Planning Board & Borough of Kenilworth

August 26, 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 July 22, 2010 minutes.� Approval was given to pay the Recording Secretary.

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Roll Call:� Present: Mr. Lepore, Ms. Bogus, Mr. Sica, Mr. Candarella, Mr. Manee, Mr. Cuppari, Mr. Murphy, and Mr. Cammarota.

Absent:� Mr. Picerno (excused), Mr. Pantina, and Mr. Pugliese.

Communications:� Ms. Bogus said there are no communications to report.

New Business:� NTM Properties zone denial appeal, 100 N. 12^th St., Block 59, Lot 1;

Lincoln serv/equipt co.(warehouse and repair) �not permitted use in I zone.�

Mr. Joseph Papparo is the attorney representing NTM Properties.� He said this area is in the Industrial zone, formerly National Tool Company.� Lincoln Service Equiptment of Union wants to move into a part of the warehouse at 100 N. 12^th Street.� The zoning officer determined this permit be denied on July 14, 2010, saying the use would require a variance.� The NTM appeal is that Lincoln Service is essentially industrial, with a repair service as a secondary use.� They only service their own equiptment (street sweepers, etc.).� There are no sales conducted at the site.� The attorney addressed the zone denial, stating every industry needs to repair their own equiptment.� A site plan approval application has been filed.

Sworn in:� Mr. Bob Herbert, Kenilworth zoning official.� His decision was made because servicing and maintaining heavy equiptment is not an Industrial use (Ord. #197).�

Mr. Papparo said the business is not a �garage� for street sweepers, they just service the equiptment they sell.�

Sworn in: Mr. William Zeus, Jr., president of NTM Properties.� He went to the Lincoln Service site in Union.� The main business is to sell new street sweepers; they also give oil and battery changes for their customers.� The business tries to fix the equiptment at the break down site, rather than tow the equiptment to the Lincoln garage.� Two or three trucks with trailers are utilized on a daily basis.� This is a manufacturing or industrial facility, as is permitted in the Industrial zone.� The facility will not be open to the general public for sales.� Although oil and petrol will be administered to the equiptment, it is not considered a service station.� The tenant would like to move into the building by December.�

Mr. Herbert addressed the Board attorney: if time is essencial, this business should have applied for a variance, rather than appeal for a zone denial reversal.�

The meeting was opened to the Public. Sworn in: Mr. Joseph Geraldi, representing his borther who lives near Block 59, Lot 1.� He is responding to the Site Plan application notice.� He said the present company creates a periodic noise.

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�His brother would like a sound and sight barrier insalled, as flexi-van was required to do.� He would like to have any noise limited.� The Board chairman said this is a matter of the Site Plan review, which will be scheduled for a hearing in the future.� Mr. Geraldi will be notified when that segment will be heard.

A motion was made by Mr. Candarella to uphold the zone denial, 2^nd by Mr. Cammarota.� All in favor:� Mr. Lepore, Ms. Bogus, Mr. Sica, Mr. Candarella, Mr.Manee, Mr.Murphy. Mr. Cuppari, and Mr. Cammarota.

Application #317 & #6-10, A & J Twin Realty LLC, RE: 627 Boulevard, Block 120, Lot 4, �� Site Plan-Bar/Restaurant in L C zone & parking variance.

Mr. Stephen Hale is the attorney representing A & J.� His client is proposing a restaurant at 627 Boulevard, adjacent to a gas station.� There is insufficient parking at the site, but they plan to provide valet parking at another location.�

Sworn in: Mr. Michael Salomin, Architect.� He said the client plans to remove partitions inside the building, and create a dining room and meeting room (152 seats), and bar (6 seats).� The tenant has a number of restaurants in Staten Island.� New HVAC systems, sprinkler system, as well as other interior improvements will be provided.� The exterior brick front will remain the same, but the parapet will be raised, and an extended canopy to the sidewalk and around the building.� It will be a Spanish restaurant.� The new main entrance will be on the side of the building will be added.� A �grease trap� will be installed to contain cooking grease.� The cost of renovation will be about $600,000 to $700,000, and will comply with all building codes.�

Sworn in: Mr. Sam Demiri, owner.�� He said this proposed Spanish restraunt will employ about twenty workers.� The hours would be around noon until 10 p.m.

