Why is snow removal equipment stored in the clubhouse parking lot?
This content was posted in Townsq in December 2021:
As many are aware, the Master Board has granted permission for our snow plowing contractor to use a portion of the common area clubhouse parking lot for the storage of snow removal equipment this winter. The equipment will be removed in late March after the winter season concludes.
The Board has received numerous complaints from some of our neighbors who live in the direct vicinity of the parking lot and as a result, the Master Board desires to share some information with the community on how it came about this decision.
The Board understood the need for a space for salt and equipment storage over the summer as the community progressed toward completion. The equipment is needed on site to provide a quick response for ice control and for snow removal. In previous years, the equipment was in a portion of the undeveloped site and was, therefore, ’invisible’. The Board reviewed the site plan to see if there were any storage locations on site which would have a minimal impact on any of our neighbors. It quickly became clear that the site was not designed with any areas to store such equipment, nor is there any unused area which could be utilized.
There is a great deal of equipment needed to remove snow in a complex as large as ours and although some equipment will be stored onsite, most of the snow equipment will be stored in Wayne and will be trucked in prior to each storm. Is this an ideal situation, obviously not, it is costly to truck the equipment back and forth. Although some people might think it would be an expense to the contractor, that is not the way it works, we know that costs get marked up and passed through to the consumer, therefore, we are all paying the marked up additional expense.
Obviously, the Master Board was concerned about this additional cost and, over the summer months, it searched for nearby offsite locations that were suitable for the storage of the needed equipment. The Board had conversations with the Township of Cedar Grove, the County, and our neighbor Alaris. A significant amount of volunteer time was expended and ultimately the conversations and negotiations did not prove to be viable. The county answered with a flat no, not possible. The township of Cedar Grove was very accommodating offering us storage near the old firehouse but with a caveat, we would need to build a structure to keep the equipment out of view. The cost was estimated to be over $25,000 for a structure built on a property we didn’t own.
Alaris responded that they would be willing to rent us parking spaces in their unused lot for $200.00 per month on an annual lease, meaning, we would pay a year’s rent for each space needed (we only need them for 5 months). Knowing we would need 6 to 7 spaces at a minimum, the cost to our community would have been about $16,800 per year. As an unbudgeted expense, it would directly result in an increase in our monthly HOA fees to every home owner in the community.
The Board decided that neither of these options were viable and that the community would be better served by utilizing a portion of the clubhouse parking lot to store the equipment, at no financial cost to the community.
The Board has had numerous private exchanges with our neighbors who live near the community lot who are complaining about their view. We have informed them the storage is temporary, that the equipment is leaving the site in late March or early April, and that our options for an off-site storage location was not viable. We also informed them that the Board will continue to review other options.
Therefore, the volunteer Master Board requests some help in finding an affordable, local, offsite location and is asking for some volunteers to serve on a search committee. The Board knows some of our neighbors are realtors and maybe one or more of the realtors or others would be willing to volunteer some time to help find a better location for this equipment. If you are interested in helping, please contact the office at (973) 343-5843 or (desiree.moore@associa; robbin.sacharoff@associa.us).
Sincerely,
The Master Board.