Transcript for Piscataway Planning meeting on May 11 2022

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May 11 2022 · Planning
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Speaker 0Okay.
Speaker 1All right. Madam chair, seven 30.
Speaker 2Okay. The Piscataway Township planning board will please come to order. Adequate notice of this meeting will was provided in the following ways. Notice published in the courier news notice posted on the bulletin board of the municipal building notice made available to the Township clerk notice sent to the Cahn courier news and the star ledger. Will the clerk please call the role
Speaker 1Mayor Wahler I don't believe he's coming. Councilwoman Cahill. Miss Cark here. Miss Saunders.
Speaker 2She's here. We know.
Speaker 1Yeah, I know she's here. She's probably trying to unmute her phone star six, Carol, Reverend Kinneally
Speaker 0Here.
Speaker 1Mr. Espinosa
Speaker 4Present
Speaker 1Mr. Foster and Madam chair
Speaker 5Here. Sorry about
Speaker 2We all repeat the pledge of allegiance. The flag is over my right shoulder. I pledge allegiance
Speaker 3Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America
Speaker 2And to
Speaker 3The Republic, which is for which it stands
Speaker 2One nation,
Speaker 3One nation,
Speaker 2God,
Speaker 3Under God, invisible, invisible
Speaker 2With Liberty
Speaker 3Liberty. And just a
Speaker 2Thank you. Do we have professionals to be sworn in tonight?
Speaker 1Yes, Mr. Dacey.
Speaker 5Can you please raise your right hand? You swear that the testimony about to give you the truth and nothing but the truth.
Speaker 0I do.
Speaker 5Thank you,
Speaker 2Tom. Mr. Barlow, are there any changes to our agenda tonight,
Speaker 4Madam? I'm sure there are no changes to the agenda that I'm aware of. We have one matter around for this evening LZ and J Realty, LLC.
Speaker 2Okay. Thank you. May I get a motion from the board to pay the bills? The dually authorized dually audited bills.
Speaker 5Carol Saunders. I make a motion that we pay the audited bills.
Speaker 0Okay. Second.
Speaker 2Thank you. Roll call.
Speaker 1Excuse me. Councilwoman Cahill.
Speaker 3Yes.
Speaker 1Ms. Corcoran. Yes. Ms. Saunders?
Speaker 5Yes.
Speaker 1Reverend Kinneally.
Speaker 0Yes.
Speaker 1Mr. Espinosa.
Speaker 4Yes.
Speaker 1And Madam chair.
Speaker 2Yes. Item number eight. Adoption of resolution to memorialize action taken on April 13th, 2022.
Speaker 5Madam Chairman. I like to memorialize the resolution 21, PB 24 Maplewood condominium association, preliminary and final site plan as applicant with withdraws without prejudice.
Speaker 2Do I have a second? That's thank you. Roco, please.
Speaker 1Councilwoman Cahill. Yes. Ms. Corcoran. Yes. Ms. Saunders?
Speaker 5Yes.
Speaker 1Reverend Kinneally. Yes. Mr. Espinosa. Yes. And Madam chair.
Speaker 2Yes. Item number nine. Adoption of the, okay, go ahead, Ms. A Saunders,
Speaker 5Madam Chairman. I like to adopt the minutes from the regular meeting of April 13th, 2022.
Speaker 2Have a second.
Speaker 6Reverend Kinneally
Speaker 2Roll call please.
Speaker 1Councilwoman CA yes. Ms. Corcoran. Yes. Ms. Saunders?
Speaker 5Yes.
Speaker 1Reverend Kinneally. Yes. Mr. Espinosa.
Speaker 7Yes.
Speaker 1And Madam chair.
Speaker 2Yes. Item number 10, two P one slash two V as in New Jersey Realty. L
Speaker 7Hello, Madam chair. If you can hear me, my name is Tim arch. I'm an attorney licensed in the state of New Jersey and I'm representing LZ N J Realty, LLC.
Speaker 2Now you, Mr. Arch
Speaker 7Just wanted make sure everybody could hear me on the outset. I wanna say sunset is at 8:04 PM tonight. And so we're gonna try to hopefully get everybody out by then. So
Speaker 2That's not,
Speaker 1You gotta do that now.
Speaker 7We're gonna, we're gonna try. So a, a little bit of housekeeping just to begin with, I would ask Mr. Barlow, if he's had an opportunity to review the notice, and if we have proper jurisdiction before this board,
Speaker 4I have gone over the notices at length and they're appropriate and the board has jurisdiction.
Speaker 7Thank you very much. We do have, we do have four, I believe in addition to Ms. Corcoran completeness letter, a DNR report dated March 23rd, CME report dated March 18th, Mr. Stein's report of March 23rd and a fire marshal approval letter dated March 9th. I believe those are all of the reports. I would just ask for confirmation from Laura for that. If that's
Speaker 4There, there's also a report from the director of public works dated March 11th, 2022. That indicates he had no comments. So
Speaker 7I love those reports. I will add that to my list. Thank you very much, Mr. Barlow.
