Home Demolitions Prompt Town to Review Shoehorning by LAUREN S
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Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, May 29, 2003 Published Every Thursday Since 1890 OUR 113th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 37-113 Periodical – Postage Paid at Westfield, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] FIFTY CENTS Home Demolitions Prompt Town to Review Shoehorning By LAUREN S. PASS said that the council could look at laws, but the designs have been in- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader changing requirements for the “floor congruous with the neighborhood. A discussion to rewrite the Town area ratio,” meaning the volume of He added that the council could not of Westfield’s “anti-shoehorning” the house in respect to the size of the regulate the design of the homes. ordinance was raised at Tuesday lot, and height restrictions. He also Mayor McDermott conceded that night’s council meeting, after Mayor mentioned that the town’s current he is not sure what the council can Gregory McDermott noted the high ordinance is being challenged in a do, but that options should be looked number of demolitions the council is lawsuit under a planning board sub- into. seeing for approval. division. At a future meeting, Mr. Marsh “Shoehorning” is when two houses Third Ward Democrat Councilman will bring the statistics of how many are built on what was a single home and former member of the Board of houses the council approved for lot. Adjustment, David Haas, questioned demolition in the past couple of years. Currently, the council is facing if the town could require the height The Laws and Rules Committee resolutions to demolish homes at of the homes to be an average of the and Town Planner Blaise Brancheu 113 Harrow Road, 170 Cottage Place, height of the neighboring houses. will review the ordinance. 327 Orenda Circle and 717 Hyslip The same process is used for front In other business, the council re- Avenue. yard setback requirements accord- viewed changes to the town’s current Town Engineer Kenneth Marsh ing to Councilman Haas. sidewalk café ordinance. The major stated that the only lot that will be Mr. Cockren stated that it would change is that enforcement will no subdivided is Hyslip Avenue, which be difficult to gather the data in order longer fall under Zoning Official was approved by the Planning Board. to enforce height restrictions that Kathleen Neville, but will instead go He said that the two lots made are way. to the Fire Department. larger than required by the town’s Mr. Marsh said that the current Town Administrator James Gildea zoning laws. land use plan calls for a “diversity of said that most of the complaints for Fourth Ward Democrat Council- housing types and sizes” and that violations have come in after hours man Lawrence Goldman raised con- now the “starter homes” are disap- when the zoning office is closed. He cern that the character of streets, like pearing. said that Deputy Fire Chief Daniel Cottage Place and North Cottage First Ward Republican Council- Kelly has already been working with Horace R. Corbin for The Westfield Leader Place where ranches are being torn man Sal Caruana said that much of Ms. Neville. GRAND MARSHAL…Alfred Riker of Westfield, the chaplain of the Martin Wallberg Post of the American Legion, gave down, is being changed. what has been built around town has A meeting will be held on Wednes- the opening prayer and benediction at this year’s Memorial Day ceremony, which was held indoors. Mr. Riker was also Town Attorney Robert Cockren slated to be the parade’s Grand Marshal. been conforming to current zoning day, June 4, at 7:30 p.m. at Tamaques Elementary School to discuss the Rahway Avenue railroad crossing. Fourth Ward Democrat Susan Westfield Council to Meet With Parking Deck Developer; Jacobson said that she had been trying to organize this meeting for over a year. A representative from Senator Jon Corzine’s office will be present to Discusses Field Maintenance, Salary Range Increases discuss the status of Federal Regula- tion changes on the whistle blowing. By LAUREN S. PASS the recently selected parking deck At this week’s meeting, Town Ad- fire and police chiefs were changed Department of Public Works (DPW) Mr. Marsh said that five years ago Specially Written for The Westfield Leader developer Nassau HKT Associates ministrator James Gildea stated that late last year. will then sit down to see what parts of there were new regulations pending After next week’s public meeting for the first time. the council, acting as the redevelop- In other business, Third Ward Re- the plan are workable. that the whistle would not have to be of the Westfield Town Council, the As of press time it was unknown ment agency, has the final say on the publican Councilman and Liaison to E-mails complaining about field blown if