. This is 22 a building of five stories. You can see here that 23 it's designed of two different color bricks. There's 24 a lighter brick that is on the outer plane and then 25 just slightly recessed is a darker brick, to give a 28 MONTHLY MEETING 1 little bit more detail as we group the windows. 2 Then, over at the top and around the windows there's 3 some cast stone detailing to somehow pick up the 4 flavor of the original buildings. You can see this 5 one here on the upper right is the one that most 6 influenced it. We thought this was the most handsome 7 in all of that neighborhood. The building has 20 8 residential units. There are 16 two bedroom units 9 and there are 41 bedroom units and there are 19 10 parking spaces. We took particular care not to 11 expose the garage to public view. The ground floor 12 of this building is a garage. There's an entrance on 13 the corner and there's some service rooms here for 14 mechanical entries, electrical and gas, so what we've 15 done is we've wrapped the parking garage on the 16 street with the facade of the building, and that 17 comes all the way down so that when you drive by or 18 you walk by you do not get a sense that you're 19 walking by a garage or an apartment. The building 20 goes from the roof to the ground in the same 21 architecture or similar to the way the older 22 buildings did. This is a modern building. It has 20 23 apartments. It's designed to feel contextually and 24 match with the older buildings, yet at the same time 25 it has the modern feature of providing parking on the 29 MONTHLY MEETING 1 ground floor and it's hidden from view. 2 MR. ALAMPI: Dean, while you have 3 another exhibit behind your illustration, could you 4 just explain what that top portion is? 5 MR. MARCHETTO: Yeah. 6 This exhibit here, which I showed you on the 7 bottom, is the photograph of the existing site. This 8 is a photograph from the tax records from Jersey 9 City. Sometime maybe 20, 30 years ago this building 10 burned down but was on this site. At one point there 11 was a seven-story building here and it burned down in 12 a fire. The building obviously is no longer there, 13 but this historically marked what was on the site at 14 the time, and this is from the tax records in Jersey 15 City. 16 What we've done is we've made a building 17 that's a little bit more in keeping with the proper 18 heights and has a modern facility, and here is the 19 overall ground floor site plan. You could see at the 20 corner of Kennedy Boulevard and Grant Avenue the 21 entrance to the garage is located on Grant Avenue so 22 that we do not have a traffic condition on Kennedy 23 Boulevard. You come in and out on Grant Avenue, and 24 then the parking is located on the ground floor here, 25 and then you could see the wall around the parking 30 MONTHLY MEETING 1 garage is a masonry wall, like the rendering shows, 2 to mass that, the parking from the public view. 3 There's an entrance lobby shown right on Kennedy 4 Boulevard near the corner and then there are some 5 service rooms that provide a buffer between the 6 sidewalk and the parking itself. It allows us to 7 build windows and doors and those kinds of elements 8 that make the architecture of the building go from 9 the roof all the way down to the sidewalk and hide 10 the garage from view. 11 MR. ALAMPI: Finally, Dean, the 12 property address was actually Grant Avenue, but it's 13 listed now, and we believe Jersey City prefers 14 granting the Kennedy Boulevard address? 15 MR. MARCHETTO: Well, I'm not sure 16 about that. We've called it Grant Avenue, but I see 17 it's listed here as Kennedy Boulevard, so -- 18 MR. ALAMPI: And I think we prefer the 19 address, but we will keep our vehicular activity on 20 Grant Avenue, correct? 21 MR. MARCHETTO: Yeah, and the only 22 other exhibit I'd like to present is the typical 23 floor plan which shows one, two, three, four, five 24 dwelling units on a floor, four residential floors. 25 That's 20 dwelling units. This is the layout of the 31 MONTHLY MEETING 1 apartments in here. The building wraps the corner, 2 and just going through, you know, it's a two 3 dimensional elevation of the building, on page A-4, 4 and again here on page A-5. 5 That's a general description of the building 6 and I'm happy to answer any of your questions. 7 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Bob? 8 COMMISSIONER JASEK: Mr. Chairman, I 9 do appreciate that the architect gave the entrance to 10 the garage on the side street, because it will work 11 much better for them and for us. 12 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: I agree. 13 COMMISSIONER BETTINGER: Yes. 14 COMMISSIONER JASEK: We will have to 15 limit right in, right out on the Boulevard. 16 When I look at the ground floor, I was 17 questioning, the utility room have entrance from the 18 street now? It was explained to us. Why is it -- 19 then, I guess the second reason is that there was the 20 entrance from the garage, it would have to open out 21 into the garage. If there is a car parked, you 22 wouldn't get in. 23 MR. MARCHETTO: That's correct. 24 COMMISSIONER JASEK: So I like the 25 design. 32 MONTHLY MEETING 1 COMMISSIONER FITZGIBBONS: I want to 2 say something. 3 It's a shame that the structure up there on 4 top burned down, because that was a beautiful 5 structure. You can't even pay for the material that 6 that structure had years ago -- 7 MR. MARCHETTO: Right. 8 COMMISSIONER FITZGIBBONS: -- compared 9 to today, you know. It's a shame. That building 10 maybe housed about 30 units in there, but that's a 11 good -- it's a light area and it's an improvement and 12 positive to the City of Jersey City. 13 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Any more 14 questions? 15 COMMISSIONER MEHTA: Is the Grant one 16 way or two way? 17 MR. MARCHETTO: It's one way. It's a 18 one way going towards Kennedy Boulevard. 19 COMMISSIONER MEHTA: How far is the 20 parking entrance from the stop sign? 21 MR. MARCHETTO: The garage entrance is 22 right here. It's approximately 30 feet from the 23 corner of the building and approximately 40 feet from 24 the curb. 25 COMMISSIONER MEHTA: Problem, because 33 MONTHLY MEETING 1 there's a traffic light or a stop light, stop sign at 2 the corner of Kennedy. 3 MR. MARCHETTO: Traffic light on the 4 corner. 5 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Traffic light. 6 Traffic light. 7 Anything else? Any more questions? 8 MR. MARKS: Mr. Chairman, just for the 9 record, it was my error. The address should have 10 been 170-172 Grant Avenue, and if it's approved this 11 evening, it will be memorialized as the 170-172 Grant 12 Avenue, not Kennedy Boulevard. 13 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: That's the front 14 of the building, right, that I'm looking at right 15 now? 16 MR. MARCHETTO: This is the front of 17 the building that faces Kennedy Boulevard. 18 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Beautiful 19 building. 20 MR. ALAMPI: Thank you. 21 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: I know the area. 22 That will enhance it quite well. 23 COMMISSIONER BETTINGER: Why does it 24 have Grant Avenue, because everything is facing on 25 Kennedy Boulevard? 