Yep. >> I thought that I would miss roll call for her. Sick. And for the minutes. Terrible. Hopefully you have your minutes. Evening folks and welcome to the to the planning board for Wednesday, April 22nd.
This is a meeting of our board and we have no application, formal application at this time tonight, but we do have several ordinance or an ordinance to review and a resolution. At this time I'll ask anyone from the public and I don't see anybody here
to turn off their cell phones or to put them in silent, but I would also appreciate if the board members do that, too. And we'll open the meeting up. Pursuant to the open public meetings law, this is to state for the record that adequate notice of this meeting has been provided to the public by
publication in the Westfield Leader in January 2026, posting on the bureau website and by posting and filing of said notice in the office of the municipal clerk. This is a regular meeting of the board and this time I'm going to ask for a moment of silence and
a pledge of allegiance, I pledge allegiance 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. Adele, roll call, please.
Mr. Arthur. Here. Councilwoman Bianca. Here. Mr. Greet. Here. Ms. Valaggio. Here. Mr. Nierstedt. Mr. Barkin, may be late. Ms. Hay. Here. Mr. McHarric.
>> Here. Mr. Byers. Here. Mr. Mason. Here. Mr. De Maria. Here. And Mr. Bianco is excused. Okay, thank you. And at this time we're going to have a swearing in of our our bureau administrator, John Arthur, as our
face, too. John, do you have the Do you have the oath sworn to me? All right, you'll probably wing it. All right, we'll do this. I'll wing it with my recollection as best I remember it. I'll wing it to my recollection as best
I remember the oath and when we get the written oath later, we'll have Mr. Arthur sign it then. Unless you have it there, Adele. Um I don't think so. I'm sorry. Okay. Oh, I do. Beautiful. I probably would have come close.
I'm sure you would have, Don. That's our efficient secretary. Very much so. Okay. And Mr. Arthur, you're what? A class two member? Yes. Okay. >> Yes. All right, so raise your right hand, please. Repeat after me. I, state your name. I, John
Arthur. Do solemnly swear or affirm Do solemnly swear or affirm that I will support the Constitution that I will support the Constitution >> of the United States >> 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 in this state under the authority of the people, so help me God. >> under the authority of the people, so
help me God. I do further solemnly swear or affirm I do further solemnly swear or affirm that I will impartially and justly perform that I will impartially and justly perform all the duties of the office all the duties of the office >> of planning board member of planning board member according to the best of my
ability. according to the best of my ability. Congratulations. Thank you. Thank you very much. Okay, if everyone has had an opportunity to review the minutes of our March 25th meeting, do I hear a motion? Adele, on that, we don't have a term then, right? Cuz it's just a class two. It's the
Yeah, it's your okay. I'll make that motion, Chair. Second. All those in favor? I. >> I. Opposed? Hearing none, motion carries. John Arthur will abstain. Okay, we have a
resolution for the circulation element of the master plan that produced by our attorney. Yeah, I circulated that, Mr. Chairman, at the 12:36 p.m. today on email, but if anybody needs hard copies, I still have my Luddite and I have hard
copies with me if anybody needs it. Seeing none, I'm going to let everybody know next time I'm not going to copying and bringing 12 or 14 copies unless people really want me to. I'll bring four or five. From that from here on out. That's all I had to say about it.
>> [laughter] >> Thank you. Just pass that down to John. Okay, if everyone has had an opportunity to to review it and read it, do I hear a motion to to move the resolution? I'll make a motion to adopt the resolution.
I will second. Okay, roll call, please, Adele. Mayor Blumenstock. I. Councilwoman Bianca. I. Chair Greet. >> I. Ms. Valaggio. I. Mr. Nierstedt. I. Ms. Hay. Mr. McHarric. And Mr. Byers.
Mr. McHarric is Okay, great. Thank you. And we'll move on to discussion of proposed ordinance, singular. We have We're going to hold off on the bicycle parking draft ordinance until the following meeting. Prior to
the meeting, we would surmise that we'll get a electronic copy sent to us for discussion during that time. Is that correct? Okay, thank you. Okay, we have the food
truck draft ordinance and that was done by Ms. Valaggio. Ms. Valaggio and Mr. Barkin and Mr. Nierstedt, Ms. uh uh Lysaght uh who is no longer a board member.
