Adj. Board Hears Further Testimony on Temple Parking
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Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, May 15, 2003 Published Every Thursday Since 1890 OUR 113th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 36-113 Periodical – Postage Paid at Westfield, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] FIFTY CENTS Adj. Board Hears Further Testimony On Temple Parking By LAUREN S. PASS of its members. Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Ms. Shane said the temple is fo- Last Thursday, the Westfield Board cusing on servicing its current mem- of Adjustment held its second hear- bership and that a cap had not been ing on a proposed, 170-space park- discussed. ing lot next to Temple Emanu-El. She stated the new school that was Temple Executive Director built did not generate new members Carolyn Shane was recalled to tes- and she didn’t see how a parking lot tify, at which time she presented a would. color-coded calendar of activities for Mr. Wilt asked that Ms. Shane come the past year. to the next meeting with an average Patrick Conner for The Westfield Leader Patrick Conner for The Westfield Leader Blue spaces on the calendar marked number of people per family. QUESTION AND ANSWER…Residents questioned Temple Emanu-El Board of PARKING PLAN…Engineer Victor Vinegra of Harbor Consultants presented events that were attended by 100 to Photographs of sidewalks, taken Trustees member Laurie Goldsmith-Heitner after her testimony on unsafe side- the plans for the proposed parking lot at last week’s meeting of the Westfield 199 people; green spaces were for on April 15, were submitted into walks at last week’s Board of Adjustment special hearing for a proposed parking lot. Board of Adjustment. those with 200 to 299 people; yellow evidence. The photos depicted the denoted 300 to 399 and red indicated unevenness and varying states of dis- more than 400 in attendance. Events repair of the sidewalks in the area of which drew less than 100 people the temple. Mountainside Board of Education Votes were not delineated. John Schmidt, the attorney for the Board of Adjustment Chairman temple, stated that the photographs Vince Wilt noted that there was a lot were not submitted to reflect on the of yellow on the chart and asked homeowners’ sidewalk maintenance To Sell Sawmill Property to Borough for $1 whether those colored spaces repre- practices, and not to say that these sented regular services. sidewalks are different from any other By BETSEY BURGDORF not only accommodate the the concept based on her “philo- learning more about the program. Ms. Shane stated that many of the place in town. He said that the pic- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Mountainside Baseball and Recre- sophic problems with pre-school.” The Governor Livingston Drama yellow spaces were for Friday night tures were to show that approval of At the Mountainside Board of ation Department, but the commu- The board intends to make the Club’s production of Mulatto earned and Saturday services. the parking lot would improve the Education meeting on Tuesday night, nity as well. proposal a resolution on the agenda them the Rising Star Award from the Mr. Wilt inquired whether the safety of the temple members. members unanimously passed the Elaine Nestel, Director of Special at the next meeting so that Ms. Nestel PaperMill Playhouse. There were 116 temple intended to expand its mem- Mr. Schmidt stated it was his un- decision to deed the land at the end Services, once again addressed the can move forward with the project if schools competing for the award. bership. Additionally, board mem- derstanding that a homeowner can- of Sawmill Drive to the borough for board on the issue of the inclusive passed. Information will be made The production earned 10 nomina- ber Reid Edles asked if the temple not be held liable for an accident on $1. The land will be used to build preschool proposal, which calls for available to anyone interested in CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 had considered capping the number his or her sidewalk. batting cages and restroom facili- the creation of a preschool class for Stephen Hehl, who is acting as the ties. four- and five-year-old children clas- Board Attorney in place of Vincent The county received a grant for sified as preschool disabled. Loughlin, who recused himself due $30,000 to construct the facility. With The program would be funded by Board of Adj. Denies Tree Service to a conflict, said he would like that safety concerns in mind, a grant from the Individuals with matter to be further researched. Mountainside Councilman Paul Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Westfield residents Dr. Elias Lisman Mirabelli assured the board that there which promotes fair and equal