The new members were sworn by Attorney Shurts. The oaths of office were signed by, Nance Palladino, (Class I), Peter Buchsbaum, (Class III), and Alexander Greenwood, (Alt. #1).

Roll call on attendance: Hunt-here, Dudbridge-here, Ent-here, VanDerVeen-here, Greenwood-here, Palladino-here, Buchsbaum-here.

Absent: Meader, Backes, Perri.

Nomination of Jeff Ent as Chairman was set forth by Hunt and seconded by Palladino.

Roll call: all members present signified - ayes.

Nomination of Catherine Park as Board Secretary was set forth by Hunt and seconded by VanDerVeen. Roll call: all members present signified - ayes.

Nomination of Bernard Meader as Vice Chairman was set forth by Hunt and seconded by Dudbridge. Roll call: all members present signified - ayes.

Motion to designate the official newspaper as the Trenton Times and the alternate the Hunterdon County Democrat was set forth by Dudbridge and seconded by VanDerVeen.

Roll call: all members present signified - ayes.

Motion to designate the planning board meeting dates and scheduled time to be 7:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month was set forth by Dudbridge and seconded by Hunt.

Roll call: all members present signified - ayes.

Professional appointments:

Motion to appoint Anthony Mercantante, P.P. as Planner to West Amwell Township’s Planning Board in the year 2001 was set forth by VanDerVeen and seconded by Dudbridge. Roll call: all members present signified - ayes.

Motion to appoint Robert Clerico, of Van Cleef Engineering, as Engineer for the Planning Board in 2001 was set forth by Hunt and seconded by VanDerVeen. Roll call: all members present signified - ayes.

(Minutes of January 16, 2001 - page 2)

Motion to appoint William Shurts, Esq. of Felter, Cain and Shurts as Attorney for the Planning Board for the year 2001 was set forth by Dudbridge and seconded by Buchsbaum.

Roll call: all members present signified - ayes.

Motion to approve of the minutes of Nov. 21, 2000 and Dec. 19, 2000 were carried to February meeting.

APPROVAL OF BILL LIST

Motion to approve of the bill list dated January 16, 2001 was set forth by Hunt and seconded by VanDerVeen. Roll call: All members present signified - ayes. Buchsbaum-abstained.

Motion to approve the boundary line adjustment was set forth by Hunt and seconded by Dudbridge.

Roll call: Hunt-aye, Dudbridge-aye, Ent-aye, Greenwood-aye.

Abstained: VanDerVeen, Palladino, Buchsbaum.

Resolution to be memorialized and distributed accordingly.

(Minutes of January 16, 2001 - page 3)

This resolution approves of the site plan for fifty six (56) lots and one commercial lot.

Attorney Shurts read the resolution he had prepared. He stated for the record: one lot #25-09 had not had a satisfactory soil test. This item is addressed in the resolution, item #7 on page four (4). Attorney Shurts will modify this resolution and submit it for review and signing at the February meeting.

Motion to approve with conditions noted was set forth by Hunt and seconded by Dudbridge.

Roll call: Hunt- aye, Dudbridge-aye, Ent-aye, Greenwood-aye. Abstained: Palladino, Buchsbaum, VanDerVeen.

The applicant did not appear. Secretary was instructed to send a letter of inquiry to Mr. & Mrs. Ricca, requesting a letter of withdrawal.

Motion to send letter was set forth by Palladino and seconded by Dudbridge.

Roll call: all members present signified - ayes.

KRAUSS, RALPH & CATHERINE - INFORMAL REVIEW

Steve Morland, Esq. represented the applicants. Mr. & Mrs. Krauss were present with their three daughters. Mr. Morland stated the property Block 22 Lot 10 on Rock Road East lies in the three (3) acre zone. He presented two maps, one of the existing zoning plan and one of the old zoning plan of West Amwell Township. The Krauss property was in the two (2) acre zone before 1990 zoning map change. Mr. Morland stated his clients would like to subdivide. He requested the Planning Board to rethink the zoning change in that area of Rock Road East and possible rezone it back to a two (2) acre zone. He stated "hardship" on the part of the Krauss’s, as the reason for the request. Mr. & Mrs. Krauss have owned this land for forty (40) years. Mrs. Palladino asked where the septic system is located on the Krauss property. Mr. Krauss stated in the front of the lot. None of the Planning Board members remembered why the area was rezoned. It was speculated that the area is mostly wetlands and would not support the septic and well water requirements of the County Health Department. Betty Jane Hunt suggested the applicant apply for a variance due to hardship, and let the application stand on its merits.

Carried to February meeting.

Carolyn Armstrong gave a fifteen minute review of a grant program offered by the DEP. This grant is known as Program Section 319 from the DEP Clean Water Act. This program will fund one project improving the water quality in the Raritan Basin. There is $415,000.00 available from three agencies, NJ Forestry, NJ Water Supply Authority, NJ Reservoir & Recreation Council.

Nine (9) municipalities are eligible. Ms. Armstrong displayed mats and charts showing the Raritan Basin and the County and Township lines. There will be five (5) workshops available to see and

(Minutes of January 16, 2001 - page 4)

learn technics for apply for a grant. There is another grant for a total of three (3) municipalities for $114,000.00 to develop a manual on drainage, trenching, soil conservation, flagging etc.

Joan VanDerVeen volunteered to head up a steering committee.

Mrs. Palladino asked if anyone was going to the NJ State Plan meetings. She stated the date had been changed. Betty Jane said she would follow up with Hal Shute and Bill Comly who were the volunteers.

Mrs. Palladino requested a representative for the Affordable Housing Advisory Board be selected.

She reminded the Board that Sue Molnar had been hired to take on the job as coordinator. Joan VanDerVeen volunteered to support her.

Mark Loretto, Esq. appeared on behalf of Mr. Hoyer the applicant. He stated this was an old application that had been approved in 1999. The deeds were never filed. The time to file has expired. Mr. Loretto stated, he was looking for an exception to reapprove the application and sign and file the deeds. Attorney Shurts stated he had no problem with this action.

Motion to grant an exception to reapprove and allow time to file the deeds was set forth by Dudbridge and seconded by Hunt. Roll call: Hunt-aye, Dudbridge-aye. Abstained: Ent, VanDerVeen, Palladino, Greenwood, Buchsbaum.

Attorney Shurts will write a resolution for the next meeting.

Master Plan Review: Anthony Mercantante, Planner proposed a bare bones proposal to meet the statutory requirements. He passed out a Draft Plan to be reviewed and discussed at the next meeting. It is imperative to adopt this plan by February 20, 2001. He will prepare a resolution and fax it before the next meeting. If any member has a question or needs to review contact him before the February meeting. He will prepare budget figures for the Master Plan Review.

Workshop meeting for the Master Plan will be held on Wednesday February 28, 2001 at 7:30 p.m. at the municipal building.

Motion to adjourn at 10:40 p.m. was set forth by Hunt and seconded by VanDerVeen.

Roll Call: all members present - signified ayes.

Respectfully submitted,
Catherine L. Park, Secretary