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| Map of noise impacts |
There were only 2 items on the agenda and yet the meeting lasted until 10:45 pm. Why? The first item had Millville Savings and Loan applying for a variance to keep 2 signs they they put on land they owned. These 2 signs were advertising the bank but both signs were neither near or next to a bank branch. The Millville Savings and Loan was cited just we were for putting a sign that was not near the business. Colonial Bank sent an attorney to urge the Board to deny the variance that Millville Savings and Loan was seeking to allow the 2 signs to remain. These signs are near the Dunkin Donuts on Route 49 and Beech Street. Both lawyers mocked the other bank's position as "petty" and the other compared each bank as "David and Goliath" on these 2 signs which are nicely landscaped along the side of the road. This went on for quite a bit with the Colonial Bank's lawyer stating that their bank will remove their "Coming Soon" sign that has announced a future branch that had been up for several years. In the end the Millville Zoning Board voted 7-0 to approve the variance but allowing only one of the signs.
Next on the agenda was a request to approve a variance for a company that plans to open a recycling center. This would take everything from soda cans to old cars. This would be open where Kane Steel used to operate for many years until 2009. The Company(forgot the name) has a recycling center in Mays Landing. They are a family-owned business and several members of the family testified at last nights hearing. This will be located in the Millville Industrial Park near 14th Street. The company brought in a noise expert who showed a colorful rendering that showed the possible noise impacts. Of course here in Millville, this was a great interest. I know I was interested in listening to a "noise expert" since this is a big issue with the Motorsports Park. He was very impressive and seemed to really know about how sound works and he knows the mathematics of noise attenuation. The atmosphere was like a Planning Board Meeting with number of nearby residents expressing concern about noise, rodents, crime and the like. I did learn that most of the house near the area were built in the 1990's while Kane Steel was in full operation. After much discussion, the varience was approved. Next, there will be the site plan approval's which will also be a long meeting.
2 comments:
Mark, your link for Colonial Bank and the related stories refer to a different Colonial Bank. The Colonial Bank you cite is (was) based in Alabama and (as the link and related story note) was recently declared insolvent and seized by the FDIC. The Colonial Bank duking it out with Millville Savings and Loan at last night's Zoning Board meeting is Colonial Bank, FSB (Federal Savings Bank). Previously it was a savings and loan under the name Young Men's Saving and Loan. The holding company for Colonial Bank, FSB is Colonial Financial Services. Freeholder Whelan is the COO of Colonial Financial Services. Its CEO, Edward Geletka, has been on the board of the Cumberland Empowerment Zone. Commissioner Jim Quinn sits on the Board of Directors for Colonial. Whelan and Quinn are of course active in Democratic politics; previously (nothing since 2007) Geletka contributed locally to the Republican Party, including Asselta's 2007 run.
Thanks for the correction.
The meeting lasted way too long and the aftermath stunk.
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