Transcript for Piscataway Planning meeting on May 14 2025
Transcript generated by rev.ai and may not be fully accurate. Use the audio player to verify any passage.
May 14 2025 · Planning
0:00
–:––
Speaker 0Excuse me.
Speaker 1Hey Tom. Hi mayor. We need to include in the redevelopment plan. I spoke to Dawn about making sure we have the conduit lines for the units for high speed internet and then also some access for the municipality. You get through to development to get over to the other side. So when you run security cameras for the ecological park, instead of going all the way down to Centennial Avenue up and then Sydney Road out to police headquarters, we can just go right through that development out to, you know, out to Seward and out that way to South Rand. So we would have to have some access with the conduit lines when they do the development.
Speaker 2I mean, that would be, Jimmy would have to have that in the redevelopment
Speaker 1Plan. Yeah, I know. We're just, it's gonna be an add-on into this to the plan.
Speaker 0We're about one minute to broadcast. Yeah.
Speaker 2Okay. Well, I mean, if that's fine, if Jim, if Jim testifies that that's part of the amended plan. The, the resolution just notes the adoption of the plan. So yeah, it's in the plan and the plan's adopted then we're good.
Speaker 1Yeah, that's, that's, I did speak with the planning department about that. 'cause that would make sensible, they would save the town an awful lot of running wire and all around when we have a shortcut with this. So.
Speaker 2Okay. Who's the,
Speaker 0Got a minute,
Speaker 2Who's the potential redeveloper of this
Speaker 1Project? I, I, I'm not sure I, I forgot the name of the, the company. Okay.
Speaker 2Excuse me.
Speaker 0Okay, we're ready for broadcast. Oh I'm not. Okay. Thank you Lord to cloud. All right, Reverend Kinneally, we can start the meeting.
Speaker 3Okay, thank you. The regular meeting for Wednesday, May 14th, 2025 for the scatter Planning Board. Will now come to order. Mr. Barlow, are we in compliance for this meeting this evening?
Speaker 2Yes. Reverend Kinneally. In keeping with the guidelines promulgated by the Department of Community Affairs, the planning board has best tried its best to comply with the open public meeting acts and the guidelines issued with regards to same. The zoom link for this matter has been part of the agenda and has been put forth. If any members of the public wish to comment, they just need to raise their hand at the appropriate portion. Thank you.
Speaker 3Attorney Barlow. Notice of this meeting was published in the Courier News notice posted on the bulletin board of the municipal building notice made available to the township clerk. Clerk notice sent to the Courier News and the star ledger. Will the clerk please call the role
Speaker 0Mayor Wahler Present Councilwoman Cahill. Here. Ms. Corcoran? The ones here. Ms. Saunders?
Speaker 4Yes.
Speaker 0Reverend Kinneally.
Speaker 3Here.
Speaker 0Mr. Atkins?
Speaker 4Here
Speaker 0And Mr. Aria here.
Speaker 3Okay. Item. Remember sick We we all recite the pledge of Allegiance.
Speaker 4Pledge Allegiance.
Speaker 3I pledge allegiance.
Speaker 4Pledge Allegiance. To the flag. To the flag
Speaker 0Of the United States of America. States
Speaker 4Of America to
Speaker 3Republic for which it stands. One Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice
Speaker 4For all. For all.
Speaker 3May we have the swearing in of a professional?
Speaker 4Okay, can you please raise your right hand? Do you swear that the testimony about the give will be the truth and nothing but the truth? I do. Thank you.
Speaker 3Attorney Barlow. Is there any changes in the agenda tonight?
Speaker 0Tom, you're muted.
Speaker 2You didn't get to hear me say Reverend Kinneally there. My understanding is there's no changes to the agenda. Correct?
Speaker 3Thank you sir.
Speaker 2Thank you.
Speaker 3Did anyone the audit that to pay the bills?
Speaker 4Chairman, I'd like to make a, a motion to pay the bills.
Speaker 3Do I get a second?
Speaker 4Second. Councilwoman Cahill.
Speaker 3Thank you.
