MARK G. MONTENERO v. TOMS RIVER TOWNSHIP PLANNING BOARD
Annotate this CaseNOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE
APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION
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SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
APPELLATE DIVISION
DOCKET NO. A-5767-17T4
MARK G. MONTENERO,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
v.
TOMS RIVER TOWNSHIP
PLANNING BOARD and
1209 CHURCH ROAD, LLC,
Defendants-Respondents.
__________________________
Argued December 2, 2019 – Decided March 9, 2020
Before Judges Fasciale, Moynihan and Mitterhoff.
On appeal from the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law
Division, Ocean County, Docket No. L-0423-18.
Jay Bently Bohn argued the cause for appellant
(Schiller Pittenger & Galvin, PC, attorneys; Jay Bently
Bohn, on the briefs).
Kelsey Anne McGuckin Anthony argued the cause for
respondent Toms River Township Planning Board
(Dasti Murphy McGuckin Ulaky Koutsouris &
Connors, attorneys; Gregory P. McGuckin, of counsel;
Kelsey Anne McGuckin Anthony, on the brief).
Michael B. York argued the cause for respondent 1209
Church Road, LLC (Novins York & Jacobus, attorneys;
Michael B. York, on the brief).
PER CURIAM
In this action in lieu of prerogative writs, plaintiff Mark G. Montenero
appeals from an order for final judgment entered in favor of defendants Toms
River Township Planning Board (Board) and 1209 Church Road, LLC
(developer) dismissing plaintiff's complaint with prejudice. Plaintiff argues the
Board's preliminary and final subdivision approval of developer's application to
divide an L-shaped lot into twenty-six separate lots, with single-family homes
to be built on twenty-four lots,1 was invalid because the Board lacked a quorum
during its meetings leading up to the Board's vote, and the Board's grant of two
variances and a design waiver in connection with its subdivision approval was
arbitrary, capricious, unreasonable or otherwise illegal. We affirm the judgment
upholding the variances, but remand to the Board for further proceedings
consistent with this opinion on the driveway design waiver issue.
We are not persuaded that the Board acted without a quorum. Toms River,
in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40:55D-23(a), created a planning board consisting
1
Two lots are to be utilized for drainage facilities.
A-5767-17T4
2
of nine members.2 Toms River Twp., N.J., Land Use and Dev. Regulations
Ordinance § 348-3.1 (2017). In his merits brief, plaintiff contends five Board
members were present at the initial hearing on developer's application during
which developer presented the testimony of its engineer, and at the second
meeting during which plaintiff's counsel was afforded an opportunity to cross-
examine the engineer.3 The member absent during the first meeting appeared at
the second meeting, but one member who was present at the first meeting was
absent from the second.4 The vote at the second meeting was postponed because
the member absent during the first hearing had not listened to the recording of
that meeting, a pre-condition under N.J.S.A. 40:55D-10.2 to her voting. 5 All six
2
N.J.S.A. 40:55D-23(a) allows a governing body to create a planning board
consisting of seven or nine members.
3
The Board passed a motion at the first meeting to postpone its vote on the
application and continue the hearing to allow objectors, including plaintiff, to
have their absent counsel review the transcript and participate in the application
process.
4
The parties and the record fail to account for the other three Board members
or explain the reason only six Board members heard developer's application.
That issue was not briefed, and we will not consider it. 539 Absecon Blvd.,
L.L.C. v. Shan Enters. Ltd. P'Ship, 406 N.J. Super. 242, 272 n.10 (App. Div.
2009).
5 N.J.S.A. 40:55D-10.2 provides:
A-5767-17T4
3
members were present at the third meeting, voting five to one to approve the
subdivision; the member absent from the first hearing voted against approval.
Plaintiff concedes both absent members executed affidavits, attesting that they
listened to the recording of the meeting they missed. Each member stated on
the record of the last meeting that they had done so.
Plaintiff argues the Board lacked a required quorum of five members at
the second meeting because the member absent at the first hearing had not yet
listened to the recording of the first meeting and was thus ineligible to vote. He
contends the four members eligible to vote did not constitute a quorum rendering
that hearing "a nullity[.]"