edu- Non-Conforming Use on South Ave. and his wife, Ruth Lisman, also testi- would be increased patrol of the cational representation for all stu- fied. Mrs. Lisman fell on Jefferson area, especially after hours. dents. By KIMBERLY A. BROADWELL the current land use ordinance and before the board requesting a use Avenue and fractured her ankle while The batting cages will remain The program will be comprised of Specially Written for The Westfield Leader was asking that he be grandfathered variance. leaving the temple one night. They locked at all times with access given approximately 15 students who meet A rather lengthy discussion was held to use the site to park his vehicles. In other business, F & J Foot, Inc. both testified that walking from the only to coaches and authorized the criteria. Enrollment will be se- at Monday evening’s Board of Adjust- Daniel Sullivan, Vice President of came before the board asking for cer- temple at night was hazardous. adults. The restrooms will operate lected by lottery with equal gender ment meeting regarding a decision not the Westfield Rescue Squad and tification that the properties at 112, East Broad Street resident Warren on a timer. Once the facility is con- representation. Funding for the pro- to grant certification to Francis Lindlaw member of the Squad’s Buildings 112&1/2 and 114 Cacciola Place be Hanscom also testified; his property structed, it will be open Monday gram will paid-in-full by the IDEA to park his vehicles and store equip- and Grounds Committee, addressed named as an existing non-conform- is adjacent to the rear of the proposed through Friday from 3 to 8:30 p.m., grant totaling $123,691. ment at 501 South Avenue. the board requesting that they deny ing use as a multi-family (seven-unit) parking lot. He stated that he has “no and Saturday and Sunday from 9 The majority of the board supports Mr. Lindlaw stated his business, Mr. Lindlaw’s request. dwelling. objection to the lot.” a.m. until 6 p.m. the proposal with newly-elected which is a tree operation, is an exist- In a letter that he presented to the Gary Goodman represented owner, Mr. Hanscom said he is a member The board feels the facility will member Pat Knodel disagreeing with ing nonconforming use pre-dating board, Mr. Sullivan noted that for the Frank Delulla, and stated that the prop- of the Baptist church, and it was his past few years, since Mr. Lindlaw used erties have been operating as three prin- opinion that if his church had been as the site for a firewood business, the cipal dwellings serving as a three fam- successful in getting members as the squad has been disturbed by noise of ily, two family and two family dwelling temple, the church would have asked Council Discusses Assessments, tree splitters and chippers as well as respectfully, since 1961. He stated that for a parking lot, too. polluting exhaust from those machines. there are letters dated back to 1987 from He also stated that he would like to He also noted that the odor from Charles Brandt, Esq., who represented see existing trees remain, a bigger Parking Redevelopment Plans diesel fuel has been very strong. In the owners at that time, stating that the buffer on the border of his property addition, Mr. Sullivan noted that gnats, properties were used as a seven unit and a more neighborhood-friendly lot. By LAUREN S. PASS another construction project is fin- said that the master plan recommends bees, flies, mice and moles from Mr. dwelling since 1961. Mr. Hanscom stated that he had Specially Written for The Westfield Leader ished, and that a notarized letter has that Topping Hill be designated as a Lindlaw’s firewood business have in- He noted that his client needed a written a letter requesting a 25-foot It was decided at Tuesday night’s been given to the town stating that all historic neighborhood, but that there vaded the Rescue Squad building, contract of sale certificate stating buffer, rather than the proposed 13- Westfield Town Council conference of the demolition procedures will be is no legal basis to hold up the demo- which has been operating since 1951. that the units can be used as a seven foot one. session that Tom Hackala of followed. lition. He also suggested that the He also stated that there were pest unit dwelling so Mr. Delulla can sell Last to testify was Victor Vinegra, the properties. Mr. Delulla has owned Knollwood Terrace will not be as- Town Attorney Robert Cockren CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 problems from abandoned vehicles. the principal engineer for Harbor sessed $846 for his sidewalk replace- He noted that a professional extermi- the properties since 2001. Consultants of Cranford, who devel- ment and Charles Street residents nator had to be hired to take care of According to Board of Adjustment oped the plans for the parking lot.