Yep. had it for a while. >> Yep. >> S >> uh I think it's not an I think it's just one folks and welcome to the realization.
This is Wednesday, January 14th. Um, and at this I'm going to ask for a flag salute and a moment of silence, please. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. Okay. At this time, I'm turn to legal attorney. Oh yeah, that's true. >> There are those who said that. All
right. So the first order of business is the administration of the oath to new or I guess returning members. Uh I have most of her allegiance that have been signed by Thomas James Biano, Brian D. Maria, Craig McCarrick, Beatmasonable,
William Nerst, and Pasha Lys. Go. First of all, do is there anybody that is supposed to be sworn in within this set? >> Yes, >> I think both of us. >> I'm glad I asked this. >> Okay. So, it's Mayor, you and Stephanie.
>> Yes. >> All right. So, I'll we'll worry about filling them out and signing them out. You guys can sign them and pass them down and I'll notoriize them. I've taken the signatures of the first six that I identified and I notorized them. What I'm going to do now is uh administer the
the caucus. So I would ask that the people who I just identified all please raise your right hand and then repeat after me. >> I state your name. >> I understand. >> You solemnly swear or affirm >> you solemnly swear
>> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> that I shall support the Constitution of the United States >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey. And I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same. >> And I will bear true faith and
allegiance to the same. >> And to the governments established >> And to the governments established >> in the United States and in this state >> in the United States and this state >> under the authority of the people. So help me God. >> The authority of the people. So help me God.
>> I do further solemnly swear a swear >> that I will impartially justly perform. partially >> all the duties of the office >> all the duties of the office >> of and then state the office you're
going to >> of training member okay according to the best of my ability >> according to the best of my ability >> sworn in congratulations okay so Adele these six that I have are right here I want to get the mayor
Stephanie all the package for you okay my second duty as uh temporarily residing of this meeting is to oversee the election of the chair of the planning board for the six calendar year. Uh do I hear any
nominations? >> I would like to nominate Steve Greet. >> I'll second. >> We have a nomination and a second for Steve Greet. Are there any other nominations that anyone would like to put forward? Seeing none, I'll consider nominations
to be closed. Um, we have a roll call on the nomination of Steve Breed as chair. >> Mayor Blumentock. >> I, >> Miss Lysac, >> I. >> Councilwoman Biano, >> I. >> Mr. Greet, >> hi. >> Miss Valagio, >> I >> Mr. Neareststead,
>> hi. >> Mr. Barkin, Miss Haye, >> I >> Mr. McCarrick, >> Mr. Mason, Hi, >> Mr. Di Maria. Hi. >> And Mr. Biano. >> So,
chair, congratulations and condolences. Turn the meeting over to you. >> Thank you. Thank you for the support. I appreciate that. Um, and with that, we'll we'll move on to the election of a vice chair. Um, and at this time, I'll
call for nominations for a vice chair of the planning board for 2026. Do we hear any nominations? Uh, chair, I would like to nominate Kathy Velagio for vice chair. >> Okay. Um, and uh, are there any other nominations?
>> Seeing none, I'll um, I'll open that up for uh, for roll call. >> Mayor Blumentock. >> I, Miss Lysac, >> I. >> Um, Councilwoman Biano. >> I, >> Chair Greet. >> Hi, >> Miss Veagio. >> Hi, >> Mr. Nearest. >> Hi,
>> Mr. Barkin. Mr. Miss Haye, Mr. McCarrick, Mr. Mason, >> hi >> Mr. Di Maria, and Mr. Biano. >> Hi. >> Hi. Thank you. And congratulations. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you.
>> Okay. Uh we'll move on to resolution PB1 and that's a resolution to appoint a board attorney to the planning board through and including January 2027 meeting. Um, do I hear a resolution appointing making a recommendation for appointment?
