Transcript for Piscataway Planning meeting on May 13 2026
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May 13 2026 · Planning
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Speaker 0Yes ma'am.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Okay. The Piscataway Township Planning Board meeting will please come to order. Adequate notice of this meeting was provided in the following ways. Notice published in the Coer News notice posted on the bulletin board of the municipal building notice made available to the township clerk notice sent to the Coer News, the star letter. Ms. Buckley, would you please call the role
Speaker 0Mayor Wahler? Present there are you Ms. Corcoran? Here. Sorry. Ms. Saunders? Here. Reverend Kinneally. Courtney. We lost Reverend. All right. He's here. Mr. Atkins? Here. Mr. Ahmed? Yes. Here. Mr. Veria. We louder? I moved it over. Couldn't hear Uhrin Madam Chair
Brenda Smith (Chair)Present.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)I'm sorry. Is Mr. Shah here or not Laura? Oh,
Speaker 0There it's, I do not see him.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Okay. That's what I thought. Okay.
Speaker 0It's okay.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Okay. Mr. Barlow, would you please read the Open Public meeting Notice?
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Certainly. Madam Chair, I'd like to place on the record we're conducting this meeting through an online meeting platform keeping with the guidelines that have been disseminated by the Department of Community Affairs. The planning board has tried its best to comply with the Open Public Meeting Act and the DCA guidelines. In addition, the applicant whose matters will be heard this evening, has had the login information with the online meeting platform put forth in their notice. Members of the public who wish to be heard will be afforded an opportunity as if they were in an actual physical space, and I believe we'd complied with the guidelines in the Open Public Meetings
Brenda Smith (Chair)Act. Thank you. The flag can be seen over my right shoulder. Can we all pledge the say the pledge in unison? I pledge allegiance to the Flag flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice. Justice
Speaker 0Wall.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Can we have the swearing end of the professionals please?
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Who's here for, for CME? Yeah.
Speaker 3Here. I'm, I'm here for CE
Brenda Smith (Chair)Mr. Okay.
Speaker 0Can you please raise your right hand?
Speaker 3Yes. The, my name is Miles Elgar. I'm not exactly sure why it says it that Ron also works in our office, so I might use that same like assume, but just for the record, my name is Miles.
Speaker 0No, no one emailed me and told me that I didn't know Ron wasn't coming,
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)So I'm, I'm sorry, what's your name again?
Speaker 3It's Miles, M-Y-L-E-S. And then my last name is Elgar, E-L-G-A-R-T. And then my apologies for not notifying the township that run
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Problem. And you're a professional planner from CME? Yes. Okay. Ms. Saunders is gonna swear you in in case you have to comment during today. Okay? Perfect.
Speaker 4Can you, can you please raise your right hand? Yeah. The testimony you're about to give will the be truth and nothing but the truth.
Speaker 3Yes, I do.
Speaker 4Thank you.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Mr. Barley Ha Barlow, has there been any changes to our agenda this evening?
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Yes. Madam Chair, item number 1126 PB oh four, which is two Johnson Avenue LLC, also known as 10 Possum Town Road, appropriately noticed, but they requested an adjournment to June 10th. I believe one of their experts was unavailable, so that matter will be heard at the June 10th meeting. Anyone who's here for that matter, you're not gonna get a further notice. Just note that the matter will be on for June 10th. That is the only change to the agenda. Madam Chair,
Brenda Smith (Chair)Thank you. Can I get a motion for the, any, for the payment of any, all of all duly audited bills.
Rev. Henry Kenney (Member)Madam Chair, Reverend Kinneally, I'd make a motion that all we pay all the duly bills to be paid.
Speaker 4Carol, thank you. Second
Brenda Smith (Chair)Roll call please.
Speaker 0Mayor Wahler? Yes. Ms. Corcoran? Yes. Ms. Saunders? Yes. Reverend Kinneally? Yes. Mr. Atkins? Yes. Mr. Hammed? Yes. Bill Never came. Madam Chair?
Brenda Smith (Chair)Yes. Item number eight, adoption of resolutions of April tomorrow. Memorialize the meeting of April 8th, 2026.
Speaker 4Okay, Madam Chairman, I'd like to moralize the action of application 25 PB dash 15 slash 16 B for re har bar Lll C preliminary and final site with both variants.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Can I get a second please?
Rev. Henry Kenney (Member)Mr. Atkins? A second.
Speaker 0Goomer. Alex Mayor Wahler? Yes. Ms. Corcoran? Yes. Ms. Saunders? Yes. Reverend County? Yes. Mr. Atkins? Yes. Ms. Ah Hammed? Yes. And Madam Chair. Yes.
Brenda Smith (Chair)I'm sorry. Now this is the, this is the meeting. Okay. Item number nine, adoption of the minutes for the regular meeting of April 8th.
