Transcript for Piscataway Planning meeting on July 8 2026
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Jul 8 2026 · Planning
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Brenda Smith (Chair)Hello? Tom, can you hear me?
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Hi Ken.
Brenda Smith (Chair)How are you doing?
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Good, how are you?
Brenda Smith (Chair)Oh, pretty good. Got through that heat spell. We're good. Yeah.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)You know, it's funny, we did it, but my, my ice machine stopped working on our refrigerator at home. Oh boy. So we've been having to like stop and get a bag of ice and, you know,
Brenda Smith (Chair)You know, I've been doing that for two months because they pulled it out and fixed my refrigerator for something. I forgot what it was, but when they pushed it back on in, somehow the ice maker got detached. Now I really haven't had time to get it, have call it and have it done. So I've been doing that for quite a spell now, and it's horrible.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)But the, but the good evening.
Speaker 3Evening, this is the PCTV control room. Three minutes to broadcast. Laura, I'll give you the Okay. As soon as I can. Thank
Laura Buckley (Clerk)You. Thank you.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)But, but since Sunday, I haven't been able to get ice. ShopRite doesn't have any. 7, 7 11. I think it was so hot, you
Brenda Smith (Chair)Know, it had run on ice
Laura Buckley (Clerk)Recording in progress books
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)About the ice,
Brenda Smith (Chair)And, and then some people How about the flooding people? For some reason, I mean, the people who are flooded, I mean, it's just crazy topsy-turvy.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Just weather. As long as there's no plague locust. Otherwise the Bible's coming.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Yeah. That's the only thing. Don't say anything. Jesus. Don't mention it.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)But yeah. So I have to stop on the way home tonight and see if they've replenished their ice machines.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Wawas has the best deal.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Maybe I'll stop there instead. I've been trying seven 11 and ShopRite and they've been
Brenda Smith (Chair)Out. Yeah, ShopRite is, is is a little, you know, Wawas is better. You and it's quicker. You don't have to go through all the lines at what you're called. All righty. Laura, any, anything we should know? And
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)I think we only have five members right now. Is that right? Laura?
Laura Buckley (Clerk)Two are on vacation.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)No, we have six and I wanna make
Brenda Smith (Chair)Sure, so that's a quorum, right?
Laura Buckley (Clerk)Oh, I hear you, Courtney. Okay, we're making sure everyone has audio.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Okay.
Laura Buckley (Clerk)We're good. Thank you.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Yeah, we have six.
Laura Buckley (Clerk)Yeah. Alex is away. I text Mike Foster. He's, he's in South Carolina.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Phil
Laura Buckley (Clerk)Coming
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)On now. And there's Mr. Rio. So we have seven. Yep. Okay.
Laura Buckley (Clerk)We're fine. We are golden. Here comes Phil.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Sorry I was a little late, guys.
Laura Buckley (Clerk)No, you're fine. We didn't start yet. You're on time. It's
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Two minutes early. Right in.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Slide on in.
Laura Buckley (Clerk)All right. Brenda has to do a whole spiel anyway. You got a few minutes? Yeah.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Got about 30 seconds for that.
Laura Buckley (Clerk)Yeah. I have one more minute. My computer's actually a minute behind.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)And, and Ms. Smith, just so you're aware, I told Laura before, if for some reason I go blank, it's because they decided to update my work servers on an hour's notice. I asked them to, to wait till later. I have my laptop in a hotspot as a backup, but if for some reason I drop off, just gimme a minute or two to get back on another way.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Okay.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)I, I, I'm, I'm hopeful they got our message to wait till later, but you never know. I don't know where the it people actually are that are doing it
Laura Buckley (Clerk)On vacation, Tom, even when they're here, some of them. All right. Dawn's here.
Speaker 4Three, four.
Speaker 3Okay. Laura, you can begin.
Laura Buckley (Clerk)Thank you. Go ahead Madam Chair.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Okie doke. 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 and the star ledger. Ms. Buckley, would you please call the role
Laura Buckley (Clerk)Mayor Wahler? Here. Councilwoman Cahill? Here. Ms. Cordran? Here. Ms. Saunders? Here. Reverend Kinneally? Here. Mr. Ahmed is not here. Mr. Aria here. And Madam Chair
Brenda Smith (Chair)Here. Mr. Barlow, would you please read the open public notice?
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Certainly. Madam Chair, I'd just like to place on the record we're doing this meeting through an online meeting platform, specifically Zoom in 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 Meetings Act and the DCA guidelines. In addition, any applicant as matters will be heard this evening, has had the login information for 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. I believe we believe we've done our best to comply with the DCA guidelines and the Open Public Meetings Act. Thank
Brenda Smith (Chair)You. Thank you. Our flag is displayed over my right shoulder. Can we all across our hearts and repeat the Pledge of Allegiance in unison, please? I pledge allegiance to the flag flag of the United States of America. Enter the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty, and just for all. Thank you,
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Ms. Buckley. The record should reflect Mr. Hamed is on.
Laura Buckley (Clerk)Thank you.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Okay.
Laura Buckley (Clerk)Thank you.
Brenda Smith (Chair)The professionals can be sway on in. Please,
Speaker 5Can 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. Thank you. Thank you.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Can I get a motion? Oh, are there any announcements for changes to our agenda this night? Tonight?
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Yes, Madam Chair, the only change is we're going to be going a little bit out of order. I know you're, you have a conflict with number 11, which is the consistency review with the master plan for the rezoning of the Roosevelt and Highland Avenue property. So we're just gonna move that after the Stewart Steel Protection matter. So we're gonna go 10, 12, 11 on your agenda. So everything will be heard, just not in the order, just so you can chair the entire meeting until the last matter. And then I assume Reverend Kinneally will take over for number 11.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Okay. 10 and 12 and 11. Okay. Now we are going to make, we made note of that, a change of our agenda. And we are going to add, I'm asking for a motion for any duly audited bills. Do I have a motion I make to pay those?
Rev. Henry Kenney (Member)Reverend Kinneally, I make a motion that their duty and audit bills be paid.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Do I have a second?
Speaker 5Saunders second.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Okay. Roll call
Laura Buckley (Clerk)Please. Mayor Wahler? Yes. Councilwoman Cahill? Yes. Ms. Corcoran? Yes. Ms. Saunders?
Speaker 5Yes.
Laura Buckley (Clerk)Reverend Kinneally? Yes. Mr. Ahmed? Yes. Mr. Aria? Yes. And Madam Chair?
Brenda Smith (Chair)Yes. Item number eight. That's says adoption for the resolutions to memorialize action taken on June 10th, but there is none. Correct. So we, so we can move to item number nine, adoption of the minutes from regular meeting on June 10th.
Speaker 5Okay. Madam Chair, Carol Saunders, I'd like to memorialize the main minutes from the regular meeting on June 10th, 2026.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Do I have a second?
Rev. Henry Kenney (Member)Reverend Kinneally? I'll second it.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Roll call please.
Laura Buckley (Clerk)Mayor Wahler? Yes. Councilwoman Cahill? Yes. Ms. Corcoran? Yes. Ms. Saunders?
Speaker 5Yes.
Laura Buckley (Clerk)Reverend Kinneally? Yes. Ms. Hammed? Yes. Yes. Mr. Aria? Yes. And Madam Chair?
