Transcript for Piscataway Planning meeting on July 12 2023
Note: Transcripts are generated by rev.ai and may not be fully accurate. Please listen to the recording (below) if you feel any text is inaccurate.
Speaker 1 00:00:03 Madam chair. We're ready. It's seven 30. Speaker 0 00:00:06 Thank you. The regular meeting of the Piscataway Township Planning Board will please come to water. Adequate notice of this meeting 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 available clerk notice sent to the Courier News and the star ledger. Ms. Buckley, would you please call the role Speaker 1 00:00:32 Mayor Wahler? Here. Ms. Corcoran. Ms. Saunders? Here. Reverend Kinneally? Speaker 2 00:00:49 Here. Speaker 1 00:00:52 Mr. Atkins? Speaker 4 00:00:53 Here. Speaker 1 00:00:55 Mr. Foster? Speaker 5 00:00:57 Here. Speaker 1 00:00:59 Mr. Ahmed? Yes. And Madam chair. Recording Speaker 0 00:01:05 In progress Here. Here. Can we all face the flag over my right shoulder and it's recycled Pledge of Allegiance? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all the, are there any adjustment amendments to the tonight's agenda? Mr. Barlow Speaker 4 00:01:45 Madam chair number 10, which is a discussion on the properties on Brook Clawson and Field Avenue as to whether or not they're an area in need of redevelopment has been postponed until the August 9th, 2023 meeting. And number 1423 PV 15 slash 16 V the 30 Duke Road transfer warehouse has been postponed to August 9th, 2023. And the applicant will re-notice. So if anyone's here for those two matters, they'll be heard. Speaker 0 00:02:19 What was the first matter you mentioned? Speaker 4 00:02:21 Number 10 with discussion. Speaker 0 00:02:25 Alright. Speaker 4 00:02:26 They'll both be heard at the August 9th meeting at this juncture. Speaker 0 00:02:31 Thank you. All right. Can we have the professional sworn in? Speaker 6 00:02:41 Okay. My camera has failed, but I will swear in. Speaker 7 00:02:52 Would you like me to do that or will the attorney do Speaker 0 00:02:54 That? Speaker 4 00:02:56 Mr. I don't. Her sound is working Speaker 6 00:03:01 Okay. At least my sound. We Speaker 1 00:03:03 Don't hear you, Carol. Speaker 6 00:03:04 At least my sound's working. Speaker 4 00:03:07 Ron, if you could state your name. Speaker 6 00:03:10 Ronald Reinertsen, c m e And Associates of Professional Planner. Swear for the board. Speaker 4 00:03:16 You swear your testimony you give before the board this evening will be the whole truth. So you got Speaker 6 00:03:20 Yes, I do. Speaker 0 00:03:23 Thank you. May I have a motion from the board to pay any duly audited bills for the month? Speaker 2 00:03:30 Chair? I motion bills. Reverend Speaker 0 00:03:34 Kinneally. Thank you. Thank you. Reverend Kinneally. Do I have a second? Speaker 8 00:03:40 Join Corcoran. I'll second that. Speaker 0 00:03:42 Thank you. Roll call please. Speaker 1 00:03:45 Mayor? Wahler? Speaker 6 00:03:46 Yes. Speaker 1 00:03:47 Ms. Corcoran? Speaker 8 00:03:48 Yes. Speaker 1 00:03:49 Ms. Saunders? Speaker 6 00:03:51 Yes. Speaker 1 00:03:54 Reverend Kinneally? Speaker 2 00:03:55 Yes. Speaker 1 00:03:56 Mr. Atkins? Speaker 4 00:03:58 Yes. Speaker 1 00:03:59 Mr. Foster? Speaker 4 00:04:01 Yes. Speaker 1 00:04:02 Mr. Ahamed? Speaker 6 00:04:03 Yes. Speaker 1 00:04:05 And Madam chair? Speaker 0 00:04:07 Yes. Item number eight, adoption of revolution resolution to memorialize action. Taken at the June 14th, 2023 meeting, there was none, no meeting. Speaker 4 00:04:19 Correct. There are no resolutions from that meeting. Speaker 0 00:04:20 Okay. So we can withdraw that. Item number nine, adoption of the minutes from the regular meeting of June 14th. Well, there was no minutes then. Speaker 4 00:04:30 No, there were minutes. Speaker 0 00:04:32 There were minutes. Wait a minute. I do have, can I get a motion to approve the amendment Speaker 8 00:04:40 One per and I'll make that motion. Speaker 0 00:04:43 Thank you. Second, please. I second it. Thank you Mr. Speaker 1 00:04:48 Atkins. Second. Yes. Excuse me. Mr. Foster. Speaker 0 00:04:53 Welcome. Mayor. Wahler. Speaker 6 00:04:55 Yes. Yes. Speaker 1 00:04:57 Ms. Corcoran? Speaker 8 00:04:58 Yes. Speaker 1 00:04:59 Yes. Ms. Saunders? Speaker 8 00:05:00 Yes. Speaker 1 00:05:02 Reverend Kinneally. Speaker 2 00:05:03 Yes. Speaker 1 00:05:04 Mr. Atkins? Speaker 4 00:05:06 Yes. Speaker 1 00:05:06 Yes. Mr. Foster? Speaker 0 00:05:08 Yes. Speaker 1 00:05:09 Mr. Ahmed? Speaker 6 00:05:10 Yes. Speaker 1 00:05:11 Yes. And Madam chair Speaker 0 00:05:15 Item item number 10 has been adjourned until the August 9th meeting. Item number 11, discussion extension of time for 22 PB 2021 V as in Victor Splendor Holmes, New Jersey, l l c 1762 and 1758 South Second Street. Speaker 4 00:05:35 Mr. Mor, Speaker 4 00:05:37 Mr. Morris was the applicant's attorney. The board may recall this was a two lot subdivision that required the applicant to purchase a piece of property from the Township cause of the pr, the procedures that are required whenever the municipality sells land. That process took a little bit of time through no one's fault, and that's been completed. Mr. Morrise wrote on July 7th, 2023, asking for an additional six months to perfect the subdivision because the time would run on July 20th, 2023. He fully believes he'll be able to, to get that done beforehand, but has requested an additional six months from the board. And there's really no reason not to extend that courtesy to Mr. Morris. Speaker 0 00:06:24 I'm hearing no objection. We, that will be adjourned for six months. Speaker 4 00:06:29 Well, we just need a motion and, and there's also a resolution that needs to be adopted. Madam chair. Speaker 0 00:06:36 Okay. Can I get a motion from the membership? Someone in the membership? Speaker 2 00:06:41 I make a motion, Reverend that we, Speaker 0 00:06:46 I get a second. Second. Thank you. Roll call Ms. Buckley Speaker 1 00:06:52 Mayor Wahler. Yes. Yes. Ms. Corcoran? Yes. Ms. Saunders? Speaker 9 00:06:58 Yes. Yes. Speaker 1 00:06:59 Reverend Kinneally. Speaker 