Speaker 4Madam Chair, Carol Saunders, I'd like to adopt the minutes from the regular meeting of April 8th, 2026.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Second
Rev. Henry Kenney (Member)Madam Chair, I'll second of Reverend Kinneally.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Thank you. Roll call please.
Speaker 0Mayor Wahler. Yes, counsel. Ms. Corcoran? Yes. Ms. Saunders? Yes. Reverend Kinneally? Yes. Mr. Atkins? Yes. Mr. Hammed? Yes. And Madam Chair? Yes.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Item number 10 26 PB zero six slash zero seven V Ms N Pharmaceuticals Incorporated for a preliminary and final site plan and bulk variance, Mr. Devin Poso appearing.
Speaker 6Good evening, Madam Chair member.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Good evening.
Speaker 6Davin Psad, licensed attorney in the state of New Jersey here tonight from Bob Smith and Associates to represent the applicant MSN Pharmaceuticals. This is an application for preliminary and final site plan with bulk variances application 26 PB oh nine 10 V. Just to reiterate very quickly, this was a zoning board application. We have made some revisions to the plans and now we are in front of the planning board. The subject property of this application is 20 Duke Road block 43 0 2 block 10.01 and it is located in the LI five zone as the subject property is an irregularly lease shaped lot consisting of approximately 674,509 square feet, which fronts on Duke Road and with 2 87 Route 2 87 to the rear, which is the south side of the property. Currently it's the property and the structure is used for pharmaceutical manufacturing and distribution. There are associated offices warehousing space for the distribution and labs for the manufacturing.
Speaker 6And the business is primarily to produce genetic generic pharmaceuticals. The property was purchased by the applicant MSN Pharmaceuticals in 2017 and MSN re received several approvals, the first being 17 PB 34, which approved its current use. Given the location of this site on 20 Duke Road, it has quick access to Route 2 87 with little to no interference with any residential neighborhoods and provides quick and easy access to interstates proposed for this application. The applicant is seeking preliminary final site plan approval for an expansion of an ex of the existing building. Primarily the applicant is seeking to construct a 4,845 square foot addition to the north side of the building, a 50,632 square foot addition to the south side of the building, which fronts on 2 87 and a second story addition. All improvements totaling approximately 110,954 square feet. A part of this application, there are a few bulk variances.
Speaker 6First is for off street parking. The based on the calculations there, 755 spaces are required and proposed is 206 parking spaces that is within eight EV credit. There is a comment which our engineer will touch upon during his testimony in contained in the AON report stating that since we are not proposing any modifications or changes to the parking lot, we are not required to provide EV parking spaces. Therefore, we are not allowed to gain credit for those EV spaces. If the board agrees with that interpretation, instead of requesting 206 parking spaces, we will be alter amending that to 198 spaces. I'll, I'll defer to the board on that determination.
Speaker 6One other variance we are seeking is a minimum number of loading births. 14 loading bursts are required for this site. Currently existing. There are four and proposed tonight we are proposing six total, so we are improving the existing variance by adding two additional bursts, minimum drive aisle width. The requirement is 25 feet for the drive aisle. Existing right now is 24 feet and we are planning to keep that the same. And also contained in the ARTON report is a minimum lot frontage where 300 feet is required. 248.47 feet is existing. This is measured along Duke Road. I will defer to the board's determination on whether that variance will be required and if so, we will request it tonight as well.
Speaker 6Tonight we have four witnesses to testify. We have the applicant, Mr. Vishnu AA from MSN Pharmaceuticals. We have our professional engineer Robert Murray from Menlo Engineering. We have our licensed architect, Stu Chita Shaw from KSD architects and we have our traffic engineer, Mr. John Ray from McDonough and Ray Associates. We also will be referring to the comments and addressing the comments in reports. We received the first report from Piscataway Township dated March 25th, 2026. The Aon report dated April 20th, 2026. The DNR engineering report dated April 6th, 2026 and the Dolan and Dean traffic report dated April 8th, 2026. If the board has no further questions of myself, I would like to have the first witness, Mr. Vishnu Apia from MSN sworn in so he can testify.
Brenda Smith (Chair)No objection. Can you please raise your No objections. Go ahead.
Speaker 4Can you please raise your right hand? Do you swear that the testimony you're about to give will be the truth and nothing but the truth?
Speaker 6I think you're muted.
Brenda Smith (Chair)You. He is muted, but I'd like for him to verbally reply.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Yeah, can he unmute himself? And
Speaker 6Vishnu, if you can unmute your microphone still shows us muted.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Can't hear you doing nothing. Can tell they're a pharmaceutical company, not a tech company.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Okay. We can hear you now, sir.
Speaker 8Sorry about that. My apologies.
Speaker 4Did, did you hear what I said?
Speaker 8Yes, I do.
