WF Planning Board Approves Little Gatehouse Subdivision WF BOE
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Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, March 6, 2008 OUR 118th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 10-2008 Periodical – Postage Paid at Westfield, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] SIXTY CENTS WF Planning Board Approves Little Gatehouse Subdivision By CHRISTINA M. HINKE new owner would have to comply for gatehouse reviewed by the town’s his- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader the full five years. After the five years toric preservation commission for com- WESTFIELD — The Westfield are up, the new owner could do as he ment. After motions of protest by Ms. Planning Board approved a subdivi- or she wished. Marsella, she agreed to the request. sion, with variances, at 200 Canter- Robert Newell was the only one The four-hour meeting began with bury Lane, better known as the “Little among seven board members to vote public comments. Eleven Westfield Gatehouse” property, during Mon- against the application. residents came before the board op- day night’s meeting. The application Ms. Marsella plans to build a two- posing the application, for reasons was approved on the condition prop- story, English country manor-style such as safety and historic preserva- erty owner Julie Marsella does not home, with a 4,092-square-foot floor tion. demolish the gatehouse within five area, on the new subdivided lot and Wychwood resident John Boyle years or for the remainder of her time have an addition built on the rear of said Judy Thornton, town-planning occupying the house, whichever is the gatehouse. Her lawyer, Robert consultant, initially agreed that the greater. Krause, said she plans to add a bed- frontage was on East Broad Street, Should she move prior to the five room and bathroom. but changed her mind after Elizabeth years, the board said the condition The board asked her to agree to the McKenzie, a planner hired by the would remain on the deed and the condition to have her plans for the applicant, filed her report. Ms. Thornton’s basis was that the “front- age is di minimus,” Mr. Boyle said in a letter dated December 15, 2006. After the meeting, board chairman Vincent Wilt told The Westfield Leader that Ms. Thornton never said the front- age was on East Broad Street. “She didn’t change her mind. That was a Benjamin B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader misinterpretation. She may have HATS OFF FOR READING...Westfield Tamaques Elementary School children celebrate Reading Across America on changed from de minimis to a point,” Monday as Mayor Andrew Skibitsky is the guest reader of Dr. Seuss. he said. At the December 3, 2007 planning board meeting, Ms. McKenzie said 200 Canterbury Lane had a 300-foot WF BOE Receives 40 Percent of frontage on Wychwood Road. She said “just a corner” of the land touches East Broad Street, whereas Dennis Hudacsko, a planner hired by the Requested Debt Service Aid proposal’s opponents, testified that By CHRISTINA M. HINKE service, to the county superintendent. $3,694,781 – 2.1 percent higher than the property’s frontage was 17.98 Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Last year’s budget was $82.7 million. last year. This budget includes sala- square feet along East Broad. WESTFIELD — The business ad- At this point, the board of ries and stipends of $3,508,929, 2.2 Resident Richard Watkins said he ministrator of the Westfield Board of education’s budget will represent an percent higher than last year. found a letter from Ms. Thornton Education (BOE), Robert Berman, increase if 4.85-percent in taxes, 0.85 Following the budget talks, Nina dated August 2007, in which she re- announced at Tuesday night’s meet- percent over the allowed state’s 4- Attanasio, president of the Ice Hockey Christina Hinke for The Westfield Leader GATEHOUSE GATHERING...Resident John Boyle shows that Wychwood’s ferred to a December 2006 letter from ing that the Westfield school district percent cap. Ginny Leiz, board presi- Association of the Westfield High ‘little gatehouse’ has lot frontage on East Broad Street, at Monday night’s board attorney Russell Finestein to would receive $204,000 in debt ser- dent, said the board could get ap- School, along with Evan Einstein, Westfield Planning Board meeting, a point the board did not concur with. the applicant, and in it was a chart for vice aid, 40 percent less than it re- proval for the 4.8-percent tax rate Jimmy Bender and Craig Esposito, variances for the application for front- quested. increase should the state approve the Blue Devils ice hockey team cap- age on East Broad Street. Mr. Berman said he has talked to waivers the Westfield BOE requested. tains, asked the board of education to “When I read these documents, the