The most notable issue discussed was the town’s water capacity, especially in light of the offline wells and the township’s ability to meet the fire flow requirements for new developments. The board scrutinized the municipality’s obligation to ensure adequate water supply, debating the appropriate measures to address potential shortfalls. Concerns were also raised regarding the project’s water demand and the implications of the offline wells on the ability to secure permits. The discussion revealed the town’s agreement with Pake Valley to purchase additional water as a contingency plan, highlighting the urgency of the issue.

The stormwater management plan for the one Sunset Avenue project was another major topic, with comprehensive deliberation over the need for a revised plan. The board discussed various aspects of the plan, including geotechnical conditions, stormwater flow volumes, and the design of underground detention basins. The applicant’s civil engineer, Mr. Savage, acknowledged the necessity of addressing the board engineer’s comments and agreed to provide a revised stormwater management report. The board queried details about stormwater calculations and the reliability of the software used for these calculations.

In addition to concerns about water capacity, the board delved into the technicalities of stormwater management, including the bio retention basin and the green infrastructure requirements. There was debate over the effectiveness of the proposed systems and whether they meet regulatory standards, with the board emphasizing the critical nature of complying with these standards. The need for further testing to ensure compliance and the submission of additional information, such as the hydrocat file, were among the discussed actions to be taken before the next meeting.

Another point of contention involved the design of a wall within the one Sunset Avenue project. The board debated whether a deviation was still required for the revised plan and whether it complied with the ordinance. Fire truck maneuverability and the impact of the wall’s design on emergency services were also important considerations. Furthermore, the board considered aesthetic options for the wall, including the use of shrubbery or trees to provide screening.

The meeting did not solely revolve around technical discussions. It also touched on procedural matters such as the reorganization of subcommittees and the re-adoption of the open space and recreation plan as part of the master plan, which could have a long-term impact on the town’s open space initiatives. However, these items took a back seat to the more immediate infrastructure concerns.