OK of Robotti application postponed until Hopewell planners’ January meeting

HOPEWELL BOROUGH PLANNING UPDATE

By Francis Mahoney
   Pared down plans for a new home on Hart Avenue may be humble enough for Hopewell Borough’s Planning/Zoning Board.
   At the board’s Dec. 1 meeting, members heard a revised proposal from Louis and Kimberly Robotti, lifetime residents of the borough, for the home they hope to build at 39 Hart Ave., on the corner of Newell Place and Hart Avenue.
   The Planning Board — acting in its capacity as Zoning Board of Adjustment — decided, during the previous month’s meeting, that the Robottis’ original proposal was "too large" for the property it sits on.
   Mr. and Mrs. Robottis want to remove an existing single-family home, dating from the early 1950s, and construct a larger one in its place. The size of the lot for the proposed home does not allow room for much expansion, though.
   The Robottis’ original plans called for a substantial addition to the square footage on the ground level, which requires a Floor Area Ratio (FAR) variance.
   Although their new plans also would require a FAR variance, the Robottis’ architect was able to reduce the square footage from a total of 2,986 square feet to 2,723 square feet. The home that stands on the property now totals only 1,400 square feet.
   In addition to reducing the size of the home, a number of other concessions were made: A front porch was added to the plans; more substantial and decorative windows on the side of the home that will face Newell Place were added; the side yard and back yard setbacks were increased; and the garage – originally placed on the ground level – was moved to the basement level.
   Board member Paul Buda thought "it was a good idea to put the garage on the basement level." Yet he was concerned with the grading of the yard which sloped down toward the garage and driveway. He felt it overly exposed the basement level.
   Borough Engineer Dennis O’Neal suggested that a retaining wall be added so everything could be covered up except for the garage and driveway.
   "I think that based upon the changes you’ve made," Board Chairman Robert Donaldson remarked at the end of the hearing, "the board is satisfied."
   "It fits in better with the scheme of the neighborhood," Mr. Donaldson also said; and "the house is not so massive."
   Formal approval of the Robottis’ application was postponed until the board’s January meeting, though, as there were a few discrepancies in the figures provided to the board that directly pertained to the variance. The borough’s lawyer, G. Thomas Reynolds, asked that a clear table with the exact figures be submitted to the borough professionals before the Planning Board’s next meeting.
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   The board soon will be looking for a new secretary, as current Secretary Donna Griffiths has handed in her resignation.
   The announcement was made at the end of the board’s Dec. 1 meeting. Ms. Griffiths, who has been the board secretary since 2001, explained she will be going to work for Rocky Hill and pursuing a certificate that will allow her to become a clerk.
   Chairman Donaldson expressed the board’s gratitude for Ms. Griffiths’ service. "I’d like to personally thank Donna," he said, "for making it look easy."
   "It’s been my pleasure working with all of you," Ms. Griffiths said.
   Although her resignation is dated Dec. 31, Ms. Griffiths mentioned that she would stay on as secretary for the Planning Board until a replacement could be found. Ms. Griffiths is also tax collector for the borough and will retain that position after resigning from her role as secretary.
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   When the meeting was opened up to public comment, one-year borough resident Richard Greene of 27 Hart Ave. asked the board about the placement of a silo that he felt obstructed a once scenic view from Crusher Road.
   Mr. Greene came to the meeting "to find out how it got through" the Planning Board.
   Chairman Donaldson explained that the silo, located on farm property owned by Joseph Ruggieri, actually masked telecommunications antennas.
   "The board did deliberate for many, many months" over the issue, Mr. Donaldson said. The board also looked into hiding the antenna in a "simulated tree," but decided the silo, since it worked as a disguise and could hold more antennas if needed in the future, was the answer.
   "The other option was a monopole 150 feet high in the middle of the town," Mr. Donaldson said. "It was a win, win solution for the borough," to have the silo built. In response to the board’s explanation, Mr. Greene said, "I’m somewhat mollified."
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   In other business, the Planning Board approved adoption of the Master Plan Re-examination Report, with minor changes made to reflect current conditions in the borough, such as water supply and interconnection issues.
   Also, board member Joseph Zito said the cross-acceptance process is now complete. He said new employment figures for the borough, culled by the Planning Board, would be submitted to the state as a part of cross-acceptance. The board counted 350 employees in the borough. But, the state’s total of employees topped 600. Mr. Zito was unsure whether or not the state would use the figure provided by the borough.
   The board continued its debate of the details of a proposed zoning measure — pertaining to the rehabilitation or rebuilding of preexisting garages — during the meeting, as well. Board members Brad Lyon and Paul Buda felt the proposal should be as specific as possible, to "make it easier for people to do the right thing."
   Chairman Donaldson, on the other hand, felt it should not be so stringent. "My personal opinion," Mr. Donaldson remarked, "is we’re legislating common sense."
   With the recommendation of the borough’s professionals, the board deemed a minor subdivision application for 11 Hamilton Ave. incomplete.