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Westwood Planning Board reviews FAR adjustment study for CBD and CBD/SPE zones
Summary
The Planning Board reviewed a floor-area-ratio adjustment study for downtown zoning districts, with planner Ed Snieckus asked to draft ordinance language to bring to the Borough Attorney and Governing Body; board members debated whether changes should be zone-specific or applied more broadly.
The Westwood Planning Board reviewed a memorandum outlining proposed Floor Area Ratio (FAR) adjustments for the Central Business District and CBD/SPE zones at its April 9 meeting, with the board asking staff to draft ordinance language for further review.
The memorandum, presented by Board Planner Ed Snieckus, included tables and illustrations showing how modest FAR changes could affect residential structures in town. "The FAR is working out nicely in the residential structures in town," Chairman Jaymee Hodges said, calling the draft a useful tool.
Councilmember Lauren Letizia said the study was "well done" and asked whether the adjustments would apply across all zones; Snieckus replied they would not. William Martin and Michael O’Rourke warned that specifying measures tied to particular frontages or sides could create a need for 'D' variances, and Martin said leaving some flexibility would allow the board to evaluate applications case by case. Mayor Raymond Arroyo asked whether the Master Plan shows a preference for where increased density should occur; Snieckus said adding Master Plan language could be helpful and offered to draft additional language for the board's next meeting.
Board members agreed that planner-drafted language should be prepared for review at a future meeting; Snieckus will draft the language and route it to the Borough Attorney and Governing Body as part of the next steps. No formal zoning changes were adopted at the April 9 meeting.