Speaker 0Ful. Mayor Wahler? Yes. Councilwoman Cahill? Yes. Ms. Corcoran? Yes. Ms. Saunders? Yes. Reverend Kinneally?
Speaker 3Yes.
Speaker 0Mr. Atkins? Yes. And Mr. Cheveria?
Speaker 4Yes.
Speaker 3Number eight. Okay.
Speaker 4I'd like to memorialize the action taken on April 9th, 2025. Application 25 PB zero one Piscataway centennial developers LLC, preliminary and final site plan.
Speaker 3Could I get a second
Speaker 5Mr. Atkins? A second.
Speaker 0Okay. Mayor Wahler. Yes. Councilwoman Cahill? Yes. Mr. Corcoran? Yes. Ms. Saunders? Yes. Reverend Kinneally?
Speaker 3Yes.
Speaker 0Mr. Atkins? Yes. And Mr. Oja? Yes.
Speaker 3Number nine. And I get a motion adoption of the minutes from April 9th, 2025 minutes.
Speaker 4Chairman, I'd like to moralize the minutes from the regular meeting of April 9th, 2025.
Speaker 3Can I get a second
Speaker 5Mr. Jacksons a second?
Speaker 0Yep. Mayor Wahler. Yes. Councilwoman Cahill? Yes. Ms. Corcoran? Yes. Ms. Saunders? Yes. Reverend Kinneally?
Speaker 3Yes.
Speaker 0Mr. Atkins? Yes. And Mr. Aria?
Speaker 5Yes.
Speaker 0Okay.
Speaker 3Number 10. They're
Speaker 4Fine,
Speaker 3They're fine. Redevelopment plan for for block 57. Oh one lot 11 shown on the tax map. 57. Can you hear me? Of the, the Skyway tax map commonly known as 1700 Wash South Washington Avenue. Mr. James Clark?
Speaker 6Yes. Good evening. Members of the board. I'll be presenting this redevelopment plan tonight. So this is 1700 South Washington Avenue Block 57 0 1 lot 11. So back in April, 2014 by resolution 24 1 59, both lot 11 and 12 of block 5 7 0 1 was designated as in need of redevelopment. And so we decided to do two separate redevelop plans. So this one was specific to Lot 11 as a refresher. 57 0 1 lot 11 is about 42 acres in size. It has frontage on both Study Avenue and South Washington. So it's a quite a large piece of land and has never been developed and is currently vacant as of now as you're driving down South Washington Avenue, the best landmark I guess you could say are the huge electric utility overhead lines that you see going through the the property. But this redevelopment plan proposes senior citizen housing as the sole per permitted principal use.
Speaker 6And this is because your master plan specifically called out this lot for senior citizen housing. So basically this redevelopment plan was written to effectuate that use that you are looking to establish at block 57 0 1 lot 11 and especially because there's so much demand for debt use, that is what we're looking to move forward with. So as you can see, your current zoning ordinance under SCH zone is senior citizen housing. And so this plan will also have the same. So this is just what your current zoning code calls for, but it will be a little bit different for the redevelopment plan. And I'll get into that a little bit 'cause there's gonna be two sites. But as I said, the planned vision is to effectuate what your master plan calls for. I will say that for the Fair Housing Act we're looking to do 39 affordable housing units as part of this redevelopment plan. So that complies with your fair share obligations. So your goals are to create land use requirements specific to the redevelopment area that effectuate senior system housing.
Speaker 6We wanna encourage redevelopment and increase tax rateables, develop financial and regulatory regulatory incentives including tax abatement and provide for senior citizen housing that provides several housing products including standalone single family homes and rental units and as well as as affordable units. So if you go to page four on the redevelopment plan in front of you, this is the land use plan that we are proposing. So as I said, there's two different sets of standards. So we're gonna have a site A and that will be specifically applicable to senior restricted single family residential use. And then there will be site B, which will be senior restricted multifamily use. Site A will be accessed off of study avenue and sipe will be accessed off of South Washington Avenue. And as I said, blocks 57 0 1 lot 12 is a part of the original in need of redevelopment study we put together for you. But it will be addressed in a separate plan. So under principle printed uses, as I said, site A SAB, these are your permitted accessory uses which are pretty standard. So you have your off street parking, your clubhouses pools, walkways, game and sport areas, electric vehicle chargers. And then prohibited uses is basically anything that's not in here or that is hazardous or dangerous.
