December 22, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 5 Midland Park Committee proposes changes to zoning ordinance Several changes are being proposed to the Midland Park zoning ordinance to clarify or better define certain requirements so fewer rules are subject to interpretation and to make applications more user friendly. The revisions, presented at a recent meeting of the mayor and council, were recommended by a committee made up of the chairmen of the planning and zoning boards, the boards’ engineer, the zoning officer/construction official, the mayor and the borough administrator. One of the recommendations deals with simplifying the building height restrictions. The maximum height would still be 35 ft., but it would be calculated from the lowest grade adjacent to the foundation wall. The final grade could not be changed by more than one foot. “When it’s figured on the average, it can be manipulated. Clear cut is the best; it leaves no room to maneuver,” said Zoning Officer John Wittekind. This would have avoided a controversy over a house on Fourth Street, he said. Non-residential buffers when abutting a non-residential zone would be based on lot width rather than on a percentage, with minimum side and rear planted buffers of 5 ft required. For properties 75 to 150-ft. wide, the buffers would need to be at least 10 ft., with 15ft. required for properties 150 ft. wide or larger. Residential driveways would require a permit and a fee whether newly installed or replacing, modifying or adding to an existing driveway. A site drawing would also be required, and water runoff and soil moving permits may be required as well, depending on the building department’s assessment. The side yard setback to a driveway would be set at 2.5 ft. for lots less than 50 ft. wide; 3.75 ft. for lots 50 to 75-ft. wide; and 5 ft. for lots greater than 75 ft. wide. The recommendations anticipate easing parking problems by basing requirements on the number of service stations in each business or home business. Service station would refer to a discrete location where a service is rendered, such as a teller window, ATM, a service desk, etc. Personal service stations would include nail salons, hair salons, barber or massage chairs or tables, etc. Restrictions on PODS (Portable on Demand Structures) generated several comments from council members, concerned that they not be eliminated for practical purposes. The recommendation would ban PODS from placement on the front yard and make them subject to the side and rear yard setback requirements for an accessory structure. They would require an initial renewable permit of 60 days and a fee of $100. “If they can’t be in the front yard, and people need them there for easy access, what option do they have to deal with the problem, go for a variance?” asked Councilman Bernie Holst. Councilman Nick Papapietro suggested limiting their size and height to protect neighbors. “They keep getting bigger and bigger; they can be almost like shipping containers,” he said. Rich Wostbrock of LAN Associates, the engineer for the planning and zoning boards, cautioned that rather than focusing on the size, which may be hard to control given industry standards, the council should focus instead on limiting the length of time the POD can be in place so that it is truly temporary. Wittekind said that his office could control the placement on the lot so as to minimize the visual impact to neighbors and assure that other issues are not created. Provisions would be made for residents wishing to extend porticos, landings or steps onto their front yard. Landings or pads no greater than 5 ft. by 5 ft. and their associated steps would be permitted to encroach a maximum of 10 ft. onto the front yard setback without needing a variance. An overhang would be able to encroach an additional one foot beyond the width of the pad in either direction. Borough Attorney Robert Regan recommended that, for greater efficiency, the proposed revisions be forwarded to the planning board for its input before an ordinance is drafted. The board would have 35 days to respond. Wyckoff Christian Preschool & Kindergarten 485 Wyckoff Avenue, Wyckoff, NJ 07481 201-891-7140 Registrations will be accepted! Tuesday, January 4th Wednesday, January 5th 10:00 to 11:30 am 12:30 to 2:00 pm • Classes for 2½ to 5 year olds • Full day & Enrichment Program • Transitional Kindergarten Is First Grade Ready Before Care, Lunch & Extended Play 12-22-10 pat/janine WyckChristianPreschool2x(12-22-10) 2 x 4.5”