We reject plaintiff's argument that the Board was unable to transact any
business unless it had a quorum. "'Quorum' means the majority of the full
authorized membership of a municipal agency." N.J.S.A. 40:55D-6. Plaintiff
A member of a municipal agency who was absent for
one or more of the meetings at which a hearing was held
or was not a member of the municipal agency at that
time, shall be eligible to vote on the matter upon which
the hearing was conducted, notwithstanding his
absence from one or more of the meetings; provided,
however, that such board member has available to him
the transcript or recording of all of the hearing from
which he was absent or was not a member, and certifies
in writing to the board that he has read such transcript
or listened to such recording.
A-5767-17T4
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relies on that portion of N.J.S.A. 40:55D-9(a) that provides: "No action shall be
taken at any meeting without a quorum being present." Culling that sentence,
however, ignores our Supreme Court's direction that
"[s]tatutes must be read in their entirety; each part or
section should be construed in connection with every
other part or section to provide a harmonious whole."
Burnett[v. County of Bergen, 198 N.J. 408, 421
(2009)]. "When reviewing two separate enactments,
the Court has an affirmative duty to reconcile them, so
as to give effect to both expressions of the lawmakers'
will." Saint Peter's Univ. Hosp. v. Lacy, 185 N.J. 1, 14
(2005). "Statutes that deal with the same matter or
subject should be read in pari materia and construed
together as a unitary and harmonious whole." Id. at 14-
15.
[In re Petition for Referendum on Trenton Ordinance
09-02, 201 N.J. 349, 359 (2010).]
The very next sentence of N.J.S.A. 40:55D-9(a) clarifies that the term
"action" means voting on a measure: "All actions shall be taken by a majority
vote of the members of the municipal agency present at the meeting[.]" When
read in conjunction with the Legislature's provision allowing members who were
not present at a meeting to vote on a measure if they listened to the missed
meeting's recording, N.J.S.A. 40:55D-10.2, the legislative intent in enacting
N.J.S.A. 40:55D-9(a) is clear. See Bosland v. Warnock Dodge, Inc., 197 N.J.
543, 553 (2009) ("Our task in statutory interpretation is to determine and
A-5767-17T4
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effectuate the Legislature's intent."). No vote may be taken unless a quorum is
present.
We follow the statutory directive, recognized by our Supreme Court, to
explicate a legislative enactment:
In the construction of the laws and statutes of this state,
both civil and criminal, words and phrases shall be read
and construed with their context, and shall, unless
inconsistent with the manifest intent of the legislature
or unless another or different meaning is expressly
indicated, be given their generally accepted meaning,
according to the approved usage of the language.
[State v. Gandhi, 201 N.J. 161, 177 (2010) (quoting
N.J.S.A. 1:1-1).]
In doing so, we discern a legislative scheme that requires a planning board
to schedule meetings "not less than once a month . . . unless canceled for lack
of applications for development to process." N.J.S.A. 40:55D-9(a). A planning
board must also
hold a hearing on each application for development,
adoption, revision or amendment of the master plan,
each application for approval of an outdoor advertising
sign submitted to the municipal agency as required
pursuant to an ordinance adopted under subsection g. of
section 29.1 of P.L. 1975, c. 291 (C. 40:55D-39) or any
review undertaken by a planning board pursuant to
section 22 of P.L. 1975, c. 291 (C. 40:55D-31).
[N.J.S.A. 40:55D-10(a).]
A-5767-17T4
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The Legislature anticipated that members of planning boards and other
municipal agencies would be unable to attend every meeting and provided a
mechanism for absent members to become informed of the business transacted
at any missed meeting before voting at a meeting at which a quorum is present.
Thus, voting is the action that requires a quorum, not the conduct of other
business that is recorded for later review. See N.J.S.A. 40:55D-10(f). There
was, therefore, a quorum present throughout all proceedings, including the
Board's vote.
The proposed development called for homes to be built on a new cul-de-
sac developer would construct intersecting with Church Road. The variances
sought by the developer involved the two lots, designated 8.01 and 9.01, that
were to be formed at the corner of Church Road and the new cul-de-sac, Feldmus
Lane. Because the homes to be constructed had to conform to the front-yard
setback requirements for both streets—sixty feet from each—front-yard
variances were needed because the planned construction provided only a forty-
foot setback on Church Road for each of the lots.
Developer's engineer testified that although the other lots in the proposed
development fronting entirely on Feldmus Lane conformed to the zoning
A-5767-17T4
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ordinance, the lots at the Church Road intersection required relief. He
explained:
It's not uncommon for us to request a front setback
relief to Church Road. We would keep the front setback
along our proposed access, which would be really the
front yard of the property. So, Church Road would
essentially become a . . . true side yard of the property.
