Page 4 • Wednesday , March 8 , 2017 • The Hammonton Gazette

PLANNING , from Page 1 Italiano appeared before the

board , along with project planner Lance Landgraf Jr ., of L . B . Landgraf and Associates LLC , and attorney Brian Howell , to discuss the proposed restaurant addition .

Italiano ’ s plan is to add a 946- square-foot addition to the left portion of the building that will include modifications to the kitchen area , bar , dining area and the creation of a 365-square-foot , covered outdoor waiting area that will aid in reducing congestion within the restaurant , according to Italiano .

“ We get such congestion when you first come in the restaurant . There ’ s nowhere to stand , people are getting take-outs ; there ’ s just congestion right when you come in if there ’ s a wait . By increasing the back room a little — a couple more tables — people can sit quicker and also , with a little found space maybe right outside , they can wait there in warm weather ,” Italiano said .

Italiano referred to the plan as a “ facelift to the older section of the building .” He said he plans on opening up the back room by removing a wall and connecting it to the existing dining area to make it less “ claustrophobic ” and will also update its heating , ventilation and air conditioning system and sealing work . The addition will also expand the cooking line and the number of cooks that can work on it , thus increasing efficiency , a new bar top , extending into the expanded dining area , which will increase the rate of beverage service , will also be added . Italiano said it would also allow for the addition of more bar stools , which would be beneficial because patrons eat at the bar , causing more congestion .

Italiano said , upon approval , he would aim to begin the construction of the addition by April 1 and would like to have it complete before Mother ’ s Day ( May 14 ). Italiano and project contractor Joseph Continisio Builders have been discussing the logistics of the addition , and Italiano said they have not ruled out staying open through the construction with the exception of closing for “ a couple days ” for flooring work .

Landgraf referred to the addition to the 4,300-square-foot restaurant as “ very minor .” Because the square-footage of the addition is less than 1,000 square feet , the property sits on an existing impervious surface and is tied to the town ’ s sanitary sewer , the plan did not need to receive approval from the Pinelands Commission before coming to the planning board , Landgraf said .

The site plan results in the two lots ( 43 and 44 ) being consolidated into one , 5.8-acre lot ( Lot 44 ). According to Landgraf , the addition will result in the removal of three parking spots , but with 75 current spots , the site will still be well-above the ordinance-required amount of 61 spaces after the addition .

Board engineer Robert Vettese , of town engineering firm Adams , Rehmann and Heggan ( ARH ) Associates , pointed out that the final 120 feet of the western end of the property has no curbing , but because the whole length of the property is paved , he said he didn ’ t expect it to warrant the construction of curbing or a sidewalk . Landgraf pointed out that it appears the 120-foot portion is not curbed intentionally to better aid in storm water drainage .

Board planner Kevin Dixon said creating a way to improve parking lot traffic circulation would not be necessary because the parking spaces are adjacent to

the property ’ s right-of-way line , which would make the project more difficult , and because the traffic flow system is “ functional ” and has not resulted in significant traffic flow issues in the past that would warrant such changes .

“ It has been an ongoing operation for many years , so it ’ s a traffic pattern that patrons are used to , and with a low accident history , it doesn ’ t warrant any kind of radical improvements . It ’ s not really broken , so we didn ’ t recommend to fix it ,” Dixon said .

Dixon recommended the applicant make the parking lot ’ s drive aisle one-way to aid circulation and paint a directional arrow on it to signify so , and requested that at least one handicap parking space be added with proper markings , signage and a breakaway post . Dixon agreed that the site plan is minor and would require no variances and had no objections to its approval .

Before recommending a motion to approve the site plan , board solicitor James Schroeder addressed a waiver issue regarding the 120- foot portion of the pavement that does not have sidewalk and curb and requested a motion for a waiver for it , which was made by

board member Gordon Pherribo , seconded by board member Joseph Giralo and approved unanimously .

Schroeder then deemed the application complete and recommended the board make a motion to approve a minor site plan approval for the 946-square-foot addition that contains a 365-square-foot , open-porch waiting area . The motion was made by Giralo , seconded by board member Vincent Messina and approved unanimously .

The board also approved an extension request for a subdivision at 827 Giordano Lane . H . Stewart “ Skip ” Byrnes appeared before the board for the application on behalf of his daughter and son-inlaw , who are working on a subdivision that the board previously approved in June 2015 , according to Byrnes . Byrnes said the process has been lengthened because of intervention at the county level

and the property owners still need “ another month or two ” to complete the subdivision .

Schroeder recommended that a year extension be granted and said the process is very close to being completed , but there are a few lines of language in the deed of the property that need to be worked out between their attorney and the engineer involved with the subdivision before the process can conclude .

“ I think they are really at the one-yard line , but there ’ s no use in having them come back or stress anymore . There ’ s a little bit of language in the deed that needs to be ironed out , everything else looks good . We ’ re set with the county and all that at this point , so it ’ s just a matter of their attorney and the engineer and I agreeing on a couple lines of language and the deeds will be ready for signature ,” Schroeder said .

A motion to approve the extension

was made by Giralo , seconded by Messina and approved unanimously with the exception of an abstention from board member Linda Byrnes .

In other business , the board adopted resolution # 01-2017 , granting a subdivision for Alfred Bermel , Alfred Bermel Jr . and Kathleen Klaiss at Block 3905 , Lots 21 , 22 and 23 , Zone R-1 at 748 Valley Ave .

Bermel Jr . appeared before the board during the February 15 meeting on behalf of the subdivision application which would realign the property lines for Bermel , Bermel Jr ., Klaiss and their neighbors .

A motion to approve the adoption of the resolution was made by Giralo , seconded by Messina and approved unanimously .

The Hammonton planning board will meet next on Wednesday , March 15 at 7 p . m . in town hall chambers .