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Waldwick Planning Board names Mark Roondo vice chairman, flags wetlands on RAAC homes application and hears EV fire-safety concerns
Summary
The Waldwick Planning Board approved minutes, appointed Mark Roondo as vice chairman and flagged an RAAC homes application for wetlands review. A board member relayed a hazmat instructors claims about lithium-ion battery fires in underground parking; staff said they would review state rules.
The Waldwick Planning Board voted to appoint Mark Roondo as vice chairman and approved minutes from its March meeting, then turned to new-business items including a packet for an RAAC homes application flagged for potential wetlands and a safety discussion about electric vehicles.
The appointment came during a voice vote after nominations; the board also voted to dispense with and approve the March 4, 2026 minutes. The chair told members the boards annual meeting notice required by the Open Public Meetings Act had been filed with the borough clerk, posted at the Waldwick administration building and transmitted to local newspapers.
Board members reviewed materials for a proposed RAAC homes project on the former D. Martini property (Monroe/West Prospect). Members cautioned that the site has been undeveloped for years and that wetlands may be present. Staff said the packet will be studied and, if complete, the application is likely to appear on next months agenda; because the matter is a pending application the board could not discuss details at length during the meeting.
A separate exchange grew out of a board members report that they had attended a hazmat certification class for fire officials. That member relayed material from the instructor, saying, "when a car burns it goes to 5,000 degrees, cement spalls at 1,000 degrees," and that charging and confined underground parking raised particular concerns. The member also noted that many electric vehicles weigh substantially more than traditional cars, saying some garages were originally designed for loads around 4,000 pounds while newer vehicles may weigh about 8,000 pounds.
Cliff, who responded to the boards questions, said he would need to review applicable regulations before the borough could act. "I'll have to look," he said, adding that the borough could recommend that the governing body or state examine options but that authority may be limited by state rules put in place under Governor Murphy.
The chair also encouraged members to view a 15-minute Volunteer New Jersey board-members best-practices training video circulated by staff and noted there were no public commenters present. The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn that passed by voice vote.
The RAAC homes application will be studied by staff and is expected to return to the board for formal consideration if the submission is complete; no formal land-use approvals were granted at this meeting.