Speaker 4Okay.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Could you repeat it Ms. Saunders?
Speaker 4Yes. Do you, do you swear the testimony you're about to give with the truth and nothing but the truth?
Speaker 8Yes, I do.
Speaker 4Can you please state your name for the record?
Speaker 8Ish.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Okay. Can you spell that for me please, sir?
Speaker 8Yeah. V-I-S-H-N-U-B-A-R-D-H-A-N. And the last name? A-R-R-A-P-A-P-A-I-A-H.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Did you get that, Laura? Thank you.
Speaker 8I'm sorry,
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)I, I was just, okay, I'll get this, I'll get the spelling from Laura. Okay. Your witness.
Speaker 6Thank you Mr. Barlow. Thank you. Mr. Ra Papaya, can you please explain your role with MSN Pharmaceuticals Inc. For the board?
Speaker 8Yeah. My name is Vish Papaya. I take care of engineering and projects at MSN Pharmaceuticals in corporation.
Speaker 6Okay. And how long has MSN Pharmaceuticals given located in Pisca in New Jersey?
Speaker 8Yeah. MSN purchased this property back in 2017 and in the same year we got the planning board approvals to convert the building into your pharmaceuticals and the distribution facility.
Speaker 6Okay. And why did you choose Piscataway two operate your business?
Speaker 8Of course, this is a great town to grow also, we are surrounded by the industrial usage, which has impact very limited to the residents. Also the proximity to the Route 2 87. We are right next to the 2 87, which help our business to minimize the travel time and limit the traffic in town.
Speaker 6Great. And if you can give the board the benefit, just explain the nature of the business very quickly.
Speaker 8We are actually a generic pharmaceutical manufacturing and the pack packaging operations company.
Speaker 7Okay.
Speaker 6Can you please tell the board what the hours of operation are for the existing business?
Speaker 8Yeah. We operate Monday to Friday 6:30 AM to 11:00 PM
Speaker 6And just for this application, we are not planning on changing those hours of operation?
Speaker 8No. Okay. Current plan is to operate same hours of operations.
Speaker 6Okay. How many employees does MSN currently have?
Speaker 8Currently we have one 10 employees. We work in two ships.
Speaker 6You said 110 employees in two shifts, correct?
Speaker 8Correct. 110 employees.
Speaker 6Are there any employees, any additional employees anticipated with this expansion?
Speaker 8Yeah, with this expansion, we are anticipating another 30 employees to add.
Speaker 6And those 30 employees will be split into two shifts?
Speaker 8That is correct. We that 13 by opposite, they're split into two shifts.
Speaker 6Okay. So total for the entire building in two shifts, you have 140 employees or you're anticipating a total of 140 employees, correct?
Speaker 8That is correct.
Speaker 6Can you explain to the board the reason for the proposed addition to your existing building?
Speaker 8Yeah, the proposed additional space anticipated, like we wanted to use it for the future operational and packaging loops.
Speaker 6Okay. In the existing building as it is, how many deliveries do you currently receive?
Speaker 8Currently we have twofold deliveries
Speaker 6And that's and
Speaker 8We are at Yep.
Speaker 6Sorry. And that, that's a, that's a, that's a full 18 wheeler truck that comes in for deliveries, correct?
Speaker 8That is correct. Okay.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)I'm sorry. How many deliveries a day?
Speaker 8Three to four deliveries a day.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Three to four. Okay. Thank you.
Speaker 6And we are in, we are in proposing to add two more loading bursts to the site. So how many additional deliveries can be expected from this expansion?
Speaker 8We take six expansion, we are expecting eight to 10 deliver like truck roads, which is like three to four inbound and four to six outbound.
Speaker 6So with the expansion, a total of eight to 10 trucks deliveries per day inbound, pardon?
Speaker 8Correct. Okay. That is correct.
Speaker 6One of the, one of the items that we had addressed during the zoning board meeting, and I know it wasn't a comment for this one, but just for the benefit of the board, you have employees on site until 11:00 PM and there is adequate lighting and around the facility for safety. Is that correct?
Speaker 8Yeah, we have lighting the building mountain lights as well as we have lighting poles across the parking areas and we, the light remains on throughout the night.
Speaker 6Okay. And again, a prior comment from the zoning board hearing not brought up here, but something that we would agree to anyway is that the lights will be turned off on the facility during non-working hours.
Speaker 8Yeah, we agree, agree with that. We are okay to do that.
Speaker 6I would like to address some of the reports that we have with Mr. APA because they're more operational and aimed towards the business. So Mr. Apa, Piscataway Township staff report item number two, request that all EV charging stations be operational at the time of the certificate of occupancy. Can we agree to that?
Speaker 8Yes, we do.
Speaker 6Okay. Also in the Piscataway staff report item number four, can MSN install the requested fiber optic conduits along the property? Frontage?
