Transcript for Piscataway Zoning meeting on March 13 2025

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Mar 13 2025 · Zoning
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Meeting Sections
  • 00:00:01 — Opening, Roll Call, and Pledge of Allegiance
  • 00:01:07 — Agenda Adjustments and Postponements
  • 00:01:25 — 25-ZB-007V - Certificate of Occupancy Variance 25-ZB-007V
  • 00:03:42 — 25-ZB-001V - Tyler Boche - Pool Variance 25-ZB-001V
  • 00:07:07 — 25-ZB-008V - Kenneth Pine - Fence Variance 25-ZB-008V
  • 00:09:31 — 24-ZB-006V - Con Yen - House Rebuild and Expansion 24-ZB-006V
  • 00:18:29 — Adoption of Resolutions
  • 00:19:43 — Adoption of Minutes
  • 00:19:54 — Adjournment
Opening, Roll Call, and Pledge of Allegiance AI  00:00:01 – 00:01:07
The meeting was called to order with proper notice announcement, full roll call of board members, and the Pledge of Allegiance.
Speaker 0Thanks, George. Thanks Laura. Zoning, board of adjustment meeting will please come to order. 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 to the township clerk notice sent to the Courier News and the star ledger. Will the clerk please call the roll?
Speaker 1Mr. Weisman Here. Mr. Tillery is working. Mr. Patel, I gotta call him. Mr. Regio.
Speaker 0Here.
Speaker 1Here. Roy's Here. Mr. Blo. Mr. Haka. Mr. Mitterando? Here. Chairman Cahill. Here,
Speaker 0Will everyone please stand and salute the flag. I flag the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. Nation one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Mr. Canal, do we have any changes to tonight's agenda?
Agenda Adjustments and Postponements AI  00:01:07 – 00:01:25
Two Ronco Development cases (146 and 160 Hillside Avenue) were postponed to April 10, 2025, with no further notice required.
Speaker 2Yes, we do. Ronco Development, 1 46 Hillside Avenue, postponed until April 10th, 2025 with no further notice. Second adjournment Ronco Development. One 60 Hillside Avenue postponed until April 10th, 2025 with no further notice. Those are all the changes that I have.
25-ZB-007V - Certificate of Occupancy Variance 25-ZB-007V AI  00:01:25 – 00:03:42
Applicants sought a certificate of continuous occupancy for a detached garage lacking a construction permit that had existed since their purchase of the property. Staff approved with the condition that any future significant repair, reconstruction, or replacement must occur in a conforming location. Approved unanimously.
Speaker 0Thank you Mr. Kinneally. Let's move on to item number 6 25 dash ZB zero seven V. DD and Yfi. JAO
Speaker 2Is the applicant present? Yes. We're okay. I need to swear you in. Could you each raise your right hand? Do you swear the testimony you're about to give should be the truth?
Speaker 3Okay. Yep.
Speaker 2Do you swear that the testimony you're about to give should be the truth? Yes,
Speaker 3We're
Speaker 2Yes. Thank you. Your one at a time, your name and address please.
Speaker 37 0 5 Sound Bright Lane Piscataway.
Speaker 2And your name please. E.
Speaker 4My name's Efe also. Same address, 7 0 5. Sun Bright and Peace cutaway.
Speaker 2Thank you. Could one of you explain to the board why you're here?
Speaker 3Yeah, sure. So we are trying to obtain the CCO, the certificate of a continuous o occupancy and during the township inspection we have a detached garage that appeared had no permit and that particular construction has been remaining the same condition as we bought the property. So we were told that we are required to do a variance. That's why we're here.
Speaker 0Okay. Mr. Ms. Rahi, is there any way you can jump in here, sir?
Speaker 5Yeah, the staff doesn't have an issue with the garage being retained. I just want the applicants to understand that if that garage does need to be significantly repaired, reconstructed, or replaced, it's gotta go in a conforming location.
Speaker 6Okay.
Speaker 0Is that okay with you? Yeah. Yeah. All good. Okay. Any other questions or comments from the board? Hearing none, I'm gonna open it to the public. Anyone in the public have any questions or comments for this application?
Speaker 1No. One
Speaker 0Chairman. Okay, thanks. Close the public portion and then make a motion to approve this application. Can I get a second? I'll second it. Thank you. Call the roll.
Speaker 1Mr. Weisman? Yes. Mr. Regio? Yes. Mr. Mitterando? Yes. And Chairman Cahill?
Speaker 0Yes.
Speaker 2Your application's been approved. We memorialize it in a written document at our next meeting. We'll send that document to you.