And and we had John Arthur um as a bureau administrator, he was there, and and the chief of police. Great. >> So, each of us had a hand on
drafting this ordinance and and I also submitted it to the Westfield Health Department because they have, you know, a part in this. Um We tried
uh with this ordinance we looked at our lane, which is zoning, you know, what's allowed. The um we didn't look at
what the Westfield Health Department does with permits. We didn't look We looked at what the town does um >> [sighs] >> um um
um and the bureau has their own process, also. Um bureau clerk I think. Right? The bureau clerk, the fire department um um and the police department uh
um have their own. So, we looked at those I didn't say we didn't look, but we like we looked at them and said, well, why should we uh reinvent that wheel?
So, we stuck with what our job was. Um We also um looked at and we have in it We didn't want to stop if they
resident um in the uh residential zones want to hold um uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh want to have a food truck for a birthday party. So,
we excluded like we s- I we had that in here, also. They're allowed um with permits, unless, you know, permits, licenses
um that's interchangeable. Um so we also set forth the minimum uh and uh uh uh minimum um
What's that word? Um minimum uh frontage, um you know, like away from setback setback >> Yeah. I'm sorry, I just couldn't
Um, so if you look through it Does have anybody have any questions? And this ordinance would be part of the food establishment section of the land use code.
Did anybody have any questions or Mary Ann concerns? Uh first of all, it's very well written, very thorough. The only question I had was and I did go through it a couple of times. It wasn't clear to me, what is the time duration of the permit? When you it's that's set forth by the
borough, that's 1 year. Well, well, there's different types. There's temporary type, which is a period and then they can have an annual license also for a different fee. Okay. Should that be part of the ordinance so or is it
>> [clears throat] >> It just to me I'm just like I didn't know if it was already then, if it's annual. John, do you want to elaborate on some of that? Well, I that's part of the process. There's basically a an event permit, which is like a one-time thing and then there's an annual one. The only really reason to do the annual
one is if you're going to be doing multiple events because you can't just as you can see from this order, you can't just park on public street and have a food truck. Um so I don't I don't know if it has to be further elaborated here or whether we
can >> on the permit application itself. >> Right. Um permit application itself on um So, we didn't want to double the work. I mean, we we don't want to doing Yeah. One of the things
One of the things we found during this Mary Ann was that as Kathy said, you know, other offices have their own regulations regarding food trucks and so we originally started I don't know we had many more pages. >> Like I think it was eight pages
and and then we said, you know, like at a meeting we go, wait a second. Like it's already said over here, you know, why do double work? You know, why impede what their responsibilities are, like the fire department, you know,
they have their own responsibilities and their own code that they have to adhere to. The health department has their own code that they have to adhere to. So, putting everything in this in it, that's not our job. You know, you know, that's not our job, but
that's not our Well, our responsibility. And trust me, it pained me to make it shorter, but um But we crossed out We We crossed out We crossed out a lot that we
originally had regarding coordination with other, you know, the other offices and we just realized it wasn't necessary. And so yes, on the application the time frames are there based upon the type of permit you're requesting. Okay, thank you. I would
just suggest in subsection D of 106.100 um, might perhaps should say the clerk's office shall require proof of insurance rather than request proof of insurance. But I would agree, I thought this was
very well written. Thank you. Yes, I think so, too. And I just want to point out to the board, um, this really originated because we were having some, you know, as the food, you know, after COVID a lot more food trucks were coming around doing things and I
actually had a couple of different food trucks talk to me about where they could operate and how they could operate and I actually Mr. Vinager and I talked about it. There was nothing on our books about um, the zoning for these trucks,
you know, so he was kind of using his own logic about it once when they would apply for these permits with him, but we wanted it to be consistent across the board. Obviously, you don't want to be giving one food truck rules and then another food truck different rules. So,
that's where this originated where we said we have to bring this back and finally have a mobile truck mobile retail food facility ordinance, so that we can just set these and be consistent and have a place for everybody who, you know, owns one to look at,
so they know their rules. So, thank you for doing that. I appreciate everybody involved in this. It was very uh very well done and I think it it works and once you know, if we do approve it and it moves through, we'll have to make sure anybody that um
currently owns a permit and is operating now knows, you know, the consistent rules that are in the ordinance and abides by them, so. Yeah, I'll just I'll just thank thank the the committee for for the work they've done and and it really does it
looks looks very good. So, with that do I hear a question. Um, Gabe, like you mentioned something um So, the only question I have is to me today. This in terms of does it
clearly say what zones it's permitted in? Um I I when and first of all, it's great great ordinance. I when I read through it, I didn't see anything specifically saying what zones it's permitted or not permitted in.
Um, maybe I missed it, but from my reading I didn't see that. Cool. I think in in >> It's permitted in 100.1 um
four, it goes into where it can be. Uh it can only occupy land that have active principal use. So, I don't I guess it doesn't talk about zones, but it talks about Does it? I mean, a food truck is permitted in every zone. Yeah. Okay.
