The Madison Eagle from Madison, New Jersey • Page 13

MADISON EAGLE MARCH 27, 1986 Jaycee Easter Egg Hunt is Saturday FLORHAM PARK NEWS Park Savoy sues town for BY LINDA DOBBS FLORHAM The Park Savoy Restaurant owners (Greenhouse Realty) have sued the Borough for alleged harassment to their business claiming restrictions have resulted in lost revenue. The civil action complaint was filed last Friday naming all the members of the Planning Board, the Mayor (who sits on the Board), the Borough Attorney Joel Murphy, the Planning Board Attorney Lew Wilson, the Building Inspector Andrew Picone, and Planning Board Secretary and Board Alternate Member Nancy Bracher. The claims against the Borough include the refusal to issue a building permit for interior renovations to Freckles Room, a refusal to issue a building permit for the installation of a standpipe firehose, and alleged illegality of an ordinance requiring a site plan review before the Planning Board for all non-residential applications. The Park Savoy had closed the Freckles Room to repair an area that they said was a safety hazard to guests. A building permit is necessary and it was reported at a Planning Board meeting earlier this year that although the owners claimed to have verbal approval from the Building Inspector and had begun the work, no building permit was ever granted.

The Planning Board took the stance that a site plan application had not been filed, which is necessary according to ordinance and refused to grant a building permit. The ordinance requires any non-residential owner who plans to make any alterations to present a site plan for review by the Board. This also applies to a business changing usage. "This is to protect the community in terms of having businesses operate safely," states Borough Business Administrator Dwight Longley (also a member of the Planning Board). He adds, requirement is to correct any deficiencies that might exist and gives the Board an opportunity to review the use of the entire facility in terms of parking, drainage, etc.

to see that it continues to be in accordance to the appropriate use." Longley notes that other planning boards and communities have similar ordinances. are sworn to uphold the ordinances as they Longley asserts. "Others have the right to disagree. We are both maintaining our Longley denies any deliberate harassment on the part of the Borough. "We have no negative feelings toward Park Savoy; we have no reason to wish that they not succeed.

However, we must control business so it does not adversely affect the On the other hand, Alan Weinstein of Greenhouse, states. "We feel we have become the object of extreme harassment and that the Borough is using extraordinary measures against Weinstein maintains that the business is losing $14,000 per week in revenue because of the closure of Freckles. Weinstein explains, removed a step and a column because a couple of patrons tripped. We were making the room safe. There was no increase in occupancy, no exterior work.

Tlie standpipe system (sprinkler system) is also for the safety of our Weinstein also maintains that he requested a waiver for a full site plan and has received no answer and no waiver. "There is an enormous amount of legal fees being incurred by the Borough. We think a full site plan is necessary, for that includes a topographical map, drawings of the storm system, landscaping, fire zones, parking, etc. That is also very expensive and lime consuming." Parking has been a problem in the past, with overflow spilling onto residential streets. The Borough placed no parking signs on the residential streets last year and the restaurant supplied valet parking.

"We have hired five people to be in the parking lot. when the town only asked for replied Weinstein. "I think we have addressed the parking problem so why is it necessary to have a full site plan (Photo by J. F. Reitemeyer) WAITING FOR PKTFH RABBIT Heathor Core of Piiildingstone Way.

FImliam Park, knows the Faster Bunny is eoniing at Fmmett Field at I p.in. (raiiidate Saturday. April 5) and she has her Faster Baskets all ready. Kids, tnoins and dads can all enjoy the Faster Fgg Hunt, prizes, rerreshments, and being filmed Florham Park television isee on Channel 3,7 p.in. every Wednesday), llie Faster Bunny will help find eggs five age groups; infiints, through four, five anil six.

seven and eight, and nine through 11. Ih izes for all. no one leaves emptv lianded. The Faster huniiy will be assisted by the Florham Park Fire Depai tment, Poliee. First and loeal merebants who supply the donations and 'I'he mnind everyone: your baskets!" llie hunt Is limited to Florham Park n'sidents only llu- suddi'ii Inerease in at- tendenee.

Planners study new development Hanover Park High to lose radio station in budget cut BY PHYLLIS FVANS FLORHAM The most striking loss in the Hanover Park Regional High School District tentative 1986-87 school budget is the elimination of WHPH. the student radio station. The budget was presented and approved by the School Board at public hearing March 19. The $11,441,811 budget will go before the voters April 15. This figure is a 6.19% increase over the 1985-86 budget.

Dr. John Adamus, Superintendent of Schools, emphasized the Florham force foils fugitive FLORHAM Florham Park Police report the arrest of Larry Patterson. 31, Hartford. who was charged with forgery for passing altered travelers express money orders at the Florham Park Afton Exxon and Sunoco stations. Patterson wanted in four states for forgery.

N.Y.. N.J., and Pa. He is presently incarcerated in Morris County jail. Police have also issued a warrant for the arrest of friend, Lawrence Jackson of New Haven, The two men were part of a scam involving four states. The case was investigated by the N.J.

Slate Police Detectives. Bloomfield Barracks, and Det. Kim Qiapman of the Florham Park Police. budget represents "the toughest set of decisions the district has faced in the last few Dr. Neil Ellman, Assistant Superintendent, noted that budget planning is always "a long and difficult As he explained, requests and needs are always more than dollars available.

District enrollment is expected to decrease by approximately 70 students or 4.5 percent in the 1986-87 school year, At the same time increasing cost of a nonacademic nature are affecting the expenditures. Liability insurance has risen 157 percent in one year, and the removal of asbestos from Hanover Park is an ongoing project. State aid and federal aid are both decreasing, and the budget cap for 1986-87 is 8.5 percent allowing for a dollar increase of $679, 378. Dr. Ellman in his presentation of the budget outlined the cuts in the current programs.