34 MONTHLY MEETING 1 MR. MARCHETTO: I think that the 2 property originally had two lots. 3 MR. ALAMPI: I can answer that. 4 The two lots had the Grant Avenue address and 5 that was the orientation of the building and the 6 legal description in the deeds as we acquired the 7 property a few years ago, and so it's Grant Avenue, 8 but I believe that Jersey City now has the authority, 9 as we merge the two lots into one, that they could 10 re-designate it as Kennedy Boulevard. 11 COMMISSIONER FITZGIBBONS: Usually, 12 why it's called Grant Avenue, is because the main 13 entrance is usually what they use, post office uses. 14 MR. ALAMPI: Correct. Correct. 15 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Can I have a 16 motion to approve this application? 17 COMMISSIONER CHOFFO: I make a motion. 18 COMMISSIONER MEHTA: I will make a 19 motion. 20 COMMISSIONER FITZGIBBONS: I'll second 21 it. 22 MR. MARKS: Mr. Chairman, on a motion 23 made by Commissioner Mehta, seconded by Commissioner 24 Fitzgibbons: 25 Commissioner Avagliano? 35 MONTHLY MEETING 1 COMMISSIONER AVAGLIANO: I vote aye, 2 but then again, Mr. Marchetto -- 3 MR. ALAMPI: Thank you. 4 COMMISSIONER AVAGLIANO: You're 5 welcome. 6 -- that is certainly beautiful. 7 MR. MARCHETTO: Thank you. 8 MR. MARKS: Commissioner Bettinger? 9 COMMISSIONER BETTINGER: I vote aye. 10 You did an excellent job. 11 MR. MARCHETTO: Thank you. 12 MR. MARKS: Commissioner Choffo? 13 COMMISSIONER CHOFFO: I vote aye. 14 Good luck to you. 15 MR. MARKS: Commissioner Jasek? 16 COMMISSIONER JASEK: Aye. 17 MR. MARKS: Chairman Holloway? 18 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Aye. I'd like to 19 say -- make a comment. 20 If you could teach some of your other 21 architects to build in Jersey City, sort of take some 22 time out and look at how the old buildings are and 23 maybe refurbish them to look like Jersey City, not 24 these new building that don't look like -- it will 25 help Jersey City a lot. 36 MONTHLY MEETING 1 COMMISSIONER FITZGIBBONS: I'll make a 2 comment, too, as far as that's concerned. I think 3 it's up to the Jersey City Planning Board, because I 4 know in Hoboken they watch what they build and you 5 have to build the same kind of exterior work as the 6 surrounding buildings, so it's up to them to get on 7 board with preserving the style of Jersey City, as 8 far as the buildings are concerned. 9 MR. ALAMPI: Jersey City technical 10 review people and the building department now signed 11 the actual plans and do inspect that there be no 12 deviation from what you illustrated at the time of 13 the presentation. 14 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Thank you, very 15 much. 16 MR. ALAMPI: Thank you. Good night. 17 MR. MARKS: Mr. Chairman, motion 18 passes. 19 Mr. Chairman, the next application scheduled 20 for public hearing is SP-68-05. 21 MR. ALAMPI: Excuse me, Mr. Chairman. 22 Did you actually cast your vote? I know you 23 commented. 24 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Yes. 25 MR. ALAMPI: Yes? 37 MONTHLY MEETING 1 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: I said yes, with a 2 comment. 3 MR. ALAMPI: Yes, okay. Thank you. 4 MR. MARKS: SP-68-05, Waterford at 5 Bayonne, LLC, at Kennedy Boulevard and West 2nd 6 Street in Bayonne, New Jersey. 7 MR. KAPLAN: Good evening, ladies and 8 gentlemen. My name is Jason Kaplan, President of 9 Kaplan Companies. I am Principal in Waterford of 10 Bayonne. I'd also like to introduce Chuck Tint, 11 who's Project Manager from Kaplan Companies, and Jim 12 Talerico, the Engineer from MCB Engineering. 13 Tonight we're seeking county site plan 14 approval for Waterford at Bayonne. The project is 15 part of the Gateway Redevelopment Zone created by the 16 City of Bayonne. It is located on JF Kennedy 17 Boulevard between 2nd and 3rd Street. The project 18 will become priced at about approximately 145 19 condominium units, which is sitting on six stories 20 and over two stories of parking. 21 I'm now going to turn it over to Jim to go 22 over some design aspects of the application. 23 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: I'm sorry. How 24 much parking. 25 MR. TALERICO: I'm going to talk about 38 MONTHLY MEETING 1 that. 2 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Swear him in, 3 please. He has to swear you in. 4 MR. CALVANICO: State your name and 5 address, for the record. 6 MR. TALERICO: James Talerico, 11 7 Furler Street, Totowa, New Jersey 07512. 8 JAMES TALERICO, having been first duly sworn 9 according to law, testified as follows: 10 MR. TALERICO: Turning to sheet four 11 of our site plan set, which is the grading utility 12 first floor plan, I'm going to give you a quick 13 overview of the site, basically from a design 14 perspective, from grading, storm drainage, parking, 15 circulation, et cetera. 16 Currently, the site, the existing site is an 17 under-utilized industrial area which is going to be 18 knocked down and we're going to be developing an 19 eight-story building, six stories of which is 20 residential, two stories of which -- that's 21 underneath the six, the six levels of residential 22 which will be parking decks. 23 Basically, with that in mind, we front on 24 Kennedy Boulevard, which is a county road, and our 25 points of egress are on West 2nd Street and West 3rd 39 MONTHLY MEETING 1 Street. One of the aspects that we feel that we've 2 improved on upon this site is since it's so 3 under-utilized currently, the sheet flow from 4 existing storms currently runs across the site and 5 hits the gutter line along Kennedy Boulevard, which 6 eventually makes its way into the county system. 7 We're proposing to have underground detention which 8 will cut back the flows and will be discharged into a 9 pipe system and which will further tie down further 10 into the county system itself. We also are reducing 11 the existing flows that are on the site by use of an 12 outlet structure and detaining the storm water 13 systems for the various storm events. 14 Also, regarding the site, we have, we have 15 proposed two levels of parking of which 181 spaces 16 are provided, of which 177 spaces are conventional 17 spaces, four of which are ADA accessible spaces. We 18 are also providing, going to be providing 10 to 12 19 spaces along Kennedy Boulevard and we will also have 20 a loading and unloading zone in the courtyard area of 21 the project site. 22 There is also a bus terminal that will be 23 located at the corner of West 3rd Street and Kennedy 24 Boulevard as well. Based upon that design, we -- our 25 design analysis on this, we decided to make sure that 40 MONTHLY MEETING 1 the vehicular circulation was not coming in and out 2 of Kennedy Boulevard, but coming in and out of West 3 2nd Street and West 3rd Street, to keep the 4 intersection more stabilized. Based upon that, these 5 two levels are separate. There is no way that a car 6 can physically get from the first level to the second 7 level, so, therefore, it reduces on the amount of 8 traffic that could possibly come out of one and the 9 other. They're both evenly distributed. Based upon 10 that, there's a courtyard level that's on the second 11 level of parking and that's how you would access the 12 main lobby from that level, and also walk out to 13 Kennedy Boulevard to get to the bus station or to get 14 to any of the parking spaces that may be on Kennedy 15 Boulevard. Based upon that parking scheme, only 16 allowing from West 2nd Street access to the first 17 level of parking and on West 3rd Street access to the 18 second level of parking, we have tried to keep 19 smoother circulation for that. 20 Based upon that, the Bayonne City Municipal 21 Planning Board had requested us to perform an 22 analysis and a traffic study for the intersection of 23 West 2nd Street and Kennedy Boulevard, and that was 24 performed by Abington Associates, which was part of 25 the submission package that was submitted to your 41 MONTHLY MEETING 1 Board tonight. 