MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE MAYOR AND COMMITTEE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF WANTAGE, HELD AT THE WANTAGE TOWNSHIP MUNICIPAL BUILDING, 888 STATE HIGHWAY 23, WANTAGE, N.J. ON THE DATE OF OCTOBER 6, 2006

Mayor Jeffrey Parrott called the workshop session to order at 8:07 a.m., and requested the Clerk to call the roll. Upon roll call, the following members of the governing body were present: Mayor Parrott, Committee members DeBoer, Space. The following members were absent: None.

Mayor Parrott stated, “This meeting is being held in compliance with the provisions of the Open Public Meetings Act, Public Laws 1975, Chapter 231. It has been properly noticed and posted to the public, and certified by the Clerk."

Mayor Parrott led the assembly in the Salute to the Flag.

Mayor Parrott informed the public that the purpose of this meeting was to discuss the status of Route 23 corridor planning.

Present for the meeting were Mike Cecchini, Land Use Board Member, Harold Pellow Municipal and Land Use Engineer, David Troast, Municipal Planner.

Mr. William Gettler, Gemmer Road, Wantage Township, interrupted the meeting to ask Mayor Parrott if he was involved in conflict of interest regarding the Route 23 Corridor. Mr. Gettler was informed that it was 8:10 am, the meeting had been called to order, and he would be given an opportunity to ask questions during the open public session at the end of the meeting.

Land Use Attorney Glenn Kienz arrived at 8:12 am.

A lengthy discussion took place between the Governing Body, Mr. Troast, Mr. Kienz, Mr. Pellow and Mr. Cecchini on behalf of the Land Use Board, in an attempt to find a solution to recent problems encountered regarding the Route 23 corridor as it relates to the County Wastewater Management Plan.

Mr. Doherty, Mr. Cecchini and Mayor Parrott explained that when the County submitted a previous Wastewater Management Plan, the Wantage Route 23 corridor was inadvertently left out of the plan at the county level. Even though all officials at the county and state level recognize that the area was omitted by oversight, the State is not allowing the omission to be corrected without compliance to standards that have been enacted since that omission took place.

Mr. Doherty explained that the major underlying issue involves the fact that to have the State endorse the inclusion of the Route 23 Corridor, this area must receive Town Center Designation. In order to receive Town Center Designation, the state would require Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) and/or an increase to 20 acre minimum zoning. It was further explained that the Township was under the impression that since the area was left off the plan in error, there should be minimum difficulty in having it placed back on the plan. At a recent meeting, Mr. Doherty and Mr. Cecchini informed State and County representatives that the residents of Wantage Township endorse neither TDR nor an increase in the minimum acreage requirements.

Further discussion ensued regarding any other options available which have not previously been considered. Mayor Parrott opened the meeting to the public in this regard.

John Maione, Developer, Mountainview and Valley View Manor and Mike Cebula, Rachel Manor Properties attempted to offer solutions, each of which the Governing Body and Land Use Board informed have already been presented to the State to no avail.

Mayor Parrott asked that we try to approach the State with a plan where we zone certain areas for farmland preservation in accordance with their 20 acre zoning requirement.

At 9:30 am Mayor Parrott closed the meeting to the public as there was no one else who wished to come forward.

Mayor Parrott stated for the record that the Route 23 corridor includes only the westerly side of Route 23 and his property is located on the easterly side or Route 23, and therefore, is not a part of this discussion.

As there were no other items for the consideration of the governing body at this time, Mr. DeBoer moved to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Space seconded the motion. Upon roll call, Ayes: DeBoer, Parrott, Space Nays: None Absent: None Abstain: None

Mayor Parrott declared this meeting to be adjourned at 9:32 a.m.

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James R. Doherty, Administrator/Clerk