Land Use Board Meeting Minutes

FREDON TOWNSHIP LAND USE BOARD

Meeting Minutes

December 18, 2023

MEMBERS PRESENT: Boland, Boyle, Deitz, Erb, McCaffrey, Meyer, and Wilcox

MEMBERS ABSENT:  Andrews, Lazzaro, Passafaro, Prommel, and Rome

ALSO PRESENT: Mr. Michael Brown, Esq, and Ms. Jessica Caldwell, P.P.

Mr. Boland called the meeting to order at 7:13 P.M. with the statement that this meeting is in compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act, Public Law 1975, Chapter 231, Sections 4 and 13, as advertised by Annual Notice in The New Jersey Herald. If the applicant is a partnership or corporation, an attorney must represent it. No new applications will be heard after 10:00 P.M. No new testimony will be heard after 11:00 P.M.

Mr. Boland invited all present to participate in the salute to the flag.

MINUTES

Mr. McCaffrey moved acceptance of the minutes for the October 16, 2023 meeting as posted and waived reading. Ms. Erb second. Roll call vote: In favor, Boyle, Erb, McCaffrey, Meyer, and Boland. Opposed: None. So moved.

CORRESPONDENCE

As shown on the attached agenda.

Rudeau/Timber Valley Tree Farm Sussex County Agricultural Development Board Resolutions and Map dated November 22, 2023.

Mr. Brown stated that the Rudeau/Timber Valley Tree Farm Sussex County Ag Board Resolution approved construction of a barn in front of their property. Mr. Brown then stated that the Rudeau’s came in front of the Land Use Board in March of 2022 and received bulk variance relief with their original application for a duplex family home. The information from the Sussex County Ag Board states that they are looking to revise the original approved plans to include a single-family home rather than a duplex. The concern that Mr. Brady and Mr. Brown have is that the single-family home is not what the original approval was for, and now with the change to a single family home, in addition to the barn, Mr. Brown would like to ask the board’s approval to draft a letter to request that the Rudeau’s come back in front of the board to explain the set of circumstances that prompted the revisions and to advise the board as to their intentions.

Mr. Boland agreed with Mr. Brown.

Ms. Wilcox made a motion to draft the Rudeau’s a letter from counsel to explain the revisions to their original application. Mr. Boyle second. Roll call vote: In favor, Mr. Boyle, Mr. Deitz, Ms. Erb, Ms. Wilcox, Mr. McCaffrey, Mr. Meyer, and Mr. Boland. Opposed: None. So moved.

CONTINUATION OF CASES

None.

RESOLUTIONS

None.

HEARING OF NEW CASES

None.

OTHER BUSINESS

          Master Plan Reexamination

Mr. Boland informed the Board that after the public input meeting for the Master Plan Reexamination that was held on October 24, 2023, J. Caldwell and Associates took into account the few areas that the Board requested to be addressed and these changes were incorporated into the updated Master Plan that was published.

No additional comments from the board.

Mr. Boland opened the meeting to the Public. No public comment. The meeting was closed to the public.

Ms. Erb motioned for the Master Plan Reexamination to be adopted as published. Mr. McCaffrey second. Roll call vote: In favor, Mr. Boyle, Mr. Deitz, Ms. Erb, Ms. Wilcox, Mr. McCaffrey, Mr. Meyer, Mr. Boland. Opposed: None. So moved.

LIAISON REPORTS

Township Committee

Mr. Deitz stated there was nothing new to report. Ms. Erb asked Mr. Deitz if there were any updates on the In-Law Suite and Solar ordinances sent to the Township Committee. Mr. Deitz stated that he was aware of them being tabled a few times at prior Township Committee meetings but does not have any updates. Ms. Erb stated that the Land Use Board wasn’t looking to make them more restrictive for residents but in fact, they were looking to make it more accommodating for applications coming through the Land Use Board and that when they applied it didn’t cost them more money. Mr. Deitz reiterated that he was aware of the ordinances being tabled a few times in the Township Committee meetings in 2023, that Ms. Erb’s comments were fair, and he will address the Ordinances beginning of 2024 with the Township Committee. 

Environmental Committee

No meeting. No report.

Mr. Boland opened the meeting to the Public. No public comment. The meeting was closed to the public.

There being no further business before the Board, a motion was made to adjourn at 7:23 P.M. All in favor. So moved.

Respectfully submitted,

Alexandra Usinowicz

Land Use Board Secretary