We would reduce that [setback requirement] from
[sixty feet] to [forty feet].
There are lots in the area, corner lots similar to
this that also have that same variance that are less than
[sixty feet]. On the corner of Cobblestone, there's a lot
that's approximately [fifty-four] feet. And on the
corner of Kalvel it's [forty-five] feet. The adjacent
property, which was recently approved, that was
approved at [forty feet] as well for the corner lots. It's
only those corner lots.
He further testified:
[T]here's certain criteria we have to meet for those
variances. I don't see where it would impact the zone
plan or master plan for the project or the surrounding
area, or to be a detriment to the area. And, in fact, . . .
granting this variance will allow us to basically have a
. . . side garage that's more aesthetically pleasing from
the roadway and also from the passerbys on Church
Road[.] In Burbridge v[. Twp. of] Mine Hill [6] it was
established that aesthetic appearance was actually a
legitimate reason to grant a D variance. We're only
looking for a C variance here. So, again, the aesthetics,
I believe, outweigh the minor variance that we're
6
117 N.J. 376 (1990).
A-5767-17T4
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looking . . . for . . . what's really a side yard to be front
setback.
The resolution memorializing the Board's grant of the variance sets forth
the Board's findings of fact:
WHEREAS, the Board notes that each of these
[two] lots are "corner lots" as part of this subdivision
fronting on Church Road; and
WHEREAS, the Board recognizes that it is
appropriate to have the houses face the new cul-de-sac
roadway as opposed to Church Road so that same fits
the character of the rest of the subdivision and
eliminates driveways which would have access to
Church Road, which is a high volume roadway; and
WHEREAS, as a result, the corner lots
essentially make Church Road a side yard; and
....
WHEREAS, [developer] has been represented by
[counsel] and submitted the testimony of [an engineer]
who is qualified and accepted by the Board as an expert
witness in this matter; and
....
WHEREAS, the Board agrees that having a side
garage provides a better aesthetic look to the
development and it is appropriate to grant a variance
for the front yard setback requirements for both [l]ots
8.01 and 9.01 as a result; and
WHEREAS, the Board is satisfied there will be
no negative impact from the granting of the variance
A-5767-17T4
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relief sought as the use proposed is permitted, it is more
appropriate to face the new roadway than it would be to
have the [two] corner lots facing Church Road and the
application is similar to that which has been previously
approved for the adjoining lot[.]
Plaintiff asserts that the resolution does not identify the type of variance
granted and neither the public hearing record nor the resolution articulate "the
statutory standards for the grant of variance relief or application of those
standards to the evidence presented[.] Moreover, there was not substantial
evidence that would have supported the variances."
We accord substantial deference to a Board's findings of fact and will
affirm its discretionary ruling only if it is arbitrary and capricious. CBS
Outdoor, Inc. v. Borough of Lebanon Planning Bd./Bd. of Adjustment, 414 N.J.
Super. 563, 577 (App. Div. 2010). As the Court in Burbridge declared:
A court should sustain a local zoning board's
determination to grant a zoning variance if that board's
decision comports with the statutory criteria and is
founded on adequate evidence. If there is such support
in the record, approval will not be deemed arbitrary or
capricious. Boards of adjustment, "because of their
peculiar knowledge of local conditions, must be
allowed wide latitude in the exercise of the delegated
discretion." Medici v. BPR Co., 107 N.J. 1, 23 (1987);
Kramer v. Bd. of Adjustment, Sea Girt, 45 N.J. [268,
296 (1965)].
[ 117 N.J. at 385 (citations omitted).]
A-5767-17T4
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In that planning boards also have the power to grant variances under N.J.S.A.
40:55D-70(c)—commonly called "(c) variances," see N.J.S.A. 40:55D-60—the
same review standard applies to the Board's grant of the (c) variance to
developer.
In relevant part, the statute provides that (c) variances, may be granted:
(1) Where: . . . (b) by reason of exceptional topographic
conditions or physical features uniquely affecting a
specific piece of property, or (c) by reason of an
extraordinary and exceptional situation uniquely
affecting a specific piece of property . . . , the strict
application of any regulation . . . would result in
peculiar and exceptional practical difficulties to, or
exceptional and undue hardship upon, the developer of
such property . . . ; [or] (2) where in an application or
appeal relating to a specific piece of property the
purposes of this act . . . would be advanced by a
deviation from the zoning ordinance requirements and
the benefits of the deviation would substantially
outweigh any detriment[.]
