Transcript for Piscataway Planning meeting on October 12 2022
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Oct 12 2022 · Planning
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Speaker 0Recording in progress.
Speaker 1All right.
Speaker 0Your, your name is there. I don't know why you, your camera on.
Speaker 1Maybe. That's it. There I am.
Speaker 0We're now recording. Madam chair.
Speaker 1You're up. Okay. Are we ready? We ready? Yes. Okay. Okay. The Getaway Township Planning Board meeting will please come to order adequate notice of this meeting. Excuse me. No. Hello?
Speaker 3I just think there was a little feedback. That's
Speaker 1All. Okay. Adequate notice of this meeting was provided in the following ways. Notice published in the career news notice made available to the Township clerk notice sent to the Courier News and the Star ledger Open Public meeting notice Mr. Barlow?
Speaker 3Yes. Madam chair. This meeting is being conducted virtually via the Zoom platform and keeping with the Department of Community of Fair guidelines that were promulgated as part of the 19 pandemic. Appropriate notices have included the Zoom link and it's appropriate to go ahead in this fashion Lounge chair.
Speaker 1Thank you. Ms. Buckley. Would you read the call, the role please?
Speaker 0Councilwoman Cahill. Here. Ms. Corcoran? Here. Ms. Saunders?
Speaker 4Here.
Speaker 0Reverend Kinneally? Here. Mr. Espinosa? Here. Mr. Atkins?
Speaker 1Here.
Speaker 0Mr. Foster? Chairwoman Smith
Speaker 1Here. Okay. Over my shoulder is the flag with Can we all now salute the flag? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States and to the Republic. Which nation? Invisible with liberty and justice. Do we have professionals to be sworn in tonight?
Speaker 3Mr. Rein?
Speaker 4Yep. Do you swear that the testimony about to give you the truth and nothing but the truth?
Speaker 0I do.
Speaker 4Thank you.
Speaker 1Oh, can I get a motion for the dually ordered bills to be paid,
Speaker 5Kinneally bills to be paid.
Speaker 1I the second roll call, please.
Speaker 0Councilwoman Cahill? Yes. Ms. Corcoran? Yes. Ms. Saunders?
Speaker 4Yes.
Speaker 0Reverend Kinneally?
Speaker 5Yes.
Speaker 0Yes. Mr. Espinosa? Yes. Mr. Atkins? Yes. And Chairperson Smith?
Speaker 1Yes. Mr. Barlow, are there any changes to our agenda tonight?
Speaker 3Yes, ma'am. Chair number 10 22 PB 16 slash 17 v Tanglewood Terrace. They've requested that the matter be carried to the November 9th, 2022 meeting. There are issues with regards to the right of way and the dedications that we are working with the applicant to try and resolve with Ms for Mr. Herrera. So they asked that the matter be carried by way of a letter today, granting the board any needed extensions to act and it would be appropriate. They won't need to notice again, if anyone is on this meeting
Speaker 1Before
Speaker 3That matter, you won't get a new notice. And the matter will be heard on November 9th at 7:30 PM So if there's a motion to carry that to the November 9th meeting. Madam chair.
Speaker 1Do I have a motion that this matter be carried to the November?
Speaker 0I'll
Speaker 1Make that motion Dawn a please.
Speaker 4Carol Saunders.
Speaker 0Councilwoman Corcoran. Ms. Saunders?
Speaker 4Yes.
Speaker 0Reverend Kinneally?
Speaker 5Yes.
Speaker 0Mr. Espinosa? Yes. Mr. Atkins? Yes. And Madam chair?
Speaker 1Yes.
Speaker 3And the only other thing is there was a matter added on for discussion number 12. That shouldn't take but a minute. Madam chair when we get
Speaker 1To it. Okay. Thank you. I, Item number eight, Adoption of resolution to memorialize action. Taken at the September 22 meeting. Ms. Saunders wanna adopt that motion that Yes.
Speaker 4Reverend Kinneally, I like to adopt the minutes from the September 14th, 2002 meeting.
Speaker 1Have Aithal
Speaker 0Councilwoman Cahill? Yes. Ms. Corcoran? Yes. Ms. Saunders?
Speaker 4Yes.
Speaker 0Reverend Kinneally?
Speaker 5Yes.
Speaker 0Mr. Espinosa? Yes. Mr. Atkins? Yes. And Madam chair?