Brenda Smith (Chair)Yes. Item number 10, discussion to authorize the foresight Planning to prepare for area in need of study for a block. 5 57 0 1 lots. 11 oh 0.01 and 12.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)It's not,
Laura Buckley (Clerk)Yeah, Dawn did and then I just text him too. Yeah, no, I got it. Thank you.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Who's gonna do the discussion?
Speaker 7Madam Chair, if I may, this is just a authorization to retain foresight planning. The area needs study was already completed. However, we have been requested to look at an additional property known as 96 Woodland Avenue to see if in fact, that should also be part of the study. What we have been, what they indicated is that they need this additional lot for stormwater management. So again, it's just a routine ForSight planning to undertake that study.
Brenda Smith (Chair)So then can we can proceed with the resolution that includes that? Or do we need to have a question set session?
Speaker 7We, I'm, I'm sorry, Ms.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Sorry. I'm sorry. Do we have any questions from the board or,
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Oh, yeah. If the board has any questions, again, it's really an amendment. They've already done the area needs study, but they need to be authorized to look into this 5,000 square foot lot and whether it should be added to it. So,
Brenda Smith (Chair)So the resolution is going to include that?
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Yep. It basically says we've already, the, the board's already adopted a resolution in the past. We're just authorizing them to see if we should add this one section to the previous area needs study. So Foresight will investigate it and issue a report and either next meeting or the meeting after that, we'll probably be back before the board w with his, with his findings.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Do we need to open it to the public?
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)You should. You're taking action.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Okay. Members of the public, you have heard the explanation for this addition to our former study of, of an area in need of that needed to be studied for need for improvement. If anybody in the public has any questions about this motion or this action, would you please indicate so by waving your hand?
Laura Buckley (Clerk)No. And Madam chair.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Alright. Close to the public. Do I have a motion from the board,
Laura Buckley (Clerk)Madam Chair,
Brenda Smith (Chair)Approving this, this addition to the area in need of development.
Speaker 7Madam Chair, Dawn Kirk. And I'll make that question.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Do I have a second?
Laura Buckley (Clerk)Second. Councilwoman Cahill.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Thank you. Roll call
Laura Buckley (Clerk)Please. Mayor Wahler? Yes. Councilwoman Cahill? Yes. Ms. Corcoran? Yes. Ms. Saunders? Yes. Reverend Kinneally? Yes. Mr. Hammed? Yes. Mr. Aria? Yes. And Madam Chair? Yes.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Madam Chair. I see we have a resolution. Yes, we have a resolution here. Ms. Saunders, thank. Would you like to move that resolution please?
Speaker 5Madam Chair, I'd like to memorialize the res resolution for foresight. Planning to amend four to 5,000 square foot. Locked.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Do I have a second
Rev. Henry Kenney (Member)Madam Chair? I'll second it. Reverend, can you?
Brenda Smith (Chair)Thank you. Roll call
Laura Buckley (Clerk)Please. Mayor Wahler? Yes. Excuse me. Councilwoman Cahill? Yes. Ms. Corcoran? Yes. Ms. Saunders?
Speaker 5Yes.
Laura Buckley (Clerk)Reverend Kinneally? Yes. Mr. Hammed? Yes. Ms. Aria? Yes. And Madam Chair? Yes.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Okay. We'll move on to item number 1226 PB zero eight slash zero nine V as in Victor Stewart Steele protection LLC. And appearing is Mr. Davin Pade.
Speaker 8Good evening Madam Chair. Members of the board, Davidon Pade from Bob Smith and Associates licensed attorney in the state of New Jersey representing the applicant Stewart Steele protection LLC Seeking preliminary and final site plan approval with bulk variances for property located at 61 Ethel Road West, designated as block 92 0 1 lot 44 in the LI one zone. Stewart Steel is seeking to utilize a portion of the existing industrial building located on the site to operate their galvanic ano assembly and distribution business. The subject property 61 Ethel Road West is approximately 185,390 square feet. It, or approximately two point or 4.26 acres with frontage on Ethel Road West and surrounded by similar or other commercial and industrial uses. As I mentioned, Stewart Steel will be moving into this building as a tenant and they will be occupying approximately 50% of the existing building. The remaining portion of the building is already occupied by a separate unrelated tenant. I believe it's called Ready Carpet. Stewart Steel's business is mainly is a small portion of manufacturing and warehousing and distribution of electrical components or anodes, which are used for steel protection.
Speaker 8Tonight we are seeking one bulk variance for our off street parking where 61 spaces are required and 59 spaces are existing. Although there is a minor variance for parking, the applicant will be able to explain why that would be sufficient for its current operations. And originally, I'd like to say for the record that we did not request his variance, but after discussions with the applicant, there is, there is a small manufacturing component, which is about 800 square feet, which upped the parking count by two, which triggered a of a little variance for professional testimony. Tonight we have a representative from Stewart Steel, Mr. Justin Fairchild, who is present here. And we have our professional engineer, Mr. Greg Oman from Menlo Engineering Associates for staff reports. We do have the Piscataway Township staff report dated June 4th, 2026. We have the Aon planning report dated July 2nd, 2026. And we have the Fire Prevention Bureau approval letter dated March 25th, 2026. And if the board has no further questions of me, I can introduce our first witness, Mr. Justin Fairchild from Stewart Steele. I
Speaker 5Can, I can. Okay.
Brenda Smith (Chair)I have no further questions. You can call your witness, I believe.
Speaker 8Thank you, Madam Chair. If the, if I can call Mr. Justin Fairchild and have the board,
Speaker 5Mr. Fairchild, can you please raise your right hand? I don't see him. I'm not sure if I'm, I'm not seeing him. He's kind of, he is. Oh, okay. Okay. I see you now. Okay. There. He's, do you swear that the testimony you're about to give will be the truth and nothing but the truth?
Speaker 9Yes.
Speaker 5Please state and spell your name for the record.
Speaker 9I'm sorry, what was that?
Speaker 5Can you please state and spell your last name for the record?
Speaker 9Yeah. Justin Fairchild. F-A-I-R-C-H-I-L-D.
Speaker 5Thank you.
Speaker 8Okay, Mr. Fairchild, as we discussed, there's some few questions that we will ask you and if you can give the board the honest answers to these questions so they can understand your business operations and what you intend to do on the site. So first question is, what is your role at Steward Steel Protection?
Speaker 9Yeah, I'm the director of corporate services. I generally oversee matters related to human resources, also play a role in certain special projects. I've been assisting with the relocation of our operating facility from Somerset next door there to Piscataway and also coordinating with yourself and, and Mr. Oman through the, the application process.
Speaker 8Great. And why did you choose Piscataway Township for your new, for relocating
Speaker 9Your business? It's just, it, it, it's a, a great location for us. You know, the warehouse itself is ideal. The, the location allows for quick, easy access to interstates, highways, helps avoid, you know, excess travel time and interference with residential areas. We've been operating next door there in Somerset since 1987. That property somewhat recently was sold. The new owner decided not to renew our lease. So, so here we are in, in Piscataway. You know, the more importantly our entire New Jersey workforce resides in and around the Somerset Piscataway townships. You know, obviously retention is, is of the utmost importance for not only the, the health of our organization, but the wellbeing of our employees.
