The Hopewell Borough Planning Board started things off at their October 9 meeting by quickly approving a slate of vouchers before moving to the public comment period.
Collaboration for Watershed Management
During the public comment, a municipal policy expert for The Watershed Institute, Susan Bristol, invited Planning Board members to attend a group meeting of several municipalities within a hydrological region known as the Lower Millstone sub-watershed.
“This working group will feature collaboration and cooperation to meet DEP guidelines related to the State’s Watershed Improvement Plan,” Bristol said. Somerset and Mercer Counties already have established teams that meet, as have various towns within the region. “When municipalities who share a watershed join forces, they save time and money in meeting the State’s requirements,” Bristol concluded.
Updating the Borough’s Master Plan
The remainder of the meeting was spent discussing the reexamination of the Borough’s Master Plan. Developed in 2014, the Master Plan must be reexamined within ten years, putting the Planning Board up against the clock to approve the comments and any revisions. Planner Joanne Slagle reminded the Board that there are no substantive changes to review since July on the report that has been under review since January.
Various Board members expressed appreciation for Slagle’s work and unanimously approved the reexamination.
Exploring Accessory Dwelling Units
Under New Business, some time was spent discussing the rise of “accessory dwelling unit” permits, or ADUs. Gaining popularity around the Country, ADUs have become a popular way of adding space to residential lots without additions to a main building.
Peter Macholdt, Board Chair, introduced the possibility of revising the zoning code to reflect these changes. “Right now, the permitted secondary uses [for adding buildings to residential lots] are private garages,” he explained, “and normal residential storage structures.”
The Planning Board discussed ways for the Borough to update its zoning ordinances both to recognize the value of ADUs and to reflect the planning goals of the Borough.
Technological Upgrades for Borough Meetings
Mayor Kennedy ended the meeting with updates on plans to renovate and update the meeting space, particularly with respect to the audio/visual needs of the Borough’s government space. Cameras, microphones, monitors, and other computer and networking equipment will be needed to provide the best experience for both in-person and virtual attendees, exhibits, and participants.
