MINUTES OF ZONING HEARING BOARD MEETING

The zoning hearing board of Palmer Township met on Wednesday, January 4, 2006 at 7:30 P.M. in the Palmer Memorial Library, One Weller Place, to hear the following appeals. In attendance were Nick Noel III, zoning board solicitor, Charles Roseberry, board chairman, Cherie Kavanaugh and Daniel Caravetta, board members, John A. Embardino, zoning officer, Margaret Kennedy, Robert Gibbons, alternates, and court reporter Bonnie Becker.

A motion to accept the minutes of the December 6, 2005 hearings was made by Cherie Kavanaugh, seconded by Daniel Caravetta, with all in favor.

A motion to appoint Nick Noel zoning board solicitor for the year 2006 was made by Charles Roseberry, and seconded by Daniel Caravetta, with all in favor.

Daniel Caravetta nominated Charles Roseberry for the position of zoning board chairman. The motion was seconded by Cherie Kavanaugh with all in favor.

06-01 7:30 p.m. Kelley Maddison, 34 Olde Penn Drive, is seeking a special exception to operate a personal aesthetics business as a home occupation located in an MDR zone of the Penn’s Grant PRD, pursuant to section 190-38 B.

WITNESSES: Kelley Madison.

A motion was made by Daniel Caravetta to grant this special exception for a home occupation as presented, with the applicant as the only employee, only one client at any time to be on premises and all clients are to park on the driveway of the premises. The motion was seconded by Cherie Kavanaugh and all were in favor.

06-02 7:40 p.m. John and Debra Paul, 12 Heritage Lane, are seeking relief to build an addition on the rear of their residence and erect a shed that would ultimately create total building coverage area in excess of the 25 percent and total impervious coverage of 50 percent allowed by section 190-42 D in an MDR zone of the Penn”s Grant PRD.

WITNESSES: John and Debra Paul.

Cherie Kavanaugh made a motion to deny the variance for an addition to the home as it exceeds total building coverage and does not meet requirements of zoning ordinances. The motion was seconded by Daniel Caravetta, with all in agreement.

06-03 7:50 p.m. Joseph Mattes, 745 Maple Lane, is seeking relief from sections 190-42 E (4) and 190-211 E (15) (a) [1], to construct a detached accessory garage that would encroach five feet into a required front yard along a local street in an MDR zone.

WITNESSES: Joseph and Carol Mattes.

A motion by Daniel Caravetta was made to grant relief of this front yard setback variance with the accessory garage to be constructed no closer to Virginia Street than the north wall of the home. Cherie Kavanaugh seconded the motion and all were in favor.

06-04 8:00 p.m. Nicholas Pugliese, trading as NJP Construction Company, 1072 Grand Street, Phillipsburg NJ, is seeking variances from sections 190-58.8 V, to construct townhouse garages to the fronts of proposed townhouses, 190-58.8 Z, for relief of off-street visitor/overflow parking,190-58.8 AA, setback from industrial areas, and 190-58.8 O, minimum private areas, relating to a proposed subdivision and development of townhouses at Milford Street and Tamlynn Lane in an HDR-2 zoning district.

WITNESSES: Don Frederickson, P.C., Dennis DeEsch, Esq., Melanie Morgan 2753 Tamlynn Lane, Armin Kruppe, 2702 Tamlynn Lane, Marilyn Shindell, 2721 Tamlynn Lane, Barbara Donato, 2726 Tamlynn Lane, Rose Nicusanti, 2707 Tamlynn Lane.

(1). A motion was made by Cherie Kavanaugh and seconded by Daniel Caravetta to grant relief from 190-58.8 V, for front entrance garages, with all in favor.

(2). A motion was made by Daniel Caravetta and seconded by Cherie Kavanaugh to deny relief from overflow/vistor parking pursuant to section 190-58.8 Z, with all in agreement.

(3). A motion was made by Cherie Kavanaugh and seconded by Daniel Caravetta, to grant setback relief from industrial areas pursuant to section 190-58.8 AA, as presented on exhibit A-2, with all in favor.

(4). A motion was made by Daniel Caravetta and seconded by Cherie Kavanaugh to grant relief from private area requirements pursuant to section 190-58.8 O, as presented on exhibit A-2, with all in favor.

06-05 8:10 p.m. Joseph Kennedy of Chandler Signs, Dallas, Texas, representing Eckerd Pharmacy, 601 S. 25^th Street in the Palmer Town Center, is seeking relief from section 190-184 A (4) (b), to erect freestanding signs in excess of number and total area allowed on a lot with multiple commercial establishments in a GC zone.

WITNESSES: Joseph Kennedy of Chandler Signs.

A motion was made by Cherie Kavanaugh to deny the freestanding sign request as presented but to allow a freestanding sign with a maximum height of 10 feet and a maximum area of 28 square feet per zoning ordinance. This motion was seconded by Daniel Caravetta, with all in agreement.

06-06 8:20 p.m. Jerry Knafo, Esq., 2740 Nazareth Road, is seeking variances pursuant to sections 190-199 C (3) (d) for setback relief of the expansion of a parking area of a legally existing nonconforming use, and 190-191 A, for two uses on a lot in an MDR zone of the Route 248 Overlay District.

WITNESSES: Jerry Knafo, Esq., Don Frederickson, P.C., Nancy Jacobson, 2757 Stephens Street, Harry and Linda Quick, 2755 Stephens Street, Debbie and John Mehler, 2741 Stephens Street, David Zilker, 2762 Nazareth Road.

Per applicant’s statement, section 190-42 D, total impervious coverage was added to his variance request. After the applicant’s presentation and other witness inquiries and testimony, this hearing was continued at the applicant’s request to February 7, 2006 in order to revise his site plan and allow for public input.

Having no further business to discuss, the hearing was adjourned

John A. Embardino

Zoning Officer