2 00:07:01 Yes. Speaker 1 00:07:02 Mr. Atkins? Speaker 4 00:07:03 Yes. Speaker 1 00:07:04 Yes. Mr. Foster? Yes. Mr. Ahmed? Yes. Yes. Madam chair. Yes. Speaker 4 00:07:12 Ms. Saunders should have a resolution that we can memorialize this evening. Cause if we wait until next month's meeting, the time will have passed. Speaker 9 00:07:21 Okay. Gimme one second. Sorry, I had to get back in. Okay. Speaker 4 00:07:27 No Speaker 9 00:07:27 Problem. Okay. Madam Chairman, I'd like to make memorialize the resolution for Splendor Homes New Jersey, L l c application 22 PB zero four slash zero five B for an extension of time. Speaker 0 00:07:46 May I have a second? Speaker 4 00:07:49 I'll second stack Speaker 0 00:07:50 You. Roll call Speaker 1 00:07:54 Mayor Wahler? Yes. Yes. Ms. Corcoran. Ms. Saunders? Speaker 9 00:08:00 Yes. Speaker 1 00:08:00 Yes. Reverend Kinneally? Speaker 2 00:08:02 Yes. Speaker 1 00:08:03 Mr. Atkins? Speaker 4 00:08:05 Yes. Speaker 1 00:08:05 Yes. Mr. Foster? Yes. Mr. Hammed? Yes. Yes. Madam chair? Speaker 0 00:08:12 Yes. Item number 12. Discussion. I p t Kingsbridge Business Center Urban Renewal seek relief to from previously approved condition, Speaker 4 00:08:24 Madam Madam Speaker 0 00:08:25 Jennings Speaker 4 00:08:27 Madam chair, the, the board may recall this was a, an application where Ms. Jennings from the ENS firm represented I p t Kingsbridge Business Center. The board granted the application, and if you may recall, it was a warehouse where there were going to be 5,000 square feet of office space, two 2,500 square foot offices. The applicant as going through the process, submitted plans to make one of the offices 2,518 feet. And because of the condition in the resolution, the township's professionals had to deny the request for the, for the building permit. So the, the applicant is seeking to remove the condition that the two offices have to be equally 2,500 square feet. I know Ms. Jennings spoke at length with Mr. Clarken, the assistant Township attorney. He had no objection and he thought it was appropriate for the applicant to just seek a modification of the condition that the two offices had to be exactly 2,500 square feet. Speaker 4 00:09:46 The board, there's not gonna be a change in the overall square footage of the office space being 5,000. It will still be 5,000 square feet as the board approved. It's just a question of if they have to divide it up, whether it's 25 18 and 24 82 or twenty four hundred and twenty six hundred, it'll still be 5,000 square feet. I know Ms. Corcoran has been involved in those discussions also. And again, I don't believe Mr. Clarken or Ms. Corcoran had any objection to that. And I can understand from the applicant's point of view, somebody might need a couple more feet on one and a couple less feet. So there's just seeking the board's approval to modify the condition that the two office spaces don't have to be 2,500 square feet each. Did I summarize that Ms. Corcoran? Speaker 1 00:10:37 That was perfect. Speaker 4 00:10:38 Okay. So if, if the board's inclined to do so, there would be a motion to just modify that one condition that the two office spaces don't have to be 2,500 square feet. And then I'll do a resolution for next month's meeting. If, if that's the board's pleasure, Speaker 0 00:10:57 Can I get a motion from the board indicating whether this modification is, is agree, is, is a, is agreeable to you, to the board without Objection. Madam chair. Dawn. I'll make that motion. Can I get a second? Ms. Chair? Saunders second. Ms. Saunders? I hear you. It's a second. Can you roll? Call the roll Ms. Buckley, please. Speaker 1 00:11:29 Mayor? Wahler? Yeah. Yes. Yes. Ms. Corcoran? Yes. Yes. Ms. Saunders? Speaker 0 00:11:37 Yes. Speaker 1 00:11:38 Yes. Reverend Kinneally? Yes. Mr. Atkins? Speaker 4 00:11:42 Yes. Yes. Speaker 1 00:11:44 Mr. Foster? Yes. Mr. Hamed? Yes. Yes. Madam chair? Speaker 0 00:11:51 Yes. Item number 1323 P B oh nine slash 10 V as in Victor, 1407 Shelton Road. Speaker 10 00:12:03 Good evening. Members of the board, board professionals. Can everybody hear me? Speaker 0 00:12:07 Yes, we can. Yes. Speaker 10 00:12:09 Hello, my name is Tim Arch. I'm an attorney licensed in the state of New Jersey. I'm here representing 1407 Stelton Road. This is a current carwash that's on Stelton Road. I don't know how long it's been there, but it's, I believe it's been there for as long as I've ever known Piscataway. That carwash has been there and it was recently purchased by my client in 2022. And he wants to do some, give it a facelift, modernize it, update it, basically, you know, bring it into the, into the 21st century. And, and that's why we're here tonight. We're looking for a, a second story addition in order to put some new facade signs on. It is gonna require some new variances. Actually really only one new variance. All the other ones are, are essentially existing, but I'll go over those. It's, we are proposing three facade signs where only one is permitted in the zone. Speaker 10 00:13:14 There is a free standing sign that is currently there in existing, we're gonna keep that freestanding sign. It is 33 square feet in area and the permitted size is 32 square feet in area. So we're one square foot over on the size of the existing freestanding side. And the setback is at 13 feet from the street line where 25 is required for parking. Based on our calculations, we would need 26 parking spaces and we are proposing 13. I believe those spaces are already existing, although as we get into the, the comments, we'll see the striping isn't the best there and we are planning on res striping and re re designating those parking spaces. So those, that's the variance relief that we are requesting tonight. I do have a couple staff reports. Just for the record, I have Mr. Stein's memo of June 28th. I have Mr. Ryerson's c m e review letter of July 5th. I have Ms. Corcoran's completeness review, and then I have a fire approval letter as well. Is there anything that I'm missing? For the record? Dawn is shaking her head, so