'Opportunity for Montville' Seen in Land Use Plan

Getting town approval for decks and patios would be less of a hassle.

New uses for vacant property on Route 46 could lead to redevelopment.

And —in existence since the 1920s—finally would be in a zone that acknowledges its historic use as a country club, rather than leaving it as a "preexisting nonconforming use" in a residential zone.

Those are among the changes in store if a proposed overhaul of Montville's land use and development regulations is approved by the Township Committee, according to a presentation on the plan at the Planning Board meeting on Thursday.

Joseph Burgis, the planner for the town's land use boards, said in his presentation the Zoning Board could see the number of applications it receives cut in half because property owners would not need variances for some of the more common projects that wind up before the board, such as the installation of some decks and patios.

The proposed law, which is designed to set standards for the Master Plan approved 10 months ago, would create several new zones, including a new Lake Recreation district for Lake Valhalla Club. Burgis said the 270-page document includes pages of regulations for the club and essentially restricts development to what currently exists.

The Planning Board is scheduled to hold a more detailed presentation on the plan and a public hearing at its Oct. 27 meeting at 7:30 p.m. Officials said the draft would be posted on the township website in the coming days for the public to review, and that an e-mail account would be set up for residents to submit comments if they cannot attend the public hearing.

Burgis said the regulations would allow developers to build more at points along Route 202 near Changebridge Road if they make certain access improvements, and would lower the number of parking spaces required for restaurants because Montville currently calls for about triple the amount of parking spaces than is necessary.

Planning Board Vice-Chairman Gary Lewis said the updated regulations would allow businesses to take a "fresh look" at operating in Montville.

"This ordinance represents opportunity for Montville," he said.