It’s all about being Neighbors
The Atlantic Highlands Planning Board is comprised of an awful lot of very smart, very involved, very dedicated members and neighbors who obviously do all their homework before attending a meeting and acting on applications. Whether it’s the right thing to do to put a homeowner through so much time, expense and inconvenience before he can add a garage or a second story to his house can be debated. But on the other hand, it’s refreshing to see members do have a heart as well.
Take this week for instance. Forget about the dozens of variances being requested by Kalian for 160 First Avenue, the second big mixed use tall structure for that part of the main entry into town. The owner’s experts are busy making changes and more changes, hopefully for the better, so the hearing on that building will not continue until the next meeting of the planners, set for 7 p.m. on November 2.
Hopefully, because Kalian still has more experts that have to testify, questions to be answered, and citizens to be heard, there isn’t anything else on the agenda except Kalian that night. Hopefully, also, the planners will tell the applicant that his experts have to rise to meet the same standards of the borough’s requirements for their own experts.
To say it’s OK to compare a study of three hours of traffic in February to the 16 hours at all times the law requires for borough experts is really kind of silly. Let’s hope more will happen here.
But for the apparently well-beloved family seeking to put a second story on their house so they have enough bedrooms and baths to give their growing kids some privacy and freedom to entertain their friends at home, there is a happy ending.
The applicant had his experts there to testify about the irregular-shaped piece of land high on the hill, the reason why he’d rather build out rather than spread out over more land. He said he also wanted a swimming pool, not uncommon in the neighborhood, and would convert the single downstairs bedroom to an office so the house will still have three bedrooms, albeit larger, better designed and on the top floor.
Then came the question of topography, upsetting the soil, the type of soil it is, the amount of land the pool would cover. The list went on. Forget about the fact that there’s a huge high rise in the next town right smack at the top of the hill where this house is and it’s been fine for the more than half century it’s sat there.
Forget about the fact the planners have already approved one, and might be on the verge of approving a second, great big apartment and business complex that covers lots of good healthy soil with concrete. Forget about the fact all that digging going on in healthy sand at the other side of town is causing oil slicks in the soil and river. Forget about the fact houses will be built on that soiled soil. But this family, for a family-size swimming pool, now has to get test borings and maybe more, to be sure everything’s OK.
So the neighbors came out or sat on zoom to give their views. They weren’t formal, they didn’t have maps and papers and degrees in anything. They just knew that “Kerry and Paul” were their neighbors, their friends, their kids were great. They wanted to tell the planners they were all for Kerry and Paul, they liked the idea, and a bigger house and a swimming pool wouldn’t bother them at all. Inf fact, at least one of them said, their plans will make the area even better.
That’s when Planning Board member Joe Caccamo spoke up. Always attentive, but generally quiet unless he’s got a strong opinion about something, Caccamo listened to everybody, the experts, the applicants, the neighbors. He had obviously read all the plans. Finally he said what everybody was thinking. “They’re land-locked! They’re not looking for a beach, or a swim club.” They’re raising a family in a town they like. Let them raise their family. Let them enjoy Atlantic Highlands.” Concerning all the questions about the slope in the area, the commissioner pointed out “half the town is built on a slope,” shaking his head as if to say it was all much ado about nothing.
In the end, the majority of planning board members voted to approve the application once those soil borings show there’s no great disturbance, something the family’s architect and attorney were certain would happen.
The resolution will most likely be finalized at the November 2 meeting. So the Commissioners adjourned, gathered their papers and prepared to go home.
“Kerry and Paul” stood and smiled happily. Their neighbors and professionals gathered around them, congratulating them and themselves for being the kind of neighbors that everyone should have. They talked of gathering together right away to celebrate what was probably a fairly traumatic evening for folks not used to attending planning board meetings.
So that’s it! It was an experience to watch. But it’s true.
It’s the people of Atlantic Highlands, the neighbors, the friends, and yes, even those hard working volunteers sincerely working for what they think is best for the whole town, that keeps Atlantic Highlands the great place it is to live.