no. So I don't believe I'm missing it. Not that Speaker 0 00:14:25 I'm aware of. Speaker 10 00:14:27 Excellent. I do have a, a couple witnesses tonight. I do want to, just in terms of, sorry, one, sorry, my computer's doing something stupid. Apologies for that. I do have a couple witnesses tonight. I have Mr. Mario Mendoza. He's the, the owner of the property and our representative, he's gonna be first. Then I have our engineer, Mr. Rob Murray. I have our architect, Mr. Brian Taylor. And then I have our planner, John DuPont. Without any ado, I'm ready to call my first witness unless there's any housekeeping matters that I have to discuss first. Speaker 9 00:15:08 Mr. Barlow? Speaker 4 00:15:09 No, Mr. Arch. I would just note for the record that the notices were acceptable. Speaker 10 00:15:15 Thank you. Mr. Speaker 9 00:15:16 May call your witness. Speaker 10 00:15:18 Mr. Mendoza, if you can please unmute your, your mic and let yourself be known. Speaker 11 00:15:24 Can you hear me? Speaker 9 00:15:26 Yes. Yes. Speaker 11 00:15:29 You doing Speaker 9 00:15:31 Fine. Can you please raise your right hand? Do you swear that the testimony you're about to give be the truth and nothing but the truth? Speaker 11 00:15:40 I do. Speaker 9 00:15:41 Thank you. Can you please state your name for the record? Speaker 11 00:15:44 Mario Mendoza. Speaker 9 00:15:46 Thank you. Speaker 10 00:15:48 So Mr. Mendoza, you are in fact the owner of the property, is that correct? Speaker 11 00:15:52 Yes. Speaker 10 00:15:53 And you purchased that in Mar like April, I think, of 2022, is that correct? Speaker 11 00:15:59 Yeah, April of 22 was the closing. Speaker 10 00:16:02 Okay. And do you have, can you just briefly tell us what your experiences with car washes are? Do you own any other car washes? Speaker 11 00:16:10 I do. I actually got into the business in 96. I own and operate three locations at this time. And I've owned approximately about eight through the years. Speaker 10 00:16:23 Okay. And was I accurate in the beginning when I said that that part of this application is to revitalize, modernize, kind of give the, the site a facelift, is that correct? Speaker 11 00:16:32 Definitely, yes. Speaker 10 00:16:34 Okay. And based on your knowledge of the site, it hasn't really changed much in presumably decades since it's been there? Correct? Speaker 11 00:16:42 Yeah. I mean I, I've had a car wash in South Plainfield for probably 20 years and I think it's, that one's looked the same for about 20 years. Speaker 10 00:16:51 Okay. So I'm gonna ask you a, a couple questions sort of about the operation. At any given time on the site, how many employees do you have working there? Speaker 11 00:17:03 The site like this normally has around three employees full-time. On the weekends we might have an extra one to four. I mean the max would be five, three full and two part-time on a busy weekend, kind of a, after like a snowstorm and you know, the days that we are, we get a little busier. Speaker 10 00:17:22 Okay. Speaker 11 00:17:22 But three full, full-time. Speaker 10 00:17:24 And in your experience, do, do each of those employees drive a separate car or do they carpool to work or get dropped off? Speaker 11 00:17:32 No, no, mostly they carpool. Speaker 10 00:17:34 Okay. So each of those employees doesn't require a, a designated parking space for each of them, correct? Speaker 11 00:17:41 No, like right now we have I think two cars on site with the part-timers. Like on a, on a Saturday you'll see the, you know, my manager has his car and then he brings a couple guys with him. Okay. Speaker 10 00:17:54 So, so one of the variances that we're asking for is 13 is to provide 13 parking spaces on site as opposed to 26. In your experience as a, as an owner of a carwash and an operating this carwash in particular, is that more than adequate to accommodate the customers and the employees on that site? Speaker 11 00:18:14 I believe so, yes. Speaker 10 00:18:15 Okay. And just car washes in general, they're not a, the type of business where people come in park stay for a long period of time, they're a quick turnover business. Is that, would that be accurate to describe? Speaker 11 00:18:29 Yeah, people drive in and pretty much drive out. You know, they'll park, they'll vacuum, but they're not staying, you know, for a long period of time. Speaker 10 00:18:35 And actually a good majority of your customers don't even park at all. They go through go through the carwash and exit the site completely correct. Yeah. Okay. Speaker 11 00:18:44 Yes. Speaker 10 00:18:46 So signage is also something that we're asking for in this. So let's talk about that a little bit. In terms of the business of a carwash, is signage and visibility an important aspect of that business? Speaker 11 00:18:57 Yeah, it's huge because, you know, people driving down the street, you know, the carwash is something that's kind of like an impulse, you know, you know, reaction to get the car wash if it's a nice day out or if the weather's permitting. So obviously the, the, the more signs that we can, you know, show them, you know, a good ways before they get to our location, that that helps, helps a lot and also helps them from, you know, slamming on their brakes when they're, you know, passing it or, you know, cuz they, they couldn't see the signage. Speaker 10 00:19:25 Okay. So not just from a, from a business perspective, from you to track business, but also so that people that are driving down Stelton Road have adequate time to, to change lanes if they want to go in or to, or slow down so that they can make the turn into the lot. Is that correct? Speaker 11 00:19:40 Yes. Speaker 10 00:19:41 Okay. Directing your attention to CES's reports, Mr. Ryerson's report, there were a couple questions in there that I just wanted to highlight to get your, get your feedback on. One of those was to confirm the nature of the Pegasus devices. Can you just briefly tell us, describe what these Pegasus pay stations are and how they work? Speaker 11 00:20:05 So the pay stations