2 That basically concludes the aspects of our 3 site design and what the site consists of, so I was 4 going to pass the conversation back to Jason, who can 5 conclude the project. 6 MR. KAPLAN: That's really it. I have 7 an architectural, if the Board is interested in 8 seeing it. Other than that, there's nothing else as 9 far as the application. 10 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Bob, do you have 11 any other questions? 12 COMMISSIONER JASEK: Mr. Chairman, at 13 the Plan Review Committee meeting the question arose 14 about a number of the handicapped parking spots. 15 Could the applicant explain how he came to 16 four for 191 total spots? 17 MR. KAPLAN: Excuse me. I'm sorry. 18 COMMISSIONER JASEK: Could you explain 19 to us, how did you calculate the number of the 20 handicapped parking spots? 21 MR. KAPLAN: The basis were based upon 22 88 requirements, and that's what we had proposed for 23 those spaces. 24 COMMISSIONER JASEK: Mr. Chairman, if 25 I may, I look it up and it says two percent of the 42 MONTHLY MEETING 1 parking space that service occupancy in the building 2 should be accessible for 191 spots. It's 3 seven-and-a-half or roughly eight. 4 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: What he's saying, 5 the number of spaces that you have, 100 -- I'm sorry, 6 181 spaces? 7 MR. KAPLAN: Yes, 181. 8 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: You don't have 9 enough handicapped. 10 MR. KAPLAN: I would just -- that 11 question -- 12 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: State your name. 13 MR. TINT: Sure. 14 My name is Charles Tint. I'm the Project 15 Director for Kaplan Companies. 16 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Tom, could you 17 swear him in, please? 18 MR. CALVANICO: State your name and 19 your address, for the record. 20 MR. TINT: Sure. 21 My name is Charles Tint. The address would 22 be 363 River Road -- 433, I'm sorry, 433 River Road, 23 Highland Park, New Jersey. 24 CHARLES TINT, having been first duly sworn according 25 to law, testified as follows: 43 MONTHLY MEETING 1 MR. TINT: Just a matter of 2 clarification, I'm the Project Director, so it's 3 really my responsibility to make sure that the 4 application conforms to all applicable codes, 5 regulations and laws, and you're absolutely right, 6 the way we guided the engineers on the project, and 7 Jim was the site civil design engineer, was to base 8 the -- set aside for handicapped parking based on the 9 RSIS requirement, which defers the barrier free 10 subcode which requires -- which is not ADA, which 11 requires, as you mentioned, that two percent of the 12 parking spaces be set aside. We have approximately 13 181. 14 Is that right, Jim? 15 MR. TALERICO: Correct. 16 MR. TINT: 181. We rounded that up to 17 four parking spaces, unless we did our math wrong. 18 MR. TALERICO: Five. 19 MR. TINT: To five. I think the same 20 question came up with the Planning Board, and we had 21 agreed to make the one adjustment, and we're gonna' 22 do that in the form of, I think we're gonna' do that 23 in the van accessible space that we're going to 24 provide for. 25 In addition, we can -- and we discussed it 44 MONTHLY MEETING 1 and we know it's your jurisdiction, we were also 2 thinking about converting some of the proposed, 3 proposed on-street parking on Kennedy Boulevard, 4 which we think, depending on how you scale that off, 5 we can get between 10 and 12 spaces on Kennedy 6 Boulevard, that we would set aside one or two -- 7 really, whatever the pleasure of the Board would be, 8 as additional handicapped, reserved handicapped 9 spaces on street, but we can certainly make that 10 adjustment, to bring it up to five. 11 COMMISSIONER JASEK: Mr. Chairman, why 12 we brought it up, it's exactly what the county is not 13 interested in, to give the public parking to the 14 handicapped, which can't be accoladed into private 15 parking. This Board has no jurisdiction to assign 16 any handicapped parking on a one by one basis. 17 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: What is your 18 recommendation? 19 COMMISSIONER JASEK: No. They're 20 correct. The parking inside is not really this 21 Board's business, but what they are talking about is 22 to prevent the parking to be assigned on the, on the 23 public road. 24 Mr. Chairman, I have few other comments. We 25 need at 2nd Street -- this is concerning the 45 MONTHLY MEETING 1 drainage. On the 2nd Street you need a double J 2 inlet. 3 MR. TINT: Yes. We noticed that in 4 the comment letter from the County Planner. 5 COMMISSIONER JASEK: Okay. 6 MR. TINT: And all the comments we 7 received are satisfactory and certainly reasonable in 8 nature. 9 I know there was also a comment in the letter 10 we received, received about working with the county 11 to try and resolve some drainage issues, and my 12 understanding is a meeting has been set with the 13 county for the middle, middle of August to spend some 14 time in a workshop setting to address that variation. 15 COMMISSIONER JASEK: That's correct. 16 I was not -- about the meeting. 17 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: The storm water? 18 COMMISSIONER JASEK: Yes. Since they 19 are connected into the storm water pipe, which is 20 solely owned by the county, we need to work with them 21 on that or they need to work with us. 22 MR. TINT: We've actually started that 23 process and we've had our surveyor go out about three 24 weeks ago and we've actually put together, I won't 25 call it an as-built, but we've actually located that 46 MONTHLY MEETING 1 entire, I'll call it line alignment, the pipe 2 alignment down to the newer Vankill (phonetic), and 3 we can certainly send a copy on either paper, 4 printer, or we can do it in auto-cab format to the 5 planners, so you have a record of it. 6 COMMISSIONER JASEK: Very good. I 7 would appreciate it. 8 MR. TINT: Sure. 9 COMMISSIONER JASEK: There was some 10 condition from the City of Bayonne to install the 11 traffic light on 2nd Street. We went over it and the 12 traffic light is not wanted, so there is no need for 13 a traffic light at this point. 