Speaker 6So this bulk requirements table lays out the requirements for site A and site B. So these are pretty typical for single family within the area of Piscataway that we're talking about off of study avenue. So minimum law areas 5,000 square feet, 50 across a hundred deep with typical setbacks. And then we have site B which is much larger. So I would say this is gonna encompass around 16 acres as conceptualized. So the minimum lot, so that meets the minimum lot area of 30, but definitely larger setbacks so that there's more space off of South Washington Avenue.
Speaker 6And further the max height is only 50 feet for principal structures. So the maximum net density that we're looking for site A is 4.3 units per acre. That's for the single family residential and then 12 units per acre for site B, which is the multifamily residential. These are just your accessory structure, bulk standards at the bottom of page five. I think the, the most important one is making sure that the clubhouse is no larger than 35 feet in height. So C and D is like pretty typical language. We're saying that it's an appropriate land use and the density is appropriate and then we get into traffic. So if they bring any potential redeveloper that brings a site plan to your board, they'll have to do a traffic impact analysis. As always, we require the five foot wide pedestrian sidewalks around the site. And I think we're even asking for a pedestrian pathway for the multifamily site.
Speaker 6I do wanna note that the redeveloper shall dedicate sufficient land to achieve your master plan's. 52 foot halfway of South Washington Avenue. We're calling for ingress and ingress. Egress, excuse me, from South Washington to have no left in and no left out. However, this is a county road so they may reach out to the county for, excuse me, a left and left out. And if that becomes the case then that will be permitted. Parking and loading, we're looking for two spaces per driveway for the single family is pretty typical. And then multi-family dwelling is 1.5 spaces per dwelling, which I think should be more than enough, especially for senior citizen housing.
Speaker 6And then we're looking for at least 22 spaces electrified for EVs at the time of occupancy. And then following one year from that when you hit the 90th certificate of occupancy for the multifamily site. Another 22. And that should comply with the state requirements requiring with respect to EVs for utilities. Pretty standard Mr. Mayor, I will note that I did not request require underground installation of all utilities to the Mexican extent possible, but also fiber optic conduit must be installed along all property frontages and shall be installed underground. So I can make that change to say that Piscataway must have access to that conduit.
Speaker 1Yeah. And if I may, James Clark and can we make sure that we have access to the back of the property as best we can. So if we ever had to run fiber optic from the ecological park across the street, we'll be able to connect up over to the admissible complex a lot easier instead of going all the way down Centennial and then around,
Speaker 6Okay, yes, I can add those two things. Say stormwater. Yeah, the stormwater improvements will be required as usual. Saw the waste is pretty typical. So for signage we're looking for one freestanding monument sign for the residential project, sorry, on lot 11. So the for the South Washington entrance. So that one will be no more than six feet in height and 32 square feet in size. And then you'll have your T typical directional signs within the parking lot. And for the ingress and egress
Speaker 6Lighting, we're just saying the high mass light poles can't be any higher than 25 feet. They have to be LED and not cause any glare landscaping to situa shade trees. We're looking for a ratio of one tree per a thousand square feet of parking space. And we're looking to make sure that anything planted consists of no less than 70% native species. And if anything dies they have to replace it within two years. Okay, so page nine starts additional design standards. I do want to touch on a couple of important ones. Fences for the multifamily site will be either located in the rear or the side and be no more than six feet. But for site A they have to comply with your zoning ordinance with respect to fences, color and design of the principal structures shall be acceptable to your planning staff if they ever come before your board.