Yeah. You know, that it's not as if it but it it comes down to like if you're in an industrial zone and, you know, you're having some event or something, you know, you can have a food truck for a period of time based upon permit in a in a in an industrial zone. A residential
zone, well, you can't store there overnight, but you know, you have certain restrictions and time wise where you can have it for as Kathy said for a birthday party. So, it's not really restricted by zone. It's restricted by the regulations embedded within permit.
Okay, so it is So, even if it's not a special permit cuz it it says special permit for food food truck in a residential area. So, even if they don't have a special permit, every food truck would be permitted in a residential area. They
still need a permit. Yeah, they still need So, yes. Does that need to be clarified? Yes. Also says what kind of peppers and tomatoes and I'm like it. If it needs to be clarified No, I I just I just wanted to make sure it was the
intent that it could be permitted in all zones and I just wanted to clarify that. >> Yeah. Okay. I mean, I believe that's where we ended up, Kathy, wasn't it that and you have different restrictions base, you know, but they are permitted in every zone. There's nothing preventing
um, you know, a business in the industrial zone from having a food truck, you know, there for some type of event at lunchtime or what have you. There's nothing preventing a residence from having a food truck there for, you know, a birthday party or something
dependent upon the type of permit and those number of hours. You can have it in any zone. And from my own perspective, I think I think if you identify by zones you're kind of limited well, you're not limiting, but you're some people may be confused because they
don't know or don't understand the zoning specifics of of our our town and do you really need to have that that knowledge if it's if it's spelled out in this pretty much across the board for for someone who's not familiar with that
to be able to just get a truck and have it have it placed in a residential area or in a commercial area. Right. >> [laughter] >> I'm not even sure the question because you know, place is the word that threw me. It's like, you know, they can
have it placed there for a limited amount of time. Then you got to move it. Mhm. You know, I mean, one of the things Steve Warkin kept bringing up was, you know, the ice cream truck. You know, I want to allow I want to allow the ice cream truck in a residential area. He
was big on that. Like which we specifically changed to say ice cream truck. But that ice cream truck has to have a permit. They have to go through the town and have to have a permit. And one one of the items that
uh the Westfield Board of Health brought up was VIN numbers and license plate numbers that they should be on the permit. Um because
it's specific Each Each permit is specifically for that one truck, not the entity. You know, let's say if you know, if some guy owns five trucks, then it'll then
and if you know, one of the five trucks will be in town, um each one of them if they're going to come in the Garwood, must have their own specific permit and
and also this will like allow um enforcement of of those trucks that may or may not have a permit. Uh you know, because they have to get inspected by the fire department and the health
department. So, this protects us also. How how would this affect the um COVID wonder style operations? >> The what? Wonder. Do you remember during COVID? >> Oh, oh. I don't even know if they have those trucks anymore. I don't, but um
Yeah. I would imagine if they did similarly, they have to get the permit and then they're allowed to do what they do as long as they have that permit. But but only for special event because they can't do it on a public road unless they have the special event permit, right?
Well, now what I was told about the Scream Machine, you know, the ice cream Scream Machine, the ice cream truck. they have permits. >> Yes. >> They do. They have Do they have one for every vehicle? That's a good question. Or do they just have one as a company? >> I don't know. That's
>> That we'd have to look at. >> Yeah. Oh, and this ordinance um would allow the town to you know, with the special events to have numerous food trucks. It exempts um nonprofits
and any um What did I just say? You know, that that they can have a food truck festival. So, it doesn't stop the entity itself
from having a food truck festival because Sayen's I think has it. Um they're nonprofit. Um The bureau has it, but each of each of those food trucks are responsible to get their own
permits. Right, health permit, as you said, fire permit. The one that surprised me and I won't get into it, but it was police. Mhm. I didn't realize the involvement of the police in a food truck. And and they're actually involved in it, too.
Um keep in mind it it's a difficult ordinance to write because we don't generally the board doesn't generally regulate things that move. You know, trying to regulate buildings. And so, it's like this is temporary. So, how are you regulating it? So, it's it it it it's difficult and uh I think
we did it. Yeah, well, I we'll find out if we did it because I not that I hope, but I fully expect to get some questions and some issues, you know, about what about this, what about that because with this one in particular, I don't think I don't think we thought of everything. Something's going to come
up. >> So, we thought about a lot and we tried to >> [clears throat] >> to limit the amount of verbage in order to >> Yeah. achieve the end result. Let me ask you about a situation. Oh, I'm sorry. No,
no. Um that has come up and I do think it addresses it. Let me make sure I'm reading everything correctly, too. Um a food truck that wants to park in the public lot of Lorenzo's and they say they'll pay the me you know, the
Parkmobile, but that's bureau owned. So, they are not allowed to do that because they're not allowed to um occupy bureau owned property. Correct. I get a kick out of the public lot of Lorenzo's. That's what we call it. >> it the Lorenzo's.