is basically a, it's like an automated cashier for the car wash industry where the CU customers can basically just pull up, you know, choose their service, they can pay for the service at, at the machine. It has a gate, the gate goes up once they pay and then they can pull into the wash and get their, get the, get their service. Speaker 10 00:20:28 Okay. And the other, the other kind, I think that, that it was mentioned was L P R, but that's not the, the type of pay station that we're using. Right. That's a license plates plate reader station. Speaker 11 00:20:37 Yeah. So unfortunately the manufacturer that we use, when I asked them for diagrams and stuff, they had like the full blown, you know, all bells and whistles. Which one of the, the one of them them is the L P R reader, which is a license plate reader and that's for other, you know, membership type of things. But they don't really work good in the northeast. But we, we won't be using them, no. Speaker 10 00:20:57 Okay. And, and on on the note about the pay station, if somebody were to enter to get a car wash, drive to the pay station and some for some reason decide that they didn't want to get a car wash, are they able to select an option of no car wash to exit the site and, and, and not disrupt circulation of the site? Speaker 11 00:21:17 Yes. And also my guys, for example, my, my entrance attendance will have the ability to, if they see somebody struggling or if they do notice that they need them to, to, you know, to go pull out, they can auto, they can also automatically open it from, from their station. Ok. Or they can walk home and do the same thing at the, at the base station. Speaker 10 00:21:37 So they can actually remotely help the circulation of the site. Correct. From Okay. I think there was one other comment in Mr. Ryerson's report. He was asking if we, or I think one, one of the comments was re striping and red delineating the parking lot. We're agreeing that we're gonna do that as, as part of this approval if we do get approved, correct? Speaker 11 00:21:56 Yeah, a hundred percent, yeah. Okay. Speaker 10 00:21:59 And also I believe Mr. Ryerson had indicated had we contemplated the potential of putting in an ev charging station and that's something that we had talked about, but is it fair to say that given the nature of the business, the fact that it is a, a transactional business where there's a high turnover of cars that a, a charging station really doesn't make sense cuz that's really the antithesis of what the business model is? Speaker 11 00:22:24 Yeah, you and I spoke about it in depth. It just, I think it's in this, in this scenario, just we're not looking for people to stay, stay a while if that makes any sense. You know, we're, we're in and out. It's an exteriorly carwash with vacuums, so I just don't, I I personally don't think that it would, you know, it would make sense at this, you know, this type of business. Speaker 10 00:22:42 Right. And based on the amount of time that it takes for a lot of cars to charge, it makes sense on maybe a restaurant or a hotel or someplace where you're gonna be staying for an extended period of time. But in an area like this where you're coming in for, you know, a couple minutes doesn't make sense to have a charger on site, correct? Speaker 11 00:23:00 Yeah, I mean I think our average vacuum time is around seven minutes. Speaker 10 00:23:04 Okay. I'm gonna draw your attention then to, we have Mr. Hinterstein memo, and I'm gonna try to go through this as quickly as I can. His first comment was about the proposed signage that we showed, and we'll get into that more when we get to our architect, but he was asking if we could reduce the two facade side facade signs. And can you just confirm we actually will be showing on an exhibit, we did reduce this down in coordination with Mr. Hinterstein where he, he, we actually asked him to what size he would like us to reduce it down to and that we followed his directions and did that. Is that, is that accurate? Speaker 11 00:23:43 Yes. Speaker 10 00:23:44 Okay. And, and, and there's, well, we'll get into it more when we get to the architecture, but there's a couple other tweaks as to the, the signage in order to cut down on sort of the redundancy that he was pointing out in his comment, correct? Correct. Okay. Now, point number two, he indicates that there's another sign that exists at the, at the rear of the property, but no dimensions are given. And we indicated that on our plan that there was some covered signage, but that's been removed, correct? Speaker 11 00:24:13 Yeah, yeah, that's been removed. Speaker 10 00:24:14 Okay. So that was just something that had been there previously? It it was removed before the application? Speaker 11 00:24:19 Yeah, I didn't even really know what, what it was doing. It was, it looked like a large birdhouse to be honest with you. So I just took it down and landscaped around it. Speaker 10 00:24:28 Excellent. Okay. Three and four are both about dedicating the necessary right of way and doing a temporary construction easement. You actually had told me that you were already approached by the town with the temporary construction easement documentation, I guess because they're about to be doing something on international. And so you believe that that, that that's already been signed, but if for some reason it hasn't been signed or it hasn't been effectuated, you have no problem agreeing to those conditions, correct? Speaker 11 00:24:55 Yeah, I already worked with the attorney that was handling that. I, I don't remember who it was, but yeah, I, I signed everything that they asked me to and send it back a while ago. Speaker 10 00:25:04 Okay. But if for some reason it never got recorded, never got lost, at some point you have no problem re executing something as a condition of this if that's necessary? Correct. Speaker 11 00:25:13 No problem at all. Speaker 10 00:25:14 Okay. So five is any broken or damaged curbed along Stelton Road should be replaced? We have no issue with that comment, correct? Speaker 