A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the mayor’s announcement regarding an upcoming presentation to the council about proposed route changes to accommodate increased traffic from a new hotel and residential development. The mayor emphasized the importance of maintaining traffic flow on Main Street, as promised to the community in previous years, and preventing congestion in residential neighborhoods. This issue is particularly pressing due to the anticipated rise in parking demand from the hotel’s development, which could exacerbate existing street parking issues.

The board discussed implementing residential parking only on specific streets during school hours to alleviate school-related congestion. This plan would also extend to public parking lots, where overnight parking would require permits. Such measures aim to address residents’ frustrations over parking congestion and ensure efficient use of available parking spaces.

The traffic engineer has engaged with the hotel developer to discuss parking fees, which are expected to impact street parking further. The mayor encouraged open dialogue for suggestions on improving these plans. The Parking Committee’s recent effectiveness was noted, with a change in committee makeup involving Jeff DNA replacing Jim Hill due to scheduling conflicts.

Beyond traffic and parking concerns, the board tackled various organizational matters. Chair Karen Giffen was re-nominated and accepted the role of chair, with unanimous support, while Jim Hill was nominated as vice chair.

An emphasis was placed on the board’s pursuit of certification as a Certified Local Government (CLG) through the state historic commission. This certification could open opportunities for grants, benefiting the town’s development and preservation efforts.

The meeting also saw the discussion of Resolution 20251, concerning meeting dates, which aimed to avoid conflicts with local elections and holidays. The board scheduled meetings for March 18, June 3, and June 24. Professional services appointments for 2025 were confirmed, with unanimous approval of roles such as the board attorney, engineer, and planner.

Attention was directed toward revitalizing the zoning ordinance committee, which had been inactive. The chair stressed the importance of reestablishing this committee in collaboration with the Flemington Community Partnership (FCP) and the council. The board explored enhancing citizen engagement rules to simplify and clarify public participation in the planning process. The need for transparency and accessibility in governance was underscored, acknowledging that the process can be complex for both the board and the public.

There was also a focus on reviewing and potentially amending the planning board’s bylaws and agenda processes. Discussions on escrow amounts and the effectiveness of the Signage Review Committee highlighted the need to streamline approval processes and improve communication with applicants. The board considered utilizing geographic information systems (GIS) for visualizing approved variances.