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| Boro. & Redev. Info 6-13-07
Keyport Neighbors Re: Report on 6/4 Borough Council Meetings
Not on the agenda was a presentation by the Borough Redevelopment Attorney, Gordon Litwin and the Borough Planner, Paul Ricci. They informed the KBC that the state Community Affairs commissioner, Susan Bass Levin, would not at this time allow any "Environmentally Sensitive Planning Area 5" (PA5) sites to be part of the Keyport Borough "area in need of Rehabilitation". Earlier this year, the KBC had designated the entire Borough of Keyport as an "area in need of Rehabilitation". Based on input from Gordon Litwin, the KBC then referred a resolution to the KUPB to remove the PA5 environmentally sensitive areas from the "area in need of Rehabilitation". Based on a 8/24/06 "Map of State Planning Areas" prepared by T&M Associates and included in a June 4,2007 report on areas for Rehabilitation in Keyport, the PA5 areas to now be excluded from the "area in need of Rehabilitation" include the Aeromarine site, all creek wetlands, and bayshore areas including Beach Park, Cedar Street Park, the downtown waterfront park area, and the 4 marinas (Olsens, Pedersens, Browns Point, Keyport Marine Basin). The KBC announced that there would be a public hearing on the KBC managed budget for the Borough government on 7/17. The Keyport Unified Planning Board (KUPB) hearing on the new Hovnanian site plan application was continued at a special meeting on 6/6/07. At this hearings and two previous hearings, the Board is addressing the impact/side-effects of unapproved changes made in the project buildings and site plans since the original plans were approved by the KUPB in 2003-2004. During this 6/6 meeting a First Street resident took the opportunity to rebut the Hovnanian testimony that the project was being built in alignment with the 2003- 2004 KUPB approvals. Documentation was provided to the KUPB which showed that the front of the buildings are significantly higher in appearance (by ~ 7 feet) than in the original concept drawings for the project. Technical material was presented on definitions of buildings and structures, and method for counting the number of stories (4) and calculating building height (<35 feet). Residents also gave their inputs on changes/conditions (raise the road, kneewall addition, grading changes, property management and maintenance) that they feel would improve the site. Residents also pointed out how the latest illustrations and drawings from Hovnanian still don’t reflect what is actually being built and/or requested for approved. Following these inputs the KUPB voted 9-0 that Hovnanian needs a bulk-variance for a 4-story building and then voted 9-0 that Hovnanian needs a bulk variance for exceeding the maximum allowed building height of 35 feet. The Hovnanian representatives then asked the Board to grant these 2 bulk-variances. Discussions then followed among Board members regarding what is being built and what condition should be attached to the bulk-variances. In response to questions from the KUPB attorney, Hovnanian representatives committed to raise the road and sidewalk on First Street 2 feet 4inches, to improve the Beach Park streetscape, and to remove the gully between Building #3 and the Firehouse. The meeting ended without closure on the definition of the full set of conditions/changes to be implemented by Hovnanian and without any KUPB voted on approving the bulk-variainces and site plans. The hearing on this Hovnanian case will continue at the next regular KUPB meeting on 6/21/07 The need for rigor in understanding the final site plans (not yet available from Hovnanian) and documenting the conditions/changed has been clearly illuminated by the shortcomings in the 2003-2004 KUPB hearings and documentation. Regards Michael Lane | ||||||||
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