BERKELEY – The Township Planning Board approved a minor expansion of a project, adding another house in the Pinewald section of town.
William Stevens, planner and engineer, spoke on behalf of Berkeley Holdings 1, LLC. The company wanted to turn three already-approved lots into four conforming lots.
“Conforming” means that the lots meet the town’s requirements, such as size. These single family homes will be on Southern Boulevard, with Nolan Avenue to the north.
There was a discussion of stormwater management, to ensure that there would be places for the rain to go. Stevens said that each property will have its own basin.
Ernie Peters, engineer for the town’s Planning Board, said he wanted the developer’s plans to show that there wouldn’t be any stormwater from the lots pouring onto Southern. He also wanted to confirm that the clearing of trees adhered to the town’s code.
Berkeley Township Business Administrator Jay Delaney wanted to make sure fire suppression is in place. Peters said it’s already installed.
Stevens said that the developer will pay additional money into the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. This is a fee that developers pay for all new construction. The money is then used to buy or rehabilitate housing earmarked for those with low income.
When Stevens noted that it was more than $10,000, Township Planner James Oris said that the fee is a percentage of the development being built. If it is higher than expected, it has to do with housing prices going up.
The Planning Board also wanted to know who is the owner of the LLC doing the development in case of any conflicts. The developer was named as Jacob Lipschitz.