>> I know. When it was first made, I remember they called it Lorenzo Lorenzo's parking lot. I remember that well. Um So, they they that and to me I went, oh, yeah, sure, they can do that. But then you think if one does it and they see it, you're going to have five trucks in
that lot every day or at different points and there goes your park. >> since that's bureau property, you're going to have to have that gentleman's signature on it and I don't think that's forthcoming. >> [laughter] >> That's where it it's for special events. It's not for everyday use. Yeah. >> Correct. Okay. You know, our our
attorney brought up a good a good point. And that is what about a what about a bicycle that is selling food off the off the back of a small No regulations on bikes. >> No regulations >> No regulations on bikes. Let's not get carried away. Okay, just checking on you. I don't know. Keep uh
No, mobile food retail food establishment was bicycle in the definition. Yeah, it does. Yeah, we talked we talked about that as a group. I was making a joke. >> [laughter] >> Yeah, I was selling hot dogs at the underpass next time for lunch. >> [laughter]
>> In the brook. Here you go, watercraft. >> [laughter] >> Sorry, Mary Ann has a question. So, um Vermella often has food trucks, like probably at least every month. Mhm. Is that something that they would need to
come and get a permit for? Or is it because it's on their property, it's not really Doesn't matter. Especially for the health and everything, they still need and they would they need it for this ordinance still. >> Wait, wouldn't it be the truck that needs the permit? >> Yes, the truck needs the permit.
>> That's what I mean, but they on a regular basis they'll have all different types of food trucks that are there. They have to have license for the Right, each one of them is going to have to get a permit for their use. And because they have to get inspected by the health department and the fire department. >> Yeah, I was just curious. And I know
they have done that. >> So, one of those cases where if they're coming back like month after month, they should get the yearly. Yeah. Exactly. Even it pays for itself I think at the second use. So, if you're coming back twice, you the yearly makes more sense than the one time. Yeah, like we want to make sure of the
setback, too. You know, we just don't want a food truck being parked, you know, like on the sidewalk or you know, where people can't see. They can turn.
Okay, any further discussion? Okay, with that do I hear a move to Mr. Chairman, I'll make a I'll make a motion at this planning board forward the ordinance onto council for their review and adoption. >> And with the with the inclusion of item
D that that Don Frezza had made reference to. >> requiring >> No. No. That's yes. Thank you. Okay, do I hear a second? I'll Second. All right, uh roll call, please.
Mayor Blumenstyk, abstain. Mr. Arthur, Yes. Councilwoman Bianco, Abstain. Chair Greet, Yes. Ms. Villaggio, >> Aye. Mr. Neirstadt, >> Aye. Uh Ms. Hayes, Aye. Mr. McArdle,
>> Yes. Mr. Byers, Yes. Mr. Mason, Yes. And Mr. DiMaria, Yes. Motion carries. Okay, thank you. The motion is now up for the for our council. Adele, um I'll send you the original. Okay.
I'll make that change and I'll and I'll send it to you. Thank you. Do you want a Word document or you want to I think a Word document would be advised. Yeah, okay. Thank you, everybody, for your assistance. >> Okay, thank you. >> Thank you. We have one claim here for uh $1,025
from Porrada, Frezza, and Forrester uh for meeting attendance of April 22nd tonight. I'll make a motion. Second. All those in favor? Aye. Okay, opposed? Hearing none, motion carries. It will be paid. Thank
you. And I'll open it up for invitation to address the the board by anybody from the public, which I don't see anybody from the public out there. So, I'll close that portion of the meeting and um I'll ask for an adjournment.
I'll I'll make that motion. Second. All those in favor? Aye. Aye. Opposed? Okay, we're adjourned. Thank you. And not bad. Started at 7:36. 7:30 What are you eating that I haven't
You just want to >> with their work being slowly, yeah. I'm sure when there's a big application, we'll be here for quite a while. Yeah, no no no no no no no no no testimony after 10:00 p.m. When you start actually This one is for me, this is kind of a little bit cuz I
spent all that time all that time on it. All that stuff was Yeah, take your 11 minutes. That stuff was So, I I I'm happy. I got I got away with one this month. Beautiful thing. Lights even out, right? They don't care.