Planning Board Organizes for 2015 as Neighbors Pack Meeting to Oppose Michael Cummings' Proposed Subdivision at 437 Ridgewood Avenue

Glen Ridge's Planning Board held its 2015 organizational meeting on January 21, electing Mr. Mason as Chair and Ms. Siegel as Vice Chair, confirming Mr. Zichelli as Secretary, Mr. Rohal as Engineer, and Mr. Trembulak as Attorney, and adopting its 2015 meeting schedule and by-laws. The board also approved a $20,490 contract with H2M for professional planning services to study whether the former School of Nursing site on Bay Avenue qualifies as an area in need of redevelopment, after a subcommittee found H2M's proposal the least expensive and most responsive of two received (Mr. Rohal abstaining).

The bulk of the meeting was devoted to a minor subdivision application from Michael Cummings, the contract purchaser of 437 Ridgewood Avenue, who through attorney David Owen sought to split the 197.8-by-200-foot lot into a 112.8-foot lot retaining the existing 1949 house and an 85-foot lot, requiring a variance because the existing house's front yard would fall about 40 square feet short of the current setback. Engineer Paul Anderson testified the new lots would otherwise meet size requirements, and Cummings noted the existing house's demolished sunroom portion had already been conditionally approved by the Historic Preservation Commission.

Nine residents spoke in opposition, nearly all from the immediate block: Melissa Woertz, Karen Wysocarski, Michael Bellinger, Lynn Kulik, Karen Palm, Pertrap Shinghal, Stephanie Koskuba, Karin Robinson and Sushum Singhal of Ridgewood Avenue, Adams Place and Forest Avenue addresses argued the 85-foot lot was inconsistent with a neighborhood of roughly 100-foot-wide lots, raised stormwater concerns, and objected that the existing house should also be brought into full conformance. Bellinger requested more time for community review. Cummings testified that the current owner cannot get oil delivered to her underground tank and is living without central heat, and wants to close on the sale quickly. After discussion, the board continued the application without further notice to the February 11, 2015 meeting.