11 00:25:21 No issue. Speaker 10 00:25:22 Okay. The existing freestanding sign needs to be landscaped. You had actually already landscaped it, it just wasn't reflected on the Google Street view that, that we believe Mr. Hinterstein was looking at and we provided him with pictures after this report and I believe he indicated that he was satisfied with the landscaping, is that correct? Speaker 11 00:25:40 Correct. Speaker 10 00:25:41 Okay. And we'll agree obviously to confirm that he's satisfied with it and provide any, any other documentation, but we're fine doing that condition. We believe it's already done Speaker 4 00:25:52 Ms. George, so the applicant will work with Henry if there's any issues related to landscaping? Speaker 10 00:25:57 Absolutely. Okay. Seven. The existing lighting where you've already contacted your electrician to make sure that the l e d lighting that we have, the new l e d lighting that was installed on site can be adjusted to meet the ordinance, is that correct? Speaker 11 00:26:13 Yeah, I did meet with them. It can be adjusted and it will be, I'm just waiting to know exactly, you know, what angle it needs to be so I can give that information to electrician. Okay. So he can come back and do that. Speaker 10 00:26:26 Number eight, there's a fence located along, there was a fence located along International Drive. He's asking us to reinstall that. We have no problem putting the fence in, however, you were just asking if international is going to be widened in the near future, we wanna be able to coordinate so we're not putting up a fence, having it taken down and having it reinstalled again. Is that correct? Speaker 11 00:26:47 Yeah, that in fact that fence was, was in pretty poor condition and was cracked and broken in a lot of places, so we took it down with the intentions of putting a new one up. But, and in that timeframe is when I started getting the information from the attorneys about the construction easement and that's kind of when I, when I stopped to, to see if we can, you know, if the town approves that we can put the fence up after they're done. So we're not doing it twice if, if need be. Speaker 8 00:27:12 And Tim, if I may, this is Dawn Corcoran? We do, I do believe we have those engineering plans in our office. So we can certainly work with your client as to the correct location for the reinstallation of that fence. Speaker 10 00:27:23 Excellent. And just to coordinate on timing so that we're not gonna get everybody's well absolutely. Speaker 12 00:27:28 Madam Madam chair, if I can jump in on that. I the road. Go ahead ma'am. The road is not being widened. The existing curb to curb is gonna be maintained. There will be a sidewalk, I believe if there's already a sidewalk out there. If there's not, then you're gonna be required to put one in on International Avenue, Speaker 10 00:27:46 But Okay. But it would affect where the right of way is, where that, where that temporary easement is? That's right. And so we just make sure that the, that it's coordinated so that we're not causing more work for either Township or for us. Speaker 12 00:27:59 And, and councilor, as I may say, I, I don't believe that they're gonna finish up with the project before the end of year. I think this will spill over probably to late spring of next year when they'll cap the road. So there, there'll be some time yet. Okay. Okay. Speaker 10 00:28:15 Mr. Mendoza, number nine, the rear of the property, they're asking Mr. Interesting's asking particular in the areas adjacent to residential homes, can that be buffered with a solid fence or a mix of landscaping? We're fine doing the buffer, but I believe that you had pointed out that there is existing landscaping that is quite mature back there already and, and fairly tall and we just wanna coordinate with Henry so that we're not potentially removing what is providing a nice buffer already with the existing landscaping. But can we suffice to say that we will work with Henry to find out, to figure out the best way to, to provide a buffer along that back area? Speaker 11 00:28:54 Yeah, and it goes back to the, I think the, the picture that he saw from Google Map was kind of old, I guess. And, and that, that buffer is pretty mature. They're, you know, they're a good five, six feet tall and in order to put a, a fence along there, I think we would have to remove those. And right now I would like to. So is Speaker 10 00:29:13 It fair to say though, as Mr. Barlow indicated that we will work with Mr. Henry, with Mr. Hinterstein to work out what a appropriate landscaping buffer there would be? Speaker 11 00:29:21 Yes. Speaker 10 00:29:22 Number 10 street trees provided, were fine agreeing with that, correct? Speaker 11 00:29:27 Yes. Speaker 10 00:29:28 And then 11 and 12 broken damage pavement and curb and sidewalk should be replaced. We're fine with that as well. Is that correct? Speaker 11 00:29:35 Yes. Speaker 10 00:29:36 Okay. I have no further direct questions of, of Mr. Mendoza, unless the board has any questions of him, Speaker 0 00:29:45 Members of the board, anyone having questions of this app, of this witness? Okay. Hearing no response Ms. Buckley, would you check to see if there's any, I'll open it to the public and see if we have any questions of this witness from the public? Speaker 1 00:30:03 No. And Madam chair. Speaker 0 00:30:05 Thank you. Close to the public, you may call your next witness. Speaker 10 00:30:11 My next witness is Mr. Rob Murray. He's our engineer. Mr. Murray. Speaker 13 00:30:16 Hey, how's it going? Speaker 9 00:30:17 Hello? Can you please raise your right hand? Do you swear that the testimony you to give we the truth and nothing but the truth? Speaker 13 00:30:24 I do. Speaker 9 00:30:25 Can you please state your name for the record? Speaker 13 00:30:28 Robert Murray. Speaker 9 00:30:30 Thank you. Speaker 10 00:30:32 Mr. Murray, can you, have you been in front of the planning board in Piscataway Speaker 13 00:30:36 Before? Yes, I have. Speaker 10 00:30:38 You've been accepted as an