Kenilworth planning board carries minor subdivision after drainage, retaining-wall and house-design concerns

The Planning Board of the Borough of Kenilworth continued review of application 22‑004, a minor subdivision of Block 17/Block 20, after hearing detailed testimony from the applicant’s engineer about a revised grading and drainage plan and after board members required revised architectural drawings showing the two houses will be differentiated.

The plan presented by Joseph Bacci, the applicant’s engineer, and submitted as Exhibit A‑1 is a revised grading plan dated Feb. 2. Bacci said the revision responds to a January review letter and includes: terraced retaining walls to eliminate excessive single‑wall heights; removal of a scour hole at the rear of the properties; relocation of dry wells from the rear to the front of the lots to detain roof runoff; addition of a street tree; and minor utility adjustments such as cleanouts and valves. Bacci testified the changes reduce peak runoff compared with earlier submittals and that the revisions were intended to protect the neighbor to the rear.

Why it matters: board members repeatedly pressed the applicant on whether the changes reduce runoff onto neighboring properties and on how the new wall configuration will be maintained if future…