14 MR. TINT: Music to my ears. 15 COMMISSIONER JASEK: Well, to install 16 a traffic light, it's not done by the wish of the 17 Mayor or Board or anybody else. It's done by the 18 street-thrus. We have to be approved by Department 19 of Transportation. None of the work was complied 20 with this road. 21 MR. TINT: Our traffic engineer -- 22 there are eight potential warrant analyses that could 23 be used. Our traffic engineer looked at four of the 24 criteria, the eight-hour, the four-hour, the accident 25 history, and I think there was general overall, and 47 MONTHLY MEETING 1 on each of those different warrant analyses we didn't 2 even come close to meeting the threshold. 3 I just wanted to come back for a matter of 4 clarification with respect to handicapped, on the 5 first level of the building we have three handicapped 6 spaces. The first parking level there are three 7 handicapped spaces. On the second level we have two, 8 so we do provide five within the building. 9 COMMISSIONER JASEK: I have one more 10 question concerning the drainage. 11 There is in the drainage report mentioning 12 detention basin, three feet by 475 feet. We couldn't 13 find it on the plans. 14 MR. TINT: Jim, I'll defer that to 15 you. 16 MR. TALERICO: Sure. Sure. 17 Sir, what page are you talking about? 18 COMMISSIONER JASEK: Detention basin. 19 MR. TALERICO: What page of the 20 report? 21 The detention basin we have is an underground 22 pipe system that's located along here. It's a 36 23 inch pipe that runs, basically, the length of the 24 parking lot until we reach the outreach structure, 25 and then from here it's a reduced size pipe, a 15 48 MONTHLY MEETING 1 inch pipe, which will convey the reduction in flows. 2 COMMISSIONER JASEK: I see, so that 3 will satisfy the three feet by 475? 4 MR. TALERICO: Right. 5 COMMISSIONER JASEK: Okay. Very 6 good. Thank you. 7 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Any other 8 questions? 9 COMMISSIONER FITZGIBBONS: On the 10 handicapped parking on Kennedy Boulevard, you know 11 that you would have to go to the County Board of 12 Freeholders for that permission, if you are gonna' do 13 it? 14 MR. TINT: Let me clarify our 15 position. We were just open to the possibility of 16 setting aside some handicapped spaces on Kennedy 17 Boulevard. We clearly acknowledge that's under 18 county jurisdiction. If that's something the county 19 would like to see, we certainly would do whatever we 20 needed to to make that happen. If the Board feels 21 that that's appropriate, that's fine. We will 22 continue with the application as presented which, 23 again, suggests that there would be somewhere between 24 10 and 12 on-street spaces. 25 One thing that Jim missed or crossed over, 49 MONTHLY MEETING 1 there is essentially about 80 to 100 feet of frontage 2 along the entrance, the real, the actual entrance to 3 the project, and what we would like to do would have 4 that area striped for no parking, no standing so that 5 there is an open loading for quick off-loading, 6 on-loading from the building, no permanent parking, 7 and that is something that we would like to see. 8 Again, that's at the pleasure of this Board, 9 I would suspect, as to whether or not we could do 10 that. 11 COMMISSIONER JASEK: Mr. Chairman, 12 again, the only party who can grant this is the Board 13 of Freeholders, so there needs to be a separate 14 application either to the Clerk of the Board or to 15 the County Engineer. 16 MR. TINT: Okay. That would be 17 handled directly by the Freeholders? 18 COMMISSIONER JASEK: Yes. 19 MR. TINT: Just so I understand, too, 20 does that process apply as well to providing 21 on-street parking on Kennedy Boulevard, as well? 22 Would the Freeholders also have to approve the actual 23 striping of 10 to 12 spaces? 24 COMMISSIONER JASEK: No. That's 25 public parking for anybody. 50 MONTHLY MEETING 1 MR. TINT: Okay, so it's the 2 restriction that causes, creates the need for us to 3 go to the Freeholders? 4 COMMISSIONER JASEK: That's correct. 5 So far as I remember, there are no parking 6 meters, but it's not guaranteed that the City of 7 Bayonne can install parking meters. Parking 8 privileges is -- regulated parking meters is 9 regulated by the City. Any restriction to the 10 parking is regulated by the County. 11 MR. TINT: Okay, I got it. 12 Thank you. 13 COMMISSIONER FITZGIBBONS: I don't 14 know. Is there a Residency Department? There might 15 be a Residency Law there for parking, too. 16 MR. TINT: There is within -- Bayonne 17 does have a program with restricted residential 18 district parking. Again, how that applies to the 19 county, it sounds like your policy is, since it's a 20 county road, if there's a restriction, that only the 21 Freeholders can grant that restriction, but again -- 22 COMMISSIONER JASEK: Yeah. The 23 regular parking is regulated by the City. 24 MR. TINT: Oh, okay. 25 COMMISSIONER JASEK: Yes. 51 MONTHLY MEETING 1 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Any more 2 questions? 3 Motion to approve? 4 COMMISSIONER BETTINGER: I'll make a 5 motion to approve. 6 COMMISSIONER CHOFFO: I'll second it. 7 MR. MARKS: Mr. Chairman, on a motion 8 made by Commissioner Bettinger and seconded by 9 Commissioner Choffo: 10 Commissioner Avagliano? 11 COMMISSIONER AVAGLIANO: I vote aye. 12 MR. MARKS: Commissioner Fitzgibbons? 13 COMMISSIONER FITZGIBBONS: Aye. 14 MR. MARKS: Commissioner Jasek? 15 COMMISSIONER JASEK: Aye. 16 MR. MARKS: Commissioner Mehta? 17 COMMISSIONER MEHTA: Aye. 18 MR. MARKS: Chairman Holloway? 19 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Aye. 20 MR. MARKS: Mr. Chairman, the motion 21 passes. 22 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Thank you. 23 MR. KAPLAN: Commissioners, thank you, 24 very much. 25 MR. MARKS: Mr. Chairman, the next 52 MONTHLY MEETING 1 application scheduled for public hearing is SP-72-05, 2 New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC, at 894-896 Kennedy 3 Boulevard in Bayonne. 4 MR. LEVINE: Good evening. My name is 5 Michael Levine. I'm an attorney with Pitney Hardin 6 here on behalf of the applicant, New Cingular 7 Wireless. 8 We are seeking site plan approval this 9 evening for our proposed co-location of equipment 10 cabinets and telecommunications antennas on the roof 11 top of the existing building at 894-896 Kennedy 12 Boulevard. 13 This is a matter that's still currently 14 pending before the Board of Adjustment in Bayonne. 15 We did receive the review letter that was prepared 16 earlier this month by the Planner's Office, which 17 only noted that we would have to attain all necessary 18 county road opening permits that might be required in 19 connection with the project, and we certainly 20 acknowledge that. 21 I have with me this evening our Civil 22 Engineer, who can just briefly review with you the 23 equipment we're seeking to install on this existing 24 structure. 25 If you could just introduce yourself to the 53 MONTHLY MEETING 1 Board, please. 2 MS. SHAH: My name is Ekata Shah. I 3 am a Registered Engineer in the State of New Jersey. 4 I have my Bachelors Degree and a Masters Degree in 5 the Field of Civil Engineering. I have -- I'm 6 graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington 7 and I work in the telecommunications industries for 8 about, over five years and have designed dozens of 9 towers, monopoles, roof tops, roof top equipment 10 cabinets, et cetera. 11 MR. LEVINE: Will the Board accept 12 this witness as an expert? 13 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Swear her in 14 first. 