Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, August 4, 2005 OUR 115th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 31-2005 Periodical – Postage Paid at Westfield, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] SIXTY CENTS Downtown Parking Stations To Emphasize Convenience By MICHAEL POLLACK Finance Policy Committee, is spear- dence is under construction.” He Specially Written for The Westfield Leader heading a user fee system that di- charged that this was a violation of the WESTFIELD – During Tuesday rectly impacts the athletic programs’ town’s General Ordinance 1806. After night’s Town Council meeting, Third fees and charges. All Westfield-based Councilman Foerst offered apologies Ward Councilman Mark Ciarrocca youth athletic programs will be sub- and promised to “fix the loopholes in detailed Westfield’s plans to over- jected to the new fees. It will cost $10 the tree preservation (ordinance),” and haul downtown parking. per child, per season, per sport, with Town Administrator Jim Gildea prom- New pay stations are complete in fees collected from each private sports ised to meet with Town Engineer Ken most lots. By September, shoppers league that uses a field administered Marsh, Mr. Gitter added that the ordi- and diners will be able to “have din- by the recreation department (not in- nance should protect homeowners, but ner and park at the north side train cluding Board of Education fields). also adjacent homeowners. “If clear station lot and go to Starbucks after Non-Westfield based and adult ath- cutting trees is allowed, it’s a rape of dinner and use a pay station behind letic programs also will be affected. the area,” he remarked. the Rialto,” Mr. Ciarrocca said. A fee of $30 per game, per three-hour After Mark Elsasser, Executive The councilman noted that the new period, will be charged to adult Director of the Westfield Area “Y,” layout and plan presented a “signifi- leagues and or teams. “We’ll be able complimented the council for address- cant improvement and convenience.” to offset tax liabilities and future ing traffic safety on Clark Street He maintained that by the end of projects for athletic leagues,” Coun- through lit crosswalks that “make it a September, visitors to Westfield will cilman Echausse said. safer area for all pedestrians,” John be offered a new feature on the meters. Fourth Ward Councilman Jim Blake addressed the governing body. On the side of the meters is a button Foerst said the Code Review and Town Mr. Blake said that, in his opinion, that will allow 10 minutes for free Property Committee conducted the the council had acted prematurely, parking. Long-term parking for em- first phase of over development regu- and he derided what he considered to Patrick Connor for The Westfield Leader ployees will accept nine hours, and lation changes, focusing on amend- CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 RUN FOR IT.... Over 1,300 participants took part in the annual Downtown 5K Run last Wednesday, July 27. Gene Mitchell workers “won’t have to go during the ing the corner lot and height ordi- of Franklin Lakes took first place with a time of 15:26. course of the day (to pay the meters). nances, both of which were sent to It will be convenient and encourage the planning board for public com- workers to use the spots.” ment. “The planning board has been Bd. Discusses Proposed Changes to Land Use Councilman Ciarrocca noted that good about suggestions,” Council- repaving, milling and lighting will man Foerst said, noting that archi- cause the temporary shutdown of the tects and developers looked at the South Avenue train station lot, dis- proposals, and the process is taking Ordinance As Recommended By Town Council placing commuters. Repaving is to “very good steps.” Councilman Foerst By KIMBERLY BROADWELL cut as to restrict by numbers, but that are exactly the same.” Westfield Architect David Bailey be complete by the end of this month, said he is “confident that we can Specially Written for The Westfield Leader it has to be equal to the housing on Westfield Architect Barbara told members that he felt, “some of and notices were sent out to space move forward to partially control the WESTFIELD – Before the monthly both sides of the building. He also Vincentsen encouraged Planning our older homes in Westfield built holders and those who use daily over development by putting these Planning Board meeting held Mon- noted that it was important to see how Board members to look at the neigh- 100 years ago might be considered by passes. Drivers will be redistributed ordinances into place.” day evening, members discussed pro- a house “relates to the ground and the borhood and scale of individual ap- today’s standards as Mc-Mansions.” to the Watterson Street and Central During Tuesday’s public meeting, posed amendments to Westfield’s sky.” plications. She