Speaker 8We are okay with that.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Okay.
Speaker 6And also to address one of the comments in the AON report, there are certain permits that are required for your pharmaceutical manufacturing and distribution. Are all permits registered for annually and have they been received as part as the New Jersey compliance and regulation standards?
Speaker 8Yeah, that is correct. We are, all our permits are registered annually and we are in compliance with the regulations.
Speaker 6And, and just to clarify for the record, those permits that we're speaking about are for air hazardous waste right to know and yes. The water quality and site remediation, is that correct?
Speaker 8That that is correct.
Speaker 6Okay. And without those you are not in compliance and most likely will not be able to operate, is that correct?
Speaker 8Of course. Also the wastewater and all these permits, we have to send the reports to the county month basis every month to month basis. Okay.
Speaker 6I believe that's all the questions I have for Mr Ro papaya from MSN. If the board has any questions directed to this
Brenda Smith (Chair)Witness, members of the board, do you have any questions of this witness please. Okay. Seeing no question, questions being posed to this witness, Ms. Buckley, could you, well, I'll propose this to the public. Are we recording this or can we still Oh, we can still ask to the public. Yeah, we can still put it to the public. Okay. Members of the public, you've heard the testimony of the proprietor of this business. Do you have any questions? Would you please indicate by showing a, a show of hands, Ms. Madam Chair, response closed to the public. Okay. You may call your next witness.
Speaker 6Thank you, Madam Chair. For our next witness, I have our professional engineer, Mr. Robert Murray here from M Menlo Engineering Associates. If the board can swear him in.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Thank you.
Speaker 4Mr. Murray, can you please raise your right hand? Do you swear that the testimony you're about to give will be the truth and nothing but the truth? I do. Can you please state your name for the record?
Speaker 9Robert Murray. Thank you.
Speaker 6Mr. Murray, can you please give the board the benefit of your qualifications and credentials as a professional engineer?
Speaker 9Yes. I graduated Stevens Institute of Technology in 2017 with a bachelor's in civil engineering. I've been a professional engineer for five years now five. And I provided testimony in front of numerous boards including both Piscataway boards.
Speaker 6Madam Chair, I would ask if Mr. Murray can be sworn in or accepted as a professional engineer. Yes,
Brenda Smith (Chair)He can testify as a professional engineer.
Speaker 6Thank you. Mr. Murray, if you can please give the board the description of the subject property, the existing conditions and the structure, and then the, also the IMP proposed improvements for the site.
Speaker 9Yes. Can everyone see my screen
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)To Mr. Murray if we can just mark any exhibits as a one, A two, et cetera. And if you could just identify what they are as you put them up on the screen. Okay.
Speaker 9This is our existing conditions exhibit and we can mark this as a one if the board's fine with that. And just to orientate my drawings today on both my drawings north is facing up. This is an aerial photograph of the site and the surrounding areas. The property better known as 20 Duke Road is locate is lot 10.01 a block 43 0 2 in the in Piscataway Township. The site is located south of Duke Road to the west of Freeway Drive and to the north of Route 2 87. Access is provided off both Duke Road and Freeway Drive. Overall, the property is approximately 15.48 acres and is located entirely within the LI five light industrial zone.
Speaker 9The site is surrounded by industrial uses also within the LI five zone. As the site exists today. It is currently a 236,851 square foot industrial building that is 33 and a half feet high. There is an existing accessory building through the south of the primary building, which is approximately 1,125 square feet. There is parking through the south and the west sides of the site for approximately 402 spaces, which was previously approved where 738 spaces were required. So it is existing nonconformity. There are also four existing loading spaces on the east side of the building. Now.
Speaker 9Now, if I could switch to our overall plan exhibit, and if the board doesn't mind, we'll refer to this as exhibit A two. Yeah, this is a color. Okay. This is a colorized rendering of the submitted site plan with the, with the aerial background turned on and landscape turned on as well. The applicant is proposing a 55,477 square foot addition to the building, which will be two stories for warehouse manufacturing lab uses. The roof will be extended to 50 feet at all portions of the building. In doing so, the existing accessory building will be removed as well as a portion of the parking on the south side of the building. The parking will have 198 spaces where 755 is required. Eight of these spaces are EV spaces, so that would bring our parking count to 2 0 6. However, as mentioned in the Aon letter, we cannot pay credit for EV spaces if they not, if, if they are not required. So that would bring our, if the board would not accept these credits, that would bring our, our variance back down to 198 spaces where 755 spaces are required. These spaces are nine by 18, which are compliant. Seven 80 DA spaces are provided where five is required. Site circulation includes the driveway widths of 30 feet at Duke Road and freeway drive.
