The most notable item on the agenda was the approval of a minor subdivision application. The board reviewed a proposal from property owners Talha and Fatima Shaikh to adjust the lot line between their property on Treetop Court and an adjoining property on Mountain Avenue. The adjustment involved transferring a 10,300-square-foot area from the Mountain Avenue property to the Shaikhs’ property, which required no variances and resulted in both lots meeting all zoning requirements. The Planning Board agreed to waive the public notice and hearing requirements, determining the application as a minor subdivision. The board voted unanimously to approve the adjustment, which eliminates existing non-conforming conditions on the Shaikhs’ property.

In another noteworthy discussion, the board evaluated the ongoing shift from print to digital newspaper notices, a topic of increasing relevance due to current legislative considerations. A question arose about the legality of digital-only publications being used for official notices, to which it was clarified that compliance with the Municipal Land Use Law still necessitates traditional print notices. However, the board acknowledged that legislative changes could soon address this evolving landscape.

The meeting also included procedural actions such as the swearing-in of board members Kevin Hall, Joe Popolo, and Susan Poage, and the election of Craig Johnson as the new chair and Kevin Hall as vice-chair. The board adopted several resolutions, including the designation of official newspapers and the appointment of board secretaries, reflecting routine administrative functions of the Planning Board.