15 EKATA SHAH, having been first duly sworn according to 16 law, testified as follows: 17 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: We accept her. 18 MR. LEVINE: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 19 Could you just briefly describe the 20 telecommunications facility we propose on this 21 existing structure? 22 MS. SHAH: This application over here 23 is for the installation of six antennas, 24 telecommunication antennas on top of a four-story 25 residential building which is located in the R-2 54 MONTHLY MEETING 1 zone. This residential building is located on the 2 northeast corner of the intersection of Kennedy 3 Boulevard and West 31st -- 35th Street. These six 4 panel antennas are in groups of three, two antennas 5 per sector. These antennas will be monitored on 6 three dumbwaiter shafts which will be located on the 7 roof of the building. Along with the antennas, we're 8 also proposing to install five equipment cabinets. 9 These cabinets will be installed on a steel platform 10 on the roof. 11 MR. LEVINE: Will this facility be 12 staffed on a permanent basis by any Cingular 13 employees? 14 MS. SHAH: No. They'll be no 15 permanents. This is an unmanned facility. They'll 16 be no -- 17 MR. LEVINE: Visits are made 18 approximately how often? Maybe once a month? 19 MR. SHAH: Yeah. Approximately four 20 to six weeks. 21 MR. LEVINE: Will there be any change 22 to the impervious coverage at the existing site? 23 MS. SHAH: No, there will not be, no 24 change to the impervious. 25 MR. LEVINE: Any change to the 55 MONTHLY MEETING 1 drainage patterns? 2 MS. SHAH: No. 3 MR. LEVINE: That's probably all we 4 have by way of any direct testimony. We'd be pleased 5 to answer any questions you may have. 6 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: I have a question. 7 Is there a weight restriction for any 8 equipment on top of a roof or anything like that? 9 MR. LEVINE: Has a structural analysis 10 been done to see if any building can accommodate this 11 equipment? 12 MS. SHAH: Yes, it has been done, and 13 it can accommodate the cabinets. 14 COMMISSIONER FITZGIBBONS: What type 15 of building is it? Is it residential? Is it 16 multiple dwelling? 17 MS. SHAH: Residential. 18 COMMISSIONER FITZGIBBONS: Did you 19 receive any permission from Bayonne on that? 20 MR. LEVINE: It's still pending. 21 COMMISSIONER AVAGLIANO: You mentioned 22 cabinets. Are they going to be in the center of the 23 building or at the edge of the building? 24 MS. SHAH: It's on the southeastern 25 corner of the building, southeastern side. 56 MONTHLY MEETING 1 COMMISSIONER AVAGLIANO: I know this 2 building very well. It's at the corner at the 3 curve? 4 MS. SHAH: Yes. 5 COMMISSIONER AVAGLIANO: If this is in 6 the center, they will not be seen by everyone. They 7 won't be obvious. 8 Are they going to be at the end of the 9 building? 10 MS. SHAH: It is slightly towards the 11 edge of the building, yes. It's right here, and 12 this, this is the side of the building on the West 13 35th Street. It's away from the front face of the 14 building. 15 COMMISSIONER AVAGLIANO: It will not 16 be seen from the front? 17 MS. SHAH: It won't be seen from the 18 front. 19 COMMISSIONER FITZGIBBONS: You 20 mentioned that it's going to be, you mentioned that 21 it's going to be placed over dumbwaiter shafts? 22 MS. SHAH: The antennas will be placed 23 on the dumbwaiter shafts. 24 COMMISSIONER FITZGIBBONS: Are the 25 dumbwaiter shafts usable? 57 MONTHLY MEETING 1 MS. SHAH: Yes, they are usable. 2 COMMISSIONER FITZGIBBONS: The tenants 3 use them? 4 MS. SHAH: I'm sorry. 5 COMMISSIONER FITZGIBBONS: The tenants 6 use them? 7 MS. SHAH: The tenants, no. It's 8 closed right now. The opening's actually closed and 9 it's usable for the antenna mounting. It's not 10 currently in use for anything else. 11 COMMISSIONER FITZGIBBONS: The fire 12 stop on -- are you going to put a fire stop on that 13 when you put it over it? 14 MS. SHAH: I'm sorry. I cannot hear 15 you. I'm sorry. 16 COMMISSIONER FITZGIBBONS: The 17 dumbwaiter shaft, are you going to put a fire stop 18 before you -- 19 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Are you going to 20 put a fire stop? 21 MR. LEVINE: A fire stop over the 22 dumbwaiter shaft is the question. 23 MS. SHAH: Well, we can, if it's 24 required. 25 COMMISSIONER FITZGIBBONS: Well, there 58 MONTHLY MEETING 1 is a law, regulations about shafts that are not in 2 use that there has to be, there's a fire code, so I 3 would suggest that you talk to the fire official 4 there. 5 MR. LEVINE: We will certainly do 6 that. 7 MS. SHAH: We will do that. 8 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Bob, do you have 9 any questions? 10 COMMISSIONER JASEK: No, Mr. Chairman, 11 I don't. 12 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Any other 13 questions? 14 COMMISSIONER CHOFFO: Has it been 15 approved by -- 16 MR. LEVINE: This has not been heard 17 by them. Yes. We actually had a hearing scheduled 18 and unfortunately the Star Ledger published our 19 notice incorrectly and so we had to reschedule, and 20 due to the backlog on their Agenda, I think we have 21 been rescheduled for September. 22 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Commissioner 23 Choffo? 24 COMMISSIONER CHOFFO: Is there any 25 existing antennas on the building? 59 MONTHLY MEETING 1 MR. LEVINE: No. 2 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Any more 3 questions? 4 COMMISSIONER AVAGLIANO: Yes. 5 How high are these cabinets? Can you tell me 6 that? 7 MS. SHAH: Yes. The cabinets are 8 approximately six feet high. 9 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: That's it? 10 Motion to approve? 11 COMMISSIONER FITZGIBBONS: I make a 12 motion to approve, pending the approval from Bayonne 13 Planning Board. 14 COMMISSIONER MEHTA: I will second. 15 MR. MARKS: Mr. Chairman, on a motion 16 made by Commissioner Fitzgibbons and seconded by 17 Commissioner Mehta: 18 Commissioner Avagliano? 19 COMMISSIONER AVAGLIANO: I vote aye, 20 providing the Bayonne Planning Board approves this. 21 MS. SHAH: Okay. 22 MR. LEVINE: It would actually be the 23 Board of Adjustment, but yes. 24 MR. MARKS: Commissioner Bettinger? 25 COMMISSIONER BETTINGER: Aye. 60 MONTHLY MEETING 1 MR. MARKS: Commissioner Choffo? 2 COMMISSIONER CHOFFO: Aye. 3 MR. MARKS: Commissioner Jasek? 4 COMMISSIONER JASEK: Aye. 5 MR. MARKS: Chairman Holloway? 6 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Aye, with the 7 stipulation of the approval from Bayonne. 8 MR. LEVINE: Understood. 9 MR. MARKS: Mr. Chairman, the motion 10 passed. 11 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: I'm sorry, Steve. 12 Go ahead. 13 MR. MARKS: Mr. Chairman, the next and 14 final item on the Agenda, the application scheduled 15 for public hearing is SP-74-05, Union City 16 Redevelopment Agency for the Roosevelt Stadium 17 Demolition in Union City, New Jersey. 18 MR. FLORA: Good evening, ladies and 19 gentlemen. Louis M. Flora, of counsel, with the Law 20 Firm of Dennis J. Oury, beautiful Hackensack, New 21 Jersey. Not as beautiful as Jersey City, though. 