Speaker 1Yes. I see here discussion of the Revolutionary Housing Group llc?
Speaker 0No. No. That's, that's the resolution for number eight.
Speaker 1Oh, okay. All right. That's all good.
Speaker 3Except I think we adopted the minutes, not the resolution.
Speaker 0Yeah. You skipped
Speaker 1One
Speaker 3To
Speaker 1Adopt resolution. Right. So now we need, That was the minutes that we adopted. That was item nine. Now we're gonna go back to item number eight and adopt the resolution.
Speaker 4Okay. I like to adopt the resolution for the Revolutionary Housing Group for the extension of time.
Speaker 1Okay. For one year.
Speaker 4For one year. Sorry.
Speaker 1Okay. May I have a second to that?
Speaker 5I second that. Reverend Kinneally.
Speaker 1Thank you. Reverend Kinneally, roll call.
Speaker 0Councilwoman Cahill. Yes. Ms. Corcoran? Yes. Ms. Saunders?
Speaker 4Yes.
Speaker 0Reverend Kinneally?
Speaker 4Yes.
Speaker 0Mr. Espinosa? Yes. Mr. Arkins? Yes. And Madam chair?
Speaker 1Yes. Item number 1122 PB 1951 Holly Road Associates, llc. We will hear that matter now. Mr. Wiley?
Speaker 6Yes. John Wiley. Appearing on behalf of the applicant. Tonight we're asking for preliminary subdivision approval for a parcel in which there is an existing house, as well as some other improvements. Our intention is to remove those and to have a subdivision of four conforming lots of 10,000 square feet each. We'll have two witnesses tonight, our site engineer as well as our architect. At this point, I would like Mr. Walker, the engineer to be sworn.
Speaker 4Mr. Walker, can you please raise your right hand? Do you swear that the testimony about to give is the truth and nothing but the truth?
Speaker 7I do.
Speaker 4Can you please state and spell your name for the record?
Speaker 7Sure. Leslie, l a s l i e w a l k e r.
Speaker 4Thank you.
Speaker 6And Walker, I know you've testified previously to this board because I've had you as a witness a couple times, but you still retain the license as a PE in the state of New Jersey, is that correct?
Speaker 7I do. That's correct.
Speaker 6I would like him deemed as an expert in engineering.
Speaker 1Yes. He's appeared before us before. Thank you. He's, he's qualified?
Speaker 6Yes. Okay. Mr. Walker, if you could describe what is the present, state or property?
Speaker 7Sure. If, if I may, I'm gonna share my screen.
Speaker 1Okay,
Speaker 7Here we go. Right here. Can you see that? Slide it over this little, Okay. So the, the property sits along Plainfield Avenue. It's known as 7 0 5 Plainfield Avenue. Also blocks 6,904, lot 6.01. And it, it goes all the way from Spencer Street on the west to Custer Street on the east. It's a hundred by 400 and has a house that sits in the middle and, and a shed. It, it's kind of masked behind the, the trees here, but there's, there's also a shed on the site. The, the house, the shed, the existing, well, the driveway, they'll all be removed along with 57 trees to make way for the, the new four construction of four new homes. The, the lot slopes generally from the, the, so yes, Southwest, which is over at Spencer and Plainfield over to the Northeast, which is over on Custer. So kind of diagonally long ways across the property. All right. So now I'm gonna share my, the, a color rendering of the site plan. And this is, this would be, I guess a one. It's, it's different than what you've seen before and it's just a, a colored site plan. Well,
Speaker 3We'll make that a two and this A
Speaker 7One. Okay.
Speaker 2Okay.
Speaker 7Okay. So really straightforward. It's, it's a fully conforming subdividing subdivision creating four 100 by 100 lots. There are two existing nonconformities that are corrected by way of removing the existing shed and the existing home, which both have a front setback violation.
Speaker 8Excuse me, Madam chair. May I just ask that this, So are we supposed to be looking at those plans now or still Just the aerial shot.
Speaker 2The rhetoric did not show
Speaker 7Up. Oh, didn't, I'm sorry. Is there now, Sorry about that. I see it on my side. So I assumed so for, again, four conforming hundred by a hundred lots and remove eliminating two nonconformities for front yard of the existing home and the existing shed, which are both be removed, all four, two and a half story single family homes will be approximately 2,571 square feet. And the architect will get into more detail of the, the look of the home and, and, you know, the character and all that.