engineer before? Speaker 13 00:30:40 Yes. Speaker 10 00:30:41 And are your credentials the same or, or better than or still in good standing from the last time that you were accepted? Speaker 13 00:30:48 My credentials are still in good standing. Yes. Speaker 0 00:30:54 Yes. May be accepted. Thank you. Thank Speaker 10 00:30:56 You. Mr. Murray, if you can just briefly give us a, an overview of the site and sort of touch upon what we're doing for the benefit of the, of the board. Speaker 13 00:31:07 Yes. Allow me to share exhibit A one, which is a colorized site plan exhibit with an aerial background of the existing conditions. Just to orientate the drawing north is to the left. The site is known as Piscataway Auto Spa. It is lot 17 of block 86 0 4 in the Township of Pisca Piscataway. It refer Speaker 4 00:31:39 This as Exhibit A1. Okay. Speaker 13 00:31:41 Yes, yes. The site is 0.95 acres and is located in the general business zone. Speaker 10 00:31:52 Actually, can I, I stop you one second. Mr. Murray. I, I'm sorry to do this, but this might help you Mr. This might actually avoid confusion later. I think we pre-marked the architecturals as a one and a two. So Mr. Barlow, if we can mark this as a three and we'll get to a one and a two in a moment. I apologize for the, for going back and forth. Speaker 4 00:32:10 No problem. So A three is the colorized site plan prepared by men Menlo Engineering Associates, correct? Speaker 13 00:32:17 Correct. Okay. Speaker 10 00:32:23 Sorry. Speaker 13 00:32:26 The site is located on the southeast corner of the intersection between International Avenue and Stelton Road. And access is provided off of Stelton Road. The surrounding areas include a restaurant to the north, single family homes to the east, an office building to the south, a retail plaza to the west. And the site encompasses an orthodontist office to the northeast. As the site exists today, it is a 4,022 square foot carwash with 13 parking spaces and also includes a facade sign and a freestanding sign. The applicant proposes a 480 square foot second floor addition of the carwash, the removal of one facade sign with the addition of three facade signs and the addition of two pay stations. Existing nonconformities include parking count where 13 parking spaces exist today, where 26 is required existing freestanding sign setback where 13 feet is provided, where 25 is the minimum required existing free standing sign square footage where 32 square foot is the max and 33 exists today. And our final variance is three facade signs proposed where one is the maximum permitted. And that concludes my testimony. Speaker 10 00:34:07 Thank you Mr. Murray. If the board has any, or, oh, I'm sorry. One quick direct question for you. In terms of any of the comments in the C M E report that refer to revisions of the engineering plans such as revising tables or anything along those lines, we have no issue with complying with all of those requests, is that correct? Speaker 13 00:34:26 Correct. Speaker 10 00:34:27 Okay. I have no further direct questions of Mr. Murray. Speaker 0 00:34:32 Thank you members of the board. Do you have any questions that you would like to ask of this witness? Thank you. I will now open it up to the public. Ms. Buckley, would you check to see if anyone from the public would like to ask witnesses of this? I mean, questions of this witness? Speaker 3 00:34:52 No. One Madam chair. Speaker 0 00:34:53 Thank you. Close to the public. If the board members have any questions, then you can call your final witness or your next witness. Speaker 10 00:35:02 Yeah, two more, but we'll go quick. I have Mr. Brian Taylor, our architect. Is next. Stop sharing your screen. Brian and Mr. Taylor, I think you need to be sworn in. Speaker 9 00:35:26 Yes, I can't see him. Can you please raise your right hand? Speaker 3 00:35:33 Yes. Okay. Speaker 9 00:35:35 Do you swear that the testimony about to give be the truth and nothing but the truth? Speaker 14 00:35:39 I do. Speaker 9 00:35:40 Please state your name for the record. Speaker 14 00:35:42 Brian Taylor. Speaker 9 00:35:44 Thank you. Speaker 10 00:35:46 Mr. Taylor, if you can please just briefly discuss your credentials and, and if you've ever been in front of the Skyway Planning Board in the past. Speaker 14 00:35:54 Sure. I'm a licensed architect in the state of New Jersey. My license is in good standing. I'm also licensed in six other states. I graduated from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, school of Architecture and my office ist located in, in North Plainfield. I do not believe I've been before the Piscataway Planning Board. If it was, it was a while ago. I I was last year in front of the zoning board in Piscataway. But I've testified in front of many municipalities throughout the state of New Jersey. Speaker 0 00:36:28 Thank you. He's acceptable to the board testify as an expert. Speaker 10 00:36:32 Thank you. Mr. Taylor, if you can please tell us how it's gonna look and if you can just focus on, I guess, those revisions that we made as part of Henry's comments. Speaker 14 00:36:43 Sure. Is this a one or a two? This is actually the originally submitted drawing. I want to just kind of show this first and then I'm gonna show a one just to show the differences, if that's okay. Okay. Okay. So I'm, I'm presuming everybody can see my screen. So as it was explained previously, there's a small addition, which is a, a a tower edition, which is going over near the entrance side of the carwash. And previously we had three signs, one on either side of the, on either side of the tower on the entry side, and on the opposite side of that, shown in the east and west elevation. And we had one sign on the awning, which is facing Stelton Road, which is the bottom elevation. So the comment was that the, the signs were a little bit large. So what we did is we reduced the size of the signs and right now I'm showing exhibit A one with today's date. Speaker 14 00:37:47 So the signs that you can see on the middle of, of the screen on the, what, what