22 We're here tonight with somewhat of a 23 different project. The project before you tonight is 24 one of six such projects located throughout the State 25 of New Jersey. It's known as a Demonstration Grant 61 MONTHLY MEETING 1 Project and it's approved pursuant to the Special 2 Legislation under the Comprehensive Education 3 Improvement Financing Act under Title 18A of the 4 Education Laws. 5 The project is essentially a school 6 facilities project that is being constructed in a 7 redevelopment area in a special needs district. It 8 is funded almost entirely by the State of New Jersey 9 under the requirements of an Ed V. Burke, and one of 10 the unique features of it is it is built under the 11 direction of the local redevelopment agency. It is 12 built as a redevelopment project. It is not 13 constructed by the New Jersey Schools Corporation, 14 which, in fact, constructs all that, but projects 15 throughout the state, and we have a few interesting 16 issues to bring before you. 17 First off, I'd like to mention that this 18 project has been approved by the local planning board 19 in the City of Union City just last month. We expect 20 the resolution to be memorialized within the next 21 week or so at their next meeting. The review before 22 the Union City Planning Board was a review of two 23 issues. One, the 40:55(d)-31 capital project review 24 particular to school projects; and two, the granting 25 of a minor subdivision on Block 134, which is the 62 MONTHLY MEETING 1 Roosevelt Stadium block. That minor subdivision 2 impacts us to the point that we thought it was 3 appropriate to come before this Board, because Block 4 134, the Roosevelt Stadium block does, in fact, touch 5 Kennedy Boulevard. We also have an additional block 6 which we would call the triangle block and that is 7 Block 133. That block is also going to be part of 8 the project and it also impacts Kennedy Boulevard. 9 We had issues with respect to the relocation of 10 sewers and a water line. There was some discussions 11 with respect to changing parking. 12 I have with me tonight the project engineer. 13 We have our professional engineer -- I'm sorry, the 14 project architect, our professional engineer, our 15 traffic expert and our executive director, Mr. Thomas 16 Lee, who is the Executive Director of the Union City 17 Redevelopment Agency and who's put this project, in 18 large part, together. 19 I would like to introduce, at this point in 20 time, our project architect, Mr. Jeff Schlecht, of 21 the law firm of Rivardo, Schnitzer and Capazzi. You 22 know those Italian names. 23 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: State your name, 24 please. 25 MR. SCHLECHT: My name is Jeff 63 MONTHLY MEETING 1 Schlecht, that's S-C-H-L-E-C-H-T, with Rivardo, 2 Schnitzer, Capazzi Architects. 3 MR. FLORA: Mr. Schlecht, would you be 4 kind enough to give the Board the benefit of your 5 qualifications and experience? 6 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Excuse me. Our 7 attorney is going to swear him in. 8 JEFFREY SCHLECHT, having been first duly sworn 9 according to law, testified as follows: 10 MR. SCHLECHT: I'm an architect 11 registered in the State of New Jersey. I've appeared 12 before several boards in Bergen County and in Hudson 13 County, as well Union City, particularly. Working 14 with Rivardo, Schnitzer, Capazzi Architects for seven 15 years now managing several projects in the caliber of 16 the one we're presenting to you tonight. 17 MR. FLORA: I would offer Mr. Schlecht 18 as an expert in the field of architecture. 19 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Yes. 20 MR. FLORA: Thank you. 21 Mr. Schlecht, would you be kind enough to 22 expound upon, by description of the project, if you 23 would talk briefly about the project, briefly, and 24 talk about the layout as it affects Kennedy 25 Boulevard. 64 MONTHLY MEETING 1 MR. SCHLECHT: Okay. One of the core 2 concepts of the demonstration project was to take a 3 high school facility and integrate some community 4 events to that and be the center of the redevelopment 5 that is ongoing in Union City. 6 With that, we are proposing a high school 7 that incorporates some -- a performing arts 8 component, a gymnasium component that can be used 9 after hours, school hours, and an athletic facility 10 that can be used by the City of Union City. Several 11 of the components are found inside the high school 12 and some of the components are found on the roof of 13 the high school. We have designed the high school in 14 accordance with the different aspects of the site, 15 and we have a four-story element along 24th Street 16 extending from JFK to Summit Street -- I'm sorry, 17 26th Street, and that is your academic portion of the 18 high school. The balance of the site, which is from 19 JFK to Summit between 24th and 26th is a two-story 20 portion of structure that contains our shared 21 activity areas, these community events that I've 22 described. We have -- in the brown we have 23 performing arts auditorium; in the purple on the 24 right we have the large gymnasium, to seat about 25 1,000 people; we have our media center adjacent to 65 MONTHLY MEETING 1 courtyard space in the green; and then we have some 2 other shared activities, your music and art rooms, 3 spaces like that. 4 The roof top athletic facilities is accessed 5 via a ramp on 24th Street from Summit Ave., the 6 corner of 24th and Summit. They'll be a ramp 11 feet 7 wide, enough for a vehicle to -- an emergency vehicle 8 to access, made for pedestrian access as well, to 9 approach from 24th and Summit up towards JFK and 10 reach the second floor roof area, which will have a 11 field area to accommodate baseball, soccer and 12 football playing. It will be an artificial turf 13 field and there will be bleacher seating to 14 accommodate about 2,000 people. The facility, as a 15 whole, can accommodate about 4,000 people on the 16 roof, on the roof, that we can safely exit off the 17 roof. 18 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: You say 4,000? 19 MR. SCHLECHT: 4,000, so that would 20 assume 2,000 in the stands and then 2,000 roaming 21 about the field, as they will. 22 So in terms of the use of the site, the 23 main -- the entrance of the facility is at JFK in the 24 center of the site, though the high school entrance 25 is at -- main high school entrance is at 26th Street 66 MONTHLY MEETING 1 and our main pedestrian access to the athletic 2 facility is at 24th and Summit, so we tried to spread 3 everything out. 4 MR. FLORA: Would you be kind enough, 5 for the benefit of the Board, to utilize this drawing 6 here, which is part of the submission of the site 7 plan? 8 This is page C-01 of the plans submitted with 9 the application. It shows Block 134 where the 10 stadium will be located as well as Block 133, the 11 triangle block in that area of Kennedy Boulevard 12 between 24th and 26th Street in Union City. Be kind 13 enough to talk about the impact with respect to 14 proposed parking, loading areas and location of bus 15 signs. 