Planning Board & Borough of Kenilworth

July 22, 2010

The meeting began with an affirmation of the Open Public Meetings Act.� The schedule of meetings is on file in the Borough Clerks� office, was posted on the bulletin board, and has been mailed to the Cranford Chronicle, the Kenilworth Leader, and the Star Ledger.� All present recited the Pledge of Allegiance. The Board approved the June 24, 2010 and July 8, 2010 minutes.� Approval was given to pay the Recording Secretary.

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Roll Call:� Present: Mr. Picerno, Ms. Bogus, Mr. Cuppari, Mr. Murphy, and Mr. Candarella.

Absent:� Mr. Lepore (excused), Mr. Sica, Mr. Pantina, Mr. Pugliese, Mr. Manee, and� Mr. Cammarota (excused).

Communications:� Ms. Bogus said Mr. Garcia submitted a letter withdrawing his appeal regarding a prior zoning denial.� He will resubmit another request for a permit with changes.

New Business: Galloping Hill Golf Course Clubhouse, Block 184, Lot 3,

Review of Capitol improvements.

Mr. Steven Merman is the county representative for this review.� Union County owns and operates the Galloping Hill Golf Course; a major part of which is located in Kenilworth.� A section of the municipal Land Use Law requires renovation plans be presented for approval to the borough.� The director of operations, a representative of the department of parks, the site engineer, and the architect are present.� Mr. Tripodi advised the Board that this is not a formal hearing, but an advisory hearing.

Mr. Armando Sanchez, director or Golf Operations, introduced himself.� He said the golf operations is losing money, and an upgrade to the Galloping Hill facility will make this facility profitable.� The best golf courses are located in� central New Jersey.

The driving range is doing well.� Many outreach programs have already been initiated, such as the LPGA girls� golf program.

� A study was made regarding an upgrade to the clubhouse, by creating a grill and banquet hall.� This upgrade, combined with prior improvements, could generate as much as five to six million dollars per year in profit.�

Galloping Hill Golf Course will become the headquarters of the N.J. State Golfing Association in 2012.� They are committed to a twenty-year lease.� The name on the driving range will be the TayorMade Performance Center, one of eight in the United States.� Temper Sports will manage the operations.� The clubhouse improvements will be presented at this meeting.�� Mr. Sanchez said this project would be open for bids.� He said the Galloping Hill Golf Course will attract every level of players, including children.�

Mr. Candarella asked how this facility compares to private golf courses in the area.

Mr. Sanchez replied the facility and the maintainance will be as good, if not better.

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Mr. Candarella inquired about the operational and upgrade costs.� The golf course was previously a drain on borough and county funds.� He asked if Temper Sports would be contributing to the cost of improvements.� Mr. Sanchez replied Temper Sports is only a Management facility.�

Anthony Kurus, Engineer, prepared the site plans.� A new clubhouse will be constructed at the center point of� the existing clubhouse. The parking lot will include more shrubs and landscaping, with a slight expansion of the lot on the north side at the site of the existing garage.� The lower level of the clubhouse will function as the golf cart storage and a garage.�

There will be sixty additional parking spaces; 236 presently, and 296 in the future.�

The Putting Green will be near the clubhouse.� There will be an increase of 35,000 sq. ft. of new impervious coverage, having no adverse impact on adjoining areas.� Mr. Kurus provided a grading and (underground) drainage plan� to accommodate that increased impervious areas.�

Mr. Cunningham, VP of development of Temper Sports, commented on the new clubhouse.� The existing clubhouse is 2,500 sq. ft., and the proposed clubhouse will be about 5 to 6 times larger.�

Mr. Picerno asked if there would be enough parking.� He asked if there was sufficient accomodations for busses and the extra cars.� Mr. Cunningham said there would be valet parking for larger events.� Mr. Tripodi said the Board may make recommendations.�

Mr. Cunningham said they are not expanding the parking lot in the area of the present retention basin.�

Mr. Cupparu asked about the road behind the clubhouse.� That road will be made larger.

Mr. Nick Netta, architect, is working with Temper Sports.� He said the proposed clubhouse will be a three-story structure.� It will include a garage, locker rooms, pro center, grand hall, bar and grill.� The third level will have a banquet facility (4,500 sq. ft.), that can be sub-divided into two separate areas, as well as an office for the N.J. Golf Association.� The building will be a Tuscany-type structure, made of stone and stucco.� The rear of the building will have a lower terrace, highlighting the bar and grill, and an upper terrace for the banquet area.� It is an ADA compliant building.

Mr. Picerno asked about the construction period.� It is estimated to be completed in 14 to 16 months.� Temper Sports will run the food service.� The cost of the upgrades will be approximately 8.5 million dollars, which includes the demolition, removal of part of the hill, and reconstruction of the building and parking lot.� It will comply with all county requirements.�

The new structure will be about 38� to 40� higher than the existing clubhouse.�

Mr. Candarella said this project will bring more events into Kenilworth.�

A motion to approve this proposal was made by Mr. Candarella, 2^nd by Ms. Bogus.� All in favor:� Mr. Picerno, Ms. Bogus, Mr. Candarella, Mr. Murphy, and Mr. Cuppari.�

Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Janet M. Murphy, Planning Board Recording Secretary