Speaker 9The minimum parking aisle is 24 feet, which is an existing non-conformity. The proposed driveway aisle along the south side is approximately 30 feet. There is sidewalk crosswalk and a DA compliant ramps provided. On the south side. The minimum width is five feet. Two additional loading spaces are provided for a total of six spaces on the east side of the site. This also includes a compactor, which is proposed. The building will utilize the existing utilities. Site improvements also include lighting and landscape. The landscape plan removes 17 trees, which will require 22 replacement trees, which have been provided with 22 deciduous trees. All meeting the ordinance requirements.
Speaker 9A lighting study was provided along the limits of improvement, which was done in the same manner in our 2017 application. There are two wall-mounted LED fixtures, which are 22 feet high for a minimum of 0.5 foot candles and an average of 2.3 foot candles within the limits of the study to provide safe and adequate and compliant lighting. The site is considered a major development because it disturbs more, it disturbs more than an acre of land. There was no changes made from our store owner management report submitted during our zoning application. However, to reiterate, the site accomplishes the requirements from the N-J-D-E-P on stormwater management by maintaining the same amount of impervious surface while reducing the amount of motorized vehicle surface, which allows us to comply with the requirements on water quantity, water quality, and and groundwater recharge.
Speaker 9A field inspection was conducted by our office as mentioned in the Arton letter that they were concerned about the wetlands. We are confident that there's no conflict with the wetlands on site and that no regulated activity will, will permit, will be required to now per the existing nonconformities and variances for our site. As David mentioned, the system nonconformities include lot frontage where 248.47 feet is our frontage along Duke Grove where 300 feet is required. Six loading spaces are provided where 14 are required. The parking aisle width is 24 feet where 25 is required. And then our parking variance is 198 spaces where 755 spaces are required. I have read the board professional's letters and have no problem with addressing the comments of these letters. However, I do want to draw attention to two comments from Dolan in Dolan's letter comment six would like testimony on the operation of the truck activity. So a truck will enter the site and dock on the east side and after docking the cab will be removed from the tractor trailer and parked on site. And then COMET seven has concerns with the maneuverability as stated, these decals will be removed to allow for easier maneuverability and that includes my testimony on the proposed improvements.
Speaker 6Thank you Mr. Murray. And just, just to clarify the variance that we are requesting, we, we did request a variance where 755 spaces are required in 2 0 6 are proposed, and that's including the EV credits. However, if the board thinks that the EV credits do not apply and they agree with the AON report, then we, we will adjust that variance to 198 spaces. Is that correct?
Speaker 9Correct.
Speaker 6Okay. Which, and
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)I'm sorry, just so if you don't get the credit, there's 198 spikes spaces, eight of 'em happen to be EV spaces.
Speaker 6Correct. They'll still be EV spaces.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Okay.
Speaker 10And and just for the board, I mean, I did include the credit for the parking calculation and I know Tom and I had a discussion about this. I'm, I'm like, if you don't give people credit, why would they even bill them? But in this case you are, but I mean, I, and I respectfully just say I, I took it that it is new parking. When I looked at what was existing compared to what is being proposed, I interpreted it differently. But again, it's up to the board. I, you know,
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Yeah, I mean, I I would tend to agree with Dawn, it it is technically a new parking lot. It's a reconfigured parking lot. It may be a different size parking lot, but it seems to be, to me a new parking lot is is that how you were interpreting it, Rob?
Speaker 9I interpret. Yeah, so the, they cite the state statute and they cite that if you're not required these parking spaces because it is a reduction in parking spaces that the state does not require you to put these EV spaces in that you can't take credit for it.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Okay. I mean, we used to have one before the state stepped in. So I, I think anything we can do as a, as a community to encourage people to put in the EV stations as this applicant's agreed to, it seems, seems wise to give them the benefit. But you know, the board can decide what it wants to do. Sorry, I didn't mean to, to jump in on there, Deb.
Speaker 6No, no problem at all. I, I actually appreciate that a as I was saying, so just to clarify, the variances, we covered the EV credits, but Rob, we are proposing a total of six loading ba loading berths. Currently we have four, correct? Correct. So we are in fact minimizing the variance that we needed that was originally approved, correct? Correct. Okay. And then also we, we touched on the dry vial with 24 25 feet is required and 24 feet is existing and we are not changing that. Is that correct?
Speaker 9Correct.
Speaker 6Okay. And I would, I would like to,
Speaker 10I was just gonna say if I may, those are just waivers. You're just seeking waivers for those, those items.
Speaker 6Okay. Wanted to make sure we were covered.
Speaker 10Thank
Speaker 6You. One, one thing I did wanna touch upon was the minimum lot frontage that was contained in the arton report. The arton report says that it is measured along Duke Road where 248.47 feet is existing and 300 feet is required. We would, if, if necessary, would request a variance for the mineral lot frontage and we would defer, defer to the board on that variance as well.