>> Uh, I'll make a recommendation of Don Frasier. >> I be board attorney. >> Second. >> Any other nominations? Seeing none, uh, can I have a roll call for a resolution to nominate, um, board
attorney Don Frasier? >> Mayor Blumentock. >> I, Miss Lysac, >> hi. >> Councilwoman Biano, >> I, >> Chair Greet, >> hi. >> Miss Veagio, >> hi. >> Mr. Nearest, >> hi. >> Mr. Barkin, >> Mr. McCarrick, Miss Haye, >> Mr. Mason, >> hi
>> Mr. Di Maria, and Mr. Biano. >> Welcome. meeting now starts at 7:25. >> I'm gonna have to resubmit 7:30. >> Okay. Um we'll move on for for
resolution PB-2 and that's a resolution to appoint um the board's consulting engineer planner for the planning board through and including the January 2027 reorganization meeting of the board. Do I hear any nominations?
>> Only thing I would say prior to that nomination is I just think there'd be board should um at least take note of the fact that there were multiple submissions for that position >> and there have been and I would assume that everyone received the uh the notifications on email of um there was
another application submitted. >> Yes, I >> yes I did. I looked it over and uh Victor's office was uh par cheaper and experience says it all >> and I yeah I did the same thing. So um
anyway going forward um do I hear a resolution to a board to a appoint a um a consulting engineer? >> I'll make that motion for uh Victor Pengra second. And uh I think uh Harbor
Consultants should should also be in that nomination. >> Okay. And uh any other nominations? >> Seeing none, I'll close that portion of it. Uh so with a u resolution to um appoint Harbor Consultants and Victor's
firm. Um roll call, please. >> Mayor Blumentock I. >> Miss Lysac, I >> Councilman Biano. >> Chair Greed. >> Hi. >> Miss Valagio. >> Hi. >> Mr. Mr. Nearstead. >> Hi, >> Mr. Barkin. >> Miss Haye, >> Mr. McCarrick, Mr. Mason, >> hi
>> Mr. Di Maria, >> and Mr. Biano. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. And um at this time, we'll move on for um resolution PB3, and that's to appoint a recommendation
to appoint a board secretary to the planning board through including the January 2027th reorganization meeting of the board. Um, do I hear the nomination? >> Uh, chair, I'd like to um nominate Adele Lewis. >> I'll second that.
>> Okay. Any other nominations? Closing portion of it. Um, at this time, we'll take the uh >> chairman voice vote on that. I think that is one that can be done by acclamation by the Hol. All those in favor?
That motion carries. Thank you, Adele. >> Thank you. >> I noticed that there are a lot of people just chomping at the bit to come hear us. Um, at this time I'm going to have have a a resolution PB-4 and that's a a resolution um to
designate the Union County Local Source, the Westfield Leader and Star Ledger online legal service, the official newspapers of the planning board for the publications of official notices and as the official newspapers to receive notices for the purpose of the open
public meetings act for the year 2026. as of March. >> I got a question on this. >> What happened to the Union County Board? >> Doesn't It's the Westfield leader again. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> It's called the Westfield Leader. Um as
of March, things change. Is it March 1st? >> Yeah. >> Right. And and I understand that, but um I would still like this board to put it in the papers. Even if the legal notice online satisfies the legal requirement, I would still like to require that the
applicant publish it in a paper. >> I don't I I understand what the legislature did. I don't agree with what the legislature did. Um and I would like to the board to consider still putting it um on paper in the Westfield.
>> Bill is in the applicant. Um I spoke with Adele before like I wanted to know uh about that also and she indicated that she will be putting it >> you will be >> in the newspapers. >> Okay. But that's putting but in the past
the applicant >> that I feel we're talking about the notice of decision. I'm still going to publish that but I know what you're saying two different things. Right. >> You got it done. >> Well yeah but let's let's let me break this down. It's funny because I was I was on the phone with the Westfield leader yesterday because
there's something I got to publish tomorrow at last minute which I did not for this but so first of all so it's no longer the Union County balls the Westfield leader >> yes >> that explains what I did which I didn't know.