we're calling the east elevation and the west elevation, those signs were reduced from 67 square feet down to 40 square feet, which is a, a a a 40% reduction. As well as the, the sign, the same size sign and same exact sign was on the Stelton road elevation on the awning in this area in the middle that was removed. And this is the slight little variation I guess, that Mr. Arch was speaking about. We removed that sign and then replaced it instead with a logo sign, which is the car washes logo, logo, speedy Shine. And that sign is, I believe it's 55 square feet. So it was really just kind of re swapping out the, the, the block letter sign for the logo sign, which is actually smaller than, than the originally scheduled sign. So we hope that these changes, you know, at least alleviate some of the concerns of the size of the signage as it was reduced. Speaker 10 00:38:58 And Mr. Taylor, just in terms of the, all of these are compliant in terms of size, in terms of percentage of the facade, correct? Per the ordinance? Speaker 14 00:39:07 Yes, that's correct. So we have another drawing that actually gives the sign, the, the size. It's, it's, it's less, all of them are less than 10% of the, of the facade. Speaker 10 00:39:21 Thank you. I have no other direct questions of Mr. Taylor, Speaker 0 00:39:25 Members of the board. Do you have any questions of this witness hearing? No response? I'd like to open it to the public. Ms. Buckley, would you check and see if anyone in the public would like to question this witness? Speaker 1 00:39:41 No. Madam chair. Speaker 0 00:39:43 Thank you. Close to the public. All right, Mr. Arch, Speaker 10 00:39:46 One final witness. That's Mr. John DuPont. He's our professional planner. John, if you can please put your camera on unmute and be ready to be sworn. All Speaker 15 00:39:56 Right, Speaker 10 00:40:00 Ms. I believe you're muted. Speaker 15 00:40:03 I think you're muted, Mr. Secretary. Speaker 9 00:40:05 Okay. I'm unmute. Okay. Do you swear that the testimony you're about to give be the truth and nothing but the truth? Speaker 15 00:40:11 I do. Speaker 9 00:40:12 Can you please state your name for the record as well as your professional address? Speaker 15 00:40:16 John DuPont, 7 56 Jackson Road, Stewartsville, New Jersey. Speaker 9 00:40:22 Thank you Speaker 10 00:40:24 Mr. DuPont. If you can briefly go over your credentials and, and ask to be sworn in or sorry, asked to be accepted. Speaker 15 00:40:32 So I've been a professional planner for approximately 20 years. I've been to this board a while ago through boards throughout the state. Also served as a professional planner for the Bur car ride for best about 20 years. And all my licenses are in good standing. Speaker 0 00:40:51 Thank you. He may proceed and be testify as a planner in this matter. Thank you. Speaker 10 00:40:56 Mr. Dpat. If you, you're familiar with the site, if you can please just take us through the justifications for the relief we're asking. Speaker 15 00:41:03 Certainly will. So just to be brief and in direct, as you heard, you have three existing violations. So parking required 26 spaces existing, 13, no change in that. And this part up as part of this application, we are gonna, however, stripe a lot the free standing si sign. The maximum size was 32 square feet. The existing sign is 33 square feet. Again, we are not changing the size of that sign. We're gonna reface it, but not change the size. So that will stay the free standing sign setback from the right of way. Minimum require is 25 feet. The current sign is 13 feet and we are not gonna change that either. So the new variance which results in this application is the number of permitted facade signs. As you just heard from the architect, there was one facade sign existing on the Stelton road side of the building that has been replaced by a logo sign on the proposed edition. Speaker 15 00:42:04 And then there's also gonna be two additional signs on a facade stating car wash. So having three facade signs is the reason for the variance. So I think that the board can grant the relief based on a C2 analysis. The applicant is a new purchaser of the property, is proposing significant improvements to the building and the site. And although we do need new variances, this project will clearly advance several purposes of the M L U L. And these purposes are purpose A to encourage municipal action to guide the appropriate use and development of all lands within the state in a manner which will promote public health, safety, and general welfare. The new signage is modern and in a better location and more easily seen from Stelton Road. When someone typically brings their car for a carwash, it's not a planned trip. It's more of a spur of the moment. Speaker 15 00:42:57 Most of the time that decision is made as driving by the carwash. Therefore, the sign is very important to the business and is also very important to safe access of the site by customers with the new visible signs. It will give drivers plenty of time to make necessary maneuvers to enter the carwash for drivers in both directions. On Stelton road purpose g, to provide sufficient space and appropriate locations for a variety of agricultural, residential, and recreational commercial industrial uses to meet the public needs of the citizens. This is a commercial site which has existed for some time. The applicant is looking to make a significant investment in this site. We'll modernize it, make it safer, make it more accessible and improve the commercial business purpose. I to promote a desirable visual environment through creative development techniques and good civic design arrangements. The applicant is, is improving the aesthetics of the site by the building, the construction of a building addition. Speaker 15 00:44:00 And in order to provide, improve the visibility new signage, the entire site has been landscaped and there's been improvements made to the traffic flow on the site. The applicant is clearly enhancing the site with respect to negative criteria. I don't