Speaker 3I'm sorry, Mr. Walker, how many square feet did you say
Speaker 7Each home is from? The architect's plans are 2,571 square feet.
Speaker 3Thank you, sir.
Speaker 7You got it. Driveways for the, the corner lots will be out to the side street. So over on Spencer, the driveway will, will go out to Spencer. Same thing on op, you know, flip the other way to Custer, that driveway will go out to the side street. And then the two middle lots, the driveways will come out onto Plainfield Avenue. Each driveway is 20 feet wide. So when you combine it with the two car garage per per rs i s residential site improvement standards, that gives you three and a half parking spaces. It's, it's an odd number, three and a half, but that's what it gives you. And per R s I s the required parking for a four bedroom home, which all of these will be is two and a half spaces. So each lot is compliant with onsite parking.
Speaker 7Sidewalks and curbs are, are existing. They'll be repaired or replaced as needed. We're, we're closing up an existing driveway, so that'll, that'll need to be a new curb. And, and we'll also make sure that the ADA ramps at the corners are up to code utilities. You could see the utilities, maybe you could see it, but they're shown on the site plans that you have. But utilities all run out to Plainfield Avenue, the existing services in the street, and they'll, all utilities will be underground drywells. So each, each home has a drywell located in the front yard, if these rectangles and that, that's to accommodate the additional runoff from the increased impervious on the property. So it captures all of the, all of the roof water gets, gets directed to the dry well and then absorbed into the ground. And that's for everything up to a a three inch rainfall event, which is, you know, somewhere around once every two years kind of a storm.
Speaker 7And everything's smaller than that will be fully contained within the dry. Well there, I mentioned before there are 57 trees out of the 71 being removed. Right now we show 10 street trees and 43 replacement trees. And I believe we took credit for some, some additional replacement trees for leaving some behind. And one of your professional letters pointed that out. And so what we're gonna do is go back and look at some of the trees that were, we're removing that are kind of out in the middle of the, the site and see where we can maybe save some of those. And, and otherwise, you know, propose some, some additional trees to make up for the, any remaining replacement trees that we need. But 10 street trees and 43 replacement trees are currently shown. In addition, there are, there are 2026 shrubs and a bunch of perennials shown as foundation plannings around the porches. On, on the, the front side of the homes there are three, there are three Z trees. I don't know that I show them out here. They are, they're, but they're existing and they, we were asked to try to save them if possible and then to fill in along Plainfield Avenue with more of the Green Bay s and, and we'll certainly do that.
Speaker 7That's really it. I mean, we, we've reviewed letters from the, the planning board planner dated September 22nd of this year and the division of engineering planning and development dated September 28th of this year. And we can comply with all the comments contained they're in and I'm available for questions. Does a board have any questions? Are
Speaker 1There any questions from the board, from members of the board?
Speaker 8Madam chair? If I, if I may just one quick question with the, the new, you know, curb cuts and any work done doing on there, I know the Mayor is always very keen on if by chance there has to be any road openings then there, that if any work was done, and I would count on Dawn and the staff there to make sure that this applicant, when they do actually go to put shovel into the ground, are not going to break into the road at all. And I understand that's not the plan here, but let's just say something happens if there is any planned work to be done on that road, you know, or if there has been done some already, and I'm assuming that's already been taken into consideration, but I don't know that I see any notes to that. And there may not be anything going on in the future and something may not have happened there recently. And this might be all for not, and I know we don't cut into the road, but I'm just saying in the case that this applicant is aware of what our policy is about, you know, the opening of a road.
Speaker 9And if I may, I just, this is Dawn Corcoran, I just wanna elaborate on what's the, what the Councilwoman was saying. If you're not looking to do the project in the, like, let's say in the next six months, year or so, we always advise that you stub in any utilities that are required. Because if, in fact if the town had to go down and, you know, it went ahead and had any road improvements along Plainfield Avenue, there is an eight year moratorium that would then go into effect, then you can open up the roadway. If this is a project that's going to be undertaken immediately. There's nothing on the books right now, but you just got, as the Councilwoman was saying, just be aware that if there was any road work done along Plainfield Avenue, that eight year moratorium again goes into effect
Speaker 7That's understood. And we are proposing utility connections in the road. We did run into that, that moratorium over on when I was here a month or two ago over on School Street. So we are aware of that, that can creep on us. And, and in working on many jobs with, with the applicant, I know that he's very sensitive to getting in the utilities right away to make sure that any coming road improvements, he's, he's not in the way of them. So, so that's, that's not a problem. Perfect.