>> Second of all the star ledger the online part I know that's what people are doing now. I'm not intimately familiar with the statutory authorization for that, but I'm pretty sure that's right. I don't know off the top of my head, Bill,
whether this board has the authority to require the additional notice that you are suggesting. Not saying it's a bad idea. I'm not saying it's a good idea. If you want to do it, I would just count the couch that resolution is provided
that that is uh acceptable under state law and I'll review that question or somebody has to actually do it. >> Okay. If you could I would appreciate that because yes, we're all online and yes, you know, have you know computers and everything else. Okay. But at the
same time, you know, still think it's good to see in the paper and I would like the residents of Garwood to be able to see it in the paper. Well, if that's the case, if we like if they don't um
um then we have to change our application package. >> No, we don't because they >> don't to indicate. Okay. >> Package indicates they have to publish. Okay. >> So, >> so we change it anyway. >> We don't need to change it. We can keep
it. All we have to do assuming assuming that this is in fact allowable bill which it may well be. I'm not saying it's not. >> Assuming that we're allowed to add that they have to publish in writing in
addition to electronically publishing. First of all, what that'll probably do, people are just bad doing the electronic publishing because they have no reason to do it. Well, I don't know because I'm
not advocating that they comply with the newspaper 10 days before. The electronic one is going to be the legal one that they're responsible that's going to count the 10 days before. The other one in all honesty, it's an extra. I don't care if it's three days before. I don't care if it's four days before. Doesn't
matter because the the other one >> the leader publishes on Thursday. >> Yeah. You have to do it >> our meetings, >> right? >> So that will be six days before. >> Correct. That's what it will really be. >> Correct. >> And you're saying that you want to put
in a requirement that we have as a board that they have to also publish in the Westfield. >> I apologize. I think you said the same thing twice. I don't understand the difference of what you just said. What I'm saying is the the
what the legislature did is that applicants no longer have to put on paper, >> right? >> Just it's just online. So what I'm saying is that I think there are a lot of residents. I think there are a lot of people I'm going to say in Garwood but throughout the state but only concerned about Garwood. Okay. That
>> they're not going to look online and the legal ads in the paper either. >> Um I think you'd be surprised. I mean you and I both aren't over the years. All sen you get these phone calls people see stuff in the in the legal ads and you go you read them. So I beg to differ
on that but you know what I'm saying is that is the online one. Okay. is the legal requirement. Um, and it satisfies a requirement. But what you're saying is they publish on Thursday, the meeting is on Wednesday, then publishing a Thursday before obviously isn't 10 days before, but I
think it's good for the residents of Burough to be able to see it. >> Right. I understand. We want to have an additional requirement on top of the state requirement that they published 10 days before which can be satisfied by electronic publication. you want there
to be a separate requirement that they publish in the newspaper, which is fine. And all I'm saying to you is what will happen in the real world, speaking as somebody who does these
notices, is if I have my act together, which I don't always, but if I have my act together, I'll just publish in the newspaper 10 days before. and I've then satisfied both requirements and the electronic
publication will never really happen. That's what will actually happen if you put this provision in. The only people who are going to publish both are the people who got their electronic application in in time was the SAR ledger lets you do it every day. But
it's these once a week papers that are paying. That's what will really happen in my opinion. >> Okay. >> If you >> which is okay, >> right? Which is okay. Um and I I don't know what everyone else thinks, but I mean I know I didn't like that law when
it got enacted. I still don't like it. >> And I would like to have the residents of the municipality be >> have the greatest opportunity to be informed. >> My question my question is this. Is this is this additional publishing is this
going to affect is that's going to cost us give us any cost to us? Yes. Okay. No. >> Okay. So, this is just something that we would like to impose on something that's already existing electronically, but on top of that, we want to make this a
written requirement. >> You are correct. pass off, >> which we have. >> I I'm just say I have a >> I'm going to honestly assume it will not be legal for us to do it, but I could be wrong. >> But and we'll have to check that out.