Speaker 7So brief introduction. Well, we're here tonight seeking to add approximately a 30,000 square foot of warehouse space to an existing site on one 50 Ethel road. It has an existing building on it, a warehouse building. It is a permitted use in the, in the ally one zone. And we're seeking two variances tonight. Both of which are related to parking. The first is number of parking spaces. 99 is required. We are providing 28, 29. If you count the EV space, which counts as two spaces. And in addition to that, we are proposing more than half of our proposed spaces within the, the front yard, which requires another variance. I do have three witnesses tonight. My first witness would be jumbo wan, who is a representative of LD NJ. And so without further ado, I would ask Mr. Luan to be sworn in so we can begin.
Speaker 8Okay.
Speaker 4Can you turn on his camera?
Speaker 7Can you put camera please? Thank you.
Speaker 5Can you please raise your right hand? You swear the testimony about to give you the truth and nothing but the truth.
Speaker 8Yes.
Speaker 5Can you please state and spell your name for the record?
Speaker 8June
Speaker 7That's L U a N. Is the last name, correct?
Speaker 8Yeah. L U a N. Yes.
Speaker 5Thank you,
Speaker 7Mr. Luan, what is your position with LZ and J
Speaker 8I'm the owner and the president of the company. LZ and
Speaker 7J. Okay. And so as the president you're familiar with, with the site at one 50 Ethel road, is that correct? Yes.
Speaker 8Correct.
Speaker 7Okay. And can you briefly tell us what is the site currently used for? What is it that, that L Z G does there?
Speaker 8We just use as the tires storage and with the local delivery.
Speaker 7Okay. That's it? Yeah. So it's just storage of, of tires. There's no hazardous materials or anything like that. It's just essentially tires, correct? Yeah.
Speaker 8All new tires and with the storage, all new tires.
Speaker 7Okay. Perfect. How many employees do you currently have at, at peak times or in total? At the site?
Speaker 8Six,
Speaker 7Six employees. Okay. With this expansion is the purpose of this expansion to, to increase the number of employees there, or do you not anticipate that you're increasing employees at all?
Speaker 8Oh, we're not. We're not really anticipate any, any more employees.
Speaker 7Okay. You've had a chance to look over all the reports that I had mentioned, and we went through all of the comments that any of the Township professionals had, and we can agree to all of those comments and all of the reports is that Mr. Dacey
Speaker 4The, just a quick question. What, what are the hours of operation,
Speaker 7Mr. Luan, Mr. Luan? What are the hours of operation?
Speaker 8Seven to five.
Speaker 7Seven to five.
Speaker 4Thank you. Monday through Friday or Saturday,
Speaker 8Monday through Friday.
Speaker 4Thank you.
Speaker 2Any other questions from the board from Mr. Dacey?
Speaker 3Hi, this is Councilwoman Cahill, Madam sheriff. I may just ask a question and maybe this isn't the appropriate time, but to be honest with you, I'm wondering with the expansion, how it is that the existing amount of employees would serve to do the work. Maybe we need to understand what the extra space is for before that can be answered.
Speaker 7Well, I, I think, I think actually Mr. Luan might be able to answer that. So what is the purpose of the expansion? What is it that you're using that, that additional square footage for Mr. Luan?
Speaker 8We just need the more storage to place for the, for the, for the whole company. And that's the only purpose. And we are wheel equipped with all the equipments, which is order picker and the forklift. So that be able to, you know, we don't need, we don't need any manpowers to add on, to move more tires, but with all the equipment we can be, will serve with the, with the, I mean, expansion part of the warehouse.
Speaker 7So in essence, it's just that you, you need to add more storage space to keep more product.
Speaker 8Yeah. Correct.
Speaker 7And that, because of the system that you have and the machinery, or the, the, the, I guess, light machinery that you have, the, the six employees are more than adequate to move the stock that you have. Yes. Fill any sort of orders that you need to do.
Speaker 8Yes.
Speaker 4Mr. Arch, can I just clarify one thing when, when you gave your little preliminary statement, I, I think you said it was a 30,000 square foot edition. I, my reading of the report, it's a, it's a 30,000 square foot existing building. And the addition's a little bit under 20,000,
Speaker 7You know? Well,
Speaker 4Your engineer, well, I'm sure address that.
Speaker 7I I'll certainly, I'll certainly have my engineer address that I might have read that wrong in the report. And I apologize if I did.
Speaker 4Okay.
Speaker 7So I'll have Mr. ST's address that during his testimony and he can, he can say better than I can. I'm sure.
Speaker 9Yeah. Tom, my, my report indicated just about 20,001 20. The addition would be 123 by one 60. Yeah. That's what the plan showed, but I'm sure the engineer will confirm.
Speaker 4Yeah, I was reading page two. Your report. That's where I got it from.
Speaker 9Oh, don't don't flatter me.
Speaker 2Okay. Are there any other questions from the board, Madam clerk, would you check to see if there's anyone wishing to ask questions of Mr. Leon Luan from the public?
