RAMSEY SHADE TREE COMMISSION MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING, THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2018 The regular meeting of the Ramsey Shade Tree Commission was called to order by Mr. Martone at 8:01 p.m., Thursday, January 18, 2018. Also present were Mr. Beltramini, Mr. Englishman, Ms. Geist, Mr. Gubala, Mr. Melso, Mr. Schumacher, Commission members, Mr. Geist, Board Attorney, Mr. Kilman, Council Liaison, Mr. Smith, Coordinator, and Mrs. Dey, Secretary. Mr. McMahon and Mr. Rutkowski were absent. Mr. Martone announced that this meeting is being held in accordance with the Sunshine Laws of the State of New Jersey. Public notice of this meeting was published in the legal ads section of the BERGEN RECORD on Saturday, December 16, 2017 and the RIDGEWOOD NEWS on Friday, December 22, 2017. Mr. Geist swore in Mr. Englishman and Mr. Schumacher. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN AND VICE-CHAIRMAN Upon motion by Mr. Gubala, seconded by Mr. Englishman, and approved unanimously, the regular order of business was changed to allow for the election of chairman and vicechairman. Mr. Beltramini nominated Mr. Melso as Chairman, seconded by Mr. Englishman. There were no further nominations. Mr. Beltramini nominated Mr. Martone as Vice-Chairman, seconded by Mr. Englishman. There were no further nominations. Both nominations were approved. Upon motion by Mr. Gubala, seconded by Mr. Schumacher, and approved unanimously, the regular order of business was resumed with Mr. Melso running the meeting. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Upon motion by Mr. Martone, seconded by Mr. Beltramini, the minutes of the November 16, 2017 meeting were unanimously accepted as received. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS-None COMMUNICATIONS Minutes Board of Adjustment-November 15, 2017 Planning Board-September 19, 2017, October 3, 2017, October 17, 2017, November 7, 2017, December 5, 2017, December 19, 2017, January 2, 2018 Also received and filed were: 1. Board of Adjustment memorializing resolution
SHADE TREE COMMISSION -2- JANUARY 18, 2018 2. Planning Board memorializing resolutions, including those from the January 2, 2018 meeting TREE REMOVAL PERMIT HEARING-None SITE PLAN REVIEW GJA Developers, Sunrise Terrace, Block 4201, Lots 7, 8, 9, 10 Tibor Latinsics of Conklin Associates, on behalf of GJA Developers, was in attendance to present information about the project for seven new homes on Island Road which had been initially approved in 2008. There is a developer s agreement and a final map. He provided a more legible update of the previously approved project; the tagged trees are the ones which are remaining on the property. The bulk of the trees which will be removed are in the center of the property. The original numbers have been used for the new aluminum tags. From the November meeting, he reported that there are 581 trees on the property, approximately four hundred of which will be removed. Orange fencing will be put around those trees which are remaining. There also will be silt fencing. Lot 9.02 will be the first lot to get a home. There will be a drainage facility with underground retention with manhole access. Lot 7.02 is an existing flag lot; the resident who lives there will remain in her home. That home is part of the subdivision but not part of the project. Some of the cedars on her property need to be evaluated. There is a fifteen-foot shade tree easement. To replace the bond from November 2008, the bond will be rewritten to include twenty-five trees at $600 per tree of 3 to 3½ caliper inches for a total of $15,000. Upon motion by Mr. Martone, seconded by Mr. Beltramini, the bond with the new parameters was unanimously accepted. Mr. Martone will write the necessary letter which will be sent out by Mr. Smith. Mr. Martone will walk the property prior to tree removal. The Shade Tree Commission should be informed when the trees have been removed so that site can be walked again. Mr. Beltramini Mr. Gubala Mr. Martone, Vice-Chairman Mr. McMahon Mr. Rutkowski Mr. Schumacher Mr. Melso, Chairman Mr. Englishman, Alt. 1 Ms. Geist, Alt. 2 Yes No Abstain Absent
SHADE TREE COMMISSION -3- JANUARY 18, 2018 TREE REMOVAL PERMIT VIOLATIONS 503 North Franklin Turnpike, Block 3802, Lot 4 Mr. Smith noted the correct address for the property. Nine pine trees were removed without a permit. A letter of violation was sent on Monday, June 26, 2017. Nine forsythias were planted which are not what should have been planted as replacement trees. Therefore, this issue is ongoing. Mr. McMahon contacted Mr. Forbes, Zoning Officer, who sent a thirty-day notice, dated November 8, 2017. It was noted that Mr. Forbes no longer works for the borough. LANDSCAPING PLAN REVIEW Infiniti of Ramsey, 535 and 555 Route 17S, Block 5101, Lots 5, 6 Jim Jaworksi, 12 Route 17N, Paramus, provided an overview of the project which has been approved by the Planning Board. The applicant had been waiting on action by the Department of Transportation, namely an access permit which took twelve months to secure. The greenscape on the entire site went up slightly. Greenbelt Landscapes Inc., 14 Overbrook Road, developed the landscaping plan; Mr. Beltramini presented that plan. Some of the existing landscaping will be maintained and some will be changed out. He too referenced the 3/10% increase of greenspace. The island along Route 17 will not have any additional plantings which could block visibility. Seven to eight-foot Norway spruces will be added for screening for the neighbors. There is somewhat of a berm in the back. The northern border will have juniper and arborvitae. Mr. Jaworski indicated that there will be a bollard and chain system established. The gate will be on the Infiniti site, subject to review by emergency services and engineering. The Armstrong maples will have irrigation. Ramsey Infiniti is open to any suggestions to enhance the landscaping. The snow load will go in the back; they have their own snowplow. Signage will direct people to customer parking with arrows directing the traffic flow. Mr. Jaworski indicated that there should be no tractor trailers on the site. The drawing will be revised based on the discussion, changing the species of some of the trees and adding landscaping where suggested. The plan will be approved at the February meeting. 