the town made all four quad- governing body will sit down with whether this portion of the meeting approval of the redevelopment plans the Recreation Commission Andrew conditions were also discussed by rants impassible. He stated that the would be open to the public. for the sites on South Avenue and Skibitsky reported that the commis- the council. town allocated $20,000 to install Prospect and Elm Streets. The Plan- sion is working on a proposal for the Mr. Gildea stated that there was a curbed islands, which would prevent ning Board recently approved the plans. construction of a “turf field” at the recent problem at Gumbert Field, drivers from going around the gates, Town Attorney Robert Cockren conservation center. They are study- but that the problem was fixed im- and the plan was approved by the state Borough BOE Creates explained that the redevelopment ing the area, and gathering informa- mediately. Department of Transportation. plans would become the zoning for tion, but intend to pitch the idea for Town Engineer Kenneth Marsh The federal government then met the two areas. He stated that there are next year’s capital budget. stated that the Recreation Depart- opposition on the local level in other some details, which the council may The commission is also working ment and the DPW are working well parts of the country, and the regula- Preschool Classes want to change from what the plan- on a field maintenance plan with together on field maintenance. He tion was never approved. ning board presented, including pe- help from Rutgers Agricultural said that with the high number of First Ward Republican Peter Echausse destrian walkways. School. The commission and the CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 was absent from the meeting. Third Ward Democrat Councilman Through IDEA Grant David Haas questioned if, after pub- lic input is given, the redevelopment By BETSEY BURGDORF David, who will attend Rutgers plans would need to be changed. Westfield Historic Preservation Specially Written for The Westfield Leader University in the fall, will receive Mr. Cockren stated that the final The proposal to create a pre- $1,000 per year over a four-year plans should have room in them for school class for four and five year period. what the town wants. He added that old children, who are classified as The board is hopeful that the surveys, environmental studies and To Honor Homeowners in June preschool-disabled, was approved contract will be signed this week geological technology studies need by the Mountainside Board of Edu- between Paul Otto Construction and to get underway. These studies will By BETTY LIST appreciation of a complete written his- Information about other sites being cation during its Tuesday evening Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Hartford Bonding Company so that determine how far down into the tory of this property that was turned recognized will be forthcoming. The meeting. construction can resume at ground the decks will have to go. The Westfield Historic Preservation The program will be funded by a over to them by the Birdsall family public is invited to attend the Awards Beechwood School. Mr. Gildea stated that the council’s Commission, preparing for its 11th when they purchased it. Presentation on June 12. grant from the Individuals with Dis- Board President Peter Goggi said input would not change the current Annual Harry Devlin Commendations abilities Education Act (IDEA), that he “is hopeful” that the project plans, but refine them. Awards Reception on Thursday, June which promotes fair and equal edu- will be finished for the first day of Mayor Gregory McDermott stated 12, in the Municipal Council Cham- cational representation for all stu- school on September 4. that even though Nassau will come bers at 8 p.m., recently appointed a dents. The program will be com- Paul Otto assured the board that forward with ideas for plans, it is panel of judges who toured the com- prised of approximately 15 students the work would be completed by really the town’s project. munity in order to recognize property who meet the criteria. the September deadline if construc- “We’re driving this project,” he said. owners who have demonstrated gener- Enrollment will be selected by tion begins in May. However, in the In other business, the council will ally established historic preservation lottery with equal gender represen- event that the work is not com- have ordinances 1814 and 1815 on standards when expanding, altering, tation. pleted, a contingency plan will be the agenda for approval at next week’s restoring, and maintaining their build- Funding for the program will be put into effect so that there will be public council meeting. ings and grounds. paid in total by the IDEA district no delay in school opening. These ordinances will set the sal- The buildings should retain architec- grant totaling $123,691.