Speaker 10No chairperson.
Speaker 2Okay. You may call your next witness.
Speaker 7Thank you. Madam chair. My next would be Mr. Craig Sters Do I believe is present with his camera on.
Speaker 2Okay.
Speaker 5Mr. Can you please raise your right hand? You swear that the testimony about to give you the truth and nothing but the truth.
Speaker 10Yes, I do.
Speaker 5Please, please state and spell your name for the record.
Speaker 10Craig Sters S T I R E S.
Speaker 5Thank you,
Speaker 7Mr. Sters you are a licensed professional engineer in the state of New Jersey, is that correct?
Speaker 10Yes.
Speaker 7And you've testified in front of the, either this board or the zoning board or both recently?
Speaker 10I believe both. Yes.
Speaker 7Okay. And your credentials have not in any way changed the, that
Speaker 10That is correct.
Speaker 7I would ask the board if we need to go into any further Waqar as to his credentials or can be accepted this time,
Speaker 2Could you just tell how long tell us how long ago he testified before this, this board? If he knows
Speaker 10That's a good que, I think I was within the last couple months was the board of adjustment. I don't remember when it was before the planning board itself.
Speaker 2Okay. Thank you. Go. You, he he's accepted as a, as an expert.
Speaker 7Thank
Speaker 10You. Thank
Speaker 7You. Mr. Dacey before I, I, I let you loose to, to give your presentation. Can you confirm that I'm right. And everybody else is wrong when it comes to
Speaker 10It? The building is around 30 square feet. The addition is 19,000 square feet, 680 square feet.
Speaker 7All right. Thank you, Mr. St. That was, we'll talk about that later, but I'm gonna open the floor to you. If you can please give us the benefit of your expertise.
Speaker 10Sure. Well, my expertise was accepted, right? So you just want the,
Speaker 7I'm sorry, I'm sorry. The benefit of your expertise in reviewing this project.
Speaker 10Oh, okay. All right. The existing site's known as block 91. Oh one lot 50 has an address like Tim said, a hundred fifty one fifty Ethel road west, and it's located on the Northwest city side of Ethel road, just east of SU lane. Property is 3.25 acres and has a one story building, as I just said, just over 30,000 square foot. Masonry masonry warehouse building currently has 29 parking spaces and four loading docks. And the site is, as the applicant said, is the tire warehouse. The, the site behind the building is currently wooded and there is a drainage easement back there that drains from west to east or from, if you were looking out the plans from the bottom to the top, The drainage ditch is considered a ordinary resource value ditch. We did apply for an LOI from the DEP and just received it last week. And that is confirmed. That is an ordinary resource value ditch with that designation. There are no buffers associated with the ditch, so we don't have to worry about that. As far as Cahn with, with regards to the addition, The site is located in the I one zone of which the use is permitted.
Speaker 10The site is currently surrounded by similar warehouse units to the west, to the east, to the south and to the north are residential properties. Again, as I said, the, the rear of the site is, is wooded at the time. And the current building coverage on the property is 21.2%. And as the applicant also said, the, the number of employees right now is six. Moving on to the proposed. What we're looking to do is add an addition to the back of the building that essentially maintains the side walls of the building, but extends out. The total addition is 19,680 square feet. And as the applicant said will allow for additional storage of product. The existing parking lot will be reconfigured to allow for two additional loading docks, which would be located really at the end of the existing building. And those loading docks would be for box trucks. So there are shorter loading space required than the full trailers. The existing parking on the east side would be eliminated to allow for the access of the box trucks to get to the loading docks. And it also allow for better circulation for the trailers that do come into the site for the loading docks, which are located at the Southern end of the existing building.
Speaker 10The existing parking on the front of the building is currently angled parking. And it has a just over 12 foot aisle, which is between the parking and the building
Speaker 10That parking will be reconfigured one first and foremost was a comment from the fire official saying that the, the 12 foot wide aisle was not acceptable for fire access. So that's really the primary reason that we reconfigured that parking, but it also worked out for many other reasons, too. It provides a necessary fire access now, but because we're creating a 24 foot wide aisle, we squared up the parking. So now the parking that was eliminated at the side or east side of the building can be relocated to the front. So there actually is no net loss of parking compared to the existing and proposed conditions That the loading the aisle for the parking is 24 feet rather than 25. We were obviously trying to minimize the encroachment into the front yard if at all possible, and also providing the necessary back out space for the 90, 90 degree parking spaces. So that is one of the, I believe that's a waiver for the, for the application and the parking does push into the front yard. So that is one of the variances that we have. But again, it's more of a safety reason than, than anything else.
Speaker 10The, as the applicant said, they intend to maintain their current staff as six employees. So essentially we are really way over what is needed for the parking or for the employees to park on site, that particular parking. I, I understand that a lot of times we come before the boards in Piscataway and the, with the warehouse, is it, the requirement is one per 500, whereas in many other towns, it's one per 5,000. And if you look at this application and the number that the warehouse space as compared to the number of employees, it is more in line to that, with that one per 5,000 notation that I, I mentioned in, in other towns, along with the addition, we are proposing a detention basin, which would be in the northerly corner or right next to where the new addition is. And the new addition will all drain into that new basin. And we will actually redirect a portion of the existing roof runoff from the existing building into that basin to compensate for the additional parking space in the front. So in the end, the stormwater management will be less than the existing conditions as required.
