Sparta Township Council Narrowly Approves 1st Reading of Funding for Master Plan Review

SPARTA, NJ – The first reading of an ordinance to fund the master plan review narrowly passed after much discussion. Ordinance 24-08 was opposed by Josh Hertzberg, supported by Mayor Neill Clark, Deputy Mayor Dean Blumetti and Councilman Dan Chiariello. Councilwoman Christine Quinn abstained.

The ordinance provides $300,000 to fund a subcommittee of the Sparta Planning Board to undertake a complete review of the township’s master plan. The master plan review process is expected to take about 18 months. The previous complete review was done in 1984.

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Sparta CFO Sam Rome said the mechanism of a “special emergency appropriation” as provided for in NJSA 40A:4-53 and 4-55, allows for the cost to be spread over five years.  The statute specifically says appropriations can be made for “preparation of master plan or plans, when required to conform to the planning laws of the State”; one of nine functions that can be funded this way.  This is the way state law anticipates a master plan to be funded.

Quinn said she wanted funding to be attached to benchmarks, rather than allowing the master plan to be completely funded. She described a plan for disbursing funds every few months. She said she wanted “checks and balances.”

“If we do it in $50,000 chunks every six to nine months, then that could be wasted money if we don’t do the next [step],” Deputy Mayor Dean Blumetti said speaking of the funding. “This way, it doesn’t mean we’re spending that [amount]; it’s just putting it out there so with the right oversight it’s there for use so we don’t have to stop for three months and get going again.”

Mayor Neill Clark said they are building in regular progress reports to the township council by the planning board.

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“There will be oversight by us to make sure the money isn’t being frittered away,” Clark said. “Sometimes big projects require big spending.  This is not an insignificant issue…There is a need here.  It is a need that the public has made loud and clear. We are doing what we were elected to do; to respond to what the community wants.”

Blumetti said regular reporting is part of the plan.  Blumetti is the liaison to the planning board and a member of the Master Plan Review committee.

Clark said the township professionals came up with the cost projection.

Josh Hertzberg criticized the statement that there would be checks and balances.

“My concern is there weren’t checks and balances when you guys passed the ordinance requiring all the businesses, all the renters in the ED zone no matter if they were the exact same business going in, to have to go in front of a board. Costing businesses thousands and thousands of dollars.”

Councilman Dan Chiariello said, “Actually those changes were made in 21-01. Mayor Clark and Deputy Mayor Blumetti were not on council and I voted no on 20-01.”

After some back and forth, Clark said it was “impertinent to the issue before us” and called for a vote. The next step for Ordinance 24-08 is a hearing with comments from the public and council members. It will need four votes to pass.

After the vote, Quinn said there was "nothing stopping" them from reviewing each zone and making changes to the ordinances.  Clark agreed.  Blumetti and Chiariello pointed out any land use ordinance change would need to be reviewed to be sure it is consistent with the master plan.

While some changes can be made to specific zones, a complete master plan review allows for a top-down look at all land use matters to be sure they are consistent and reflect the goals of the community.

The committee has been formed to include members of the planning and zoning boards, the environmental commission and some residents.  The process is being overseen and guided by planning board attorney Tom Collins and township planner Katherine Sarmad.

Much of the funding provided for in 24-08 is for “professional services” to pay Collins and Sarmad.  Additional funds will be used to create resources for interacting with the public to provide information and get feedback.

The committee was formed last year but has only met a few times because of the question of funding.

After the vote, Quinn said there was “nothing stopping” them from reviewing each zone and making changes to the ordinances.  Clark agreed. Blumetti and Chiariello pointed out any land use ordinance change would need to be reviewed to be sure it is consistent with the master plan.

While some changes can be made to individual zones, a complete master plan review allows for a top-down look at all land use matters to be sure they are consistent and reflect the goals of the community.

The next township council meeting will be on July 23 at 7 p.m. The agenda has not yet been published.  The next step for Ordinance 24-08 is a hearing with comments from the public and council members. It will need four votes to pass.

Sparta Planning Board's Master Plan Committee is Formed

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