Zoning Board Asks for Lake Valhalla Club Bylaws, Membership Data

Discussion continued on a proposed parking plan and building renovations at the Lake Valhalla Club at Wednesday's zoning board meeting, with board member Kenneth Shirkey asking for a set of bylaws starting from the 1950s during the club’s early years to establish the intent of the club. The board also asked for the club's membership data.

Based on the large number of concerns, general reaction from the audience during discussions, and unanswered questions, the board also made request for another hearing in June.

Parking was the major area of concern during the discussion.

Stephen Schepis, attorney for the club, swore in Joseph Staigar, a traffic engineer from East Hanover, as an expert.

Staigar said he took surveys at two club events in December and January, and found that the club currently has enough parking for regular club activities and weddings.

Staigar used formulas to calculate the guest-per-car ratio during specific times of day at activities such as a wedding. He concluded that the only time additional parking would be needed is during the large events on Memorial Day, Labor Day, plus one other day, when the club would use valet parking in the ball field across the street.

“At other events, large tent parties with 500-600 people attending, that’s when the ball field will be used, and the only time when strictly valet parking will be used," Staigar said. "People pull into the front entrance, valet drivers go to the ball field, which holds 230 parking spaces. This would be limited to two to three times a year. Not for a catering event like a wedding.

“The guests will park in the main lot (231 guests), which is more than ample. Staff will park in the grove. Guests would not be permitted to park in the grove. General public would not use that area.

“There’s no need for any on-street parking. It’s a benefit of free-flow traffic and safety. If there’s an existing problem, I would recommend putting no parking signs on Vista Drive. Otherwise, no signs are needed.”

Town engineer Stanley Omland had questions about parking in grassy areas with no delineated spaces.

“The number of spaces we show on a striped plan do not conform to spaces on a field,” he said.

The public and board had a large number of questions about valet parking, including who the club would hire as valets, how would this interfere with the flow of traffic and pedestrians in the area, the lack of lighting in the ball field when valets retrieve cars after dark, congestion of traffic on streets, and valets looping around the entrance to the parking locations.

“The valets would be an outside company," Staigar said. "We are complying with the police. It’s been recommended by Traffic Officer Peterson that there will be valet parking if the ball field will be used for parking."

Josh Mann, an attorney for two residents, asked who would be enforcing the parking rules.

“This can be implemented by way of approval,” Staigar said.

Shirkey then brought up the bylaws and membership data.

“I want to see demographics of Montville Township members of the club, to compare with outsiders involved in the club, and the number of banquets done per year," he said. "We need to get the big picture to reconcile the testimony here with what we read month to month.

“The health department approved club membership at about 400, but the club sent a letter saying they would not hold to that, and would adjust membership numbers as needed.”

The board then asked for a list of everything existing, non-conforming, and built without permits, in addition to testimony about changing the club to a banquet facility.

“If I were a member of the Lake Valhalla Club, I would be up in arms," Board member Gerard Hug said. "All the variances they are asking for; the amount of money they spend.

“When asked if people can swim or play, while a wedding is going on, the manager [pointing to club manager Perry Bonidies] is saying, 'no,' but from here [pointing to the audience] in the Briar Patch, I get, 'He’s lying.'

“I have the greatest respect for the Lake Valhalla Club. It’s a wonderful place. But what’s gone on for the past year and a half, the lies, it’s an absolute joke. How much misinformation is there? There’s one lie after another.”

At the beginning of the meeting, Tony Garrett, architect of the renovations, had continued his testimony from where it left off last month.

“What we are proposing is within the existing footprint,” Garrett said. “We are trying to cooperate with comments from the board."

Garrett showed the plans and explained the relocation of the attendant stand, a vestibule outside the main entrance, finishing off the attic space with offices for staff and a conference room, and putting restrooms in the cottage.

Garrett said the occupancy limit of the building is 394.

Public participation was open several times for different topics within the presentation. The board asked the public several times to stay on topic and keep comments in the form of questions.

Points of contention included the large tent on the lawn that is used for weddings and large events, the guard shack, and parking.

“The tent is a structure," Garret said. "It’s temporary. It’s disassembled in the winter. Our intent is to leave that up on a more permanent nature. I guess it would be considered additional coverage."

Both the board and the public wanted clarification on the specific activities that take place in the tent, and whether enclosing it year round would be considered a permanent expansion of the clubhouse.

There was discussion about the plan for the new guardhouse.

“We’re trying to get a little more professional about who enters and exits the lake," Garrett said. "The guard will monitor the people in cars as they drive into the parking lot."

Some members of the public questioned how effective the guard shack would be, since members don’t usually use the front door, using the side door instead. 

“If it were not for the outside events, a guard shack would not be needed," Gladys Nemirov said.

“People will not necessarily enter going past the guard. There are many paths and ways in," Dennis O’Brien said.

The public and board expressed concerns about the proposed renovation of the cottage into bathrooms, how to maintain security at night, people crossing the street from the ball field, and visibility from cars entering Vista Road from the Valhalla Road intersection.

“By renovating the cottages, it would allow members to use the bathrooms without having to go into the clubhouse," Garrett said. "It would be a benefit to the members to not have to go through the clubhouse.”

“Last month you said something about preventing softball players from going across the street," Susan Jenner said. "On a typical Saturday, three softball games are being held. How much traffic will be going across the street? And right at the entrance to the community, there will be more traffic.”