Speaker 6Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Good
25-ZB-001V - Tyler Boche - Pool Variance 25-ZB-001V AI  00:03:42 – 00:07:07
Tyler Boche requested variances to install a semi in-ground pool at 8 feet from the property line (instead of 10 feet) and locate pool equipment in the side yard due to utility constraints. The board approved with a condition requiring the applicant to screen the equipment with fencing and/or landscaping. Approved unanimously.
Speaker 0Luck. Alright guys, let's move on to item number 7 25 25 dash ZB dash zero one V. Tyler Bcia
Speaker 2Is Tyler Boche present?
Speaker 6Yes, I'm here.
Speaker 2Hi, I need to swear you in and I'm sorry if I butchered your last name.
Speaker 0I did the same. Sorry.
Speaker 2Okay. Could you raise your right hand? Do you swear the testimony you're about to give should be the truth?
Speaker 6Yes.
Speaker 2Your name and address please?
Speaker 6Tyler Boche. 12 Gramer C Drive, Piscataway, New Jersey. Thank you. You
Speaker 2Can put your hand down and explain to the board why you're here.
Speaker 6I am here. I submitted an application to put for a VA variance application. I'd like to install a semi in-ground pool in my backyard, but I have a narrow backyard, so I'm requesting the pool is set eight feet from the property line instead of 10. Additionally, I ha And the variance is a request to have the pool equipment on the side yard versus the backyard, which ties to, that's where my natural gas is. So just less gas lines I have to run.
Speaker 0Okay. Jonathan, you wanna jump in here again, sir?
Speaker 5Sure. So Mr. Boche, is there any way we can get that pool equipment moved to the other side of the house? The, the eastern side along the garage, just so that way the pool equipment isn't generating all that noise next to the, the neighbor's house. I believe if you move it to the eastern side, it would be a but in your neighbor's garage as well.
Speaker 6So my, my challenge with that is the heater I'm getting is gas and the gas comes in on the right side of my house, not the left. So I would need to, I, I can't adjust the gas line coming to the other side. I have the electric comes in on one side of the house and the gas on the other, which is why I'm trying to put the equipment there.
Speaker 5Have you spoken to your, have you spoken to the neighbor on the, on the right, the one the side that the pool equipment's gonna be on? Yes.
Speaker 6About this?
Speaker 5Yes. They under, they understand that the pool equipment's gonna be on that side of the property. They're all right with that?
Speaker 6Yeah, they, yep, I spoke to 'em. They not raised any concerns to me. I also filed this with all of the neighbors within the required distance.
Speaker 5Okay. Okay. Would you agree to put up fencing and or landscaping to screen the equipment if it was to go on the location you put on the plan?
Speaker 2Yes.
Speaker 5Okay. I feel as if I'm okay with the eight feet in the back and if we do the screening, keeping the equipment where it is.
Speaker 0Okay. Well, let's see if we have any of his neighbors on the phone when we go to the public portion. Thank you, Jonathan. Thank you. Hey,
Speaker 7Hey, this is Kpe. I just joined. Sorry, I just,
Speaker 1I saw you Kalpesh. Thank you. Thanks.
Speaker 0Thanks for coming aboard, Kalpesh. Appreciate it. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Any other members of the board have any questions or comments for Mr. Boucher?
Speaker 8Jen, you gotta sit in here too, hun.
Speaker 0Hearing none, I'm gonna open it to the, anyone in the public have any comments or questions for this application?
Speaker 1No one
Speaker 0Chairman, anyone on the line? Laura? No. No one good. Okay. Close the public portion and I'd make a motion to approve this application. Can I get a second? I'll second it. Please. Call the roll.
Speaker 1Mr. Weisman? Yes. Mr. Patel? Yes. Mr. Reggio? Yes. Mr. Mitterando? Yes. And Chairman Cahill?
Speaker 0Yes.
Speaker 2Mr. Boucher, your application's been approved. We'll memorialize it written document at our next meeting and send that document to you. Thank you very much.
25-ZB-008V - Kenneth Pine - Fence Variance 25-ZB-008V AI  00:07:07 – 00:09:31
Kenneth Pine sought a variance to maintain a 6-foot fence located 2 feet off the property line (where a 25-foot setback allows 4-foot, 50% open fencing). Staff recommended approval with a temporary construction easement agreement. Approved unanimously.
Speaker 0Good luck. Have a good night. Enjoy the summer, sir. With that pool. Thank you. Have a great evening. Bye. We're gonna move on to item number 8 25 dash ZB dash zero eight V. Kenneth J Pine
Speaker 2Is Kenneth Pine present?