16 MR. SCHLECHT: Okay. As I had 17 mentioned, the main entrance we're proposing is going 18 to be on JFK. Basically, at the intersection of 19 where Kerrigan and JFK currently meet. We will be 20 vacating Kerrigan Ave. as part of this project and 21 consuming this triangle lot, Kerrigan and the 22 existing Roosevelt Stadium. On JFK Boulevard there 23 is currently some off-street parking as well as a bus 24 stop, currently. We are proposing that an open plaza 25 area, enlarged sidewalk area, if you will, that is 67 MONTHLY MEETING 1 that JFK sidewalk will continue across that, will act 2 as a plaza entrance for the facility. We're 3 proposing to have a curb-cut or bus drop-off or 4 vehicular drop-off or an evening event, if something 5 like that were to be needed, along the tip of the 6 triangle parcel. 7 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Is that part of 8 Kennedy Boulevard? 9 MR. SCHLECHT: That is part of Kennedy 10 Boulevard, this portion right here. 11 We are also proposing a pedestrian arcade 12 that is situated along the portion of the building 13 that is going to overlap Kerrigan Boulevard to help 14 to bring pedestrians from the south of Kerrigan and 15 24th Street across or underneath our building to that 16 entrance so that they might not have to walk all the 17 way along JFK when they're trying to release some of 18 the congestion in the state of an event. 19 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: How wide is the 20 sidewalk on Kennedy Boulevard to the property? 21 MR. SCHLECHT: It's approximately 12 22 feet. 23 The other impact that we will be having is 24 the first floor elevation of our project is the 25 median level of the entire site, which is about, 68 MONTHLY MEETING 1 elevation 190. The site slopes from a low point here 2 about 185 to a high point of about 205 in this 3 corner, the diagonal. By the time a pedestrian gets 4 to this point, mid block here, I'm at my finished 5 floor elevation, my first floor. By the time I get 6 to this area, where my entrance is, I'm about -- 7 there's about a three foot, 30 inch differential. In 8 order to mediate that for wheelchair access and 9 handicap accessibility, there will be a portion of 10 sidewalk here. We're going to have a small retaining 11 wall to mediate that grade, where the sidewalk will 12 continue to rise up, and our entrance or our sidewalk 13 for the high school will mediate down to that 14 elevation 190. The plaza area will then have steps 15 to bring that grade back up at this area here, where 16 the steps, plaza and the sidewalk elevation of JFK 17 will come together. 18 MR. FLORA: You're talking about 19 eliminating the parking and -- 20 MR. SCHLECHT: And we're proposing to 21 eliminate the parking walk. 22 MR. FLORA: Do you have -- 23 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Sorry. You 24 finished? 25 MR. FLORA: Yes. If you want to ask 69 MONTHLY MEETING 1 some questions of Mr. Schlecht, at this point we're 2 at the end of the presentation. 3 I'd also like to bring forward our engineer 4 to discuss issues with respect to relocation of sewer 5 and water and drainage. 6 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: All right. 7 COMMISSIONER FITZGIBBONS: I got a 8 question. 9 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Why don't we 10 finish -- 11 COMMISSIONER FITZGIBBONS: All right. 12 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: -- with the 13 testimony, then you ask questions. 14 COMMISSIONER FITZGIBBONS: All right. 15 MR. FLORA: Mr. David Beesley. Kind 16 enough to swear him, counsel? 17 DAVID BEESLEY, having been first duly sworn according 18 to law, testified as follows: 19 MR. FLORA: Mr. Beesley, would you be 20 kind enough to give the Board your educational 21 experience? 22 MR. BEESLEY: I have a Bachelor of 23 Science in Civil Engineering, I have been practicing 24 Civil Engineering since the late 1970's, I am 25 licensed in New Jersey as well as New York, 70 MONTHLY MEETING 1 Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Florida. I've appeared 2 before this Board many times and boards throughout 3 New Jersey and I have been accepted as a professional 4 engineer. 5 MR. FLORA: I would offer Mr. Beesley 6 as Professional Engineer. 7 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: We accept him. 8 MR. FLORA: Thank you. 9 Mr. Beesley, I'd ask if you'd be kind enough 10 to talk about the project with respect to the 11 traditional civil engineering aspects, water drainage 12 and sewer. 13 MR. BEESLEY: I'm referring to drawing 14 C-01. There is a water line along the sidewalk. 15 It's actually below the sidewalk in front of the 16 site. That water line needs to be relocated, needs 17 to be relocated for two reasons. It needs -- you 18 need to relocate to facilitate all the demolition and 19 rock removal, and we need it to facilitate the new 20 construction, both the foundation to the building and 21 the building itself so that we do not disturb that. 22 Relocating that water line will be done by United 23 Water and it will require temporary closing of the 24 first lane of Kennedy Boulevard for a relatively 25 short period, in the order of one to two weeks. 71 MONTHLY MEETING 1 There is a sewer that is within the project 2 site that's being relocated under the direction of 3 the North Hudson Sewerage Authority. We have spent 4 many meetings with them to coordinate their efforts 5 and our efforts. We started meeting with them 6 probably two years ago. We will continue to meet 7 with them and we have coordinated both construction 8 schedules to facilitate their work and to facilitate 9 the construction of this building. 10 The site drainage itself is being brought to, 11 basically to this corner of 24th and Summit where we 12 will have a similar drainage system, as was described 13 by an earlier applicant, with some underground pipes 14 and a regulator to discharge at a controlled rate. 15 The rest of the utilities are pretty 16 straightforward. 17 MR. FLORA: There was also a need to 18 close a lane of Kennedy Boulevard? 19 MR. BEESLEY: Yes. 20 MR. FLORA: That would be a lane along 21 Block 133? 22 MR. BEESLEY: Yeah. When we go to 23 demolish this building, we will similarly need to 24 close the one lane to facilitate that demolition. 25 MR. FLORA: How long do you anticipate 72 MONTHLY MEETING 1 that would take? 2 MR. BEESLEY: Again, probably another 3 week or so for that, that closure. 4 MR. FLORA: In terms of the time frame 5 for all this work to be done, would it be fair to say 6 that by middle to late August, that could be 7 accommodated? 8 MR. BEESLEY: That's what our schedule 9 is at this point. 10 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: I'm sorry. How 11 long was that? 12 COMMISSIONER BETTINGER: I didn't 13 hear. 14 MR. BEESLEY: August. By the end of 15 August. 16 COMMISSIONER AVAGLIANO: Mr. Beesley, 17 how about time of completion? 18 MR. BEESLEY: Oh, for the building 19 itself, I'm going to have to defer that back to the 20 architect. I don't really remember what the building 21 schedule is. 22 MR. SCHLECHT: 2008. 23 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: One of the 24 concerns I have with the demolition of the building 25 is taking away a lane on Kennedy Boulevard, and if 73 MONTHLY MEETING 1 this has to happen, fine, but you said one lane. You 2 don't anticipate two lanes? 3 MR. BEESLEY: No. 4 MR. FLORA: No. 5 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: You said one to 6 two weeks? 