It just got easier for Clinton Township Residents to install a pool!

Check out this article posted in the Hunterdon County Democrat
Tuesday March 24, 2009, 3:14 PM:

Residents of Water's Edge who want a swimming pool may soon be able to get the permits they need without first having to go the Board of Adjustment.

That's good news for Arlene Wetzel. When she applied for the zoning permit she needed before a construction permit could be granted, township construction official Michael Wright turned her down. That's because swimming pools aren't specifically permitted in the township's AH-3 zone.
Ms. Wetzel and some of her neighbors then appeared before the Board of Adjustment in January. By a narrow 4-3 vote, the board agreed with Mr. Wright that pools are not permitted in the zone.

Water's Edge is a project of about 100 homes built next to Spruce Run Reservoir on 46 acres off Route 31 at Marianne's Corner. The 2,000- to 3,000-square-foot homes are built on 10,000-square-foot lots.But after reviewing opinions from Township Engineer Cathy Marcelli and geotechnical expert Joe Fischer, Township Council voted March 11 to direct them to work with planner Michael Sullivan to draft an ordinance that would allow pools.A new ordinance may not necessarily mean everyone who wants a pool will be routinely granted a permit. That's because the ordinance will still require homeowners to comply with the township's setback requirements and township rules that limit impervious cover to 50% of a property's area.But for many residents, the new rules will make it "a permitting process. There will be a clear path through," said Mayor Kevin Cimei.The path won't be clear enough for Tom Casey. A vice president of sales for Anthony & Sylvan Pools, he objected to council's agreement with Mr. Fischer that a geotechnical engineer should approve each application. He told officials that he doesn't know of any municipality in the 18 states where he does business that require such approval.Mr. Casey said that although Mr. Cimei called the requirement "reasonable, my question is how relevant" are the rules?"We are not a manufacturer. We are a builder," Mr. Casey said. All the company's pools are steel reinforced and approved by a structural engineer, he said."The township has had sinkholes," answered Township Attorney Kristina Hadinger, often the result of underground limestone formations. Last year, a 14-foot-deep hole appeared on Belvidere Avenue and cost about $30,000 to repair."It just happened," she said, "It wasn't triggered by any apparent activity on the site." While Ms. Hadinger cautioned that she's an attorney and not an engineer, "What we learned from this experience is that these things can happen spontaneously."The draft ordinance will go to the Planning Board for review before it is considered by Township Council.

Earth Hour!

Together we can make a difference. Earth Hour 2009 at 8:30pm, Saturday, March 28, 2009 Every one at Garden Associates is participating, you should too!

This year, Earth Hour has been transformed into the world’s first global election, between Earth and global warming. For the first time in history, people of all ages, nationalities, race and background have the opportunity to use their light switch as their vote – Switching off your lights is a vote for Earth, or leaving them on is a vote for global warming. WWF are urging the world to VOTE EARTH and reach the target of 1 billion votes, which will be presented to world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009.

Earth Hour began in Sydney in 2007, when 2.2 million homes and businesses switched off their lights for one hour. In 2008 the message had grown into a global sustainability movement, with 50 million people switching off their lights. Global landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Rome’s Colosseum, the Sydney Opera House and the Coca Cola billboard in Times Square all stood in darkness.

VOTE EARTH by simply switching off your lights for one hour, join Garden Associates and the WORLD for Earth Hour.

Bella Italia! Philadelphia Flower Show Event with Garden Associates' Landscape Architects

The Enchanting gardens and culture of Italy welcomed our clients and their guests as our Landscape Architects gave exclusive tours of the Philadelphia Flower Show on March 6th, 2009.

Photos from the Philadelphia Flower Show Tour by Garden Associates' Landscape Architects: David Chewey, Michael Medea, and Dominick Stanzione

Garden Associates would like to thank our clients and their friends for joining us on our tour of Italy! We hope everyone enjoyed themselves!
Grazie!
-Garden Associates Landscape Architecture, Inc

Leave a comment and let us know what you liked best about the show!

Client Comments:

"Just wanted to thank you again for the flower show tour and dinner in Philadelphia. We looked forward to it for weeks, and we weren't disappointed. The entire experience just reinforced my feeling that i picked the right company to do business with! "

-Carol and Michael

"Dominick and I are so proud to be members of the Garden Associates family and feel a profound sense of excitement for the future!
Friday was beautifully executed and left everyone involved feeling connected and inspired. Thank you again for including me."

-Courtney

"Gene and I, along with our friends would like to thank you so much for the absolutely lovely evening at the Philadelphia Garden Show and at dinner.
The show was spectacular, and gave me some good ideas to implement this year. I am taking it slow so i see how each season reflects my final plan! Dinner was wonderful and it was delightful to get to know Garden Associates.
Thank you again, working with you and your staff has truly been a pleasure."

-Lynn and Gene

Somerville Landscape Architect Creates Charitable Gardens

FLEMINGTON — A Landscape Architect is trying to make the world more beautiful by renovating the gardens around a local landmark at no cost to the borough.

David Chewey and his team at Garden Associates Landscape Architecture of Somerville have arranged to donate the design, project management, garden materials and installation labor to bring the historic Fleming Castle back to life.

Pushing a lawn mower around Linden as a boy of 15, Chewey developed a passion for landscape architecture. He attended Cook College of Rutgers University in New Brunswick and earned his degree in landscape architecture in 1988. He started Garden Associates in 1990.

After almost 16 years of handling every step of the process, Chewey decided to focus his company on design and project management. He mentored some of his former installation employees into their own contracting companies, many of which still handle installations for Garden Associates.

In 2007, Chewey and his team started the "Garden Beautiful'' charitable arm, donating services and resources to Eagle Scout projects for the Boy Scouts of America, renovations for local parks, therapeutic gardens for schools for children with disabilities and more.

"Everybody should be exposed to landscape architecture,'' Chewey said.

Chewey's brother-in-law, Rob Ozimek, who works with the Borough of Flemington Department of Public Works, suggested Fleming Castle Museum as a project for the charitable division.
Fleming Castle was built around 1756 by the town's namesake Samuel Fleming. It may be the last surviving 18th century building in the borough, and has been a museum since 2005.
"We wanted to put the gardens back the way they were,'' Chewey said. "We'll keep the historical context and period style but, it will be used as a destination for functions and weddings with a tent or gazebo.''

Garden Beautiful already has arranged donations of materials and coordinated with Doug Miller of Miller Landscaping in Flemington and Fred Hensler of Green Piece Landscaping in the Pittstown section of Franklin Township to handle the labor. Volunteers still are need to transport the materials from the nurseries to Fleming Castle, Chewey said.

"We'll be doing the work in the spring, and in May, we'll have a big party with a ribbon cutting,'' he said.

Staff photo by Walter O'Brien
David Chewey, president of Garden Associates Landscape Architecture in Somerville, displays his company's design for an environmentally sustainable green roof. Chewey and his team will renovate the gardens around the historic Fleming Castle Museum as a charitable community project.

Walter O'Brien: 908-243-6613; wobrien@MyCentralJersey.com
MyCentralJersey.com• By WALTER O'BRIEN • Staff Writer • February 27, 2009

Full article: http://www.mycentraljersey.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/200902271648/BUSINESS/90227034


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