Council satisfied builder handled residents' issues

MARLBORO — Members of the Township Council thanked representatives of the K. Hovnanian corporation for addressing a list of residents' concerns in regard to a development known as Saratoga Estates/Triangle Valley on Pleasant Valley Road.

K. Hovnanian was requesting a reduction of performance guarantees at the council's Dec. 18 meeting.

The matter of performance bonds concerning the development had previously been tabled after residents came forward and described issues relating to the development's completion.

Earlier in 2008, residents of Saratoga Estates addressed the council and said they had been told when purchasing their homes that sewer lines would be provided to the development. When the roads in the development were being prepared for their final paving, the residents came before the council seeking an answer on the sewer situation.

Township Engineer Ernie Peters explained at the Dec. 18 meeting that the developer had made efforts to extend sewer service to the site, but was informed by the state Department of Environmental Protection that it could not be done. Other residential complaints in regard to the development, such as curbing issues, have been addressed, Peters reported.

Attorney Scott Smith, representing K. Hovnanian, told council members that his client was diligent in addressing the complaints that had been received.

Peters confirmed Smith's evaluation and said the company worked with the township and the residents to address outstanding issues.

Saratoga Court and Yorktown Road, both part of the development, had not been repaved as of Dec. 18.

Council President Jeff Cantor asked Smith when he thought the roads would be paved.

Smith said the paving would have been able to start on Dec. 18, but said they held off for the night's meeting. The paving would commence as soon as possible to finish the development's roads, the attorney said.

Cantor expressed thanks to Smith and to the K. Hovnanian corporation for realizing there were issues at Saratoga Estates and for taking responsibility to address those problems.

The company's performance guarantee bond was originally $1,134,927 and it was reduced by $794,449 to leave a total of $340,478. A cash bond was originally $126,102 and it was reduced by $88,272 to leave a total of $37,830.

The council members voted unanimously to reduce the performance guarantees for K. Hovnanian.

— Rebecca Morton