Speaker 10And again, that's a preexisting condition. This is nothing new that you've created with this board application. You have been, you know, the applicant's been before the board on two separate occasions back in 2017, 2018. Clearly this existed at that time. So, you know, if the board wants to regrant that variance or address that, that's certainly fine. But it's been out there for years. This is nothing new. So,
Speaker 6And we can't really change it either.
Speaker 10We cannot change it. Correct.
Speaker 6And I believe that is all the testimony we have for Mr. Murray. If the board has any direct questions for our professional engineer,
Brenda Smith (Chair)Can you take down the, the exhibit? Okay. Thank you. Members of the board, do you have any questions of this witness of Mr. Murray? Seeing no questions. Members of the public, you've heard the testimony of Mr. Murray. Anyone wishing to ask Mr. Murray any questions? Would you let us know by a show of hands?
Speaker 0Noah, Madam Chair,
Brenda Smith (Chair)I thank you. Close to the public. Okay. You may call your next witness.
Speaker 6Thank you, Madam Chair. For our next witness, we have our licensed architect, SUTA Shaw from KSD architects. If for hearing,
Speaker 4Can you please raise your right hand? I'm over here. Do you swear that the test, excuse me.
Speaker 0No, go ahead. Sorry.
Speaker 4Do you swear that the testimony you're about to give will be the truth and nothing but the truth?
Speaker 0Yes.
Speaker 4Can you please state and spell your name for the record?
Speaker 0Sure. First name Suta, S-U-C-H-I-T-A. Last name s Shah, SHAH.
Speaker 4Thank you.
Speaker 6Sure. Ms. Shaw, if you can please give the board the benefits of your credentials and experience as a licensed architect.
Speaker 0Absolutely. So I graduated with a Bachelor of architecture from Pratt Institute School of Architecture in 2013. I went on to get my license in architecture in 2016. I am now licensed in New Jersey as well as 11 other states in the us And I have presented in front of this board as well as at least 20 to 30 others.
Speaker 6I, I would ask if the board can accept her as a licensed architect. Yes,
Brenda Smith (Chair)She, she may testify as a licensed architect.
Speaker 6Thank you Madam Chair. Ms. Shaw, I understand that you've made some plans and drawings to show the modifications to the proposed building. If you can please show the board the proposed improvements that we are doing an architectural perspective.
Speaker 0Absolutely. Let me bring up the plans.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Yeah, we're on a three.
Speaker 0Sure. So can everybody see my screen? Yes.
Speaker 6Okay. And just real quick, this, these were the plans that were submitted with our resubmission?
Speaker 0That's correct. So I don't know if you want me to still mark them or not.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)O okay, so there's been no changes colorized, anything like that?
Speaker 0No. Okay. Yeah, I can, I can point out the ones that may have been added.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Okay.
Speaker 0Thank you. Thank you. So I'll start with this drawing that's up right now. It's called SK one, dated February 15th, 2025. This hasn't changed because it's basically showing the existing plan of the building. So I'll zoom in a little bit. So you can see the one-sided hatch showing existing building from above and all of the existing roof heights. And then it goes on to kind of show the proposed additions, which Mr. Murray talked about the 50,600 square feet on the south side of the building and the 4,800 square feet on the northeast side. The plan, SK two changed slightly from our last presentation here. This basically shows what our proposal of roof, roof heights are. In the light gray, you see the existing building, but where what we are doing is extending the roof height to 50 feet there. And then we are basically matching the roof heights on the proposed additions as well. So the entire building, like Mr. Murray had, had stated in his testimony is going to be 50 feet high.
Speaker 0Moving on to the elevations of the building on SK three and four, I'll kind of concentrate on the west elevation here, which I'll point out on the plan just for a second. So you can orient yourself. This is the west elevation, this left side of the page, the west elevation. You can see in gray scale kind of where the building is, or sorry, just black and white, really where the building is now and how it looks kind of existing. What we are proposing to do is kind of augment that aesthetic when we raise the, the roof heights and expand the building. So really everything will kind of be melded together and work together as one building, as if it was supposed to be that way all along. And that is kind of continued around all four sides of the building, which are shown again on SK three and SK four better represented representative of these changes. I'm going to bring up rendering number one, which is R 1 0 1. I'm not, I'm not sure that this one was submitted, so I would assume that this would be a three. So I
Speaker 6Okay. Yeah, Mr. Brother, this would be exhibit A three.
Speaker 0Okay. Okay. So I'm just gonna go ahead and, sorry, that's gonna be really small, so let me just mark that right now. You don't have to, don't worry about it. Don't worry about it. Okay. So this is more of a reminder to me, but a three will show basically an aerial view of the proposed addition as well as the roof heights that we talked about in the elevations. You can see if I zoom in, you can see kind of where the existing building really is. And then, but the beauty of it is that you can't tell where the existing building begins and ends because we've kind of, again, tried to augment or meld together the addition with what's existing.