see any negative negative impacts. The site is being completely revitalized. It'll be easier and safer to use by customers. I can state that the variances can be granted without substantial detriment to the public good. The benefits from the project will substantially outweigh any detriments. The town will be getting a modern aesthetically pleasing commercial business. The new building modifications and signage will make the site much easier to identify and access and certainly granting of the variance will not substantially impair the intent or purpose of your zone plan or zoning ordinance. In conclusion, I feel the board can grant the relief necessary and I feel the project will be a significant benefit to the site and to the Township that thus complete my testimony. Speaker 10 00:45:00 Thank you Mr. DuPont. I have no further questions. I would ask if the board had any Speaker 0 00:45:04 Members of the board, do you have any questions of this witness hearing? No response, I'll open it to the public. Ms. Buckley, would you check the public and see if anyone in the public would like to ask any questions of this witness? Speaker 1 00:45:19 No. One Madam chair. Speaker 0 00:45:20 Thank you. Close to the public. Mr. Arch, if you'd like to make a conclusion. Otherwise I can put it to the board for a question. Speaker 10 00:45:28 Brief summation. I think what we've shown here is that we're taking a, a site that is, you know, an older site, a little bit rundown and we're really breathing new life into it. I don't think anything that is being requested here as, as is shown, is anything that would cause a detriment to the town. And we've worked with the Township professionals, we've worked with Henry, and I think that you can see that we were responsive to his comments and worked in conjunction with him to reduce the overall sizes of the signs and to, and to reduce the redundancy of the sign and the excessiveness of any signage there. And I think it really shows a, a very nice modern commercial business that's there. So I hope that you approve this and thank you for your time. Speaker 0 00:46:21 Member. Do I have a, does anyone have a motion that they would like to make Speaker 12 00:46:26 Madam Madam chair if I may? I wa I wanna serve. Go ahead Dawn. I'll let you go first. Go ahead. Speaker 8 00:46:30 No, I'm sorry. Mayor. I, ok, go ahead. Speaker 12 00:46:34 I just had a question. I'm looking at the plans about the sidewalk issue on International Avenue. Maybe Dawn, Dawn. You can jump in. Speaker 8 00:46:41 You know, Tim, I was, I'm trying to look at an Ariel. We don't have a, we don't have a survey. Can your client or your engineer confirm whether or not sidewalks do exist along International Avenue? Speaker 10 00:46:56 I am. Look, see, I don't, I am looking at a Google Map image. They do not appear, there does not appear to be sidewalks currently along International Avenue at that area. Speaker 8 00:47:06 That is what I'm seeing as well. So the staff is gonna make a recommendation that in, in fact if they don't exist, that the applicant be required to install them along the International Avenue frontage. I'm looking also, you know, two doors down. We have a brand new dwelling they had to put in the sidewalk. I mean, we're really trying to tie, install these, tie these together. So to make this a walkable area. Speaker 6 00:47:31 Mayor Dawn. And when I did a side visit a few weeks ago, I, I recall walking on grass. No, no sidewalks there. Speaker 10 00:47:41 Mr. Mendoza, did you hear the request of the, of, of the Township? They're requesting that since there's no sidewalks along, it doesn't mean that you're putting sidewalks in along the entirety of international, just along the frontage of your property on International Avenue. Is that something that you would be agreeable to? Speaker 11 00:47:58 Yeah, I have no problem with that. Speaker 8 00:48:01 Thank you. Speaker 12 00:48:02 As an side note, Mr. Arch, he may be able to work something out with the contractor that's gonna be out there with the, the Township. If not, he can have his own contractor work with engineering Mr. Herrera. Speaker 10 00:48:18 Well, we'll certainly be in contact with him. We have to for coordination anyway, so. Okay. Certainly appreciate any help. The Township can, can lend us notice Speaker 8 00:48:27 And Tim it won't, it won't delay your client's project. He's, he's going to obviously have the bond for that improvement. So, you know, we'll work with you in terms getting it done. Speaker 0 00:48:40 Thank Speaker 10 00:48:41 You. Speaker 0 00:48:44 If there's no more discussion, I'll take a motion. Speaker 8 00:48:50 Ma Madam chair. Dawn Corcoran. I'll make a motion that we approve the application subject to the C M E report. Subject to the staff report with the additional condition that the applicant be required to install sidewalks along the International Avenue frontage. Speaker 0 00:49:06 May I have a second? Carol Saunders. Second. Thank you. Roll call Ms. Buckley Speaker 1 00:49:12 Mayor Wahler. Speaker 12 00:49:13 Yes. Speaker 1 00:49:14 Yes. Ms. Corcoran? Speaker 8 00:49:15 Yes. Speaker 1 00:49:16 Yes. Ms. Saunders? Speaker 0 00:49:17 Yes. Yes. Speaker 1 00:49:19 Reverend Kinneally. Mr. Atkins? Speaker 12 00:49:24 Yes. Speaker 1 00:49:24 Yes. Mr. Foster? Yes. Mr. Ahmed? Speaker 12 00:49:28 Yes. Speaker 1 00:49:29 Yes. And Madam chair? Speaker 0 00:49:31 Yes. Yes. Thank you. Speaker 10 00:49:34 Thank you so much. Have a wonderful evening everybody. Thank Speaker 11 00:49:36 You everybody. Take care Tim. Appreciate it. Speaker 0 00:49:45 I believe that completes our agenda for tonight. Our next site plan meeting will be on July 26th and our next regular meeting will be on August the ninth. We need Speaker 1 00:50:00 A motion to adjourn. Speaker 0 00:50:01 Adjourn. Okay. Thank you. Second. Speaker 12 00:50:03 Thank you. Goodnight Rudy. Goodnight. Speaker 6 00:50:05 Goodnight. Keep enjoying Summer. Okay. Bye-bye. Speaker 0 00:50:08 Yes, stay safe everyone. Thank you. Speaker 8 00:50:12 Goodnight.