The board’s primary focus was Green 973 LLC’s proposal to expand its indoor golf facility, which currently operates with seven golf simulators. The expansion would allow the business to better manage customer flow, especially during busy league nights, where parking congestion has been a recurring issue. The business model, as described by co-owner John Trada, revolves around providing a safe indoor environment for golf enthusiasts, leveraging sophisticated camera systems to analyze golf shots.

Trada elaborated on the facility’s operations, emphasizing the diversity of its clientele, which includes local residents, families, and groups from Sparta High School. The facility partners with local organizations and offers a variety of games beyond traditional golfing to cater to a broader audience. The business employs six to eight part-time employees, mainly local students, offering flexible scheduling to accommodate school commitments.

Parking was a significant topic, with the board scrutinizing the adequacy of current arrangements during peak times. Trada acknowledged some congestion during league nights, especially with women’s leagues, but expressed confidence in managing it efficiently. The board considered various strategies, such as staggering tee times and implementing a break between reservations, to alleviate parking strain. A consensus was reached to enforce a 15-minute interval between group bookings to manage the flow of customers and reduce overlap.

The expansion proposal also involved addressing compliance with zoning regulations, particularly concerning impervious surface coverage and parking requirements. The facility currently exceeds the allowable impervious coverage by a marginal amount, and the applicant sought variances to maintain existing conditions without extensive modifications. The board deliberated on the practicality of these variances, with expert testimony from planner Jason Dunn supporting the applicant’s case for maintaining current coverage levels.

The board also addressed the absence of a loading zone, opting to treat it as a design exception rather than a variance. Landscaping was another point of contention, as the existing property did not fully meet updated ordinance requirements. The board discussed the potential for a conditional approval, allowing the applicant to operate while submitting a revised landscaping plan for final approval before issuing a final certificate of occupancy.

Public comments were limited but included inquiries about facility access points and community engagement in the planning process. The board emphasized the importance of adhering to new guidelines while balancing operational functionality for the business.

Beyond the specific application of Green 973 LLC, the meeting included procedural updates and discussions on other development applications. The board approved two resolutions: one for a development application at Lake Mohawk and another for YHK Realty LLC, requiring additional permits for driveway changes. Additionally, the board appointed Lindsay Knight as the board planner and Katherine Sarmad as the conflict planner, finalizing these appointments with unanimous consent.