>> I'm gonna have to check that, but let me ask you if I can correct this question. >> Is it possible for an applicant to challenge? >> Nobody ever actually will. >> That's not my question. Anybody can challenge anything, but nobody ever will challenge us because anybody who gets
their act together enough to challenge it >> will have been able to get their act together enough to publish both. >> It's not hard to do. It's just when people get their stuff done. >> All right.
uh Westview Leader um they don't have online um uh legal notices >> like NJ.com does >> okay >> or Star Ledger you know you know they don't have a paper >> but that's not what >> the but that's not what anybody's able
to do. >> I know I I'm just stating I don't care either way. Let me ask this. I understand what you said, Kathy. Um >> is is so if the West leader doesn't have it yet, are they going to have it? Do you know? Because you know they're
losing all those newspapers losing a lot of bucks. >> Okay. Can I make a suggestion here because we're spending a lot of time on this and it's kind of in my opinion it's not necessary. I what I what I would like to do is I would like to um every if everyone has an understanding
of what we're talking about if there has to be any clarification about what we're discussing up here right now and if there's no clarification that has to be made then I would think that we could go with a a vote um on whether or not to proceed with this this requirement or
not proceed. >> I do have a question. >> Yes. Is that only is that requirement only kick in in March? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Not January and February. >> Okay. >> Just have a question. So if we had an
applicant come to the board who satisfied the requirements of posting on their notice online, but they didn't publish on the in the paper. Are we going to turn them away? Well, how many applicants do you have who come into you hand you a complete application?
>> Okay. >> No, I mean they've been they've been scheduled, >> but they should know upfront because as Kathy said, she's 100% correct. You would have to mend the the form to indicate that. So, if they don't follow what's in the form, well, that's their fault.
>> If yes to your question >> and then that would be challenged, right? >> No, they wouldn't actually challenge you. Come back the next month. >> Don't I I disagree. I do. >> I disagree. This is the state law that
>> write I'll write the words. I know. >> That's okay. So, you're going to you're going to take care of writing this up. >> Let's let's write it. >> Let us Yeah. Let us go for >> this motion. Does this resolution that we're motioning have the caveat that if
we are able to do that? If we are able to Okay. We have somebody to file a public notice for the day of field. >> They've been scheduled. I don't know where they stand in their noticing. >> As we sit here now, do we have something
on the agenda for the 28th is the budget? >> Yes. >> The 28th doesn't change. >> It doesn't take effect until March 1st. >> Yes, absolutely. Yeah. I think that we can vote on,
>> you know, what this is, right? A newspaper, >> the two newspapers >> and because that's all we're doing right now. We're designating two newspapers >> electronically. >> Well, >> no,
not particularly because the Westfield leader um is a paper. >> Okay. So, let's just do this resolution. Um, it has it stating um not what's on
the agenda here, but the one that you're going to read, you know, with the bottom portion of it. And then next meeting, uh, Don will give us an a, uh, resolution or an or
>> difference. Yes. just vote on it as it is for today. >> That's what I'm that's my intent. >> Keep out later. We want to amend it with Bill's suggestion next. >> So do I. >> So I will make I'll make that motion to
I would like you to have Cathy make the motion. >> Make the motion to name the Westfield leader and the uh Star Ledger as the official newspapers >> of the planning board. >> Okay, we have a motion. We have a
second. Uh, do we have a call on this one? >> Mayor Blumentock. >> I, >> Miss Lysac, >> I. >> Councilwoman Biano. >> Hi. >> Chair Green. >> Hi. >> Miss Veagio. >> Hi, >> Mr. Neareststead. >> Hi, >> Mr. Barkin.
