LAMBERTVILLE: City OKs new rules for slopes projects

By John Tredrea, Special Writer
   LAMBERTVILLE — An ordinance tightening city regulations on construction on steep slopes was adopted by the Lambertville City Council on Monday night.
   ”This will make it tougher to build in the most sensitive parts of the community,” Mayor David Del Vecchio said.
   The mayor and Planning Board member Paul Kuhl said the measure gives the city more control by requiring a variance, rather than a waiver, from the city Planning Board for builders seeking exceptions to the ordinance.
   The ordinance also requires builders to post a bond before beginning work. This means if excavation or other work were left unfinished, the city would have the money in hand to complete the job.
   ”Our main goal is to affect subdivisions, not single-family homes,” the mayor added.
   He noted that, with adoption of the amendment, the option to cluster development on the flat portion of properties with steep slopes is being retained.
   The amendment was recommended for adoption by the city Planning Board, he added.
   The ordinance, which was introduced June 20, amends a measure — adopted in 1994 — regulating construction on steep slopes.
   In June, planning consultant Tim Corzun said, “Requiring a variance would allow us to use the stricter standards of the state land-use law.”
   A key intent here, Mr. Corzun said in June, is “to protect those downhill” of where the work is taking place.
   ”It gives us more control and allows better planning,” he said. “Most of the vacant land left in town is on steep slopes.”