Midland Park November 7, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 3 The developer of the Franklin Avenue property previously the site of the Valley National Bank has made several changes to his proposal in front of the Midland Park Zoning Board of Adjustment to make it more pleasing to the adjoining residential neighborhood. The nearly oneacre property is zoned for commercial use but abuts the single-family residential zone. Engineer Andrew Missey of Lapatka Associates, representing Baseline Associates of Ridgewood, the owner of the property at 199-207 Franklin Avenue, said the proposed easterly building had been shifted 6 ½ feet farther away from the residential property line as had been suggested by board member James DeLuca at a previous meeting. He said this would increase the buffer with the house next door to 21 ½ feet and allow the developer to preserve a row of 15, 40-ft. high pine trees erected years ago when two greenhouses were built on the property. This would also increase the distance from the proposed building to the R-1 residential zone on Vreeland Avenue and would decrease the amount of impervious surface. The buildings and parking call for 57.7 percent lot coverage, where 25 percent is required. Missey said the retaining wall around the property, previously planned to be 9 ft. high, would be tiered to minimize its visual impact. The wall’s construction - a gravity design of large segmented blocks – would be more aesthetically pleasing, he said, and would be capped by a 4-ft. boardon-board fence. The rear of the property will be filled to Developer makes changes to Franklin Avenue proposal accommodate the parking lot because the site slopes down 14 feet from Franklin Avenue back to Godwin Avenue. Baseline’s attorney, Ray Atkins, announced at the outset of the meeting that the hair salon at the front of the property would be demolished prior to the completion of the development, so the building would not be included in any site plans presented for the board’s approval. Originally the developer had proposed keeping the building until the current lease expires in May, 2014. But Atkins said that, realistically, the new project would not be ready for occupancy before then anyway. Baseline proposes to build two nearly identical commercial buildings two-and-a-half stories high with apartments with outdoor decks on the second floor. The two structures, each about 60 ft. in length, would be separated by a driveway. The easterly building would be set back 120 ft. from Franklin Avenue, with parking proposed for the front yard. The westerly building would be set back 25 ft., with parking at the side and rear. The two adjoining lots would be merged into one, and the previous bank building still on the property would be torn down. Board Engineer Richard Wostbrock questioned whether moving the easterly building forward would provide a better buffer from the parking area for the adjoining residence. He said that this arrangement would also require less fill at the back of the property. Atkins said his client felt natural landscaping was a better buffer for the residence than the wall of the two- and-a-half story building, and that the two buildings side by side, “staring at each other,” would decrease the quality of life for the occupants. Missey added, however, that the building could be moved as a condition of approval. Bill Tullio, whose house is across Franklin Avenue from the proposed development, said if the building were moved forward, “you would have a monstrosity on Franklin Avenue.” He asked that if the large tree in front of the property has to be cut down to allow for additional parking, that shade trees or evergreens be provided. “I don’t want to look at parking spaces,” he said. Gary Bardzell, whose parents own the adjoining residence, questioned Missey about drainage and possible basement flooding, wall construction and traffic flow. Board Chairman Linda Herligy said the board’s engineer would be checking the applicant’s calculations for accuracy. Tullio also expressed concern that a vehicle attempting a left turn into the lot would cause traffic to back up on Franklin Avenue and proposed a no-left-turn into the lot. Atkins said a traffic engineer would be testifying at a later meeting and could address his concerns. Testimony will continue at the board’s Nov. 14 meeting. The second information session on the $15.27 million referendum to improve Midland Park public school facilities will be held at the Midland Park High School Media Center on Tuesday, Nov. 13 at 7:30 p.m. Residents are invited to join board of education members, administrators and consulting architect Frank Messineo for a presentation Forum set on school facilities referendum on the scope of the project and the tax impact. A question and answer period will follow. The community is encouraged to attend this important meeting. The referendum is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 11. Polls will be open from 2 to 9 p.m. A previous session set for last week was canceled due to the weather.