Speaker 8Great. And can you ex describe for the board what Steward Steel Protection
Speaker 9Does? Yes. Yeah. We manufacture and package sacrificial galvanic anodes. It's, it's a simple assembly consists of, of five components assemblies conducted with basic hand tools, pliers, wire ties, box cutters. Our operations are limited to assembly preparation packaging. There's, you know, there's no retail sales, there's no, no chemical manufacturing. There's no emissions that, that might be inconsistent with, you know, other light industrial uses. But the process involves material batching, cutting and coiling electrical wire assembly of our components, encapsulation ceiling and final packaging and shipping, including warehouse storage.
Speaker 8Okay, great. And just for the board's knowledge and because I had no idea what a sacrificial anode was until I started representing you, so if you can please explain to the board sure. What
Speaker 9That is. Yeah, so I mean, they're, they're widely utilized to, to mitigate corrosion of, of buried steel infrastructure. So it's critical, very important for the protection of, of natural gas pipelines, you know, throughout the northeast and, and the us This location really puts us in a prime spot to be able to, to service the entire northeast. You know, we also have operating facilities in outside of Atlanta in Colorado that help us service other parts of the us but essentially they're a, a federal safety compliance requirement for, for pipeline operators.
Speaker 8Got it. And as I mentioned before, and if you can confirm that that's correct, that you will be using approximately 50% of the building as it
Speaker 9Existed? Yes, that's correct.
Speaker 8And can you tell the board what your proposed hours of operation are? Yes,
Speaker 98:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Speaker 8Okay. And how many employees do you anticipate to be on site during normal business hours?
Speaker 9We currently have eight employees on site that, that we could add a couple more employees over the course of maybe the next year or two. But yeah, currently we have eight employees.
Speaker 8Okay. And you do, you do receive shipments via third party carriers, correct? Yeah. And how many shipments do you, do you approximately receive per week or send
Speaker 9Out per week? Yeah, combined we on average approximately 15 minutes per week.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)I'm sorry, that cut out. Was it 50 or 15?
Speaker 915.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)15, thank you.
Speaker 10Okay.
Speaker 8And can you tell the board what the largest vehicle that you anticipate entering the site will be?
Speaker 9Yeah, 53 foot trailers.
Speaker 8Okay. And that's similar to other warehousing distribution businesses,
Speaker 9Correct? As I understand it, yes.
Speaker 8Okay. The products that the, the endnotes that you ship outta your facility, can you just give the board a, a general size of what that, what that looks like or the size measurement was?
Speaker 9Yeah, the vast majority, probably 80 to 85% is about 27 inches in length. And about, it's about 40 pounds when, when fully packaged, we do have, we do sell some smaller, some bigger, but that's, that's more rare. It's a rarity. Okay.
Speaker 8I don't have any other questions, however, we, I do want to address the push Piscataway staff memorandum dated June 4th, 2026. We did mention this at the workshop meeting with the township professionals. We can comply with items 1, 2, 3, and four, is that correct?
Speaker 9That's correct.
Speaker 8And we've also, you've also taken in the initiative and removed the containers that were on the property, is that correct?
Speaker 9Correct.
Speaker 8Okay. We did mention that we had a, an issue with comment number five, which states to mill and repave the surface course of the parking area. We did have some conversations with the township professional staff and I believe that we've come to an agreement. Is it correct that we are willing to comply with the township engineer's recommendation of patching certain areas of the asphalt and repairing curbs that are in disrepair, in, in accordance with the recommendations by the municipal engineer? Is that correct?
Speaker 9That's correct.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Mr. Prasad, if I can just note for the board members, my understanding is your client spoke to Mr. Herrera, the township engineer, and Mr. Clark and the assistant township attorney. And you will, your client will mill and repave and replace the curbing as indicated by the engineering department. And my understanding is if the application is ruled on favorably, you know, you'll meet with Mr. Herrera or his, his folks out at the site to identify those locations that they believe need to be repaired and your client will abide by those recommendations, correct?
Speaker 8That is
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Correct. Thank you.
Speaker 8Thank you. Mr. Barlow, I have no further direct questions for Mr. Fairchild. If the board has any direct questions,
Brenda Smith (Chair)Members of the board, do you have any questions of Mr. Of this witness?
Speaker 11Okay. Madam, Madam Chair, I'm so, so sorry. No problem. Just quickly, I I I apologize. I'm not sure if I heard the hours of operations.
Speaker 9Yeah, it's eight 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Speaker 11Okay. Is that like Monday through Friday some weekends?
Speaker 9Yes, correct. Monday through Friday, occasionally a Saturday. We have might have like two employees on an, an occasional Saturday that would come in.
Speaker 11Would deliveries only be through Monday through Friday?
Speaker 9That's correct, yes.
Speaker 11Thank you Madam Chair. That was my only question.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)I had one question. Mr. Prasad or Mr. Fairchild, I assume that you're 59 parking spaces you're proposing and you only have eight employees on site, that you usually have more than an adequate parking on site for everyone?
Speaker 8That's correct.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Okay.
Brenda Smith (Chair)I'd like to open it up to the public now. Members of the public, you've heard testimony of this witness. If anyone has any questions, would you please indicate by waving your hand or letting us know that you have a question?
Speaker 11No. And Madam Chair,
Brenda Smith (Chair)Thank you. Close to the public. You may call your next witness.
Speaker 8Thank you Madam Chair. Our next witness is our professional engineer, Mr. Greg Oman from Menlo Engineering Associates. If the board can swear him in.
Speaker 5Mr. Oman, can you please raise your right hand? Yeah. 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 and spell your last name for the record? Sure. Gregory Oman. OMAN. Thank you.
Speaker 8Thank you. Ms. Saunders. Mr. Oman, if you can please give the board the benefits of your credentials and qualifications as a professional engineer.
Speaker 12Certainly. I'm currently the president and owner of Menlo Engineering Associates. I've been so for I guess almost 10 years now, been employed by Menlo Engineering for over 28 years. A licensed professional engineer in the state of New Jersey now for 24 years, also licensed in Pennsylvania. All my licenses are in good standing.
Speaker 8Thank you. If the board can accept Mr. Oman as a professional,
Speaker 12I have testified in front of this board several times. It's been a little while, but I have been
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Okay. You're acceptable.
Speaker 12Thank you.
Speaker 8Thank you Madam Chair. Mr. Oman, if you can please give the board a breakdown of the existing conditions, the proposed improvements, and then the other site improvements that we are proposing and the intended use for the building.
Speaker 12Certainly. I'm gonna share my screen. I only have one exhibit and it's just a revised minor site plan that we made some changes. So I'm just gonna share that.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)We'll mark that as a one. Mr. Prasad and Mr. Oland,
Speaker 12Can everyone see the plan?
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)It's a little small, but yes. Okay,
Speaker 12Perfect. So this, this plan is entitled minor site Plan, last revised July 2nd, 2026. So this particular application is for 4.26 acre parcel identified on the township's tax map as block 92 0 1 lot 44. It falls within the I one zone or the light industrial zone. And it is a permitted use for what we are proposing tonight. The site is surrounded by typical light industrial type uses with the exception to the south. There is a multifamily residential development, which is part of the Rivendale meadows just off to the south of this property. The site is fully developed, HA contains a two story masonry building on site, has a total square footage of 36,877 square feet. Now the reason this plan was revised was a little bit different than what was originally submitted. During our prep calls, we determined two separate items. Number one, there was a mezzanine that was actually located in the building that we were not aware of.