Alcohol deliveries would be made every other week, and linen deliveries and garbage pick-ups will be made two times a week.� He said Kenilworth has become �restraunt row�, and this will be an asset to our community.� Mr. Abrams will lease 40 parking spaces to him at 131 Michigan Avenue for valet parking.� A vinyl fence will be installed in the rear.�

Sworn in: Mr. Ed Dec, engineer. The building has 10,000 sq. ft.� He said there are ten existing parking stalls on the property.� The entrance will have a 24� opening.� A �right turn only� sign will be positioned in front.� The dumpster will be enclosed by a mason wall, with a 6� white vinyl fence in back.� Grading will be made from the back to front of the building.� Lighting will be recessed.� Eight parking stalls will be on site with a driveway access easement; fourteen stacked cars can be parked at the site.

Mr. Abrams signed a three-year lease for the fourty parking spaces at 131 Michigan Avenue (1,200 ft. away from the restraunt).

� Mr. Tripodi said off-site parking requires a use variance.� Mr. O�Brien said

any new plans should have been submitted ten days before the hearing, and tonight is the first time the plans were presented concerning the parking arrangements.� The proposed parking site may not be allowed in the suggested area.�

Mr. Sica asked if the 21� driveway would be sufficient to accommodate valet cars coming back and forth.� Insufficient site parking would require a variance.�

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Grotto Engineering sent a letter indicating the depressed driveway curb would be increased from 16� to 24�.� The proposal requires a front setback variance and parking variance (69 parking spaces are required).� The access aisle should be 24�, not 21�.�

Mr. Tripodi said this application could be bi-frucated: site plan and use variance, if the applicant would want to do so.� Mr. O�Brien said the application is incomplete and a use variance is necessary for off-site parking.�

The meeting was opened to the public.�

Sworn in:� Mr. Livio Mancino.� He mentioned the variances needed for this application.� He said the application should be presented to the traffic commission.� This area of the Boulevard is the third highest traffic area in the county.� He said customers who do not wish to use the valet service would park in other area business lots.� The parking situation is not trivial.� The twenty employees would park on the few available spaces on the Boulevard.� The expanded driveway will take away parking spaces.� Delivery trucks will hold up the traffic.� Even with the off-site parking, the applicant is asking additional relief of over twenty parking spaces. The water run-off situation was not addressed by the applicant.� A large restaurant will not benefit this particular site.� (The public audience clapped).

Sworn in: Mr. John Wykoff.� He is concerned about where the future customers will park.� His street is behind the building.� He said Kingston Avenue will become a parking lot for the clients and workers.� The exhaust fans will blow odors into the neighborhod.�

Sworn in: �Ms. Dobrowolski.� She said postal workers and strip mall workers already

use Kingston Ave.for parking.� The additional traffic is hazardous for the children who live on her block.� A six-foot high fence would not be high enough to block the noise.�

Sworn in:� Mrs. Sodino.� She said that because valet parking over half a mile away, customers will use area street parking, which is already over-used.� The proposed dumpster will be located in the nearby area of her back yard.� A restaurant draws rodents.� There are other locations in Kenilworth that would better suit a restaurant.� Mr. Sodino is concerned that the valet parking will be dangerous, trying to maneuver around the dumpster.