Speaker 10We, we are proposing additional landscaping along the, really around the addition and some in some areas to the east of the parking lot. If you see the plans, there is an 80 foot buffer between the back of the building and the back rear property line. So although we are adding landscaping back there, there is a substantial buffer still in place between the back of the building and the rear property line. We are also adding, adding, upgrading the lighting to L E D lighting. Most of which will be placed on the building. There'll be two, two new poles on the Eastly side of the east parking lot, but the rest will be on the, on the building itself. I think that is it for all the existing or existing and proposed conditions. Just going, go ahead.
Speaker 7Oh, sorry. I was gonna ask one, one quick question, Mr. Tyers. I know that in Mr. Interesting's report, he had mentioned the possibility of putting in some additional landscaping along the front of the, of the parking area. Would it be safe to say that we are, are more than happy to work with the Township professionals to, to modify or our landscaping plan to their satisfaction?
Speaker 10Yes, it's act actually that's one of the waivers that would be, that is listed for the application, but we would offer that we would put landscaping in front of that, the revised parking. So that would be screen from Ethel road. The one thing that we would respectfully request is Henry's also asked for landscaping along the front of the building. And since we're providing landscaping in front of the parking, I don't think we need the landscaping in the small strip in front of the building, because I think the landscaping in front of the parking would really serve both purposes. So that, I think other than that, I, I mean, we're as usual, more than willing to work with the, the staff to, you know, resolve all the open comments.
Speaker 7Thank you. If there's a on,
Speaker 4Would you be amenable to letting the applicant work with Henry's office with regards to those landscaping issues?
Speaker 11Absolutely. And again, it is my understanding that they're gonna comply with the rest of the comments in the report. So yeah, AB he can, Mr. SARS, Kinneally sit down with Henry and go through all of those outstanding audience with landscaping,
Speaker 4Mr. Arch, with what about 22 and 23 in Mr. Stein's report 22 talked about garbage and refuse and how it would be handled. And I don't know if that's Mr. Sters or perhaps Mr. Luan and the same with 23 about signage.
Speaker 7Well, 23, I think I can, I can address. We are not proposing any, any signage at this time. I know that if, if in the future, if there is any proposal for signage, it would either be conforming or it would require coming back in front of the board, but we're not proposing any at this time. Okay. As far as the garbage and how that's handled, I don't know who would want to best address that if that's Mr. Styers or Mr. Luan, but either of you, if you wanna address that comment.
Speaker 10Yeah. My understanding that there's a three yard dumpster on the side right now, which is adjacent to the existing loading docks and that we relocate that dumpster to the side.
Speaker 4And you show that on the plans.
Speaker 10Yeah. We can edit to the plans. Yes.
Speaker 11Okay. And, and again, if you do add that to the plans, you know, obviously we're gonna wanna see it screened or, you know, fenced in or something, you know, so I would, you know, ask that that also just be a condition of the approval as well, that you'd work with Township staff on any type of training. Okay. And with regard to the signage, I just wanna make mention there's a item 20 does speak about a proposed monument sign. That was just a carryover from a previous application. So please just disregard that comment in the staff report for
Speaker 10Another thing that we would like to, I mean, obviously we'll work with Henry on this, but since the application is at 35% building coverage, and Henry is looking for an additional right away dedication, we ask that that be an easement rather than an actual dedication, although cuz if we dedicate it that it would put us in a variance condition
Speaker 7Unless, or if the board isn't inclined to do that, if you would grant, I, I suppose that variances at this time as well, if that is going to create a, a coverage variance, but I know that in the past we've the Township has been agreeable to instead of a dedication to do movement for purposes of not getting into that extra variance territory.
Speaker 4Are you referencing number three in Henry's report, Mr. Sters?
Speaker 10Yes.
Speaker 11You know, I, this is Dawn Corcoran. I, I think that we're going to have to work that out because we're gonna have to speak with the engineering department tomorrow to see if there's anything coming down the pike in terms of road roadway improvements. So, and if that, in fact, if there is, we certainly would want the dedication opposed to the easement, but again, that's something we can certainly discuss
Speaker 7Is
Speaker 10That
Speaker 7If I may, oh, sorry. If I may, can I suggest that if it is necessary to grant that, to grant the dedication, which we're happy to do, if that does cause a, an additional variance by way of lot coverage, can, can the board vote on it tonight to, to indicate if they were in favor of granting the application, that if there is a dedication required and it does cause that additional variance that they would grant that variance so that we wouldn't have to come back before a board after that dedication,
Speaker 11Craig, what is the, what would the variance, what, what would be required or what, what would speaking, I should say,
Speaker 10I believe or two things on that. Dawn. I, I did have a, a back and forth with Joe on this, about the dedication and they, they did not have anything planned and you know, it was just, you know, to get it while they could, there was really nothing planned specifically for Ethel road. But to answer your question, I believe I computed to be 35.3, 5%. So it's like 0.3, five over the, the maximum.