Speaker 12The mezzanine is a total of 6,848 square feet and it's strictly utilized for warehouse storage area. The second area, which I will talk about when I get into the proposed was about the manufacturing, the small manufacturing area that's utilized on site. The footprint of the building is 30,029 square feet. We have two full movement driveways off of Ethel Road West, which allow full circulation around all four sides of the building. We have loading docks located in the rear along with the dumpster areas that were located at some point just outside of the loading area. Right now, if you go to the site, the dumpsters are kind of haphazardly thrown in some of the parking stalls in some of the loading docks on the sides. We are going to clean that up and create some official dumpster areas and enclosures with fence and gates around it along the south lease side.
Speaker 12The site currently today has 60 parking stalls. Parking stalls are nine feet in width by 18 feet in depth. Two of those being a DA compliant, the striping if you've been out to the site, is extremely faded. There are several trailers and containers that were located over many of the parking stalls. I've been told that they have been removed. If they haven't been fully, we will make sure they are removed. What we are proposing is very minimal proposed changes for the improvement wise. All exterior, as I mentioned, containers are gonna be removed. We are proposing a small air handler down at the southeast corner of the building. The air handler is four and a half feet wide by 12 feet long by approximately 52 inches high. It's set off the side property line by 81 feet and off the rear property line by just over 300 feet.
Speaker 12It will comply with all state noise standards and requirements. We are going to retrip the parking lot and the one item that we did notice is that it does have two a DA parking stalls today, based on the number of parking stalls on site today, it needs three. So we are going to retrip the front parking stalls to provide that additional a DA parking stall that brings the 60 existing parking stalls that exist today down to 59. The small manufacturing area on in the building that is being proposed is just under 800 square feet. So when we utilize the township's parking ratio of one per 300 for manufacturing the one per 2000 for warehouse space and the one per 200 for office space, we show a total parking requirement of 61 parking stalls. 60 exist today, but we're losing the one for the a DA compliance.
Speaker 12So we're down to 59 parking stalls. That's a variance request of two parking stalls as indicated, there's only gonna be eight employees, maybe 10 at some point. So based on that and bringing the site into a DA compliance, it's my professional opinion that we will have ample parking on site for the board to grant this variance. We will submit for a site plan waiver for Middlesex County Planning Board. I don't think they're gonna have any comments on these minor improvements that we're doing onto the site. And then lastly, in terms of the reports, I believe you already went through the staff report from the division of engineering. The only other memorandum was from Arton dated June 23rd, 26. And we can comply with everything noted under the comments and recommendations except for items two and five.
Speaker 13That's not the la that's not the latest. What we sent went out July 2nd and that was acknowledged earlier.
Speaker 12I'm, I apologize, I did not receive the July 2nd.
Speaker 13So sorry to jump in, but the July 2nd one softened up the language to basically give the board discretion whether or not to provide the information on, was it items three and five, Greg
Speaker 12Two and five? Yes.
Speaker 13Two and five. Yeah. If, if, if counsel can, you know, possibly share that with you very briefly, but basically I, I just basically said if the board's fine with it, I I had no issues either way with it.
Speaker 12Oh, thank you. Apologies.
Speaker 8Greg, I thought I had sent this to you, but it looks like I have a draft that was supposed to be going to you.
Speaker 12That's okay.
Speaker 13I rushed in to get that out. I, before the, the weekend started. So, but thank you, thank you very much for these revised plans. Thank you.
Speaker 12And then the only other comment I had was on item six was regarding the N-J-E-M-S site id. The tenant reached out to the property owner and the only knowledge he had was that the previous owner had a tenant that had a research and education tenant on site. So that could possibly be why that was pinging on, on, on the site id. But in terms of anything that we can find now, there's nothing, these improvements are not gonna impact anything that, that, that might've, you know, had to deal with.
Speaker 13And that, and that's fine. I, I, I put that for informational purposes only. Most of the time it's right to know stuff. And so thank you Greg.
Speaker 12Thank you Ron. And that concludes my testimony.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Okay. Could you take your thank you members of the board. You have any questions of this witness other than those that have been posed so
Speaker 13Far? Actually, I have more of a statement. I don't think they need a variance. And I sent it to Ms. Corcoran earlier. The way they are calculating their, their parking, they are, they have line items right? For each in those four different line items and they keep rounding up. Basically methodology that I've always used is you take all of the, all of the requirements that you need and then you round up, which is the Piscataway town I come up with, they need 59. And again, I'm, that's my opinion if, if, if, if, if Dawn disagrees with it. But it fooled me from the first, from the, from the first application. And when he sent, when Greg, your revised plans hit me on a desk on July 2nd, I re-looked at it and says, oh wait a second. I don't think they need a variance at all. Because what you're doing is you have two, two lines for manufacturing, I think it is. And then you round up for each of 'em, basically, I always, you know, take the, the fractional add 'em up and then round it, then it's 58 point something and it comes up to 59 spaces. I don't think they need a variance, but that's my opinion. Yeah,
Speaker 12We, we I I I appreciate that. We, we always play it safe.
Speaker 13Oh, and that's, that's the way to go
Speaker 12To go if it's required 2.1, we make it three
Speaker 7Uhrin sign of caution. I hear you. Yes.
Speaker 13Yeah. But, but in the end of the day, when, when I always do parking calculations, I take the fractions, add everything up cumulatively, and then when you come up that result, then you round up cumulatively you almost, I know erring in a side of caution in this one, but in this case, you are almost cheating yourself because you know, the, all the uses add up to 58 point something and round up to 59. That's what you mean.
Speaker 12Okay. Thank you. I appreciate that.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Mr. Psad, are you, is this your last witness?
Speaker 8Yes, this is my last witness. And, and in regards to the parking calculation in the variance, I do defer to the board's determination and Ms. Ms Corcoran's determination on the parking count, but I have no further questions for Mr. Oman.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Okay. Members of the board, do you have any other questions that, of this witness? Okay. Members of the public, you've heard testimony from this witness. Does anybody in the public have any questions that they want to pose to him? If so, indicate you could raise by waving your hand.