Speaker 0And I can show you a second view, which is called R one zero two and I'm gonna call that a four. This is a view, kind of a perspective view from the southwest side of the property, showing again, the same proposed expansions of the building, a different angle and concentrating kind of on the corner that abuts route 2 87. Again, there's a, there's that sort of gray scale. The, these are kind of all the, the, the gray scale colors that we're gonna use in insulated metal panel. Right now we're specking a Luca bond or kingspan type insulated metal panels. The color that you see blue, we've chosen blue to kind of mimic a little bit of the sky. I know it sounds a little strange, but I think the, the best way to kind of give the building a little bit of a pop without being kind of a distracting element or color would be to mimic that blue sky type of feature. And so that's why we've added that throughout the building and sort of introduced a gradient on the front so that it gradually and gently kind of introduces itself. There's also the continuation of the brick panels that are also still, they're existing today on the facade. We would just continue that around as well. And those are kind of the only exhibits I have is are there any questions so far with that?
Speaker 0I can also talk about building mounted lighting and HVAC units a little bit. So I'll bring up a three again. So of course this doesn't show the HVAC units that are there currently, but if you walk up to the building as it is now, there's basically HVAC units on the southwest of the building now that we're adding to the building. We're actually going to hide all of that within the expansion. And new units will be placed kind of so far in the center of the building that you won't be able to see them. It's also that due to the proposed operation of the building, you really have minimal units that will be required for the new use for building mounted lighting. We are proposing kind of just safety lighting above every entrance door that will be added. It's just a building code and just kind of promotes safety on the site.
Speaker 6Okay. That's it. I don't have any direct questions. And in reviewing the reports with Ms. Shaw, there are no direct architectural questions if the board has any questions for Ms. Shaw right now.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Okay, thank you Mr. Psad members of the board, do you have any questions of this witness? Do you need to see, see the, do you need to see the drawing or can we take it down now? The exhibit? I guess you can take it down now.
Speaker 0Okay.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Thank you. Members of the board, do you have any questions of this witness? Members of the public, you've heard the testimony of this witness. If you have any questions, you may do so now and indicate by waving your hand or indicating you have a question.
Speaker 0No one Madam chair.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Thank you. Close to the public and I guess you can call your final witness.
Speaker 0Thank
Speaker 6You. Thank you. Madam Chair, I'd like to call Mr. John Ray from McDonough Ray Associate. He is our TR licensed traffic engineer of the Bork and swear.
Speaker 4Mr. Ray, can you please raise your right hand? Do you swear that the testimony you're about to give will the truth and nothing but the truth? I do. Please state your name for the record.
Speaker 11John Ray. REA.
Speaker 4Thank you.
Speaker 6Mr. Ray, you are a licensed traffic engineer in the state of New Jersey. If you can please give the board the benefit of the current parking needs versus the needs that we are proposing. And then also if you can address the truck traffic and any comments in the Dolan and Dean report, which may need specific testimony. Well,
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)While I'm sure the board's gonna accept his credentials, you want to ask him real quick?
Speaker 6Yes, apologies. Yes, no
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Problem.
Speaker 6You can give the board your credentials.
Speaker 11Yeah, just to clarify there, there is no professional traffic engineering license. I am a professional engineer in my field of specialties, traffic engineering, and I've appeared before this board and many others throughout Middlesex County, Monmouth County in the past, testifying as an expert in traffic.
Brenda Smith (Chair)You may proceed.
Speaker 11Thank you. As far as our involvement in the project, we've made several visits to the site to review the existing parking demands. We've spoken to the applicant with respect to the additional activity that will take place in the expanded area of the warehouse. It will generate approximately an additional eight to 10 truck trips per day. That's less than one truck truck trip for every operating hour that the facility is open. We really kind of focused on the parking because we do need a sizable parking variance. We did count at a maximum 85 cars in the parking lot on the main day shift for the existing operation. And it is my understanding that should the expansion be approved, there will likely be a very minimal increase in employ employees at the site. Certainly no more than 30. And even at that maximum number 30 additional employees, we would need 115 parking spaces. And we have 198, not including the EV credits. I take no exception to anything that's in any of the staff or professional reports, including the Dolan and Dean report. And that's basically it.
Speaker 6And just to reiterate, Mr. Ray, there's the increase with the expansion in truck traffic, a total of eight to 10 trucks per day with three to four inbound and four to six outbound as an estimate. Is that correct?
Speaker 11Right. That's correct. So it, it's less than one trip going in and out during any hour that the facility is open during general operating hours.
Speaker 6Perfect. Thank you Mr. Ray. I have no further questions for our traffic engineer.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Just one question, Mr. Ray. So the, the traffic, I'm sorry, the parking that's proposed in your opinion is more than adequate with regards to the number of employees in the use of the site?