Speaker 11Got it
Speaker 4For lot coverage
Speaker 10Building
Speaker 4Coverage.
Speaker 10Yeah. I'm sorry. 35.5, 3%.
Speaker 4And Mr. Arch, obviously it's, it's ultimately up to the board, but between the fact that that is a pretty Dimi amount that's over and it's being triggered potentially by the applicant's dedication to the municipality of the necessary right of way for the roadway that it can almost be like a conditioned variance that if the board so chooses, it would grant the variance. If the, if the dedication triggers the impervious, the building coverage, and I'll leave that to the board at the time of voting. But I, I, I think we can work that out with language that wouldn't require you to come back in effect because your client is giving something back to the municipality. That would seem to be a little burdensome unnecessarily, especially cuz you're talking about fractions.
Speaker 7Correct. And, and I, I appreciate that. I, I, I absolutely appreciate that. I think I Kinneally be worded in such a way that
Speaker 11And that being, that being said, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt. I mean, we would certainly prefer to have the dedication. That's typically how we handle these, but again, if the board, the board has to, you know, be agreeable to that,
Speaker 4I think if the board gets to that point and requires the dedication, but grant the variants for building coverage upon, you know, working with the municipal officials to work out the dedication and having, you know, the description approved by the borough staff Township staff, that that varies would probably be appropriate to be granted. Also, I think that the Township would prefer the dedication.
Speaker 11Correct.
Speaker 10And we're fine. We're fine with that.
Speaker 4Okay.
Speaker 9Couldn't you just put that on the site plan, future dedication, and then just note it and it's done.
Speaker 10I think they would rather have it in place as opposed to okay.
Speaker 9That's perfect. Whatever makes the Township happy. That's fine. Mr. Star, I just gotta ask one question. Is there, is there going to be one access point or two access points?
Speaker 10Two,
Speaker 9Two. Okay. Cuz it was a little unclear and in general, my letter was just saying you tried to do a lot on one page and I just couldn't get it. So I mean, if, if you just, I gave you the option, it's my suggestion. You could leave the one as is, but just give a proposed condition because you had existing and proposed and we had turning radiuss and there was a lot there.
Speaker 10Yeah.
Speaker 9So if you're all agreeable, you know, I'm sure you discussed that in, in the technical review committee. That was just my messaging. Otherwise, you know, I have no other issues. I just wanted clarity of the site plan.
Speaker 10Yep. Yeah. It's kind of morphed a little bit as we've progressed through this. So I, I fully understand where you're coming from
Speaker 9And, and I, I figured as much as figured suction and sometimes you just gotta take a step back and say there's too much on this. Let's separate it.
Speaker 10Yeah. Yep.
Speaker 2Okay. Everyone, are there any other
Speaker 3Questions? Yeah. Madam chairs, Councilwoman Cahill. So I, I have a question I think really of Dawn then if we, if the dedication is granted and then of course that would automatically trigger the variance, but we tonight what happens in case of future applications for this site, whether it be this owner or somebody else, is the variance granted tonight granted for the property. I mean, for, for the size of the building only right as it pertains to the coverage, would that be accurate?
Speaker 11Correct. This is just for building coverage. Certainly if they came in for any other type of addition, which I, I don't without losing parking or, you know, I don't foresee that happening, but you know, they'd certainly need to come in for another variance, but this is strictly would just be for building coverage.
Speaker 9But I, I think just one point in SPRA can go, go with this variance is run with the lands. So whatever you grant tonight, you know, if you're granting a variance for, for coverage, you know, incorporating that dedication in, it runs with the land. So whoever comes in in the future, they've already got that, unless they're gonna, unless they're gonna abandon the prior approvals and go for a whole new approval,
Speaker 4That that's correct. It would run with the land, but the same way, if they came in for another addition and the variance was going to be increased from 35.3, 5% to 38%, that would trigger the need for additional variance release.
Speaker 9Yep. Correct. By That's all I understand.
Speaker 3Okay. So just so I understand sly for the amount tonight that the dedication would trigger that. I mean that the by, oh yeah. Yik by having the applicant dedicate the land to the Township, then the variance only pertains to exactly the amount that they're over tonight because of the dedication that I don't, if that sounds right. No, we understand
Speaker 4We, we got you. You're absolutely correct. And, and any, but anything in the future that, that increased that lot coverage would trigger them having to come back.
Speaker 3Okay. And if I may, Madam chair, just one more question that, you know, with regard to this, and I was listening to the conversation about the, you know, the land, the landscaping and all that is I, you know, and I understand, I just wanna make sure and, and reiterate that it would, whatever agreement that the applicant and the Township vis-a-vie Henry interesting come up with that the applicant would be agreeable to whatever the Township, you know, is gonna require on that part. You know, even if it's not that the, the full amount that we would've originally asked is that about right?