Laura Buckley (Clerk)Yep. And you could raise your hand. And if you're on the phone, it's star six. Okay. That one. Madam Chair,
Brenda Smith (Chair)Thank you. Close to the public members of the board. What is your pleasure as to this motion as to this application, I should say
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Madam Chair, just before you do that, can I just ask Ms. Corcoran one question? I, I mean, it's a matter of math and I think the proofs warrant the granting of a variance if it's required. I, I don't think there's any harm in it, but I just, again, I don't know what the zoning department's feeling is. No,
Speaker 7I, I, listen, everybody's gonna take a different look at it. I calculated exactly the same way that Greg did. We had a conversation about it. Okay. Clearly there's not a need for that amount of parking, so I don't see any harm in if this board show should choose favorably, there's no harm in Brandon.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Okay. So I, I think then Madam Chair, just to make sure everyone's on the same page, that if someone's gonna make a motion to approve the application that it include, if, if that member is so inclined, the variance for parking, just to avoid for the applicant any issues in the future, if someone disagrees with the math, that potentially 61 was required and the, and a variance for 59, please, is to be granted. If that's the board's pleasure,
Speaker 11Matt? Thank you, Madam Chair. It's Councilman Cahill. I just wanted to, Mr. Barlow, just clarify though, I know Mr. Fairchild had said they were in their previous location for many years, and really their hand was sort of forced to move locations. But what would happen if this tenant leaves and someone comes in with that grant variance, but they may have more employees coming in. I mean, would they, would a new tenant still also need to be granted the same variance that this tenant is granted? The, the
Speaker 7Targeting ca I'm sorry, I was jumping in Tom.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)No, no, I, I I, go ahead. I was gonna, I was gonna say something and then say, what does Ms. Corcoran think? But essentially, unless, sorry, unless I apologize, you know that unless the, I'm
Speaker 7Not Tom Barlow,
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)If the new tenant came in and had this same exact breakdown of uses that and only needed 61, then the variance 59 would go. But the change in use would trigger the township to look into it. And if it was all manufacturing, there'd be a different calculation. Or if it was all warehouse, there'd be a different calculation. So absent somebody coming in with 800 feet, you know, 800 square feet of manufacturing and everything else being exactly the same, they would put on the proofs just as this client did. Ms. Corco, what do you think?
Speaker 7Could have said it better?
Speaker 11Thank you. Thank you.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Good answer. Good answer. Brilliant.
Speaker 13Dawn's the boss.
Speaker 7No, no, not at all.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)When it comes to variances in the township of Piscataway, I will defer you make
Speaker 13The determination. I just have an opinion.
Speaker 11Well then, Madam Chair, I'll make the recommendation that we approve app, this application 26 PBO eight slash oh nine V, with the granting of this variance from 61 needed spots to an approval for the 59, understanding that the 60th spot was made to be a DA compliant.
Brenda Smith (Chair)And what about the patching of the, and repairing
Speaker 11Of the Oh, and of course, also that the applicant does complete all of the items that the professionals on the professionals report that they have agreed to, you know, and yeah. Only approvals with their agreement and follow through of those items that they agreed to do.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Do I have a second
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Village of Barry? I'll second it.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Roll call please.
Laura Buckley (Clerk)Mayor Wahler?
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Yes.
Laura Buckley (Clerk)Councilwoman Cahill?
Speaker 11Yes.
Laura Buckley (Clerk)Ms. Corcoran? Yes. Ms. Saunders?
Speaker 11Yes.
Laura Buckley (Clerk)Reverend Kinneally? Yes. Mr. Ahmed? Yes. Area? Yes. And Madam Chair?
Brenda Smith (Chair)Yes. And with that, I turn the meeting over to Reverend Kinneally.
Speaker 13Can I,
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Your name Madam Chair?
Speaker 5Mr. Barlow? I think I
Speaker 13Can tonight too, correct? No, I mean,
Speaker 5Carol,
Speaker 13You wanna keep me here? I don't care.
Laura Buckley (Clerk)Tom. I believe Brenda could stay on. Carol has to write. Oh, I'm sorry. You're thinking school stuff. No, you're thinking school.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)I got, I got mixed up. I apologize. I I didn't mean to I didn't mean to reduce No worries. The chairwoman unnecessarily.
Laura Buckley (Clerk)I understand.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Oh, okay. I'm staying then
Speaker 5And I have to come back for adjourning. Correct.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)What?
Brenda Smith (Chair)Excuse me.
Speaker 5Do I have to come back for adjournment? No, this is the last item. This
Brenda Smith (Chair)Doesn't, this doesn't affect our, the number of people we have for No,
Laura Buckley (Clerk)We have a Madam Chair. We have
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)A and Ms. Saunders, frankly, I don't, I don't think you need to come back to move to adjourned. I'm, I'm sure the other members can, can handle that.
Speaker 5Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Carol. All
Speaker 13Right. I'm gonna wish, because consistency is not for me. Everyone have a great night. Be safe out there and go Nexts Nixon. Five.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Okay.
Laura Buckley (Clerk)Alright
Brenda Smith (Chair)Then we are going, we're gonna return to item number 11, the discussion consistency review for rezoning of black of block ten one oh five one four lots, 15 0 1, 15 point 10, 15 point 11, 15 point 12, and 15 point 13 on the Piscataway Township text map, page 1 0 5, also known as Roosevelt and Highland Avenue.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Madam Chair, just briefly, you know, just to remind the board, if there's any members of the public that happen to be on for this, the planning board's task under the municipal land use law in Title 40 A to review municipal action as it involves the change to the zoning ordinance. And I'm sorry that it sounds like a plane is landing behind me. I don't know what's going on. Because it involves a change to the zoning ordinance. The planning board is not asked to agree or disagree, just is it consistent with the master plan. Since the master plan addresses the need of the township to address the state mandated affordable housing requirements, and this ordinance does that, it appears that it would be consistent with the master plan. The, the planning board's not asked to question the action of the governing body. And as an aside, it's my understanding that failure on behalf of the council, the township, to not adopt this zoning change would open the township up to costly litigation since this is all part of the state mandated affordable housing.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)With, with that being said, again, this is to rezone a cer the lots and blocks as outlined in order to allow the development of affordable housing. There. We don't have any plans yet. To my knowledge. Those will ultimately, if the ordinance is changed, that would come back before the board to review and, you know, as we would normally do with site plan and parking and traffic circulation and everything else. So again, the council has adopted this on first reading, it's been sent to us. We have to indicate if it's consistent with the master plan and so advise the governing body who then has to connect on second reading. Dawn, I don't know if you have anything you want to add.
Speaker 7No, I agree with that, Tom. I mean, we were, the town was, specific dates were set in which these ordinances had to be adopted. In this case, we were granted a very small extension. And again, if we don't adopt, put this pla zoning in place, as you just stated, we are open to, you know, a builder's remedy litigation, so forth. So I think it is important to point out that the board will have every opportunity as well, the public to comment on the site plan applications when in fact they do come before us.
Speaker 11Madam Chair, if I could, Dawn, could you just explain for the public what a builder's remedy would mean?
Speaker 7So basically if, if we didn't have the zoning in place, and if the, you know, first of all, the courts would, if if they came in, all the zoning could, it basically, it, it eliminates the zoning so they can come in and build on any parcel, at any density. You know, we have this single family homes could become affordable. So you, you have to, you have to pick sites that are realistic. We have this perspective need of 539 units that we have to provide for. We've identified 14 sites in this municipality in which we feel affordable units could be built there realistically, one of which is this. So,
Speaker 11And just to be clear again, so that if the town fails to adopt our affordable housing plan as mandated by the state of New Jersey, the builder's remedy then could just go right into effect. And, and any developer who's like, for instance, I wanna say, although the governor gave a pass there was that we, we originally supposed to have that 55 and older over at Ling's Farms many years ago. And when the 55 and older market softened, governor Christie lightened that. But what happened with that site was the lots were still kept as small. The builder was given like basically carte blanche to build the same amount of homes that would've been 55 and older. Obviously, you know, no children's or no stress to the school system. But that didn't happen. But they, but they didn't increase the lot size, which would've been normal. Is that or
Brenda Smith (Chair)Any other, is that an example of builder's remedy
Speaker 7That was not builder's remedy? The Piscataway hasn't been, we've always been in compliance with our obligations through all of the other rounds. One, two, and three. We've always been in compliance. Therefore we've never been faced with the builder's remedying.
