September 4, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 19 Affordable housing plan (continued from page 3) The board expressed some concerns about the plantings on the site and whether the setbacks would accommodate all the planting features while providing the nec- essary screening. Neumann assured the board that there is ample room for the plantings and there would be no reductions in the plantings due to drainage on the site. Chairman Steve DiFlora emphasized that the engineering and landscaping drawings must be revised to show that as many large trees as possible would be retained on the site. Izadmeho acknowledged that his traffic plan has not yet been submitted to Bergen County for review, but he told the board his traffic analysis was based on data provided by the county. He said the traffic impact of this project would be very low and there would be no change in the level of service on Franklin Avenue. He also said there would be sufficient gaps in the Franklin Avenue traffic to permit entry and exit from the site. In addition, Izadmeho advised that a previous request by ABJC Investments to rezone the property from its existing A-22.5 residential zone to a LB-1 limited business zone in order to permit the construction of a residential style office building on the lot would have created “generally more traf- fic” than this residential plan. Izadmeho concurred with the sight lines on the engineering plan, but he said some bushes might have to be trimmed on the west side of the entrance. That led to a con- cern expressed by Board Engineer Merisa Tiberi that the private owner of the prop- erty to the west of the site may not agree to trim the hedge in front of the property to provide a proper sight line. Izadmeho said he assumed the hedge would be lowered to a 30-inch height, but he indicated that if it were not trimmed, the stop bar at the entrance to the site could be moved closer to the road to clear the hedge and provide the proper sight distance. But Tiberi said it would still be a concern because motorists would have to move their cars so far forward they would be sticking out into the travel lane. Robert Kasuba, the attorney for ABJC Investments, told the board his client would accept, as a condition of approval, that the sight lines at the entrance must be acceptable to Bergen County. But DiFlora said the 30-inch height of the hedge must be removed from the plans because it cannot be presumed the private property owner would lower that hedge to a 30-inch height. During the public portion of the meet- ing, William and Gail Cerelli, who live on Shirley Avenue near the corner of Franklin Avenue, said they stated their opposition to this project in letters to the board. They were told the letters had not previously been received by the board, but they will now be distributed to all board members and the Cerellis can voice the concerns they expressed in their letters when the applicant has completed the presentation of the plans to the board. The public hearing was carried to the Sept. 5 meeting of the zoning board, at which time revised drawings will be pre- sented and testimony will be heard from Joseph Burgis, the professional planner for ABJC Investments. Franklin Lakes Scribe School board to meet The Franklin Lakes Board of Educa- tion will meet on Tuesday, Sept. 10. The 8 p.m. session will be held in the music room at Franklin Lakes Middle School at 755 Franklin Avenue. RJCS High Holidays service set RJCS, a new group formed to provide cultural programming for Jews with Rus- sian backgrounds in the Franklin Lakes area, will host an abridged High Holiday service from 5 to 5:45 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 5. The service will be held at the Chabad Jewish Center at 375 Pulis Avenue in Franklin Lakes and will feature Russian/ English/Hebrew language prayer books, the playing of the shofar, inspirational thoughts, and refreshments. The High Holidays celebrate the Jewish New Year and Day of Atonement. Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown on Sept. 4 and concludes at nightfall on Sept. 6. Yom Kippur begins at sundown on Sept. 13 and concludes at nightfall on Sept. 14. RSVP at www.chabadplace.org. There is no charge for attendance, but donations are welcome. To learn more about RJCS and its activities, visit www.fb.com/RJCSFL Learn about Excel PC teacher Betsy Coyne will present a class on the basics of the computer program Excel on Wednesday, Sept. 11. The class will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Franklin Lakes Public Library at 470 DeKorte Drive. Coyne will be available to answer questions about this popular spreadsheet program. Attendees may bring their laptops to class. To register, call (201) 891-2224. Space is limited. Non-residents will be placed on a waiting list and called if space permits. Mattia offers advice for women Laura Mattia will present a two-ses- sion workshop, Financially Empowering Women, at the Franklin Lakes Library this fall. Registration will begin Sept. 9. The class will meet on Oct. 2 and 9 from 1 to 3 p.m. This free class will provide women who are in or near retirement with informa- tion to help them make informed decisions and plan for success. To register, call the adult reference desk at (201) 891-2224. The library is located at 470 DeKorte Drive in Franklin Lakes. Donovan to address club Bergen County Executive Kathleen Donovan will be the featured speaker at the Sept. 9 meeting of the Franklin Lakes Republican Club. The session will be held at 7:45 p.m. in the Franklin Lakes Ambu- lance Corps Building on Bender Court. After serving as Bergen County Clerk, Donovan was elected Bergen County Exec- utive in 2010. She oversees and administers the county business operations in conjunc- tion with the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders. Donovan will discuss the current state of the county, along with important programs and issues that will impact local munici- palities and residents. She will also answer audience questions. Club members and registered Repub- licans who are interested in joining the FLRC are encouraged to attend this pro- gram. Light refreshments will be served. For additional information, contact Pete Swist at (201) 337-5140, or Kim Vierheilig at (201) 447-6400. Club welcomes new members The Franklin Lakes Newcomers & Neighbors Club welcomes residents of Franklin Lakes, both old and new, to join. The Franklin Lakes Newcomers & Neigh- bors Club is all about helping neighbors meet. Visit the website at www.flnew- comers.com for detailed information and a calendar of coming events, or e-mail flnewcomers@yahoo.com.