Speaker 7Is this in, in terms of landscaping, you're, you're saying that we are, what we are agreeing to is that we will work with Henry to get a satisfactory landscaping plan that would beautify and, and buffer that front parking area, Henry Henry
Speaker 7Had put two different comments on his report. And I think they, they together, they don't necessarily make sense, but each individual might make sense. So Henry was mentioning parking or having landscaping and buffering along the very front of the property to, to basically stop, to provide buffering for the parking area. And then in addition to that, a separate comment was to put landscaping along the foundation of the building, which would sort of be a double screening, which probably would not be necessary to that extent, but we weren't, we weren't proposing anything in our initial plan. So I think that's why Henry was commenting on both Al both scenarios, foundation plantings along the building, as well as plantings along the, the front of the parking area.
Speaker 3Okay. And
Speaker 7So survey agreeable to work with the work with Henry to work out something that is satisfactory.
Speaker 3Yeah. Okay. So just to be clear, is that what, what you are, are stating Mr. Arch, is that the, the comments that I was reading them are really almost a duplicate in roughly the same area. I mean, I'm looking at the plans and I, I can't quite make that out. Like the parking versus
Speaker 7If I can share my screen and bring up the plans, I might be able to, to, to show where I believe Henry is, is referring to. Yeah.
Speaker 3I would appreciate that if Mr. Star could do it.
Speaker 9Absolutely. Mr. Star, while you do that, I, I, from what I'm getting is, it's almost like you're saying it, it may be almost redundant because you're providing the screening along the right of way to block, cuz that's the intent to block the parking, but then there's also another line asked by the building itself,
Speaker 7Correct
Speaker 9That in, in the gist of it and, and you know, they are separated by a decent amount of distance.
Speaker 7Let me see if I can bring up the site plan real quick.
Speaker 4It's a good question, miss kale. But the, but the most important thing is the applicant will, will work with Henry to do what Henry wants.
Speaker 3Yeah. And I know that Henry is a stickler on that. Yeah. But I, you know, I do wanna have it be made clear, you know, that that is what's gonna happen and that we can get an indication of, you know, just what that looks like, because just from listening to without, well, I mean, I have the plans, but without looking at the plans, you know, one would think that it was a redundancy, but in fact it may not exactly be that way, but I could be wrong. So Mr. Arch, you, if you could just humor me and let me see what it is that you are.
Speaker 7Yeah. I apologize. I'm trying to bring them up. It's just going a little slow. So there we go. You know, actually, Craig, can you, do you mind, can you bring you yes. Not behaving?
Speaker 10Yeah. If you, if you can let me share. I'll be glad to do it.
Speaker 7You should have, I think just on
Speaker 4The
Speaker 7Bottom. Yeah. On the bottom there, you should have share screen ability.
Speaker 0Let's
Speaker 7I don't know if I'm a big fan of that share screen, but
Speaker 10I just gotta get it to the right one.
Speaker 7Okay.
Speaker 10Geez. We're both having trouble The heck. There we go. I think I got it now. Can you see that?
Speaker 7Yes.
Speaker 10All right. Awesome.
Speaker 4Mr. Sters is, is this a colorized diversion of the landscape plan that you created off the plans that were submitted?
Speaker 10That is correct.
Speaker 4Okay. So we'll just mark this as a one for purposes of the hearing. Okay.
Speaker 10Yes. Okay. So what we're trying to say is, if you can see the, the cursor, we are gonna put landscaping along the front of the parking right here. And what Henry's asking for is landscaping along the front of the building and along the parking. And I believe the statement was, we think that's a little bit redundant because if you were to look in from Ethel road, this proposed landscaping would buffer and you probably wouldn't even see the landscaping along the front of the building. So that's why we're asking to not do it along the front of the building and just do landscaping because this is all encompassing. This will block, you know, the site, the parking and everything, as opposed to any, if we put something here, it's just gonna kind of block the bottom of the building. And it's just a small strip right here. So we feel that this will be a more beneficial and all encompassing area to landscape. Then along the front of the building,
Speaker 11Craig, I'm sure you can work this out with Henry depending on how much landscaping you're gonna propose out there on Ethel road. Yes. You may have, you know, enough where you're not gonna see it's gonna be significant enough, but again, if you're just providing, you know, just a, you know, a little bit of landscaping, he may want the screening along the building, but again, I'm confident you can work this out with, with Henry. Yeah.
Speaker 7And
Speaker 10I agree.
Speaker 7Can I just ask one quick question of Mr. Luan?
Speaker 11Go ahead,
Speaker 7Mr. Luan, you're still there, correct? Yeah. I'm here. Are you agreeable to, if Henry is insistent on putting in landscaping, both along the foundation and along the front that if, if he is adamant about that, that we will agree with that. Yes. Okay. Then I think, I think that will put the issue to rest.
Speaker 3Thank you very much. And I do appreciate that visual and I would just say one comment is that the screening buffering is essential and very important to the aesthetic, but also the plantings are just beneficial as well. And that would be my only Cahn.
