City of Trenton s1

City of Trenton Planning Board Organizational Meeting Thursday, January 11, 2007 Trenton City Hall

Members in Attendance: Joe Cooley, Chairperson Barbara Haynes, Vice Chairperson Sasa Montano Richard Potts Peter Yull

Staff in Attendance: Andrew Carten, Director Division of Planning William Valocchi, Supervising Planner Robert Leventhal, Planning Board Attorney Cherry Oakley, Planning Board Secretary Trish Long, Planning Staff

CONFERENCE SESSION

A quorum was verified and Chairperson Cooley called the meeting to order at 7:21 pm. Mr. Potts motioned to adopt the minutes from the last meeting. Vice Chairperson Haynes seconded the motion and all were in favor.

The Board introduced themselves to the Alan Greenwald, Director of Housing and Economic Development for the City of Trenton introduced himself. He thanked the Board for their services and noted that their service is the foundation of citizen participation. He has been tasked with moving Housing and Economic Development in Trenton forward in the next 3 years. He wants a system that has professional staff, a transparent department and relies on professional opinion. Looking for good quality elements and not settling for any project that comes their way. Want development that fits into the landscape of City. Restore and renovate a City of neighborhood and promote ‘green’. Encourage and support citizens to stay in their homes. Good design, for good development, and good neighborhoods.

The Board noted that in the past there has been very little contact between the Director and the Planning Board especially on issues that may be of some controversy. The Board is interested in having more contact and access.

Mr. Potts moved that the Board memorialize the Resolution # 46683 approving a preliminary major site plan application with variances and waivers for Westrum Urban Land Development, LLC for construction in the Lamberton Street Redevelopment Area.

1 2006 Vice Chairperson Haynes seconded the motion. There were 4 Ayes and 1 Abstention.

Mr. Potts moved that the Board memorialize the Resolution # 42697 approving a conditional use permit for Windows, Doors, & More, LLC for an existing property for two churches on Olden Avenue. 2006 Vice Chairperson Haynes seconded the motion. There were 4 Ayes and 1 Abstention.

Mr. Potts moved that the Board memorialize the Resolution # 42695 approving a preliminary major site plan application with a parking variance for Barcar Realty, LLC for reuse of an existing building in the Canal Banks Redevelopment Area. 2006 Vice Chairperson Haynes seconded the motion. There were 4 Ayes and 1 Abstention.

Mr. Potts moved that the Board memorialize the Resolution # 42694 approving a minor site plan application for Matthew Carappolo for lots on Hudson Street. Mr. Yull seconded the motion. There were 4 Ayes and 1 Abstention.

Mr. Leventhal opened the nominations for 2007 Chair and 2007 Vice Chair of the Trenton Planning Board. Ms. Montano made a motion that Barbara Haynes be the 2007 Chair of the City of Trenton Planning Board. Mr. Cooley seconded the motion and all were in favor. Mr. Cooley made a motion that Ms. Montano be the 2007 Vice Chair for the City of Trenton Planning Board. Mr. Yull seconded the motion. There were 4 Ayes and 1 Abstention.

2007 Vice Chairperson Montano voted to adopt the 2007 Planning Board calendar. Chairperson Haynes seconded the motion and all were in favor.

Mr. Valocchi reviewed how the consultants are contracted with the City. He noted that several of the consultants have been used by the Department for several years. Sometimes the contract is RFP’d and the current contracts are done as continuations. Mr. Leventhal stated that under the MLUL the Planning and Zoning Board have the right to appoint your own consultants, secretary, and attorney. He noted that on your own by-laws you can establish your own process if the Board so chose. Mr. Carten noted that historically with all consultant positions they sent out an RFP for all three positions. Lanning; Taylor Design; and Fran Goeke are the 3 consultants the Board contracts with, so the action the Board is taking is to continue the existing contract. Ms. Montano suggested that the Board should consider instituting a process by which the Board looks at the options for whom to contract with just in case there was another and better viable candidate.

Mr. Leventhal noted that professional organizations will solicit your business if they want your business. Ms. Montano volunteered to review the by-laws to see what they say in terms of what they need to do. The Board can review them on a day that they have no cases.

Mr. Potts nominated Mr. Leventhal to be the Planning Board’s attorney Mr. Yull seconded the motion and all were in favor

2 Mr. Yull nominated Lanning Engineering Co., Inc. for the Board’s Consulting Engineers & Land Surveyors for one year Mr. Potts seconded the motion and all were in favor.

Ms. Montano motioned that the Taylor Design Group be the Board’s consultant for landscape architecture for one year Mr. Potts seconded the motion and all were in favor.

Mr. Leventhal asked what percentage of the consulting fees is covered by the escrow fees that are coming into the Department. Mr. Valocchi noted that the City’s escrow fee formula needs to be adjusted as the fees are not keeping pace with the increase in the costs for the consulting fees. The new zoning ordinance is looking at integrating a new fee structure within it.

Mr. Yull made a motion that DMJM Harris be the Board’s consultant for traffic review for one year. Mr. Cooley seconded the motion and all were in favor.

The Board heard an oral review of the City of Trenton Master Plan given my Mr. Andrew Carten. A DRAFT of the City’s Land Use Element of the City of Trenton Master Plan was distributed to the Board. Mr. Carten reviewed the requirements for the development and use of the plan. Mr. Valocchi described the neighborhood profiles that are being used to define and craft the Master Plan and highlighted how they are put together.

There is also a ‘Downtown Plan’ is being completed by the end of this month which will present a unifying development feature for the Trenton Downtown.

Mr. Valocchi noted that there is a steering committee that is working with a $100,000 grant that the Department applied for and received to update the City of Trenton Zoning Ordinance. February 8th is a meeting with the TCCCA where data will be collected and a presentation made regarding this plan. Jeff Halpern is a representative for the Planning Board on this stakeholders group/steering committee.

The Delaware Valley Commission is being enlisted to look at the parking policies downtown and the use of the parking that is available because there has been such complaints about the parking downtown. That report will be completed by the end of May. The report won’t be adopted, but it will be provided to the appropriate agencies for enforcement and planning, etc. It will be looking at institutional and policy changes that need to be made.

The Board iterated to Mr. Carten that they want to re-start being invited to the opening of the development projects that they approve. They started with offering dates for the Broad Street Bank Building to Mr. Carten so that he can offer the dates to the developer so an invitation can be coordinated for the Board to attend. With no other business before the Board, Mr. Yull made a motion to adjourn the organizational meeting. All were in favor and the meeting was adjourned at 9:15 pm.

Respectfully submitted by Cherry Oakley