county officials since last week’s “If we don’t, we’ll be back at the consider financially helping the team Hatfield Beats Marks for attorney wrote to the applicant that meeting to further clarify the BOE’s cutting tables, looking at other dol- as their costs have increased 220 per- this application is incomplete, it re- submitted budget. lars,” said Ms. Leiz. cent since its inception as a pilot quires these variances. Apparently, He said he hopes to hear a decision “If further cuts are needed, we have program in 1994. County GOP Nomination she [Thornton] reversed her decision. on the budget by the end of this week no choice but to cut programs that are Ms. Attanasio said the Ice Hockey By PAUL J. PEYTON got to go for it (the Somerset nomina- She changed her opinion,” Mr. or early next week. near and dear to parents,” said Rich- Association has a current budget of Specially Written for The Westfield Leader tion).” Watkins said. Reading parts of the “It’s taking a little more time than ard Solomon, board member. $64,279, which includes $18,000 for WESTFIELD — Former Summit State Senator Leonard Lance (LD- town’s ordinance, he said, “You are usual,” he said. Mr. Berman also announced the two coaches’ salaries. Other costs Councilwoman Kelly Hatfield edged 23, Flemington), who won the not upholding your own ordinance. Mr. Berman also announced about athletic and fine arts 2008-2009 pro- include transportation, league fees Scotch Plains Mayor Marty Marks at Hunterdon County convention with You must deny this because the appli- $150,000 in additional reductions, posed budget. and referees. last Saturday’s Union County Re- 68 out of 82 possible votes, finished cation does not consider the frontage from last week’s meeting, to the pro- The proposed athletic budget is She said parents pay $1,200 each publican Convention to win the orga- third in Union County with 65 votes. on East Broad Street.” posed budget, bringing the reduc- $1,288,292 – 3.9 percent higher than year for players to participate. nization line for Congress in the June “I am very pleased with my showing Later, board member Francis Smith tions to $650,000 in three weeks. last year. This includes salaries and “We are progressing from a test Primary. State Senator Joe here today,” he told The Westfield said, “I’m totally persuaded that there Last week, the board announced about stipends totaling $946,486, a 5.2-per- program to a varsity program,” Evan Pennacchio (LD-26, Morris Plains) Leader afterwards. is no sideline on East Broad Street.” $500,000 in proposed budget cuts cent increase ($48,500) from last year. said. defeated Anne Estabrook, also on the He told convention delegates that Resident Betty List said, “This from the areas of transportation, tech- Physical-education teacher salaries Twenty-one members of the team, second ballot, to win the line for U.S. Congress needs a “real leader with placement [of the new home] will nology, personnel and supplies. are included in the general education including the three captains, attended Senate. Ms. Estabrook withdrew from real experience.” destroy the visual symmetry of the The board submitted a proposed budget. the meeting. the race, at press deadline, citing Kate Whitman, the daughter of two complimentary gatehouses. The $87-million budget, including debt The proposed fine-arts budget is “It’s clear, after 14 years, that the health reasons. former Governor Christine Whitman, little gatehouse would be lost behind Westfield hockey team is here to stay,” Ms. Hatfield defeated Mr. Marks finished fourth with 16 votes, fol- new construction.” Craig said. with 60 percent of the vote, 196-134, lowed by Tom Roughneen, former Prior to the vote, Mr. Newell, also Council Defers Prospect St. “We’d like to do whatever we can on the second ballot after none of the assistant prosecutor and Iraq War a member of the historical preserva- to help you,” Ms. Leiz said. eight candidates for the open Seventh veteran, 12; Victor Sordillo, former tion committee, said, “I have some “I’m very proud of these men,” District garnered 50 percent of the Watchung mayor, four; and Chris conflictions. The issue I’m struggling Demos Until PB Meeting Athletic Director Ed Tranchina said. vote total plus one tally to win on the Venis, former Congressional staffer, with is the historic character of this By MICHAEL J. POLLACK tion” does exist. Board member Alice Hunnicutt said first ballot. A total of 410 members of one. A.D. Ahr, a professor of business property.” Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Second Ward Councilwoman Vicki Westfield High School will offer the Union County GOP Committee at Seton Hall University, did not re- “The property is not designated by WESTFIELD – The Westfield town Kimmins served on the tree preserva- driver’s education theory on an ex- participated.