26 Birchwood Lane, Block 2601, Lot 25.16 Mr. Beltramini provided the details for the tree removal and the perimeter planting plan. The shed on the property will be removed. There are no plans yet for planting around the pool. Peter B. Cooper is the landscape designer of record who is working with Mr. Beltramini on the project. Mr. Martone did walk the property and affirmed that the seventy-six dead or dying trees should be removed. The stumps will be pulled. Twentyfour trees will be planted. Some deciduous trees will remain on the property and some of the dogwoods will be transplanted. An existing rock pile wall will be taken apart and extended. A lawn area will be established. The deer population in the area is high so the
SHADE TREE COMMISSION -4- JANUARY 18, 2018 plantings were designed to take that into account. Upon motion by Mr. Martone, seconded by Mr. Gubala, the removal of seventy-six trees was approved with one abstention. Mr. Beltramini Mr. Gubala Mr. Martone, Vice-Chairman Mr. McMahon Mr. Rutkowski Mr. Schumacher Mr. Melso, Chairman Mr. Englishman, Alt. 1 Ms. Geist, Alt. 2 Yes No Abstain Absent PLANNING BOARD APPLICATION STATUS-None BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT APPLICATION STATUS 1. 50 Upland Road, Block 1702, Lot 7 The application needed to be rewritten and is now scheduled for their Wednesday, February 21 st meeting; therefore, discussion of the project was tabled by the Shade Tree Commission. RESIDENTIAL SITE INSPECTIONS All trees must be marked and there must be a decision conveyed to Mr. Smith about what to do with the stumps. Mr. McMahon had forwarded an e-mail regarding trees which still need to be marked. Trees on the following properties were put on the winter list: Across from 29 Circle End Drive 103 Alder Drive 50 Highwood Drive 68 Davidson Avenue at Monroe Street 77 Church Street at Cedar Street 15 Deer Trail 50 Norman Drive Green Acres across from 5 Park Place 26 Fen Court at Norman Drive 16 Stony Brook Road
SHADE TREE COMMISSION -5- JANUARY 18, 2018 10 Lakeside Drive 294 Nottingham Road 286 Woodland Avenue 218 North Spruce Street 276 South Franklin Turnpike 36 Joshua Drive 32 Indian Valley Road 106 High Street 53 Arlena Terrace Abbey Court and Ronald Court 29 Circle End Drive 57 Lakeview Terrace 147 West Crescent Avenue 463 Island Road End of Fabio Drive 108 Myrtle Avenue 85 Alder Drive Finch Park by the gazebo 62 Lake Street on Dixon Street side 227 Momar Drive 280 West Oak Street 127 Orchard Place 109 Pine Street 128 Elbert Street 3 Elbert Court 227 East Crescent Avenue 1 Clearwater Road-The resident would like two trees trimmed and elevated. 306 Momar Drive-The newly-planted tree needs to be replaced. 102 High Street-The resident thinks he has a dying tree. 280 Airmount Avenue-The resident would like two leaning trees removed. Tulip Street and Woods Road-The trees will be re-evaluated in the spring. New Street-Seven trees will be removed. 45 Hart Street-Mr. Schumacher noted that the ash tree need to be elevated, not removed. 1 Meadowbrook Road-The resident would like the tree removed or the branches trimmed off of the side of the house.
SHADE TREE COMMISSION -6- JANUARY 18, 2018 South Franklin Turnpike by the old stone bridge-the county has agreed to remove the tree. 19 Bedford Place-Since all of the ash trees, approximately twenty-five of them, on Bedford Place are shedding leaves, Mr. Hasbrouck was asked to evaluate the trees. He thinks the problem is yellow leaf disease. The one at 19 Bedford Place is dead and needs to be removed. A decision on all of the remaining ash trees will be made in the spring. 251 South Central Avenue-The county will remove the tree. COMMERCIAL SITE INSPECTIONS Ramsey Center, Burger King, and Konica Minolta will be handled in the spring. Mr. Gubala will investigate the property which is across from Burger King. OLD BUSINESS Mr. Geist sent the letter which he had written regarding an ordinance stating that landscapers must procure a permit to do landscaping and tree cutting within the borough to the governing body. The letter was turned over to Borough Attorney Scandariato for further action. NEW BUSINESS Referencing the Planning Board minutes, Mr. Beltramini observed that it appears that the Planning Board is involved with items that should be Shade Tree Commission concerns. Mr. Melso suggested that a member of the Shade Tree Commission also serve on the Planning Board. In the past, Mr. Englishman had requested that the council liaison to the Planning Board and the Board of Adjustment also be the council liaison to the Shade Tree Commission. Mr. Kilman noted that a strong line of communications is very necessary among the boards and commissions. Mr. Martone shared pertinent information from the New Jersey Board of Tree Experts regarding certification and having a licensed person on site when work is being done. PUBLIC COMMENT-None Mr. Melso announced that the Public Comment portion of the meeting would last approximately ten minutes per person.
SHADE TREE COMMISSION -7- JANUARY 18, 2018 ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Commission, the meeting was adjourned at 9:35 p.m. upon motion by Mr. Melso, seconded by Mr. Martone, and carried unanimously.