UPPER FREEHOLD: Officials recall late former township committeeman

Members of the governing body paid tribute to the late Charles Faber, a former committeeman and township employee.

By Jane Meggitt, Special Writer
   UPPER FREEHOLD — Members of the governing body paid tribute to the late Charles Faber, a former committeeman and township employee at the Feb. 6 committee meeting.
   Charles Faber, brother of current Committeeman Robert Faber, died Feb. 1 at the age of 84.
   Committeeman Stan Moslowski Jr. recalled Faber’s work on the governing body and planning board, along with his work as the township tax collector.
   ”He was a great guy and had a lot of knowledge,” said Committeeman Moslowski. “He’ll be missed.”
   Committeeman Faber thanked his fellow committee members and the public for the cards, flowers and sympathy after his brother’s death.
   In other business, engineer Glenn Gerken, of T&M Associates, recommended that the township increase the impervious coverage on one-acre lots from 14 to 18 percent.
   Mr. Gerken, who served as the official township engineer for many years, said the planning board had asked him last May to look at all the residential and commercial zones in the town regarding building and lot coverage.
   He said that while most of the zones did not require changes, the exception was one-acre lots.
   Although current zoning does not allow for one-acre lots, there have been developments approved in the past under this zoning that are being built or will likely be built soon, he said.
   Mr. Gerken said the Ridings, a 59-lot development off Emley’s Hill Road, now has building permits or certificates of occupancy for 24 of the houses, most of which are on one acre.
   He noted that the 94-lot Taft development off Route 539, the majority of which are also one acre, should soon come before the planning board for final approval. Adjacent to this development is the proposed 46-lot Perl Acres, the majority consisting of one-acre lots, he said.
   He said that at the Ridings, most of the houses either built or under construction fall between 11 and 13 percent of total impervious coverage for the lot, which only leaves a small percentage left if the homeowner wants to put in a swimming pool, shed, tennis court, patio or deck. To go above the 14 percent coverage limit, the homeowner would have to apply to the Zoning Board of Adjustment for a variance, he said.
   Mr. Gerken also recommended modifying the definition of impervious coverage in the township’s ordinance to exclude decks if there is soil beneath them, along with no longer counting retaining walls or fence posts as part of the impervious coverage.
   Township Attorney Dennis Collins said he will prepare an ordinance change for the committee’s consideration and introduction.
   Because of a possible lack of a quorum, the governing body will not hold their next scheduled meeting on Feb. 20. Their next meeting is scheduled for March 6.