Speaker 11Yes, it is. Based on our parking counts and the anticipated increase in employment, we will still have a healthy surplus of parking. Yes.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Thank you
Brenda Smith (Chair)Members of the board. And are there any more, any, any questions, any additional questions for this witness? Okay, seeing no response, members of the public, you've heard the testimony of this witness. Do you have any questions of this witness or any other witnesses that you've heard so far tonight?
Speaker 12No. One Chairman.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Chairman, thank you. Close to the public,
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Madam Chair. Ms. Dolan is on the, on the call. Okay. And since the board did retain her, I don't know if she has any comments. We should probably swear in first, but then,
Brenda Smith (Chair)Okay. Ms. Ms. Saunders would just swear Ms. Dolan in, please.
Speaker 4Ms. Dolan, can you please raise your right hand?
Speaker 12I have, yes. Okay.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Yeah, she has.
Speaker 4Do you swear that the testimony you're about to give will the truth and nothing but the truth?
Speaker 12I do.
Speaker 4Thank you.
Speaker 12I would concur with Mr. Ray's testimony and all of my questions and comments in my April 8th, 2026 letter had been addressed. The ordinance requires a very hefty amount of parking that is not consistent with industry standards. And the fact that John Ray had gone out and actually inventoried the demand Pro rated it towards the additional employee load, I'm very satisfied. There's more than sufficient parking. And all of my other comments have been addressed. Thank you.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Thank you. Now that you've heard that additional commentary, is there any additional questions that you might have? Members of the public, you've heard additional commentary. Do you have any questions at this time? Indicate you can indicate those que that you have questions by raising your hand?
Speaker 12No. And Madam Chair,
Brenda Smith (Chair)Thank you. Well, do you have any closing remarks Mr. Psad?
Speaker 6Yes. Madam Chair. Just very quickly, as you've heard, the applicant has been located in Piscataway since 2017 and remains to stay in Piscataway. They love the way that the site is situated and working with this township. If not, they wouldn't come in front of the board so many times. All the proposed, all the proposed improvements that are occurring on this building are to meet their operational needs and also anticipate for any future operation. And as you've heard from all the professionals, although we are asking for a parking variance and loading birth variance, it is what we are proposing can handle the operations of the building. And also as from our architect, everything that we are proposing to add to the building will be a cohesive and appropriate addition. Materials will be there to blend in with the surroundings and not cause any visual intrusion. Also, the addition of the 50 foot height is a permitted height. So we believe that this application is very suitable for the area. And we Kinneally ask that you look favorably on our application. Thank you.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Thank you. Members of the board, you've heard this application in full and all testimony that has gone to support the application. What is your pleasure?
Rev. Henry Kenney (Member)Madam Chair? Reverend Kinneally Abbott, I would like to approve this application. The applicant is meeting all the staff reports, the Dean and Dolan and sufficient parking facility by the, by the, by the traffic report survey. And I, I feel it's an asset that the, the building is extended and meets the colors and blended in. Well, I, I, I say that we go forward and prove this applicant's wishes that they make to enhance their operation.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Reverend Kinneally, can I just ask one clarification? Yes. Is your motion to also grant them the EV credit That
Rev. Henry Kenney (Member)No, not the credits.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Not the credits
Rev. Henry Kenney (Member)Not the credit. Okay.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Okay.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Let's, do I have a second for Reverend Kenny's motion without the credit to grant this motion without the credit? I'll second. I don't have a sec. Do I have a second? I'll second.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Mr. Atkins.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Mr. Atkins, we have a second roll call please.
Speaker 0Mayor Wahler? Yes. Ms. Corcoran? Yes. Ms. Saunders? Yes. Reverend Kinneally? Yes. Mr. Atkins?
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Yes.
Speaker 0Mr. Hammed? Yes. And Madam Chair? Yes.
Brenda Smith (Chair)There you are.
Speaker 6Thank you Madam Chair, board members, board professionals. I hope you have a great night.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Thank you. You do the same. Thank
Speaker 6You.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Do I have a motion to adjourn?
Rev. Henry Kenney (Member)So move Madam Chair. Reverend Kenning.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Do I have a second? Second.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)A second.
Brenda Smith (Chair)All in favor? Aye. Aye. Aye. So it's a motion and I think it's all granted.
Speaker 0Workshop meeting is March, May 27th.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Yes, May 27th. Next meeting. Okay.
Speaker 0Aye. Thank you everyone have a good night. Good night,
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Memorial Day, everyone. Take care.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Yes. Have a great memorial day.
Rev. Henry Kenney (Member)You are. Thank
Brenda Smith (Chair)You. Safe Memorial Day. Yay.
Speaker 13Laura, can you send me that file, that zoom file tomorrow?
Speaker 0Yes. Thank you. No problem. Thanks. Good night. Good.