Miss Haye, >> Mr. McCarrick, Mr. Mason, Mr. Di Maria, and Mr. Biano. >> Resolutions carries. Okay, we're going to move on to resolution P-5. It's a resolution adopting the rules,
regulations, firms, and procedures of the GA planning board which were distributed electronically to everyone on if received it. >> Make a motion to accept it. >> Okay, we have a motion and a second. Um,
roll call. >> All in favor? I >> opposed. Motion carries. The resolution carries. And finally, we have resolution P-6. That's a resolution adopting the following dates as less than the dates
for the planning board for 2026. All meetings will be held in person at the B Hall beginning at 7:30 p.m. They will be televised forformational purposes only Zoom video. I'll make that motion to accept the
meeting days. But I want to also point out uh November meeting will be on a Thursday >> because uh Veterans Day is on the Wednesday. So Adele, >> she caught that and
it was very good. >> Thank you for not having it on Veterans Day. >> Make sure you remind us about that in October. >> Yes. says 202. >> Okay, great. >> A second.
>> I opposed. Motion carries. Okay, that look my paper back. >> Oh, sorry. Thank you.
Okay, we'll move on to two minutes. Uh has everyone have an opportunity to the December 10th uh the plan? If so, motion to accept the minutes. >> I'll uh make that motion to second. >> All those in favor?
>> Okay. An extension. We have several extensions. Yeah. >> Should be more. >> There was several abstensions. Yes. Everybody who's here voted I see abstains. There we go.
Okay. Business um the adoption of uh the 2025 zoning board annual year report. >> I'll make motion to accept the annual report as submitted. Second. >> All those in favor?
Motion carries. Um now, um Jen, would you like to >> Sure. I just want to give everybody some updates on what's going on with the fourth round paper board, what's coming up. Um our new members, welcome. Uh
thank you for volunteering for this. Uh tonight is obviously just mostly organizational paperwork. So next meeting is when things really start. Um and there will be some work coming to the board from the council um that the
planning board will have to review. So you may have heard on the council meetings on uh social media I put up a video letting everybody know as well. We were able to do we were able to come to a settlement with garden homes and fair
share uh some of our new members. uh our fourth round affordable housing plan was uh challenged by those two uh entities and we were in litigation for a couple of months and we had till December 10th
to come to a settlement or at that point we would go into further litigation but the burrow would be open to builder's remedy lawsuits and we would essentially lose control of anything we had done with paper board up till now. Um so that was the risk. So, we worked very very
hard, I will say. Um, Bob Renard and Mike Mstretta worked very, very hard trying to negotiate with Garden Homes, which is not an easy thing as we all know. Um, but we were able to come to what I think is actually a very good uh
agreement and it is not so far off from what we had in the fourth round plan for paper board. Um we are just to give a few like overview we are at 212 apartments. However um we
did manage to keep the requirement that anything over the 124 which was from round three uh will be 55 and older. So that limits our um impact on our infrastructure especially our school system. So that was very important for
us to maintain. So he did garden homes did get a few more apartments but in the end um we were able to maintain um that control. We able to keep the castle facade the building materials um the setbacks
uh >> center >> the community center. Yes. Very important. We we got the 4200 foot community center back and that was back and forth a lot. Um but that will remain as well. So, um that was essentially the
give was a uh a chunk more apartments, but as I said, it was it is 55 and older. So, that does limit the um the impact. Um there also the possibility of even less apartments. Um it it's there's
it's a max um on the 55 and older. There could be some more 55 and older. um there's a minimum on the 55 and older, so it could actually be more and less of the family market rate. So that there is a flexibility. There's also the possibility for some special needs adult
housing which would um take down a few of our three bedrooms which had to be in there. So it is um overall a very good plan. It's still obviously uh in motion, but that is a settlement agreement. It is online if you'd like to go look at
it. Um the council did vote on it. Um fair share once we negotiated with paperboard, fair share was okay with our plan. They moved things around a bit. Um they basically put the ACP property into unmet need and moved the senior village
