2024 . 06 . 12 - Somerville Planning Board Meeting

Meeting Summary

Opening:

• "All right, I'll give it a couple of seconds. The meeting of the Somerville Planning Board for June 12, 2024, will please come to order. Adequate notice of this meeting, as required by the Open Public Meeting Act, has been provided. A copy of the notice specifying the date, time, and location was:

  1. Posted on the bulletin board outside Borough Hall.

  2. Mailed, faxed, or emailed to The Courier News.

  3. Given to the clerk administrator.

Judicial Proceeding:

• This meeting is a judicial proceeding. Any questions or comments must be limited to the issues that the board may legally consider in reaching a decision, and decorum appropriate to a judicial hearing must be maintained at all times.

Roll Call:

• Chairman Nado: Here

• Ms. Razinski: Here

• Mayor Gallagher: Here

• Councilman Vom: Here

• Ms. Adir: Here

• Ms. Warner: Here

• Mr. CA: Here

• Mr. CR: Here

• Mr. Cleveland: Here

• Mr. Addex: Here

• Mr. Aens: (Not present)

Pledge of Allegiance:

• "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

Meeting Proceedings:

1. Approval of Minutes:

   • "Approval of minutes for May 22nd. I'll move. Second. Any additions or corrections? Okay, when you're ready, John."

   • Roll Call Vote:

     • Chairman Nado: Yes

     • Ms. Razinski: Yes

     • Ms. Warner: Yes

     • Mr. KCO: Yes

2. Resolution for Route 22 Application:

   • "We have a resolution for the Route 22 application. I'll move that we approve it. Second. Any other comments on it?"

   • Roll Call Vote:

     • Chairman Nado: Yes

     • Ms. Rosinski: Yes

     • Councilman Vom: Yes

     • Mr. KCO: Yes

     • Mr. Cleveland: Yes

     • Mr. Addex: Yes

3. Live Streaming Issue:

   • "Chairman, I just want to point out the meeting right now is being live-streamed under the Borough Council meeting from last week. So instead of being broadcast on tonight's night, it's being broadcast on June 3rd currently."

Pending Resolution for Taco on Division Street:

• "We have one pending resolution for the Taco on Division Street, but we don't have that in front of us at this point."

  • Board Member: "Didn't we approve that about six or eight months ago?"

  • Chairman Nado: "I don't remember when we did that. It was a while back."

Discussion on Gun Store Near Elementary School:

• Process for Buying a Gun:

  • "You can't just walk into a gun store and buy a gun. The process includes getting a Firearms ID card, which allows you to buy long guns. You have to go through the process again each time you want to buy a handgun. Age restrictions: 18 or older for a Firearms ID card, 21 or older for a handgun. All handled by the local police department."

  • Comments from the Board:

    • Board Member 1: "It's hard to make a decision without all the information."

    • Board Member 2: "We need to understand what we can lawfully do in terms of zoning, signage, and creating safe zones around schools."

• Expert Involvement:

  • "We talked to the state police and the prosecutor's office, but they won't come to a public meeting to discuss it."

  • Chairman Nado: "It's up to us to decide whether or not we want to recommend restrictions on where gun stores can be located."

• Legal and Zoning Considerations:

  • "We can't restrict gun shops based on safe zones around schools unless it's defined in state law."

  • "Our role is to make recommendations to the council. The council would have to create an ordinance to prohibit sales within certain areas, but it might be challenged as an amendment right."

• Holistic Zoning Approach:

  • Board Member: "We need to look at the master plan and make comprehensive zoning recommendations. Instead of focusing on one type of store, we should look at all allowable uses in the zones and make adjustments based on what is appropriate for the community."

Public Comments:

1. Colin Driver (Economic Development Director):

   • "We are requesting proposals from professionals to guide us through the process of revising our zoning laws and master plan. This will be done in a transparent manner with public meetings."

2. Maisy W (Resident):

   • Community Involvement:

     "How can residents contribute to the planning process?"

     • Chairman Nado: "We will have public meetings, and you can provide input during those sessions. There will also be options to send emails or letters."

3. Megan A (Resident):

   • Gun Violence Concerns: "Shared statistics on gun store-related crimes and urged for better communication and timely action from the borough council and planning board."

4. Emily Q (Resident):

   • Holistic Planning: "Suggested considering age restrictions for businesses near schools and expressed concern about future developments during the rezoning process."

5. Rich O'Neil (Zoning Board Member):

   • Clarification on Zoning Board’s Role: "The zoning board only hears applications for variances. We don't have the authority to approve or deny businesses."

6. Caroline F. (Resident):

   • Safety and Transparency: "Raised concerns about the lack of transparency in approving businesses and the safety implications of having a gun store near an elementary school."

7. Bill C. (Resident):

   • Feedback on Shared Information: "Criticized the choice of a Second Amendment advocacy website for explaining gun store regulations, suggesting it created a perception issue."

8. Bick T. (Resident):

   • Perception Issues: "Highlighted the importance of choosing neutral sources for information shared with the public."

9. Christina E. (Resident):

   • Positive Outlook: "Expressed excitement about participating in future planning and the potential for community involvement in shaping the town's vision."

Conclusion:

• Master Plan Revision: The board is committed to revising the master plan and zoning laws with professional guidance and community input.

• Transparency and Communication: Emphasis on the need for transparent processes and better communication with the public regarding business approvals and zoning changes.

• Safety Concerns: Addressing the safety implications of having age-restricted businesses near schools and residential areas.

• Community Involvement: Encouragement for residents to actively participate in future planning meetings and provide input on the town's development.

Adjournment:

• "Motion to adjourn. Second. All those in favor, say 'aye'. Aye."

Official YouTube channel videos of the Somerville, NJ - Planning Board Meeting - June 12, 2024

PART 1 of 2

PART 2 of 2

Disclaimer: The summary is not a word-for-word transcription of the Somerville Planning Board meeting held on June 12, 2024. This meeting summary was created from captions, which may contain errors. For readability and organization, formatting, styling for emphasis, and section names have been added. This account is not associated with the local government of Somerville or any official Borough of Somerville channels. The views and information shared here are independent and do not represent the official stance of the Borough of Somerville.