Speaker 6As I mentioned, we want a paved and illuminated walking path, five feet in width to be constructed around the perimeter of the multifamily structures. And that would be in addition to the sidewalks along South Washington Avenue. Now number or letters JK and L, I'm not gonna read all this 'cause it's a little technical, but basically what we're looking for is it's called a surface access and temporary construction easement. And what this is really looking to do is make sure that the redevelops of lot 11 and lot 12 are sharing the access in terms of construction, maintenance, snowplowing, anything that might be required to maintain it, to make sure the residents of both lots have access throughout the entirety of the development, but to make sure that they're taking care of it too. So that's really what is being accomplished with with letter J. And then K is a similar story.
Speaker 6I mentioned that one freestanding sign at the entrance of South Washington Avenue, that sign will also be shared. So that will be the sign easement that both re developers want to work together on in terms of constructing, maintaining, and repairing. And then finally, L is to make sure that access is available to the clubhouse, the outdoor swimming pool to all residents of Lot 12 and Lot 11 environmental assessment. There are existing wetlands on the property, the redeveloper responsible for meeting NJDP requirements regarding that. The concepts I've seen seem to avoid the read the Wetlands claim Consistency review, as I mentioned, this is directly matching what your master plan is looking for. There's no nearby municipalities that we have to worry about. It meets the state plan and I think that's really everything I wanted to touch on. There's, as I mentioned, I'll go to the last couple bullets on page 14. There we are requiring 39 affordable units.
Speaker 6Nothing needs to be acquired in fee simple. So we don't have to really relocate any residents or businesses. This is a non condemnation redevelopment plan and the redevelopment plan shall be binding upon the correct owner of block 57 0 1 lot 11. Its errors, accessor, successors and assign. And once again the access easement and sign easement shall be for the benefit of the current owner of block 57 0 1 lot 12. Its errors, successors, and science. And just for a quick visual, so site B South Washington Avenue will be over here and then site A is on over here where Study Avenue is. So I can take any questions
Speaker 7Chair if I, if chairman if I may. Mr. Claran, just a couple of things. So what is, what's the reasoning behind the differences in the, the fence, you know, situation here or between the two lots for this redevelopment plan? Why is one saying it's following the township ordinances but the other other not And talking about a six foot fence in the backyard or side yard I think you had up there. I'm not sure.
Speaker 6I think we just wanted to make sure because your zoning ordinance code is specific to single family and we wanted to be consistent with that so that fencing in site A matches what's currently out there now. And site BI think we just didn't want any fencing in the front yard, like along South Washington we
Speaker 7Wanted. Okay, so essentially it's not that site A are we talking about now that that they don't have to abide by ordinance. It's that the only, you are designating the only places where a fence can be
Speaker 6For site B Yeah, for the multifamily
Speaker 7For B. Yeah. And then it it, the, the size of the lots is the, the differences in the reasoning behind it because of the sign of the size of one lot versus the other and it's capacity or
Speaker 6Yeah, exactly. So the multifamily site encompasses a lot more land area. So they needed a bigger minimum lot area requirement where a site A is more in line with what you see in that.
Speaker 7Oh, single family
Speaker 6For the single family. Exactly.
Speaker 7So, so the differences are between multifamily and single family.
Speaker 6Yes. I think that would be the best way to describe
Speaker 7It. Right. And then the idea is that even though they're two potentially separate owners or developers, they would have one clubhouse, one pool is,
Speaker 6Yeah, so I think that site A does not have, from the concept plans I've seen, does not have direct access to that pool. They may, what I was talking about is lot 12 here, let me bring it up again. It might be easier to visualize. I, oops, so lot 12 is right here. Yeah. So if the clubhouse would be over here, so we wanna make sure that lot 12 residents can access the amenities built here.
Speaker 7If it's two different developers, how, how is that working?
Speaker 6Right, so this plan is just for what is outlined in Blue Lot 11. So that's why I went through all of that. Like the surface surface access and temporary construction easement, those easements will regulate for almost a lack of a better word, that they maintain the egress because Lot 12 will be dependent on that egress from South Washington. Right. But we also want this Redeveloper may want his residents to have access to the amenities that are on lot 11, either. The way better way to put it is it has to go on one lot or the other. So if, if there are two developers, as we envision one for lot 11, one lot 12, the clubhouse has to go somewhere so someone's gonna have to allow access. Does that make sense?