housing into realistic development. It didn't do anything to the plan. They just felt they wanted it moved into different parts. So, we agreed to that because it didn't it didn't affect anything. Um, they did lower our realistic development
uh our RDP. Yes, they they did lower our RDP which is helpful for us. Um, that limited the number of apartments that we had to give paper board. So, there it it turned out to be a very good plan. Um, what we do
now is we have to move forward with the fourth round plan. um beginning with ordinances and resolutions that have to be in by March 15th um for us to be in compliance with the state. So at the next council meeting
there will definitely be about four ordinances on the agenda um designating the uh areas in the fourth round plan as redevelopment zones. the nipple factory, the a uh ACP, um the rest and the
overlay. Um so those I you know the the areas that we had talked about and we put into the plan. We now have to officially make them redevelopment. So we will intro that at council and then it will come to us and um we should be able to do that on the 28th if if you're
agreeable to that chair because it then has to go back obviously to the council for adoption. Um there will be more. Those are the only ones I know are set for right now. Um, but there's a lot more paperwork that needs to be done on everybody's side by March 15th. Um, and
then on the paper board side, we have to do a new redevelopment plan with them, re uh redevelopment agreement by March 15th as well. That's part of the settlement. I don't have any dates as to when that's beginning. It's essentially
it's it's an easy lift in terms of just making some edits to what was there. Um but that will come to the planning board as well and then we have to obviously move forward with any site plan and financial agreement. So yeah, it's going to be pretty
>> site plan will be here too. >> The site plan will be here. Um and again in the settlement agreement was a lot of the uh language that everything will pretty will remain the same in terms of
materials um that are being used. Um so I don't anticipate it being a very tough site plan. Um he's agreeable to essentially take whatever was there and put it onto the next building. Um and he seems to want to get started. So, I
don't I know he would not like it to drag on, but um we whatever questions we have for him that need to be addressed now that it is two buildings, we'll have to do. >> Okay. >> Okay. Are there any other any questions um from the board? Just as an overview
of what's what we're going through right now. >> So, will they be submitting new um like architecturalations and renderings? Not just, >> right? Everything that goes along with that will have to come. Yep. >> Did they give us the timeline
uh that might come before us? >> No, I as far as he wants it to as soon as he can. Um >> it's just as soon as he can. Okay. >> Yeah. So I essentially I think it will be up to when we can do it. I will be speaking with Mr. MrA to see I assume
he's going to come before the council for the redevelopment agreement first. um get all of that settled and then >> okay >> make his way. >> Perfect. >> Uh I have a question for Adele.
>> Um what type applications are coming before us? Is there any? There's there's one, right? Or >> we definitely have one scheduled for the January 28th um meeting and I two I've
not heard confirmation. I scheduled two. I had actually scheduled them for December, but both of these applicants requested um to be pushed to the end of January >> that you gotten confirmation from by the end of January. Is that
application that take up a lot of time? >> Um just a residential um and then the other one is the subdivision, but I've not heard definitively that they are coming. That's an easy >> subdivision with variances or subdivision without
>> well they filed for uh variances but there was a question as to whether those variances were actually needed the side by side >> we changed the ordinance. >> Yeah we changed the ordinance last year
or the year before. >> Okay that is my question. >> Okay. >> Thank you Adele. I mean events that we should be >> no that there's not too much else in the
pipeline other than what the mayor spoke of. >> Yeah. >> Close. >> You know what Steve just one make sure no don't jump up and we do need to get a picture for the website. So >> okay sure >> just smiles on everybody.
>> Okay good. um claims. We have one from um Mr. Frasier for December. I think that was already done. No. Okay, we're good. Um in that case, do I hear a motion to adjurnn? >> So move. >> Second. >> All those in favor?
>> Opposed? Motion carries. We're journ. Thank you very much. >> And welcome to all I drop the Thank you. You're gonna get >> into the deep end with the fourth round.
>> That's nice. When comes it's going to change. >> Um, so if you take our meeting date, you want it's gonna be uh