[N.J.S.A. 40:55D-70(c).]
The statute further provides that a (c) variance cannot be granted unless the
applicant establishes what is colloquially referred to as the negative criteria,
proving that "that such variance or other relief can be granted without substantial
detriment to the public good and will not substantially impair the intent and the
purpose of the zone plan and zoning ordinance." N.J.S.A. 40:55D-70; Lang v.
Zoning Bd. of Adjustment of N. Caldwell, 160 N.J. 41, 57 (1999).
A-5767-17T4
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Plaintiff correctly observes the Board did not specify whether its grant of
the (c) variances was pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-70(c)(1)—a (c)(1) variance—
or N.J.S.A. 40:55D-70(c)(2)—a (c)(2) variance. But we do not agree with
plaintiff's contention that the Board was required to provide analysis relating to
its grant. The Board's resolution included its "findings of fact and conclusions
based thereon" in compliance with N.J.S.A. 40:55D-10(g). From those findings,
we deduce, as did the trial judge, the Board granted (c)(2) variances.
As to those variances, our Supreme Court explained:
N.J.S.A. 40:55D-70(c)(2) permits a variance for a
specific property, if the deviation from bulk or
dimensional provisions of a zoning ordinance would
advance the purposes of the zoning plan and if the
benefit derived from the deviation would substantially
outweigh any detriment. The applicant bears the
burden of proving both the positive and negative
criteria.
For a (c)(2) variance, approval must be rooted in the
purposes of the zoning ordinance rather than the
advancement of the purposes of the property owner.
Thus, the positive criteria include proof that the
characteristics of the property present an opportunity to
put the property more in conformity with development
plans and advance the purposes of zoning[.] [T]he
negative criteria include proof that the variance would
not result in substantial detriment to the public good or
substantially impair the purpose of the zone plan.
[Ten Stary Dom P'ship v. Mauro, 216 N.J. 16, 30 (2013)
(citations omitted).]
A-5767-17T4
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As it was free to do, see Hawrylo v. Bd. of Adjustment, Harding Twp.,
249 N.J. Super. 568, 579 (App. Div. 1991), the Board evidently accepted the
testimony of developer's engineer that the grant of the setback relief would
conform with other developments intersecting Church Road and moreover,
would allow the houses on lots 8.01 and 9.01 to conform with the homes in the
development facing Feldmus Lane with side garages, producing a more
aesthetically pleasing development. Instead of homes on those two lots facing
Church Road, the Board determined "that it is appropriate to have the houses
face the new cul-de-sac roadway as opposed to Church Road so that same fits
the character of the rest of the subdivision and eliminates driveways which
would have access to Church Road, which is a high volume roadway[.]" The
Board also adopted the uncontroverted testimony of developer's engineer, and
concluded the variances would not have any negative impact, and "it is more
appropriate to face the new roadway than it would be to have the [two] corner
lots facing Church Road[,] and the application is similar to that which has been
previously approved for the adjoining lot[.]"
We note the Board also perpended the detailed plans submitted by
developer that illustrate the location of the two corner lots on Church Road in
relation to the entire development. Those plans, in conjunction with the
A-5767-17T4
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engineer's testimony, supported the position advanced to the Board by
developer's counsel: "[I]f you don't approve the variance . . . [t]he houses merely
get moved [twenty] feet further away from Church Road. And the driveway and
the garage will now be in the front of the house." The conformity of houses in
the cul-de-sac and the elimination of ingress and egress on the busier Church
Road support the Board's implicit finding that developer met the positive
criteria.
From the proffered evidence and the reasonable inferences that could have
been drawn therefrom, the Board found developer's counsel's suggestion—made
in summation to the Board that the development with the variances is "a better
plan and design"—a sound one, supporting the Board's finding that the
deviations, also made in other developments, would not have a negative impact
resulting in substantial detriment to the public good or substantial impairment
to the purpose of the zone plan. The Board obviously focused on the
surrounding properties in making that determination and found the development
with the granted variances was a better zoning alternative.
We defer to the Board's factual determinations, which were based on its
assessment of the witness testimony and documentary evidence, and its
"'peculiar knowledge of local conditions[.]'" Burbridge, 117 N.J. at 385
A-5767-17T4
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(quoting Medici, 107 N.J. at 23; Kramer, 45 N.J. at 296). We see no basis to
disturb the Board's conclusions regarding the grant of the variances.