Speaker 1Okay. Any other questions from the board? All right, sir, do you have another witness?
Speaker 6Yes. I would like to call our architect, Mark if he could be sworn in.
Speaker 4Mark, can you please raise your right hand, swear the testimony about, to give you the truth and nothing but the truth?
Speaker 10Yes, I do.
Speaker 4Please, please state and spell your name for the record.
Speaker 10Mark Marcel, m a r c as in cat, i l l e.
Speaker 4Thank you.
Speaker 6And Mark, you've testified before this board, the past license architect?
Speaker 10Yes, I have. Yep.
Speaker 6And you still have your, retain your licenses with the state of New Jersey
Speaker 10Licensed and insured? Yep.
Speaker 6All right. So I'd like Madam Chairman that he be deemed a expert in architecture.
Speaker 1Yes, he may, He may proceed.
Speaker 6Okay. Thank
Speaker 10You.
Speaker 6All right, Mark, if you could bring up the floor plans. There's some confusion I think about it. Your testimony could help clear it up.
Speaker 10Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 6Now this is what you've actually submitted or been submitted to the Township, so we don't need to mark it. But this is a one in your submittals for the board members.
Speaker 10Correct. This, this is the, unless there's engineering drawings, this is the house on the far left of the drawing. So we put together, you know, sort of a modest traditional design for these four homes. Now we wanted something with a traditional vernacular sort of fit into the neighborhood. We wanted to provide sort of four different exterior looks on the outside to provide some variety. And we wanted a, you know, an interior layout that, you know, we felt that was, you know, sort of met modern standards with a, with an open concept for floor plan. So there were some questions in the, in the report regarding the floor plans. I'll just walk you through the floor plan. Essentially the, the homes are centered around our front door. There's a front porch, open front porch, which you enter the house from. To the left is a powder room and then's a small mudroom, which also accesses the garage of the code closet. And then kind of walking around the staircase on the right side is a dining space. And then, and the whole back portion is an open concept kitchen, family room. There was a question regarding whether the house was constructed on a basement or a seller. While the plans refer to this level as a basement, per the Township definition, it's actually technically called to seller because it's more than half below grade.
Speaker 10And then the second floor contains four bedrooms and two bathrooms. So we have four different designs. Again, running from left to right. This is the house that is on the left of, of Es drawing the house to the right is, you know, a different exterior design, a different color scheme, which you can see here. And then the, the next house to the right, same house, just, just mirrored, but with a different exterior design color scheme. We added some gables and a dormer and shuts just to kind of create a little bit of variety in the neighborhood. The same thing with the, with the fourth house.
Speaker 6I think there was a question about ATS
Speaker 10Mark. Yes. Each, each house, you know, has a roof which contains an attic. It, it's a rather low attic, you know, to the collar ties you'll have about six feet of height. So it's essentially for utilities and, you know, a minimal amount storage only.
Speaker 6And there won't be any habitation up there.
Speaker 10So be, don't no habitation, there's not enough height available to finish the attic.
Speaker 6That really concludes well my questioning is there any board members have any questions for the architect
Speaker 1Members of the board? Do you have any questions for this? From the architect
Speaker 5Kinneally customs?
Speaker 10Yes. They'll be custom stick built homes.
Speaker 5Four. The,
Speaker 10The floor plans are largely similar. Similar. The exteriors are, are quite different.
Speaker 5Okay. Well they will vary. Okay, thank you.
Speaker 1Any other questions from the Thank you. I neglected to open the, the testimony of the previous expert to the public. So this Buckley, would you check and see if there's any questions from the public and they of either witness that we've heard from tonight?
Speaker 0No one's raising their hand. Madam chair.
Speaker 1Thank you. Would you like to give a summary or anything?
Speaker 0Somebody just raised their hand.
Speaker 1Oh, okay. Sorry.
Speaker 0Helen Coby. They have to un you have to yourself. There you go. Go ahead. Madam chair.
Speaker 1Okay. Did the person come forth and tell us who they are? Their name and address please?
