January 23, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 7 Ho-Ho-Kus Measures approved by Jennifer Crusco The Ho-Ho-Kus Council recently granted final approval of two ordinances. Ordinance 1012 prohibits driveways that provide access to or from a public street through the rear yard of any dwelling in a residential zone, and Ordinance 1013 increases license fees for retail food handling establishments and establishes plan review fees. Ho-Ho-Kus Mayor Thomas Randall previously explained that the intent of this Ordinance 1012 is to have driveways that serve properties from the front. The goal of this anticipatory measure, he said, is the cohesiveness of the borough’s neighborhoods. Borough officials noted that the Time of Decision Rule has made it more difficult for municipalities to make amendments to their codes once an applicant has filed with a local planning board or zoning board of adjustment. In prior years, municipalities had been allowed to make relevant code adjustments after an application had been requested. Now, once an application has been filed, that request is controlled by the regulations that are in place at the time of the filing. The council decided to address backyard driveways before a request is made for such access, borough officials noted. Ordinance 1012 states, “In all residential zones, all driveways accessory to residential dwellings shall comply with the following requirements…No driveway shall provide for access to or from a public street through the rear yard of any property.” Ordinance 1013 includes a detailed fee schedule for licenses. According to that schedule, restaurants that serve 25 to 49 diners will pay $200 for a license in 2013 and $250 in 2014 and beyond. Restaurants that serve 50 to 100 diners will pay $250 in 2013 and $300 afterward, and restaurants that serve over 100 patrons will pay $300 this year and $350 afterward. The fee for bakeries, butchers, delicatessens, and school catering will be $200 in 2013 and $225 afterward. License fees for convenience stores (continued on page 16)