Brian Wahler (Mayor)Right. I think, I think what Councilwoman Cahill was trying to lose, that's what potentially could happen.
Speaker 11Could happen.
Speaker 7Exactly.
Speaker 11Yeah.
Speaker 7Right. Exactly. That was a converged
Brian Wahler (Mayor)Value. You gave an example of what
Brenda Smith (Chair)Exactly could happen. That wasn't a builder's room remedy. No. But that, that could happen again as it happened in Deerland gearing farm.
Brian Wahler (Mayor)Exactly.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Sure. But worse
Speaker 7Or much worse. Worse.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Yeah, that was pretty bad.
Speaker 11And then Dawn, just to, to be clear, when a builder's remedy takes effect, that means that essential, essentially what we do here on planning board, like in other words, when builders usually come in and I get to have sort of my say on aesthetics and things of that nature, that's out the door. And is that what that means? Or is there still something in place?
Speaker 7Well, even like the density, I mean that, that's always the big, the big thing that we talk about. Right? So they can come in and they can pretty much build anything that, you know, you don't have a lot of say. Okay, gotcha. Who is that control? So
Speaker 11Our standard zoning is out the door. Yes.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Yes. If they came in and said they had a five, a five acre lot that normally might only accommodate I'm just 20 units, they can go to the court and say, Piscataway is a hundred short judge, we can build a nine story building and put a 25 units per acre and wipe out, make it all affordable. And we fix Piscataway problem for Piscataway. And, and Piscataway would have very little say in anything. And that's what you wanna avoid.
Speaker 7And it's a very real thing. We've seen it happen in Jason municipalities. It has happened throughout the state. People don't think it happens, but it truly does happen.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)You can either have some control or lose all control. And and that's the,
Brenda Smith (Chair)So what does this resolution do?
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)This resolution is go, is the council is attempting to move to change the zoning for this particular property to allow development that will partially meet the affordable housing obligation. What, how it's gonna look, what it's gonna look like and all that. We don't have any plans. It allows a builder though, with, to comply with the ordinance, which will also meet the statement we dawn, how many units are allotted for this site? Potentially
Speaker 7What I've heard is 50 right now. Okay. It can, originally it was up to 83, however, I am told that they're looking at 50.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Yeah.
Speaker 7Because we were able to get additional units elsewhere on those other sites. And I also wanna, you know, just to point out to the board, we did this a couple months ago, I believe it was back in April when we established the a h four, a H five and ah H six. So we had to do the same thing with three other sites in town.
Brenda Smith (Chair)That's because we hadn't received, hadn't achieved our full required caution of 500 and some
Speaker 7539. But those sites, we were able to get those, that zoning in place. So that's, that's zoning's been adopted by council. It's fixed.
Brenda Smith (Chair)So that's, this is the balance.
Speaker 7This is, this is, yes.
Brenda Smith (Chair)This is the balance of our, of our allotment that we are supposed to have.
Speaker 7We will meet with the 14 sites that we have included in our fourth round plan. We will meet our obligation
Brenda Smith (Chair)Okay.
Speaker 7With bonus credits and so forth.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Okay.
Rev. Henry Kenney (Member)Madam chair, one, one question. This would have to, this will be be in our master plan too, is that correct?
Speaker 7It's part of our fourth round housing.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Right, right. Okay. I'm Kinneally That's a great question. 'cause that's where the, the only question the board's being asked is, is this consistent with the master plan? Right. And as you pointed out, it's in the master plan. So it'd be hard for it to be inconsistent. Right. You know. Okay. You're not being asked to say it's a good idea. You're just being asked to say, right. Our master, you are the experts in the master plan and that this complies with the master plan. Right. That's all the resolution says is it's consistent with the master plan.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Consistent with, okay,
Brian Wahler (Mayor)Madam, Madam Chair, I'm gonna say what I said the last time about this, this stinks. The whole process stinks. I blame the governor, I blame the legislature, I blame the courts. Yep. What they're doing to Miss Polley around the state with this, in this short timeframe is terrible. You have two or three judges in the entire state handling almost 400 towns. And, and the fact that they're scrambling, they're acting more like COA judges instead of arbitrators. And, and I, and I'm gonna take a shot at the planner for the judge. She's terrible. Her conduct at these meetings was absolutely terrible. I don't know how, how she got a license in the state of New Jersey. And I blame also Mr. Morriss from Ericsson Property who filed suit against us. And I blame the high density housing advocates that live in our town because you know what, at the end of the day is when all these sites get built, not just this one, there's gonna be a lot of residents complaining about this, the traffic.
Brian Wahler (Mayor)'cause they're not taking a look into the amount of services that are gonna be required by the municipality and things like that. So you'll, you'll be hearing more from me about this. This whole process just was really terrible. They got us over a barrel, so to speak. But you know what, we want affordability in this town like any other official does. But the way this process was laid out to not only Piscataway Township, but a lot of other towns in the state was terrible. And the fact that you had at least four other towns in this, in this county that didn't have to bill one unit, which means that the remaining towns in this county had to pick up the slack, which is terrible that, that's my 2 cents.
Speaker 11No, and I'll agree with the Mayor Madam Chair on that. He's absolutely right. The town is never missed. As, as Ms. Corcoran mentioned, we, we've never, ever missed our obligation and we, we plan not to again. And, and especially given the fact that without adopting and accepting it and in, and the reason why I wanted Ms. Corcoran to really talk about what builder's remedy is, is because, you know, we, it's not uncommon for residents to say, why are you mean, you know, when they maybe ask the mayor, why are you building this, this, and that? Well, we don't build and some areas are zoned for a building and, and things of that nature. But without even allowing us to have certain controls, we don't have ultimate controls over certain properties. Right. If it's zoned for something, they're eligible. But you know what we do on this board, you know, where we all come from with trying to make this town to, I don't know, still have its heart and soul remain what it is.
Speaker 11While our population is ever growing and people want to live in this area, I would just say that we have to abide by the law. But I know the mayor, our attorney, our township attorneys, while, although we weren't given a lot of time, as Ms. Corkin said, like very little time. And we know that our formula, not only is it that we picked up the towns, like the mayor said, picked up some of the slack there, but also that they had included properties that you can't build on. Right. So part of township properties, part of, as the mayor mentioned, some, some wetlands, but that didn't matter to, I guess it's the planner, Mr. Wahler, Mr. Mayor that you're talking about. But they didn't take that into consideration. So we're gonna meet this obligation, but I know that the mayor with our township attorneys and maybe hopefully mayor, the, the, the Con US Conference of Mayors might also help support finding some solutions in this area. That would be super helpful. Well,
Brian Wahler (Mayor)Just so the board knows, we do have an appeal to all this in the appellate division. So there's an ongoing appeal by the town. So
Speaker 11Thank you Mr. May. You said that a lot more efficiently than I did.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Okay. So we'll see what happens. What do we do next? Well you need to open it to the public and then Okay. Oh, that's right. I didn't, that hasn't been before the, okay. You've heard the discussion that we've had on this issue. Members of the public who wish to make a comment indicate by waiving or dialing, what was that number? Ms. Ms Buckley star
Laura Buckley (Clerk)Six from the phone.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Star six if you wanna call by phone,
Laura Buckley (Clerk)The first one is Saeed Ahmed.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Mr. Ahmed, step forward. Alright. I'm gonna give us your name and address please. Would you give us your name and address please? And then make your comment
Speaker 15Before I do that, I'm just trying to make sure that, can you guys hear me?