Speaker 7Yeah, it does. IID yeah, I guess I do. I
Speaker 6Can say it again.
Speaker 7No, I know, I, I mean I'm just trying to think like access to a pool and things of that nature and any extra fees that people might be paying. I, I guess I just don't understand if it's located on the property that's being developed by one owner, how residents of a separate property, if a separate owner has it gets access to that without some sort of additional fees. I, you know, I just, or cost added to their rent or mortgage. You know what I'm saying?
Speaker 2Counsel? I see what
Speaker 6You're saying. I think
Speaker 7I just don't understand how that works. Somebody could that Yeah,
Speaker 2That's for the two developers and their attorneys to work out. Yeah.
Speaker 6Okay. That's one. Yeah,
Speaker 2I mean the redevelopment plan requires them to do it, so, okay. They're, they're forced to because I think part of the reason is the way that Lot 12 is shaped trying to have its own entrance off of South Washington and then putting, if you think about it, if both of them had their own clubhouses and pools and parking lots, you, you could theoretically have two that you could throw a ball and hit off of each other. And that probably doesn't make the most sense from a development plan. So I'm sure you're still
Speaker 7Gonna have to cross the street though to go to the pool or the clubhouse. Yeah,
Speaker 2You'll have to get, you know, you're, you, most of these developments, you, you know, you're not gonna be able to just walk to the pool. You're gonna, might have to go to your car and that's why there's walkable paths plus parking. Yeah. And look, I'm sure they'll share the cost. They'll work it out. Exactly. They
Speaker 6Share the cost. Easement says they share the cost. The two re developers share the cost. So they may build that into their rents.
Speaker 7What about
Speaker 6Says they have to share the parking spaces for the,
Speaker 7And then any potential developer who then comes before us with their site plan. You know, the first pass being that these folks in the other lot have to cross a street, you know, a public street where I know Mr. Baller, you're saying, oh, a lot of them they may have to drive to, but they're still within their development. These folks in the other area would have to cross the street. So I guess my question is, well I have a couple of questions. Is, is this board gonna make sure that that street has potentially maybe some extra walk paths, some security? You know, I, I don't know. I'm just,
Speaker 2Those are, those are great ideas. And that will be worked into, I'm sure by the municipal staff reports when there's an actual plan to make sure that all that's effectuated. 'cause those are great questions. They're just not ones that can really be answered right now. But you're right. This,
Speaker 7Well, I mean, we're voting on this red redevelopment plan as it stands. So what we are saying is that seniors across the street, if they want to go to applause, are crossing a public street with their vehicle or their bodies. And so as we vote on this and think about this, it's something that we also have to take into consideration whenever, or whoever the developer is who comes in, is there's got to be safety precautions added to that township street.
Speaker 2Well, I would think it's an interior street within the confines of the development. For instance, say all the lots were here.
Speaker 7Wait, wait, wait. That street doesn't, isn't going to be accessible to everybody. 'cause I think it connects to another street. Am I wrong? It, it
Speaker 8May be private. If you're going from one lot to the other, it very well may be private. If the town,
Speaker 7Could you bring up the map again? Sure. Mr. Clarkin. Yeah. Okay. 'cause that's was, I thought the street connected there,
Speaker 8Gab, those lots are adjacent to one another. Right now there's like no
Speaker 7Street, but if you look at street,
Speaker 2Go the streets
Speaker 7Anywhere street. If you look at the South Washington entrance,
Speaker 2There's no entrance. There
Speaker 8Isn't at this time.
Speaker 2That's just a blue lot line. Oh,
Speaker 7That's a blue lot with a blue. Yeah.
Speaker 2That's not a road.
Speaker 6I'm sorry. Yeah, I'm sorry. I I did that highlight. So you knew
Speaker 8You're gonna see 11 and 12. There's no access between the two of them right now. But when these come in for site plan, that's when that's gonna come into play and it's gonna be,
Speaker 7So they're gonna share an entrance with the signage. Okay, now I understand. Thank you.
Speaker 2So it's gonna, you're gonna come and come in one entrance and maybe go to the right
Speaker 7Or to the left for
Speaker 2Acme Yeah. Your housing and go to the left for beta. Yeah. Gotcha. But they're gonna have a, you know, common amenities, I guess.
