Rec Complex Phase 1 Gets Planning Board Blessing

The Planning Board got to see up-close and personal the Madison Recreation Complex presentation many residents saw at the last Borough Council meeting.

Borough Engineer Bob Vogel, Attorney Joseph Mezzacca, and Director of Technology Jim Sanderson showed the board a number of renderings depicting what is being called Phase 1 of the project. Board members asked a number of questions related to field placement, but in the end felt the project was consistent with the master plan and that the borough should continue.

Two members, Mayor Mary-Anna Holden and Council Liaison Astri Baillie recused themselves from the presentation and vote, as it was a borough presentation.

The drawings were produced by T & M Associates, the engineering design firm the borough hired to map out the engineering constraints and possible functions of the property. Sanderson also gave a 3D Google SketchUp presentation of the property.

The entire presentation of the renderings was identical to what the public saw at the May 24 Borough Council meeting.

What was being presented for review were four proposed fields which make up Phase 1 of the project. Two of the fields are on the high school property and is being referred to as Phase 1a, which would be constructed right next to the 49 acres purchased from Florham Park and can proceed as soon as funding is in place. Phase 1b, which are the fields in the pit area, will need to get Department of Environmental Protection permits, as the top left field boarders–but is not on–wetlands.

"What we are presenting tonight on the other slides are for the 1a and 1b proposals," Mezzacca said. "Right now, until wetlands delineation and DEP permits are received on some of the other areas, this is the best area we can go out quickly and put some fields that will serve a lot of sports."

Vice Chairman Peter Flemming asked Mezzacca if the board was supposed to determine if Phase 1a and 1b were consistent with the master plan and not the whole concept. Mezzacca said, as he and others did a number of times, that it was really a courtesy review and not a definitive finding.

Vogel told the board it was certainly within the board's right to make comments on the project as it stands and as it continues to progress.

Board member Jeffrey Gertler was concerned that the fields would interfere with each other, as the drawings showed overlap as the plans stand.

Vogel assured the board that the final design will not have any overlaying of fields.

Board member Carmela Vitale also told the group how important the environmental issues in the area were to her.

"We went into suit, spent a lot of money, and held back the development of a really bad project on that property," Vitale said. "We want to build responsibly."

The board, with the two members recused, voted unanimously for this portion of the project, and the borough will continue with the process.