Burlington Path Road subdivision approved
REGIONAL INTEREST

UPPER FREEHOLD — What may be the last residential subdivision approved under Upper Freehold Township's current 3-acre zoning was approved at the July 22 Planning Board meeting.

Maritone Construction's three-lot subdivision on Burlington Path Road received preliminary and final approval in a 7-0 vote with board member J. David Holmes abstaining.

On Aug. 7 the Township Committee will hold public hearings on proposed ordinances that would change residential zoning requirements, including one that would create 6- and 10-acre zoning in Agricultural/ Residential (AR) areas of the town.

Michael McGee, the attorney representingMaritone Construction, said his client's parcel had previously gone through a minor subdivision, but now requires major subdivision approval for the creation two additional lots. He said the lots would meet all bulk requirements of the zone.

Although the township now requires applicants to place application information on CD-ROM for presentation to the Planning Board and public, the applicant's disc did not work properly so the applicant gave the presentation the old-fashioned way.

Geoffrey Brown, the applicant's engineer, said a minor subdivision of the parcel about two years ago created two lots on the parcel. The two lots measured a total of 8 acres. The applicant purchased a 68-foot strip from an adjoining 30-acre property to get another acre to create the third lot. Using lot averaging, the new lots measure 3 acres, 3.3 acres, and 2.67 acres, he said.

The applicant would remove a greenhouse and a small barn from one of the lots, but would not remove a masonry barn, which meets the setback requirements of the zone, according to Brown. All of the lots would conform to township ordinances regarding lot width and depth, Brown said.

Township Engineer Glenn Gerken said the Board of Health has approved the septic suitability of the lots but has not provided the Planning Board with the property's historic pesticide information.

Brown said the state Department of Environmental Protection has given the applicant a no further action letter regarding historic pesticides on the property and that he has submitted it to the Board of Health.

Gerken noted that Burlington Path Road is a county road and that the Monmouth County Planning Board also has to approve the application.

Gerken also said the applicant must place trees in front of the properties when the lots are developed.

Deputy Mayor Bob Faber said he does not think trees are being planted far enough away from roads. He said when the trees grow, the electric company has to cut them to keep them away from power lines.

McGee said the property is on the same side of the road as power lines.

Gerken said trees should be planted 20 to 25 feet from the curb line, and are normally spaced 50 feet apart.

"Larger, mature trees may grow to that breadth," he said.