Speaker 7Got you. But now that is a, is that okay? That is a delineation. Where's the access from Study Street though? Is here? Lemme,
Speaker 6Hold on, let me zoom in.
Speaker 7Where's the spot?
Speaker 6Hold on. So this is Caroline, I think. Oh,
Speaker 7I see it. Okay. And it's
Speaker 6Not, yeah, they'll, they'll have to develop the
Speaker 7Rest of it. Okay. All right. Thank you. You're
Speaker 6Welcome.
Speaker 2Excuse me.
Speaker 6Any other
Speaker 3Questions? Okay. Is there any more questions for Mr. Clarkin? Okay. What do we do with this board members? What do you want to do? Do you wanna go forward with this plan or is there any, any revisions that we need to add to it before we, we go forward?
Speaker 2I think the plan encompasses those additional comments that the mayor indicated with regards to the four inch conduit and access for the municipality in the rear, Reverend Kinneally. So that would be the, the, the redevelopment plan as indicated by Mr. Clark and with those additions and if it's the board's pleasure would be recommending to the council the adoption of the redevelopment plan.
Speaker 3Okay. Wants the, well,
Speaker 0We do need to open it.
Speaker 2We need to open to the public though. First. Reverend Kinneally. All
Speaker 3Right. Open. Open to the public. Anybody in the public
Speaker 0They have any questions or comments on the redevelopment plan? No. One chairman.
Speaker 3Okay. What do I hear from the board? What do you want to do You want re furthest or go forward with this claim? Call for
Speaker 0A vote.
Speaker 3Call for a vote. All those in favor?
Speaker 0No. We need,
Speaker 2We need a motion first. You
Speaker 3Wanna make a motion?
Speaker 7Mr. Chairman, this is councilwoman K. Make a motion that we refer this redevelopment plan to the council on a township council for for
Speaker 4Approval. Charles Saunders. Second.
Speaker 3Thank you. Yeah, that's what I was asking for.
Speaker 0Vote. Okay, we got you. Mayor Wahler. Yes. Councilwoman Cahill.
Speaker 7Yes.
Speaker 0Ms. Corcoran? Yes. Ms. Saunders? Yes. Mr. Atkins? Yes. Mr. Aria?
Speaker 2Yes.
Speaker 0And Chairman Reverend Kinneally?
Speaker 3Yes.
Speaker 2Reverend Kinneally. I believe Ms. Saunders has a resolution memorializing Same for referral.
Speaker 4Okay. Mr. Mr. Chairman, I'd like to memorialize the resolution re recommending adoption of the redevelopment plan for 1700 South Washington Avenue.
Speaker 3I hear a second.
Speaker 7Second. Councilwoman Cahill.
Speaker 0Yeah. Mayor Wallace? Yes. Councilwoman Cahill. Yes. Ms. Corcoran? Yes. Ms. Saunders? Yes. Reverend Kinneally?
Speaker 3Yes.
Speaker 0Mr. Atkins? Yes. And Mr. Aria?
Speaker 2Yes.
Speaker 0Approved.
Speaker 3Thank you. Board members, Mr. Clark. And I would like to thank you for this extensive report because the, the fact that it was two developers developing this plan and I, I see this parcel of land being put to good use for Piscataway residents, seniors, and for housing project. And thank you very much for this extensive report.
Speaker 0You are very welcome. Thank you.
Speaker 3Okay. Do I have a motion for adjournment?
Speaker 0Motion to adjourn.
Speaker 3I a second. All those in favor? Aye.
Speaker 0Aye. Aye.
Speaker 3Aye. Have it. Thank you. Board members.
Speaker 0Thank you. Goodnight everyone. Kinneally, have a good night everyone. Happy Memorial Day, everyone. Upcoming holiday. Yes. Happy Memorial Day. Stay home safe if you're not home yet. Yes. Yeah. L Rain stop. We should be okay. Good night everyone. Goodnight. Goodnight. Yeah. Bye Alex.