Speaker 2Okay. So now do we have any other members of the board wishing to ask a question of this witness?
Speaker 6Reverend Kinneally? I was, I don't know who I would ask this too, in regards to the parking it's the parking for the trailers. I know they got up to 53 footers. How many states, how many areas you got for states truck for parking, depending there, time for pickup in, in, in regards to your dock loading. Cause I noticed in the CME report, there's not gonna be all street parking for trailers in the past, you had problems with trailers, you know, getting around and it was congested. When you had trailers 48 to 53 footers there,
Speaker 7Perhaps Mr. Dacey. Can I, can I ask, can you estimate what are the number of truck deliveries that you get on a, on a, any given day?
Speaker 8Probably we get like a one, one delivery a day maximum. We wanna schedule that way. Yes.
Speaker 7Okay. So do you ever foresee a situation where you're going to have multiple tractor trailers that need to stage on, on your site at any given time?
Speaker 8No. We only schedule one delivery day. We never scale more than more than that. We don't, we don't have enough manpowers to doing that. And we not, we're not planning to do that too, so,
Speaker 6Okay. That, that answers my question then there's no trucks gonna be staged there to either for deliveries or, or for shipments there. Inbound,
Speaker 3Sorry, Madam chair. Yeah. Madam chair. I'm sorry. It's Councilman CA so Reverend Kinneally just part of a question. So on inbound shipments, you know, maximum once a day, that's only if it's scheduled, how are the tires then delivered to your customers and how often would that happen?
Speaker 8We have a delivery company that do all our delivery and they are, I mean, they, they come goes and they don't come by trailers. They only come in by small vehicles and which is, you know, those Ford and REM van. So,
Speaker 3Okay. So these are like smaller. So are you servicing, like, let's say like tire dealers who are sending somebody there when they need a particular tire to help with customer. Is that about right?
Speaker 8Yeah, we serving, we serving like, you know, dealerships and car dealership, tire shops and mechanics, and whenever they need the tire we deliver to.
Speaker 3Okay. Thank you so much.
Speaker 7Oh, so just to follow up that, so, so it's safe to say that your, your stock that's going out is usually a limited number for a specific purpose, correct?
Speaker 8Yes. Correct.
Speaker 12Okay.
Speaker 2Any other questions from the board Ms. Buckley, would you check to see if there's any, would you open it up to the board and see if there's any questions? No one or excuse me, those are
Speaker 3My voice. No one to your
Speaker 2Close to the public. Mr. Arch, do you have any other witnesses you'd like to present tonight? We
Speaker 7Do have one final witness and that's Mr. Chris Howe. He is our, he is our architect. I would ask that he'd be sworn in and I'm gonna apologize in advance to Chris, cuz I might cut him off a little bit testimony, but if I can have Mr. House sworn in, please.
Speaker 5Okay, Mr. Howe, can you please raise your right hand? You swear that the testimony you're about to give with you truth and nothing but the truth.
Speaker 12Yes.
Speaker 5Can you please state and spell your name for the record,
Speaker 12Chris? How Christopher first name and the last name is how H a
Speaker 5Thank you.
Speaker 7So Mr. Howe, you are a licensed architect in the state of New Jersey, is that correct?
Speaker 12Yes.
Speaker 7Have you ever testified in front of a Piscataway board before?
Speaker 12No. This is the first time.
Speaker 7Okay. Can you give us a, a brief rundown of your credentials please?
Speaker 12In, in a architect, the licensed architect since 19 90, 90, 80, 90, 90. And you need my education background or something?
Speaker 7Well, in that time that you've been a licensed architect, have you testified in front of a land use board, zoning boards and planning boards?
Speaker 12Yes.
Speaker 7Approximately how many boards have you testified in front of, in the last couple years? If you can.
Speaker 12I think about 10 or so. 20 some years 30.
Speaker 7I would ask then Madam chair, if you have any other specific questions as to his qualifications,
Speaker 2No. His testimony, his expert testimony is accepted.
Speaker 7Thank you. So Mr. Howe, I am going to ask a, a very simple question. Can you please just explain to us how the addition is gonna look? And I know it's not too exciting. It's a, it's a warehouse edition, but I know we had some comments and some of the reports about coloration and I know you prepared a rendering. Are you able to share that or do you want me to try to share
Speaker 12It? Maybe if you can do it.
Speaker 7Yeah, I think I can. I think I can get this one up. Yes. Okay. Does everybody see that rendering?
Speaker 0Yes.
Speaker 12Yes.
Speaker 7Thank you.
Speaker 4We'll refer this as a two, Mr. Or
Speaker 7Yes, this is a conceptual rendering just in response to the report. So Mr. How, if you can just briefly give us a, a sort of a overview of the addition.
Speaker 12Yeah, the, the existing warehouse, 20, 30,000 square foot now is just like barely exposed the concrete blocks. And the, what we're planning to do is that since we're building addition, so entire first, all around foresight, we're going to put a special paint over with the, with the, with accent all around and color can be optional, but the, just use a light cream beige color and the band to be like a blue sky kind of color.
