U.F. Planning Board heads into electronic era
BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer

UPPER FREEHOLD - The Planning Board may soon ask applicants to submit information electronically, so board and audience members can more easily view and understand submittals.

At the Jan. 22meeting, Chairman John Mele said the board may ask for electronic information to be included on the checklist ofmaterials that applicantsmust submit to the board.

Mayor StephenAlexander, an attorney, said that under the Open Public Meetings Act, the public has every right to see documents submitted for a public hearing.

Mele said not all documents on each application would have to be submitted electronically, but thosemost important for the public to see and the board to discuss and review would have to be.

Township Engineer Glenn Gerken gave a demonstration using a recently approved landscape plan amendment for Rick's Saddle Shop on the corner of Burlington Path and Route 539.Gerken presented the board with an electronic aerial view of the property that had been taken off the Internet, and said it gave the board and public a good idea of the surrounding area.

Mele said that during the presentation of the landscape plan earlier thismonth, an easel showing the project had to be turned so people in the audience could see it.He also said that during the hearing, the board had questioned if proposed trees in the landscape plan would interfere with power lines.

"With the aerial view, it is easy for us and the public to know they are putting the trees behind the utility," Mele said.

Gerken said that electronic submissions could include grading plans, zoning, tax and roadmaps, environmental information from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, preconstruction images, and proposed layouts with overlays. Information such as setbacks and stormwater summaries, including flow rates, could also be included in the electronic submissions, he said.

Mele said applicants could also provide images of how the projects would comply with the township's façade ordinance. He added that board members could ask for other electronic submissions over time.

There was some concern that the cost of electronic plans for minor subdivisions would be prohibitive.When asked about the costs for submitting such plans for minor subdivisions, Alexander said the amount should be insignificant.

Mele noted that the applicants could pull aerial views of properties off Google just by typing in an address.

Alexander added that it is just amatter of applicants and/or their professionals having a scanner. He said if the applications are scanned in as PDF files, they could not be changed and could be e-filed with Planning Board Secretary Susan Babbitt.

Mele said he is not concerned with electronic submissions for minor subdivision applications, but for larger applications where it would benefit the board to see through an aerial view how such developments would fit into the region.

Alexander said board members should continue to ask for paper copies of all PowerPoint submissions and color photographs.