Speaker 0The person raising their hand. We need your name and your address please.
Speaker 3It's l el Canby. Was that raised hand by accident?
Speaker 0No, they unmuted.
Speaker 3Does anyone else have any questions while that
Speaker 1Person, any other questions from the public? You're still open. You may step forward now.
Speaker 0Yeah, they took their hand down.
Speaker 1Yeah. Okay. Close to the public. Okay. Mr. Wiley?
Speaker 6Well, Madam Chaill I have very little to say when there's no variances needed in this application, I think it'll be a nice addition to the municipality conforms in every way. We will be back for the final and our way back. We will adhere to all the suggestions that the, that your planners engineers have mentioned.
Speaker 1Okay. Do I have a motion from the board?
Speaker 8Madam chair. I would make that motion to accept the plan from this applicant. Obviously with the conditions that Mr. Wiley said that they would meet all of what the staff recommendations are. Yeah, I don't see any reason why we wouldn't make that neighborhood a little bit nicer and hoping that somebody who sold that land made a a little bit of a profit there would be nice to say. So yeah.
Speaker 1Thank you. Do I have a second
Speaker 2Madam chair? Dawn Corcoran. I'll second it.
Speaker 1Thank you. Roll call please.
Speaker 0Councilwoman? Cahill?
Speaker 8Yes.
Speaker 0Ms. Corcoran? Yes. Ms. Saunders, you're muted. Carol.
Speaker 3Bill muted. Carol,
Speaker 1You muted. Carol
Speaker 0Just put thumbs up for Yes.
Speaker 8Maybe hit star six.
Speaker 0I don't know if she's on her phone or if she's on a computer.
Speaker 1I think she's, she's on her phone. Cause that's
Speaker 3Two thumbs up.
Speaker 0Thumbs up.
Speaker 1Got a thumb, Carol.
Speaker 3There it Oh, she goes,
Speaker 0She's Reverend Kinneally. Mr. Ats,
Speaker 1Mr. Atkins, you're muted.
Speaker 3Yes.
Speaker 0Thank you. There you go. And Madam chair.
Speaker 1Yes. Thank you Mr.
Speaker 6Thank you.
Speaker 1Do you have any idea when these houses will be going up or when they'll be done?
Speaker 6It depends on how fast we can get our final to you, but I would imagine the spring.
Speaker 1Okay.
Speaker 6Okay.
Speaker 1Okay. Thank you. Laura?
Speaker 3I'm sorry. Laura. Kara has her hand
Speaker 0Up. Yeah, I think that was her way of saying yes. She finally raised her hand.
Speaker 1Yeah. Okay.
Speaker 6Okay. Thank you very much for
Speaker 0Mr. Wiley.
Speaker 6Okay, bye-bye
Speaker 1At all. Item number 12, discussion. 90 day extension of time to perfect minor subdivision for block 36 10
Speaker 3Madam
Speaker 1Chair property known as 44 Barbara Place,
Speaker 3Madam chair. You may recall this is Mr. Morris's project. It's the de stanza where the board had granted the approval and he had requested an initial, an additional 90 days just to perfect the subdivision. And he's trying to get the matter closed. He hasn't until October 19th. But the closing is set for October 19th. And as we all know, sometimes closing's fall through because of one.
Speaker 1You're not the most trust
Speaker 3Out of an abundance of caution. Mr. Morris reached out to Dawn and I today to ask if the board would consider giving him an additional 90 days till January 19th, 2023 so that he can get everything locked up. It's still under the timeframe that's even allowed by the statute. So I I didn't have any objection to his request and I don't think Ms Cor it either. So if, if the board's okay with it, someone would just make
Speaker 1Motion unless there's objection. Do have a motion to of time for 90 days on this matter.
Speaker 0I'll make that motion. Councilwoman.
Speaker 1Thank you. Do have a second?
Speaker 0Join Corcoran. I'll second
Speaker 1That. Thank you so much. Roll call please. Miss
Speaker 0Councilwoman Cahill? Yes. Ms. Corcoran? Yes. Ms. Saunders?
Speaker 3She said yes. Sheed. You?
Speaker 0Reverend Kinneally. Espinosa? Yes. Mr. Atkins? Yes. And Madam chair?
Speaker 1Yes. All right everyone, thank you. There's no other matters on the agenda. Have a happy Halloween.