Sworn in:� Mr. Richard Falcetano.� He agrees this location is not a good site for a restaurant.� Valet parking will impede the flow of traffic.�

Sworn in:� Mr. Sal Calcanto, owner.� He said prior renters of this building did not keep the outside in good condition.� He purchased the property to improve the building.� He planned to replace the leaders and gutters to improve water run-off, and paint the exterior of the building.� He said the property owners on Kingston Avenue knew when they purchased their homes that the Boulevard was zoned for businesses.� He is withdrawing his plans and will sell this property. He will replace the leaders and gutters and paint the building.� He withdraws his application without prejudice.� He no longer wants to live or have a business in Kenilworth.

Application #318:� Leased to: IDL TechniEdge, Boright Realty, LLC, 30 Boright Ave., Block 6, Lot 4, Site Plan�for Manufacturing� Industrial products & variance

for 27 parking areas. Mr. Gary Falkin is the attorney for IDL TechniEdge.

� Sworn in: Mr. Quinn, president and CEO of IDL.

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�He said he wants to lease 40,000 sq. ft. of the property at 30 Boright Avenue (about 1/3 of the building).�� IDL makes hand tools and blades.� It will employ 85 people, working three shifts. The first shift will be the largest (40 to 45 employees).� The parking requirement is for fifty spaces.� There is a 1,000 gallon ammonia tank used in heat-treating the blades.� The current IDL TechniEdge at Little Ferry has been in� business for over 25 years.� The noise level is low-grade.� Mr. Tony Peters, fire inspector, asked Mr. Quinn to explain the ammonia process.� Mr. Quinn said the nitrogen/hydrogen mix is used to make the knives bright.� If there was any possible ammonia leak, the tank would be shut down.� Mr. Candarella inquired about the location of the tank.� Mr. O�Brien said it is near a bike path behind the building, not visable from the path.�

Sworn in:� Mr. Ron Weiss, Architect.� He said IDL Tools will make the area ADL accessible.� Offices and a warehouse are recently existing at the site.� The ammonia tank will be stored outside the building near a mechanical area, not near offices. There will be nothing flamable nearby.� The number of parking spaces required is determined by a formula combining the warehouse area and office area.�

Sworn in: Mr. Dale Seidsma,� salesman for Tanner Industries, supplier of ammonia to

TechnniEdge.� IDL uses anhydrous ammonia (which means without moisture in the ammonia).� Tanner Industries has been in business for 55 years.� The proposed tank is a

1,000 gallon ammonia unit that will hold 850 gallons.� The safety features are: excess flow valves, relief valves and gauges.� The location will have a new tank installed.�� A sign that states emergency contact numbers will be placed on a fence near the tank.� A 24-hour service will respond if there are any problems.� There will be a once-a-month delivery of the ammonia.� The driver makes the hook-ups.� Ammonia has the same basic properties as propane.� Safety� awareness is promoted.� Awareness training is given to all employees.� Equiptment is inspected every time a delivery is made.� The tank-owner is expected to keep the tank rust-free.� A good single-wall tank can last about 50 years.�

Mr. Tony Peters, fire inspector, is concerned about any possible openings in the building where ammonia could leak.�

Sworn in:� Michael Lanzafama, engineer.� He described the property at 30 Boright Avenue as a six-acre site in the Industrial zone.� It is a manufacturing-style building.� The parking area had� 160 spaces, but an added access driveway reduced the number to 153 spaces.� There are eleven future spaces on site; two additional handicapped spaces will be added to comply with the ADA requirements.� Ninty additional spaces are �banked�.� At this facility, the� 243 parking spaces may never be needed.� They will meet all other aspects of the zoning laws. The site has been vacant for 1 � years.� Steel ballards protect the ammonia tank.� Truck traffic will have free movement in the loading area.� Regarding the lighting and landscaping, IDL TechniEdge will comply with the engineers and planners reports.� Subject to this, a motion to approve the site plan and parking variance was made by Mr. Cammarota, 2^nd by Mr. Candarella.� All in favor: Mr. Lepore, Ms. Bogus, Mr. Sica, Mr. Manee, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Cuppari, and Mr. Cammarota.

Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 10:40 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Janet M. Murphy, Planning Board Recording Secretary