Planning Bd. approves L.S. townhome project
BY MELISSA KARSH Staff Writer

LITTLE SILVER - After seven years of deliberation in various forms, it took only 20 minutes for the borough Planning Board to read through a number of resolutions and unanimously approve the application for the Eastview Avenue townhome development Oct. 2.

In a vote led Planning Board member Michael Olimpi, the Planning Board approved the major site plan application for the 39 age-restricted townhouse units, including seven affordable-housing units to meet the requirements of the state Council on Affordable Housing (COAH), and granted two variances for parking spaces and signage.

"They don't have one single bulk variance," said Planning Board Attorney Michael Leckstein.

Planning Board Chairman K. Edward Jacobi added, "It's essentially a site plan application."

Two variances were granted: one for the number of parking spaces provided for Challenger Field since 25 were required and only 11 are proposed; and a variance to permit the use of four signs at the entrance of the development, Carriage Park at Little Silver, instead of the one sign permitted.

According to the Planning Board resolution, "The board determined that permitting four smaller signs is a better alternative rather than seeking one 18- square-foot sign and creates a more visually pleasing environment."

During the proceedings a handful of residents opposed to the project, some of whom had appeared in front of the Borough Council the night before, were present and were more subdued than they were at previous meetings.

At the Oct. 1 workshop meeting, council members seemed sympathetic to the plight of residents and their eleventh-hour plea to revisit the ordinance that had allowed the project to go forward, but officials were not willing to hold up the process any longer.

"The ordinance was the result of a

rather lengthy process," said

council Attorney John O.

Bennett III of the Dilworth

Paxson law firm.

"There doesn't seem to

be a desire to revisit

the ordinance today.

These are issues that

should've been discussed

during the other

hearings [for the original

Borough Council ordinance]."

Other provisions of the Planning Board resolution include that the Kalian Corp. development project, which fronts Eastview and Oceanport avenues, meets all requirements concerning drainage, density and bulk requirements of the zoning ordinance.

According to the resolution, "The project is an integral and necessary part of the borough's compliance with the second and possibly third round of the affordable housing requirements."

"As far as I'm concerned, the only reason we are voting for this thing is for the seven affordable units," said Jacobi as he read through the resolution.

The resolution also includes the Planning Board's recommendations such as "in some time in the future that the borough accept the open space parcel and a condominium association will be formed to maintain the stormwater pipe, outfall structure, to be located in an easement on the open space parcel, whether owned by the association or the borough," according to the resolution.

The 10 acres of wetlands of open space drew opposition from residents who did not want to see another piece of land transferred to the borough and taxpayer money used to maintain it.