The Board also considered developer's requests for exceptions to
subdivision approval requirements—or "design waivers"—only one of which is
in issue on appeal. N.J.S.A. 40:55D-51(a) permits a planning board to grant
exceptions from the requirements for subdivision
approval as may be reasonable and within the general
purpose and intent of the provisions for subdivision
review and approval of an ordinance adopted pursuant
to this article, if the literal enforcement of one or more
provisions of the ordinance is impracticable or will
exact undue hardship because of peculiar conditions
pertaining to the land in question.
In his merits brief, plaintiff set forth Ordinance § 348-8.11.1D, the design
standards from which developer sought the waiver in question; it provides in
part:
Driveways serving one- or two-family dwellings shall
be no closer than five feet to a side or rear lot line,
except that lots less than 4[]000 square feet in lot area
or [forty] feet or less in lot width shall have driveways
no closer than two feet to a side or rear lot line.
Developer's engineer described the waiver in his testimony before the
Board:
On lots 8.02 and 8.03, 8.04, 9.03, 9.04, 2.02, 2.09 and
2.10, we would request that a setback of two feet to the
property line for the driveway where five feet is
A-5767-17T4
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required. That gives us room to basically have a side
back out, to provide a side garage out of house, back
out and then come down. We . . . would be willing to
stipulate that driveways would have to be ten feet apart
as a condition, so there's separation between driveways.
But, basically, we're trying to keep the driveways
consistent going down the roadway, so that they're not
up against each other. So, we're requesting that waiver
of, basically, two feet.
Addressing the waiver request in its resolution, the Board found:
WHEREAS, [developer] . . . requires a waiver
with respect to the setback for the driveways, [five feet]
required, [two feet] proposed on eight of the proposed
lots; and
WHEREAS, the Board is amenable to granting
that waiver provided [developer] agrees that the
driveways shall be located at least [ten feet] apart and
[developer] has agreed to same[.]
We agree with plaintiff that the Board failed to address how "the literal
enforcement of one or more provisions of the ordinance is impracticable or will
exact undue hardship because of peculiar conditions pertaining to the land in
question." N.J.S.A. 40:55D-51(a). Unlike its findings related to the variances,
we cannot glean the Board's reasoning from its findings. The bald conclusions
set forth in the resolution are inadequate to support the grant of the waiver.
We fully appreciate, as we recognized in Amato v. Randolph Twp.
Planning Bd., 188 N.J. Super. 439, 447 (App. Div. 1982), "if particular
A-5767-17T4
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requirements for development are imposable upon an applicant as conditions of
subdivision approval, they may only be imposed, relieved from, or varied as part
of the consideration of and action on the subdivision application." We
determined a planning board has the discretionary power under N.J.S.A.
40:55D-51(a) to grant relief from any requirement. Id. at 452.
But, here, as was the case in Amato,
no reviewing court, either this court or the Law
Division, can make a determination as to whether that
power was reasonably and sustainably exercised since
the resolution here complained of, which required strict
enforcement, is completely silent as to the
considerations set forth by N.J.S.A. 40:55D-51(a)
governing disposition of an application for relief.
There is not a single finding of fact or conclusion
respecting the reasonableness of plaintiffs' request, the
consistency thereof with the general purpose and intent
of subdivision control, the impracticability of strict
enforcement or the undue hardship resultant from strict
enforcement.
[Ibid.]
In short, the Board failed to state why the exception for the driveways should be
granted under the statutory criteria. 7 The necessity of those findings has long
been a bedrock requirement in administrative law. Id. at 453.
7
The trial court's conclusory decision on this issue, without mention of the
statutory requirements, states:
A-5767-17T4
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We are constrained to remand this case to the Board for reconsideration
and specific findings with regard only to the driveway design waiver. Ward v.
Scott, 11 N.J. 117, 129 (1952). We leave to the Board's discretion the outcome
of the exception request. Affirmed in part; remanded in part. We do not retain
jurisdiction.
The approval of the design waivers by the Board
was within the exercise of sound discretion of the
Board, and in reliance upon the expert
recommendations of its engineer. Waivers are
distinguishable from variances in that they address
issues of design standards for subdivision and site plan
approval and the Board routinely considers
modifications of these design standards.
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