Dr. Ellman and Dr. Adamus agreed that cutting WHPH was a most difficult decision, but it would have (he least impact on the schools. The budget also proposes elimination of one full-time librarian at each school, ly there are four full-time librarians for the estimated 1700 students. Overall staffing will be reduced because of declining enrollment.

The budget reflects a ment to maintaining (he educational initiatives of the district. For example funds are allocated for computer literacy, for an expanded gifted and talented program and for a program to prove reading, writing, speaking and listening. Approximately $58,000 is earmarked for the purchase of micro-computers for the schools. Because of the High School Proficiency Test, new emphasis will be placed in the remedial programs. A state grant of $19,721 was added at the last minute to the budget.

This money is to be used in compensatory education for students failing the HSPT. A writing teacher will hired to provide remedial instruction to students who fail the writing part of the HSPT. E. Hanover and Florham Park are in the process of reassessment so the tax levy is difficult to calculate. For Hanover Township the tax levy will increase from $.41 per $100 to $.44 per $100 representing a 7.3 percent increase.

Superintendent Adamus said that Florham Park residents could expect to pay approximately 5.5 percent more than last year. Also on the April 15 ballot will be the request for the approval of an interest free loan from the Environmental Protection Agency. These loans are possible because of the Asbestos School Hazard Abatement Act of 1984. The loan of $110,000 is not expected to cover even one year of the expense of the five year asbestos removal program, but the Board agreed that "every little bit helps." Dr. Adamus emphasized that the district is trying to accomplish the asbestos removal withal a "drastic reduction of academic programs." BY LINDA DOBBS FLORHAM The public hearing on the Linpro Florham Park Land Limited application for development of a 200 acre parcel of land on Park Ave.

was postponed Monday night at the request of the attorney. The hearing was continued to the April 28 meeting of the Planning Board. Linpro and the Borough are in the process of designing an agreement to meet Florham Park's low and moderate income housing needs. The Borough is awaiting a hearing with Superior Court Judge Stephen Skillman to determine the compliance with the state mandated housing. Concurrently, the Borough has proposed a zoning change to accommodate the development of the housing.

The adoption of the ordinance necessary for the zoning change has been twice tabled to enable Council to study questions by the public and recent changes in the recently formed housing council, and because the agreements have not yet been signed. In other business, the Planning Board granted preliminary subdivision approval to a previously rejected proposed development of 2.8 acres off Hanover Rd. formerly owned by Walter Decker and now being developed by Jack Fineman. Several changes in the plans for the five lots (each 15,000 or more sq. ft.) addressed concerns previously questioned by Board members.

The number of houses in the development has not decreased although this was one factor in the previous negative vole by Board (Chairman Tliomas McMahon. His was the only negative vote Monday. Resident Kathy Kubach, Crescent questioned the need for and appearance of a sidewalk on only part of Hanover one of the conditions imposed on the developer by the town. Chairman McMahon responded that future planning purposes of perhaps having a continuous sidewalk to the Afton ResUmrant made the request necessary as well as deferring the construction costs to the developer rather than the town. The development will provide sidewalks on Hanover but not on Decker Ln.dhe newly- created cul-de-sac); the driveway to the existing garage will be relocated; the two-story existing barn will be removed; the existing garage (even the portion that is encroaching), because it is a pre-existing non-conformity, will be retained; a detention basin will be constructed; there will be an easement around the basin and wet tolerant, maintenance free vegetation will be planted; and the name of the development has been changed from Spring Garden to Hanover Fields.

There are no variances needed and Fineman estimates the project will take approximately one year to complete. Fineman agreed to clean-up the trash and debris previously dumped on the back of the properly in view of property. In other business, the Board heard site plans for a proposed office development on Columbia Tpk. next to Uie bridal shop. Church Park Plaza Associates, represented by Attorney Robert Hueston, plan to construct a two-story, 11.000 sq.

ft. building on the lot at 135 Columbia Tpk, The lot widens behind the bridal shop. The stylized building design pick up the features of the old church building (bridal shop) according to Engineer Marshall Frost, including bay windows and horizontal wood siding, in colors of feray. 'Fhe crest of the hill on Columbia made placement of the driveway a problem as did some speciman trees that are to be retained. The drive runs behind the existing shop and wraps around trees.

The site distance was also a problem that was addressed by the slight elevation of the entrance, There is to be a landscaped berm in front of the building. There would also be a landscaped island in the center of the 44 space parking lot. Planned handicap parking in the front of the building would require a variance. The hearing was continued. Mayor, residents on TV Candidates night slated for Wednesday FLORHAM The Florham Park PTA and the Florham Park Education Association are cosponsoring a Candidates' Night on Wednesday.

April 2 from 7:30 p.m. 10 p.m. at the Ridgedale School auditorium. The meeting will give the five candidates who are running for two positions on the Board of Education an opportunity to present themselves to the community and to answer questions fielded from the audience. An partial moderator from the Morris County PTA will handle the proceedings.

The candidates are Grace Brodsky. Martin Green. Thomas Timothy Leuzarder and Joseph Muldoon. Members of the community arc urged by the sponsors to attend Night for an informative evening when these candidates can be heard during their individual presentations and also during the question and answer period. FLORHAM Area residents will have the opportunity to see Gov.

Tom Town Meeting on television starting next week. Florham Park Cable TV shown on Sammons Channel 3 every Wedne.sday at 7 p.m. will feature the Town Meeting at Hanover Park High School. Also of interest is the new show "Ask the also being aired for tlie first time on Wednesday. Florham Park Mayor Dale Anderson discusses the Mt.

Laurel issue and the Linpro Development in an interview conducted by Florham Park Eagle Editor Lin(b Dobbs..