Brenda Smith (Chair)I can hear, we can hear you fine.
Speaker 15Okay. Thank you very much. Hi, my name is Ed. I live on 3 9 9 Highland Avenue. I just wanna, first of all, thank Mr. Mayor and Raj, the township attorney, Mike and, and Don who, who met with us regarding this matter. I understand it's, it's a state mandate, 5 39 unit this round. And we have dispersed it all around the town to the best of our ability. But what we are letting the board know that just, just drive by over here on a Sunday and you'll understand what we are trying to say over here. There's parked cars on both sides of the street as it is right now, every Sunday. Okay? There is not only one charge, there are four churches over here. Now, when the school is open, the drop off and pick time is nightmare. I have presented pictures, shown it to the attorney, the mayor, the council board, the board of education.
Speaker 15We got all of these people made aware of it. Maybe I haven't had a chance to present those pictures over here with this board because of this zoom and I am in the middle of, and I have this phone with me. I'm not sure if I can present it, but just to give you an idea, we have two schools over here next to it. Four over here. Okay. And on top of that, I want to thank mayor that you have brought it down from 83 to 50 units, but 50 unit in a, in an acreage of 1.7 acre about is still does not fit over here. 50 unit is gonna turn probably like close to a hundred more cars as it is. You cannot park over here. And if you put a hundred more cars, it's a safety issue. It's, it's, it's a emergency vehicle pass through, something happens.
Speaker 15We, it's a gridlock that's gonna create, you know, in addition to all this other parking issues. So what we are requesting as a, as the residents and we requested it today and, and you know, hopefully we can find some opportunity elsewhere. I know that you have tried from 83 to 50, but I'm sure if we sit together and look at it a little bit more under magnifying glass, we will be able to find some more and that will probably mitigate this extra burden on, on our community elsewhere. It is 19, 20, 25, 40. But the acreage is like significantly more over here. We're talking about if when we were looking at the map at, at the mayor's office when we were sitting down, we could easily see the other sites on the map. Our, our site was not even visible and we're trying to fit like 50 units right then and there.
Speaker 15Other places are getting like 30, 40, but the, the site is massive. Our site is not massive. So let's work together as what we are requesting and see if there is anywhere else we can fit in and make this somewhat fitting. We're not against affordable housing, we're just saying that we feel that it is a little bit overtaxed on our, our close to our, our our schools, our neighborhood. And as I showed on that map, if you look at the density of our, that site, it has houses all around. Whereas the other sites, there were at least two sites, which does not have any houses. There are sites which were not surrounded by houses. So this density of high density being built over here is just an overkill. So once again, it's not like we're going after you. It's more like let's work together, see if we can find out.
Speaker 15I know you know Donna say that. Yeah. Let's see if we can get a smaller group. Look, look at it and if we can squeeze somewhere else, let's do that guys. This is gonna just alter our whole livelihood, our life. I'm living over here for 17 years. There are folks living over here since they were born. We love this neighborhood. We love you guys. The, the work you're doing, but don't just, you know, do it because the state is mandating. I understand it, but there should be a, a workaround and see if we can do something better. That's all I have to say.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Thank you. Any other
Laura Buckley (Clerk)Yes people. Andrew Morris.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Mr. Morris, would you come forward and give us your address please? Your name and your address.
Laura Buckley (Clerk)Mr. They're unmuted.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Mr. Morris. His hand's up on my screen but I don't, yeah,
Laura Buckley (Clerk)His hand's up and he is not muted.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Mr. Morris, would you like to make your comment?
Laura Buckley (Clerk)Is there anyone else from the public raise your hand.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Any other members?
Speaker 16Hello? Can you hear me now?
Brenda Smith (Chair)Yes. Alright, Mr. Morriss, we
Speaker 16Can't hear you? Yes, and hi, how are you?
Brenda Smith (Chair)How are you? Mr. Morriss, could you give us your address please?
Speaker 16Four 10 Highland Avenue Piscataway.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Thank you. Would you proceed?
Speaker 16Okay. Hello everyone. Hi, how are you?
Brenda Smith (Chair)Good, how are you?
Speaker 16Yeah, I, I agree with SA Ahmed. I think he's 100% right on. And I appreciate what he said and I appreciate the mayor. I think we're stuck in a hard place, but we have a couple of questions here. So, does the planning board look at the proposed location and determine whether it is in a, in a protected area or if it's in a dangerous zone or would it be, or would it create a dangerous situation? Does the planning board look at location of the property?
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)No, it does not, sir. The only thing the planning board does at this step in the process is say, is the zoning ordinance change consistent with the master plan? That's it. There's one question, there's not much leeway. We're, we're not here to design it to say if it's, we don't even know what it's gonna be. We don't know what it's gonna look like. We don't know what the parking lot's gonna look like, what the colors are gonna be, how big the units are. This is just the law says we have to say if it is or is not consistent with the master plan because the planning board in land use law is kind of the keeper of the planning of the master plan. Yes. And what the master plan says is that the municipality has to comply with the fourth round affordable housing requirements. This ordinance change is allowing that to happen. Yeah, we're not, the planning board members are not involved in the process of picking sites, approving sites, deciding which sites might ultimately be included or not included. It's just one question, is it consistent with the master plan? And, and it obviously is because the master plan says we have to comply with affordable housing and this ordinance change effectuates that mandate.
Speaker 16Okay. Alright. So thank you for that. I will just add on a little bit just so that it's on public record. So this proposed site there on Highland and Roosevelt on the corner of Ludlow and Debra Drive, this is, that site is one half block from King school and like another half a block from Kama School. So, and it, and it makes it a very dangerous situation for children and family when, as Mr. Ahmed said, during the school day, there are cars and buses all around. And then if you can imagine putting another 50 cars plus right there at right in front of King school and Kakac school every day, every day, even after school, when they're at baseball practice or soccer practice, another 50 to 60 to 70 cars are coming through. And it's not even about parking, I'll be honest with you. It's about cars and the commotion.
Speaker 16So I would ask that people think about the safety of our children as they are coming and going. And I forgot by the way, this, this proposed property is, is within the school zone. It's in the school safety zone. So it is, so now we have the school safety zone, which is made for the primary purpose of a school safety zone is to protect children commuting to and from school. But then we're gonna put a day, a hazardous situation, right in the middle of our own legislative school safety zone. So it becomes like just chaotic one over one. It just creates it worse in that safety zone for children commuting to school. It's a half a block. So I would say please work with us so we can come up with alternative solutions. We will love to work with you all to come up with alternative solutions because we love our children more than we love apartment buildings, but we will help out a hundred percent. Thank you all.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Thank you Mr. Morriss. Oh, your hand went back up.
Laura Buckley (Clerk)Yeah, I'm, I'm,
Brenda Smith (Chair)I'm trying. Hi there.
Laura Buckley (Clerk)Michael Moy. Yeah. Just for the record guys, once you speak and you do your spiel, we have to move out to the next person. We won't go back and forth to other people. It's not like an open forum.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Correct.
Laura Buckley (Clerk)All right. So Michael Moy
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Is that is the cell number that's on the screen? I don't, oh, there he is. There he is.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Okay.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Mr. Moy, can you hear us?