7 MR. BEESLEY: Yeah. It's actually, 8 right now we're looking at a week-and-a-half. They 9 bumped it up, just to be on the safe side. 10 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: We're not going 11 into this three weeks, a month, month-and-a-half? 12 MR. BEESLEY: No. 13 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Okay. One of the 14 other things was traffic. What time will you 15 basically be doing this, the demolition part? 16 MR. BEESLEY: It's going to be Monday 17 through Friday. 18 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: No time table? 19 COMMISSIONER AVAGLIANO: During the 20 day? 21 MR. BEESLEY: During the day, 22 absolutely. 23 MR. FLORA: We do have flexibility 24 built into the contract. It can be done on off peak 25 hours, including weekends. 74 MONTHLY MEETING 1 COMMISSIONER FITZGIBBONS: And on 2 Sundays, too? 3 MR. FLORA: I think Saturdays. I'm 4 not sure about Sundays. 5 COMMISSIONER FITZGIBBONS: I got a 6 question on the traffic. 7 By the triangle traffic is going to pull out 8 like it usually does now? 9 MR. FLORA: Over here? 10 COMMISSIONER FITZGIBBONS: Yeah. 11 That's a -- 12 MR. FLORA: That's going to be 13 vacated. 14 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: It's not gonna' be 15 there. 16 COMMISSIONER FITZGIBBONS: They'll be 17 no street? 18 MR. BEESLEY: No street here. 19 COMMISSIONER AVAGLIANO: No triangle? 20 MR. BEESLEY: No. 21 COMMISSIONER FITZGIBBONS: Because 22 that's a funny way to come out on Kennedy Boulevard, 23 very dangerous. 24 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: That's not going 25 to be there. 75 MONTHLY MEETING 1 MR. FLORA: Extremely dangerous. 2 Actually, the County Engineer was pleased to hear 3 that we had proposed vacating it. 4 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: See if you can 5 work with the City of Union City and County, because 6 it's a county road, to try to somehow work with off 7 peak hours, if possible. 8 MR. FLORA: Okay. 9 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Because Kennedy 10 Boulevard is a main drag. You take one lane out, 11 that means you got traffic jammed 10 blocks, so 12 that's a concern. 13 MR. FLORA: We also have with us 14 tonight our traffic expert, if there were any 15 questions that the Board had with respect to traffic 16 issues. We did submit, in addition to these drawings 17 and our application, a traffic report that discussed 18 the impact of the, of this facility, as well as 19 there's a parking lot being constructed as part of 20 the project. It is not bordering on Kennedy 21 Boulevard. Actually, it's -- if we were to look at 22 this in the, in the context of blocks in the City of 23 Union City, right about this point here, Block 120, 24 which will have a 200 car parking garage to service 25 the employees of the -- 76 MONTHLY MEETING 1 MR. BEESLEY: Lou? 2 MR. FLORA: Yes. 3 Oh, this is the proposed location for the 200 4 parking space garage, and that is also part of the 5 demonstration project. This also is being funded by 6 the state as part of that project. 7 As I said, I do have the traffic expert 8 here. He can elaborate on the report, if you have 9 any questions with respect to that. 10 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Yes, if you could. 11 MR. FLORA: Would you like to -- 12 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Yes. 13 MR. FLORA: Mr. Nicholas Verderese. 14 MR. CALVANICO: Spell your name and -- 15 MR. VERDERESE: Yes. Nicholas 16 Verderese. I'm Department Manager of the Traffic 17 Division of the firm of Shoor, DePalma. 18 MR. FLORA: Could you state your 19 professional licenses and educational training? 20 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: Swear him in, 21 please, first. 22 NICHOLAS VERDERESE, having been first duly sworn 23 according to law, testified as follows: 24 MR. VERDERESE: I'm a licensed 25 Professional Engineer in the State of New Jersey. As 77 MONTHLY MEETING 1 I said, I'm the Department Manager of our Traffic 2 Department at Shoor, DePalma, 200 Route 9, Manalapan, 3 New Jersey. I have been practicing traffic and 4 transportation for 15 years. I've appeared before 5 this Board, probably another 100 boards and represent 6 a number of boards as their traffic engineer as well. 7 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: We approve. 8 MR. FLORA: Thank you. 9 Mr. Verderese, if you could just -- the Board 10 may have -- 11 CHAIRMAN HOLLOWAY: I'm sorry. Could 12 you speak up a little louder? 13 MR. FLORA: I'm sorry. It's the end 14 of the day. 15 If you'd be kind enough to answer any 16 questions that the Board might have with respect to 17 traffic issues. We had talked about, initially, the 18 stadium site itself and what impacts, if any, you 19 believe this would have on Kennedy Boulevard. 20 MR. VERDERESE: We did prepare a full 21 traffic impact study. It was submitted to the city 22 as well as the Planning Board. We identified a 23 number of improvements, some being on city roadways, 24 and we identified a few improvements that we thought 25 would help out along the county facility as well 78 MONTHLY MEETING 1 along Kennedy, along with what you heard earlier of 2 not having any parking out on Kennedy, and just so 3 you understand, there actually isn't any parking on 4 Kennedy in front of the, in front of the existing 5 facility. There's all yellow curb there and 6 curb-cuts basically along the three buildings that 7 are there in the triangle today. What we're coming 8 up with are some improvements to some traffic signals 9 on Summit Avenue, to incorporate some pedestrian 10 actuation there due to the projected increase in 11 pedestrian activity in those areas. The signals out 12 on Kennedy were recently upgraded as part of a county 13 improvement project. There are pedestrian actuation 14 there, so that's adequate for, for the additional 15 pedestrians that are seen and, as you know, there's a 16 significant number of pedestrians out on Kennedy 17 today. 18 We did identify some potential striping 19 improvements, possibly a number of them would require 20 elimination of some existing parking, so basically 21 what would happen is we'd have to work with the city 22 and the city would have to work with the county if 23 that was something they actually wanted to do to 24 eliminate some parking, maybe just near the 25 intersection on the side streets in order to maybe 79 MONTHLY MEETING 1 accommodate striping of additional lane at Kennedy 2 Boulevard, but our primary improvements are actually 3 on the city roadway, on Summit. We have a new 4 traffic signal proposed at Summit and 23rd. As you 5 heard, our parking garage will actually be there, so 6 the majority of our parking for school hours -- 7 basically, the parking will be for the teachers and 8 that will happen on 23rd, so what we've identified is 9 an additional traffic signal there as well as the two 10 traffic signal upgrades along Summit Avenue. We did 11 do an extensive traffic study. Again, we're working 12 with the city right now on some of those improvements 13 and, again, the city will be coming to the county and 14 continuously working with them. This project will be