Speaker 7And if any of the Township professionals have any comments or, or suggestions as to changing those colors, we would be open to those suggestions. Is that correct?
Speaker 12Yes.
Speaker 7Okay. Is there anything else that you want to tell us, Mr. How about the, about the site before we go to questions?
Speaker 12No.
Speaker 7Okay. I would open Mr. How up to, to questions of the, of the board then
Speaker 2Board members. Do you have any questions of Mr. How Well I'll ask the question, the elevated portion of the building. Is that the new part? Is that the extension?
Speaker 12Oh,
Speaker 2The portion of the building that's taller than the other portion.
Speaker 12Yeah. The lower part of the building,
Speaker 2The newer part is the tall part.
Speaker 12That is,
Speaker 2Yeah. Okay. Any other questions from any other board members? Okay. We'll open it up to the public now. Ms. Buckley, do you see anyone who has questions that it's in the public?
Speaker 4Tim, can you unshare?
Speaker 12Yes.
Speaker 0Thank you. No one. Madam chair.
Speaker 2Thank you. Close to the public. Madam chair.
Speaker 4Madam didn't mean to interrupt. I just had one question for Mr. Arch and Mr. Sters that I meant to mention before I realize it's in Henry's report number 12, but the applicant's going to agree to comply with the new state electric vehicle charging station requirements, correct?
Speaker 7Yes, we actually, we actually do show an EV space on there that does comply. Yes.
Speaker 4I just wanted to make sure we have that on record. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Madam chair.
Speaker 2You're fine. And Mr. Arch, would you like to sum up
Speaker 7Or yes. If I could just sum up, I think, I think clearly these variances can be granted under a C2, flexible standard based on the specific operations of the applicant. The number of spaces necessitated by the applicant's use is substantially less than what the ordinance requires in granting the variance. The purposes of the ML U L would be advanced as a smaller parking field means. Number one less impervious surface, which allows for more open space facilitates better storm water management promotes a better visual environment. Additionally, the parking proposed in the front yard again is relative to the number of total spaces proposed. We're only proposing 17 spaces in the, in the front area, but since the employee need is so low, that's why it's more than half of the spaces in the front. The choice to push the spaces further into the front yard setback is as a direct result of the fire marshals review and, and suggesting that, and we did get approval from the fire marshal with this revised plan. And it does provide for greater emergency circulation, which certainly also safety is a, is a forefront of what the L promotes as well. Spaces are already existing and they have this space layout is already existing and as posed, no detriment to the, the site will be safer now because of those changes. So I think with all those, with all those things on the record, I think that these can easily be granted under those standards. Thank you,
Speaker 2Miss Buckley, would you let me in?
Speaker 1You're in.
Speaker 2Okay. Thank you. The other one is the other one.
Speaker 1Okay. You either have the shut off you're in twice.
Speaker 2Okay. I'm gonna leave that one.
Speaker 1Okay.
Speaker 4Now I'm colo with different camera angles.
Speaker 1Now you have to unmute the one you're on cause you're muted. All right. Speak, Brenda.
Speaker 2Okay. Okay. Can
Speaker 1You hear me?
Speaker 2Yeah. Okay.
Speaker 1Sorry, Tim.
Speaker 2You've heard the testimony for tonight's application. What is the board's desire? If you are inclined to approve this application, keep in mind the discussion about the variances and the dedication that we discuss tonight. So what is pleasure? Madam
Speaker 11Chair? This is Dawn Corcoran. I'd like to make a recommendation that we approve the application subject to the reports discussed. I recommend that the board require the dedication opposed to the easement. And as a result, the granting of the variants for building coverage at three or 35.5, 3%, the approval would also be subject to the applicant. And Mr. Hinterstein resolving all issues pertaining to landscaping.
Speaker 2Will I have a second?
Speaker 6Reverend Kinneally Madam chair. I'll second that
Speaker 2Thank you. Roll call please. Ms. Buckley.
Speaker 1Councilwoman Cahill. Yes. Ms. Corcoran. Yes. Ms. Saunders.
Speaker 2Yes.
Speaker 1Reverend Kinneally.
Speaker 6Yes.
Speaker 1Mr. Espinosa, Dennis
Speaker 2Mute. Did you hear me?
Speaker 1You're thank you. Okay. You're good.
Speaker 2All thank you. Thank
Speaker 7You all so much. Thank you. Letting go first, by the way. And although I'm a little
Speaker 2Annoyed, you're quiet. Welcome.
Speaker 1It's past 8 0 4.
Speaker 2Yes. I dunno what only went first and last
Speaker 1Learned
Speaker 11Tim,
Speaker 2You shoot for
Speaker 7The stars and you know, you might
Speaker 2Not wind up. Oh, I motion to adjourn.
Speaker 1Motion to adjourn.
Speaker 11So move
Speaker 2Have good. Everyone stay wonderful. And I.