Monday, May 6, 2013
Ordinance changes were reviewed by planners last week
More proposed modifications to Toms River building ordinances aim at making reconstruction from Superstorm Sandy simpler. Planning Board members last week said that amendments easing regulations for affected properties are consistent with the township's master plan, giving them their approval. Waiving a variance request for certain construction means residents won't face a Zoning Board appearance. "We recognize that when people are rebuilding they want to avoid going through a variance process that are based on site conditions that are quite predictable," said township planner Jay Lynch. Conditions are predictable because many damaged homes are located on the barrier island and on similar types of lots. The township's current policy is …
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Store is proposed at the corner of Fischer Boulevard and Bay Avenue
Some residents near a proposed Fischer Boulevard convenience store are concerned that the building's distance to the property line may impact their home values. The 3,000 square foot 7-Eleven store, which would replace a former gas station site on the corner of Fischer Boulevard and Bay Avenue, requires a setback variance since it is proposed to be built closer to the property line than township ordinance allows. Some nearby residents worry that could cause problems for them. "That's going to have a detrimental impact to the people's property values and their quality of life," said Edward Liston, the attorney representing five property owners near the site, after Toms River Planning Board members heard a portion of the applicant's …
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Project Freedom complex planned to include 72 units
An apartment complex aimed at giving those with disabilities a community where they can live mostly independent lives won the approval of Toms River planners, though some neighbors expressed concerns that an affordable housing requirement may draw further problems to the area. Proposed for the northeast corner of Hickory Street and Massachusetts Avenue, the nonprofit Project Freedom development is planned to include 72 apartment units on 10 acres of land. Because of state regulations, 18 units are reserved for disabled individuals — the remainder could go to able-bodied tenants, though persons with disabilities would be given preference. "We foresee problems with this," said Ken Strom, who serves on the homeowners association for an …
Monday, April 8, 2013
Money expected to be reimbursed by FEMA, according to township planner
Toms River's plan to secure $38 million in bonds for improvements to township infrastructure following Superstorm Sandy received approval from planners last week. The various capital improvements to public structures including devastated locals roads, utilities and bulkheads is consistent with Toms River's master plan and should be reimbursed by FEMA. "I feel strongly that this should be approved by the board," said Planning Board Chairman Bill Suchodolski, who was on the barrier island the day after the storm and saw the destruction firsthand. "I say this as a resident and member of the Planning Board." The ordinance providing for the financing of the improvements will have a public hearing and vote by the Township Council on Tuesday …
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Plan to redraw lots wins Planning Board approval, though some express concerns
A plan to consolidate several tax lots located at the former Ciba-Geigy chemical production site into three tracts was met with skepticism from the public and some Planning Board members, though it was ultimately approved in a 5-2 vote. Consolidating the six tax lots into three is meant to help with remediation and was recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency, according to an attorney for BASF, the company that purchased Ciba in 2008 and now controls the land behind Route 37 and the Oak Ridge Parkway. No development at the site is currently planned, representatives said during the Planning Board's Wednesday meeting. Nevertheless, some residents expressed their concern over the site and its future. "I don't trust these people…
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Planning Board will meet at 6 p.m. in town hall
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Planners give approval during applicant's third appearance regarding tire storage area
The third time is the charm for AAA, as Toms River Planning Board members gave their approval for a tire storage site at the Route 37 location. Representatives for the automotive service center had been before the board twice before — once in January and again in February. Planners at first expressed health and aesthetic concerns with the plan, but agreed this week to allow the storage site as long as it is fenced in. Last month, it appeared as though the construct a 6-foot high board-on-board fence around the tire storage area to block it from view would require a variance, which is why AAA representatives scheduled another appearance before the board. But applicant attorney Michael York said that, after speaking again with township …
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Planning Board tasked with handling FEMA flood map variance requests
A variance process for contesting FEMA flood elevations won't be much help to homeowners, since too many approved appeals could jeopardize Toms River's participation in the National Flood Insurance Program. "The advice from FEMA is, tread wisely," said township engineer Robert Chankalian during the Planning Board's meeting Wednesday. Though Township Council members repeatedly have said they don't agree with the interim FEMA flood elevation maps, they voted last week to adopt the guidelines as not to jeopardize federal and other funding. Part of the ordinance adopting the maps establishes the Planning Board as the body to hear appeals from homeowners, so Chankalian discussed the process with members. When the engineer asked FEMA for …
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Application first came before Toms River's Planning Board in January
After two appearances before Toms River planners, representatives for the AAA service center on Route 37 will seek variances for a proposed tire storage area during a Wednesday board meeting. The storage area proposed at the 1199 Route 37 East AAA first came before the Toms River Planning Board's scrutiny in January. At the time, members requested that health and aesthetic concerns be addressed by the applicant before they made a decision on the plan. At a second appearance in February, planners expressed concerns that the steel container proposed to house tires is considered a temporary structure — allowing it to be used as a permanent storage area could set a precedent for future applications. Applicant attorney Michael York said that …
Monday, February 11, 2013
But granting of variances could jeopardize township participation in insurance program
Planning Board members have given their approval to a proposed ordinance that creates a variance process for property owners who want to contest their Advisory Base Flood Elevation status. The proposed ordinance, which now must be adopted by the Township Council, establishes that the Planning Board would function as an appeals body for that process. But obtaining a variance is expected to be difficult, according to Assistant Township Planner Erika Stahl. "Any variance that may be granted by the board would impact our National Flood Insurance Program participation. So we would have to be very, very careful with what variances are granted. That will be something you guys will have to consider," she told the board last week. The township is …
Paul
1:41 pm on Monday, May 6, 2013
Is it legal for a township to force homeowners to pay 75,000 to 100,000 to elevate their houses by holding the permitting process over their heads? more ›