Speaker 17Can you hear me?
Laura Buckley (Clerk)Yep,
Speaker 17You can. Okay. Dotta Gray, three 18 River Crest. I'm on my husband's computer.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Gotcha.
Speaker 17Okay. I want to ask the planning board to really be tough on this development company. This piece of land, according to the ordinance, the minimum lot area is 75,000 square feet. We don't have 75,000 square feet. That equals 1.72 acres. We only have 1.37. So it's, it's extremely tight. Also, the ordinance says that you have to comply with table 4.4, and that comes out for a garden apartment 1.7, I believe it is parking spaces, 1.75 spots. And if, if you look at that piece of land, you see we do not have this, this development company is gonna have to come up with incredibly creative ways to accommodate all this parking and to fit 50 units in this very small space without being a tall, very visible high-rise apartment building in our area.
Speaker 17It's, it's not gonna be easy. And, and I'm afraid that what's gonna happen is all of these rules are gonna be changed a little bit to accommodate. And I, I don't wanna see that happen. I, I want to see that the parking situation is really addressed so that we don't have a flood of a hundred cars because everybody has two cars these days. And not to forget that at the end of my street, river Crest, we're having townhouses built. And those are 16 units. Everybody's gonna have two cars. Now we got another, you know, 34, 36 cars going down there. So I, I, I really want everybody to be cognizant of, of these difficulties and, and these rules, and not to just change them around to accommodate whatever this developer wants to do. Thank you for your time.
Laura Buckley (Clerk)Anyone else? For the public? You could either raise your hand or if you're on the phone, hit star six please. No one else. Madam Chair is raising their hand
Brenda Smith (Chair)Hearing no other request to speak. We're gonna close it to the public. Thank you. We have a, a resolution here. The board now,
Laura Buckley (Clerk)Well we have to vote on the discussion item first. Madam Chair, and then we can go into the resolution.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Okay. Sorry.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)So we need a motion as to whether or not the ordinance is consistent with the master plan.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Okay. Would someone, would someone in the, on the board please like to make the motion.
Speaker 11Madam Chair, it's Councilwoman Cahill. I will make the motion that this plan matches the township's master's plan to meet its affordable fourth round housing obligation.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Thank you. Do I have a
Rev. Henry Kenney (Member)Second chair? I'll second that motion. Reverend Kinneally,
Brenda Smith (Chair)Roll call please.
Laura Buckley (Clerk)Mayor Wahler?
Rev. Henry Kenney (Member)Yes.
Laura Buckley (Clerk)Councilwoman Cahill? Yes. Ms. Corcoran? Yes. Reverend Kinneally? Yes. Mr. Ahmed? Yes. Mr. Cheveria? Yes. And Madam Chair?
Brenda Smith (Chair)Yes.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Now Madam Chairman Smith, there's a, we need to do a resolution so that we can send that back to the township council as to the consistency with the master plan. Yes. So if someone wants to move that resolution,
Rev. Henry Kenney (Member)Madam Chair, Reverend Kinneally, I'll make that resolution that it be sent back to that this consistency for rezoning goes back to for review to, I don't know what board goes back to. To the council. Council.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Do I have a second?
Laura Buckley (Clerk)I'll second that. Dawn.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Roll call please.
Laura Buckley (Clerk)Mayor Wahler? Yes. Councilwoman Cahill? Yes. Ms. Corcoran? Yes. Reverend Kinneally?
Rev. Henry Kenney (Member)Yes.
Laura Buckley (Clerk)Mr. Hammed? Yes. Mr. Aria? Yes. And Madam Chair?
Brenda Smith (Chair)Yes.
Brian Wahler (Mayor)Madam Chair. If I may add a question for Mr. Barlow. It's becoming more and more apparent over the last year that we've been field complaints regarding the traffic patterns over at several of our grade schools. Notably Kack, MLK Shore School and Eisenhower School. And I know we had a review going back a couple of months where the school district was gonna be expanding their operations over a fellowship school and didn't take any of our advice and to play. I think we need to send a strongly worded letter to the superintendent and to the board members from this board and from our pd, they need to do something about these traffic patterns. We don't have the availability to have a police officer out there every time school lets in and lets out. They're gonna have to revamp how their traffic flow patterns are happening in their school district.
Brian Wahler (Mayor)Several of the schools like Kack and King do have the land to change the patterns over there. That'll lessen the burden on the street right there. And I believe Eisenhower has a shore school has plenty too because we're getting complaints with folks in the North ran area that, that back up to shore school about making actually technically illegal drop offs on some of these cul-de-sacs right there. Because the, the parents don't wanna go into the traffic flow patterns, what they should be doing. So this is becoming, this problems become more exacerbated over the last year and a half. And I think it's time that we really need to force the issue with the Board of Education. They need to spend some money, come up and do a study with all these sites to how they can better serve the residents safety wise out there when parents are dropping, picking their kids up.
Brian Wahler (Mayor)'cause there may something happen and, and what the pictures that couple of the resident, I know Mr. Morris and a couple of the others showed me, I, I know it exists out there, but there's only so much we can do. We can only suggest to the school board what they should be properly doing. They don't have to listen to us. 'cause they're a different agency. They answer to the Department of Education, but it's becoming more and more problematic in town. So I think we need to, Tom, we need to, working with Mr. Gomer, our township attorney and Dawn and our professional staff in the pd, we need to send a letter putting the school district on notice. This can't be tolerated anymore. Okay. His problem,
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Mayor, I'll reach out to your office and, and Goomer is, and maybe we'll put something together kind of as a
Brian Wahler (Mayor)Yeah. The sooner the better happen an
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Outline happen. Which schools and which schools specifically are, are having the issues you, you've outlined and the residents are obviously
Brian Wahler (Mayor)No, no. We're, we're getting concerned. We're receiving more and more complaints about it. Yeah. And, and, and quite frankly, I don't blame the residents at at all. You know, you just got some parents out there that just don't care about traffic patterns and they're dropping their kids off. Don't listen to directions. So, I mean, shorter, giving them summonses and everything out, which we don't wanna have to do. But, you know, the onus is really on the school district. It's, it's, they're creating the problem. So they need to solve it. So.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)Okay.
Brian Wahler (Mayor)Alright.
Speaker 18Just, just to add to the support of that mayor, for someone who lives near Eisenhower in Grandview, the traffic patterns. Yeah. Insane. It goes from a quick, easy day to multiple issues. And as kids who are gonna be in those schools relatively soon, specific Eisenhower, I'd welcome any type of traffic pattern study that could help alleviate that.
Brian Wahler (Mayor)Alright, thanks. So,
Brenda Smith (Chair)Okay. I believe that's all for our agenda today.
Thomas W. Barlow (Planning Atty)We just don't wanna disappoint Ms. Saunders, let's handle this adjournment like professionally.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Take a motion. I guess I packed up to, I think we're, I take a mo a motion for an adjournment reminding everybody of our next meetings.
Rev. Henry Kenney (Member)Madam Chair, I make a motion that this meeting that be adjourned.
Brenda Smith (Chair)Second. All all in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Meeting adjourned. Thank you everybody. Good night, everybody get home safe later. Workshop meeting is July 22nd. Thank you. There's your reminder with your, so.