Following the West Windsor council meeting Monday, September 8, the yard waste collection ordinance will be formally introduced on Monday, September 22. The proposed ordinance will limit the yard waste (brush, leaves, and yard debris) pile size to 4 feet wide by 4 feet high by 20 feet long per property. Tree trunks and logs cannot exceed 6 inches in width and 18 inches in length. In addition, collection will no longer be year round, but occur from March through September, while leaf pickup will take place October through December.
An enforcement system is also part of the proposed ordinance. An initial violation warning is issued, and if the debris is not removed within 5 days homeowners are subject to a $100 penalty. A second violation penalty is $250, a third is $500.
The township intends to curtail excessive roadside yard debris with the proposed ordinance. “People were putting out whatever they wanted whenever they wanted,” Council president Bryan Maher said. Excessive roadside yard debris could pose a hazard to commuters and cyclists, as well as present an eyesore. Residents have also complained of piles being left out weeks before a scheduled zone pickup. Large debris removals typically involve homeowners who have a tree taken down. When a landscaper is involved, it is the landscaper’s duty to dispose to he felled tree, which township officials say they have not been doing.
The proposed yard debris ordinance has been discussed for a few months already. “Yard debris has not historically been regulated, but a line in the sand had to be drawn,” said Maher.
What prompted the council to act was the price hike by Britton Industries, which is located on Bakers Basin Road and receives the township’s yard debris. Britton, a landscape material producer and supplier, has received the township’s debris for free until two years ago, according to Maher.
From 2004-2012 there was no charge from Britton to dispose yard waste. Last year the township paid $39,900 for one year of removal with no volume limits, but this year the cost for unlimited disposal was raised to $150,000. The township issued a request for proposal, according to Maher, but of the two bids Britton’s was still the lowest.
Deeming the unlimited volume price too high, the township will pay Britton $5.50 per cubic yard removed. The township has budgeted a fixed amount of dollars for yard waste removal and so must monitor volume. Based on how much has been removed in previous years, the anticipated cost is $150,000, says Maher, but the proposed ordinance aims to reduce the total volume.
When asked why Britton’s cost has risen so precipitously in a short period of time, a Britton representative said he had to look into the specifics of the bid. “As far as Britton is concerned prices have remained stable,” says Jim Mangarella, general manager. “For us, there are a lot of factors that go into a bid.”
Township business administrator Marlena Schmid speculated that “there aren’t a lot of competitors. There’s more supply for disposal of yard waste than demand for the final product,” Schmid said.
The township has researched other ways to dispose of yard waste, according to Schmid, including setting up its own facility. Lawrence and Princeton townships jointly operate an ecological center, but the cost and process to set up such a facility are prohibitive.
Other counties in the state have their own facilities where municipalities can dispose of yard waste, or arrangements with an operator. “I think the county ultimately has to deal with the issue. It has become impossible to find a place to reasonably dispose of the material,” Schmid said.
Ceremonial Matters. The council and mayor recognized the West Windsor Senior Center for its national senior center accreditation. The 11-year-old West Windsor/Cranbury/Plainsboro Girls Softball all-star softball team was recognized for its state title. The team triumphed over the Elmer Little League 9-6 on August 10.
Other Business. Eight resolutions were adopted at the meeting.
Authorizing $119, 213.13 for bicycle improvement work on Edinburg Road. The contract was awarded to Earle Asphalt Company, in Farmingdale.
Authorizing $29,663 for the purchase of equipment for the new model police vehicles.
Authorizing $24,916 to purchase two Savin digital photocopiers from Ricoh Americas Corporation. The Administration and the Division of Senior and Social Services will each acquire one copy machine.
Authorizing $12,500 for the municipal complex resurfacing project. BANC3, Inc. will provide professional engineering and surveying design services.
Renewal of mutual aid agreement for emergency public health services between Mercer County and the township of West Windsor.
Successful transfer of alcohol license from Romano’s Macaroni Grille to Brick House Tavern & Tap in MarketFair on Route 1.
An ordinance to amend Chapter 126 relating to the regulation of Peddling and Soliciting was pulled from the agenda to permit further discussion.
In addition to the Yard Debris Ordinance, two agenda items were discussed at the work session following the business meeting. No formal action was taken on either agenda items. The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and the proposed electric procurement program for municipal owned facilities will both require further research and discussion.
#b#Millstone Flag Lot Does Not Fly#/b#
RUNI Enterprises LLC’s application to subdivide its residential property on 9 Millstone Road into two lots was denied at the August 27 Planning Board meeting. The property owner had sought to demolish the existing single family home and construct two residential buildings.
At issue was the lot width of the applicant’s proposed subdivision. The minimum required lot width for the property’s zoning district is 150 feet.
According to the agenda statement: “One of the lots is proposed to be shaped similar to a flag with a lot width of 35 feet […] The other opposed lot width is approximately 120 feet.”
Applicants seeking a variance must demonstrate the benefits of the variation will substantially outweigh any detriments, according to Planning Board Chairman Marvin Gardner. In this case, it did not.
Said Gardner: “The deviation was extremely close to three, four homeowners. One of the homes proposed was almost on the lot line separating this lot and the neighbors. It would have impinged on an existing home.”
In addition, one of the planned lots was to become a flag lot, which is prohibited by township zoning ordinance. A flag lot is typically characterized by its “flagpole,” a thin strip of land that extends from the rectangular main section of the lot and provides frontage for vehicle access.
LinkedIn lists Ken and Steph Rutkowsky as the managing partners of RUNI. The phone book lists a Kenneth Rutkowsky at Benford Drive, Princeton Junction. A phone call to the listing was not returned.
A subdivision variance was granted in May 2013 for the nearby 16 Bolfmar Avenue property. Property owner Vishwas Tengshe wanted to build a 3,000-square-foot second home on the second lot.
According to Gardner, unlike this most recent case, the Bolfmar subdivision had no property impingement involving lot width and all the issues raised by residents were addressed and agreed to by the applicant.Tengshe has yet to build a second property as originally proposed. Instead he has listed his subdivided 0.61 acre second lot, 18 Bolfmar Avenue, for sale. Online listings quote the lot at $319,900. Douglas Koo of Weichert is the listed agent.
#b#WW Explores Energy Aggregation#/b#
West Windsor residents and businesses are invited to a public information session to learn more about community energy aggregation on Thursday, September 18, from 7 to 9 p.m., at Mercer County Community College Conference Center. Gary Finger, ombudsman for the Board of Public Utilities, will speak.
West Windsor has joined with the townships of Ewing, Hopewell, and Lawrence to collectively explore community energy aggregation programs. Before adopting a program, the township would need to pass an ordinance and then undergo a public bid process.
An energy aggregation program allows municipalities to negotiate a bulk purchase of energy supply for its residents and businesses. A third-party energy supplier bundles energy from energy retailers, providing energy at lower than average utility price.
Clarksville Road Construction. Resurfacing work on Clarksville Road, now underway, is expected to last until around Monday, September 22.
The section of Clarksville Road between Hightstown Road and Cranbury Road will be closed from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for the duration of the construction project. Access will only be permitted for local property owners, emergency vehicles, buses, and refuse collection. The detour route will make use of Cranbury Road.