also noted that some- He encouraged members to be care- Avenue lots. Martin Gitter of Knollwood Terrace Land Use Ordinance concerning Planning Board member, Matt times the legal front yard and the ful with revision wording. First Ward Councilman Peter alerted the council to, and protested, maximum height and corner lots. Nilsen, said, “The beauty and charm practical front yard of a given home Planning Board Chairman, Jay Echausse spoke about improving as- the “virtual clear cutting of more than Councilman James Foerst, who serves of Westfield is the diversity in hous- are not the same. She added that some- Boyle, told audience members that sets in town through user fees “paid a dozen mature trees this past week at on the Planning Board, had been ing. I have seen other towns where times a side-yard becomes a back- often sometimes it is hard to know if in conjunction with athletic leagues.” 717 Hyslip Avenue,” an adjacent prop- working with the Town Council on there are many houses on a street that yard. CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 Councilman Echausse, along with the erty, “where a new single-family resi- revising the two portions of the Ordi- nance. According to the proposed revised ordinance, the maximum building Democrats Kickoff Campaign height of principal buildings in single family and two-family residential zone districts shall not exceed be- For Mayor, Town Council Seats tween 32-35 feet, depending on the depth of the shallowest side yard. For By PAUL J. PEYTON example, according to the proposed Specially Written for The Westfield Leader ordinance, on lots where the depth of WESTFIELD – The Westfield the most shallow side yard measures Democratic Committee officially 20 feet or greater, the maximum build- kicked off their quest for the mayor’s ing heights shall equal 35 feet. office and four town council seats The proposal also looks to revise during an informal gathering Sunday the definition of lot depth and lot afternoon. width, while updating the require- The event, which attracted a few ments for corner lots in the one and dozen supporters, was held at the two-family residential zone districts. home of Councilman Larry Goldman, According to the proposal, lot depth who has represented the fourth ward shall be defined as the shortest for 10 years. Councilman Goldman is Benjamin B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader straight-line distance between the not seeking reelection. FLOW OF IDEA’S…Westfield’s Mayor Andy Skibitisky, Councilman Larry Goldman and Councilman Jim Foerst listened intently to the residents’ com- front line and the rear lot line. Lot The Democratic ticket this fall is plaints and suggestions about Tamaques pond. width shall be re-defined as the short- headed by former two-term mayor est straight-line distance between the and 2005 mayoral candidate Tom side lot lines measured, so that the Jardim. The ticket also includes portion of the line that is closest to the Audrey Fisch, first ward; Frank Westfield Officials Assess lot line equals the minimum required Fusaro, second ward; Dave Haas, third front yard setback. The numbers vary ward; and Tom Bigosinski, fourth depending on the zone. ward. During the discussion, Councilman “When Tom became mayor you Tamaques Pond Problems Foerst stated that he felt there were will recall, the downtown vacancy By CASSIE LO which was installed during the week situations where houses were being rate was around 20 percent. When he Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Betsey Burgdorf for The Westfield Leader of May 2, but it is not as aesthetically built that he thought were too big and left mayor, it was around one per- CAMPAIGN KICKOFF…Mayoral candidate Tom Jardim, center, listens to WESTFIELD – Mayor Andrew pleasing or as productive as the foun- overpowering for the neighborhood, cent,” said Westfield Democratic Westfield Democratic Committee Chairman Ken Rotter address supporters Skibitsky joined several residents and tains. Residents wish to see another but could not deny a developer be- Committee Chairman Ken Rotter. during Sunday’s kickoff of the party’s campaigns for mayor and town council. At various town officials at a meeting in fountain added to the pond Mayor cause it was within the Land Use Mr. Rotter noted that Mayor Jardim left are Mr. Jardim’s wife, Karen, and their daughter. Tamaques Park on Thursday, July 28 Skibitsky and Mr. Marsh both said Ordinance. He stated that sometimes started the Raritan Valley Line Coali- to discuss the problems with the park’s this problem would be addressed. the Planning Board’s “hands are tied tion in an effort to spearhead direct complished in the last four or five of those spikes,” said Mr. Jardim. pond. These fountains would also be bet- by the municipal land use law.” He service from Westfield to Penn Sta- years,” Mr.