Speaker 8Yes
Speaker 2Sir. And you can hear us now?
Speaker 8Yes, sir.
Speaker 2Good. Could you raise your right hand? Do you swear the testimony you're about to give should be the truth?
Speaker 8I do.
Speaker 2Your name and address, please.
Speaker 8Kenneth Pine, 1 32 Murray Avenue. Piscataway.
Speaker 2Thank you. Explain to the board why you're here, please.
Speaker 8I, I'm requesting a variance for a six foot fence. The fence has been here the whole time we've lived here and I've replaced it one time before and it's, it doesn't, it's not in accord with the 25 foot setback, so I'm kind of asking that I can have a six foot fence where it's supposed to be a four foot, 50% open type fence.
Speaker 0Jonathan hate to call you for triple duty tonight, but you have any comments on it?
Speaker 5It's my job. So the fence is, the fence is two feet off the property line where 25 feet is permitted without a permit. We, I spoke with the applicant. There's an understanding that the temporary construction easement being a five foot temporary easement would include the fence and landscaping. If the applicant agrees to that temporary construction easement. I don't feel as if there's a way that we can move this fence further inside the property without disrupting established landscaping. So that, that would be my recommendation.
Speaker 0Fantastic. Are you in agreement with that, sir? Yes
Speaker 8Sir, I am.
Speaker 0Okay. Any other members of the board have any comments or questions for this application? Hearing none, I'm gonna open it to the public. Anyone in the public have any comments or questions about this application?
Speaker 1No. One chairman.
Speaker 0Okay. Close the public portion and I'd make a motion to approve this application. Can I get a second? Please? Call the roll.
Speaker 1Mr. Weisman? Yes. Mr. Patel? Yes. Mr. Regio? Yes. Mr. Mitterando? Yes. And Chairman Cahill?
Speaker 0Yes.
Speaker 2Mr. Pine, your application's been approved. We'll memorialize it in a written document at our next meeting and we'll send that document to you. Oh,
Speaker 8Thank you very much everybody. I really appreciate your time. Have a
Speaker 0Good night guys. Enjoy. Good night.
Speaker 8Bye-Bye. Bye.
24-ZB-006V - Con Yen - House Rebuild and Expansion 24-ZB-006V AI  00:09:31 – 00:18:29
Con Yen requested variances to demolish and rebuild a house with a second story and attached garage. After initial board approval, neighboring property owner Susan Steele raised concerns about drainage and sump pump discharge potentially affecting her foundation. The board added a condition requiring the applicant to orient gutter leader drainage away from the neighbor's property. Approved with conditions.
Speaker 0Let's move it along to item number 9 24 dash ZB dash zero six V con yen.
Speaker 9Hello.
Speaker 0Good
Speaker 2Evening. I need to swear you in. Could you raise your right hand? Do you swear that the testimony you're about to give shall be the truth?
Speaker 9Yes.
Speaker 2Your name and address please?
Speaker 9Con Yen at 26 Lakeside Drive, south Piscataway, New Jersey.
Speaker 2Thank you. Could you explain to the board why you're here?
Speaker 9I'm building it. I'm taking, I'm knocking down the house and I'm rebuilding a second floor and I'm adding a garage to it. And right now there's some variance issues with the front setback.
Speaker 0Okay. Jonathan, you wanna jump in for the last time tonight, my friend?
Speaker 5Yeah. There, there's also some concerns about the garage size. I also, I also spoke with this applicant. They provided a updated plot plan, which satisfied a lot of our comments. Mr. Yen, were you able to speak with your architect at all about potentially moving around some of the interior layout to get the garage to be a compliant size?
Speaker 9Yes. I spoke with the building department and what they told me was that I don't need a landing for my stairs in the drive in the garage. So instead of having the sideways entrance going up, it would just be straight up. So requirement for the township is a 12 by 20. I have a 15 by 20, so that three feet on the left would be for stairs. Okay. And then I'll have a 12 by 20 driveway garage.
Speaker 5Okay. Yeah, the, as long as the applicant follows the site plan that's been submitted and reviewed by the staff, we don't have an issue.
Speaker 0Okay. Appreciate that Jonathan. Thank you. Any other members of the board have any questions or comments about this application? Hearing none, I'm gonna open it to the public. Anyone in the public have any questions or comments?
Speaker 1No. No one chairman?
Speaker 0No one there. Okay. We're gonna close the public portion and I'd make a motion to approve this application. And I get a second. I'll second. Thank you. Paul roll.
Speaker 1Mr. Weisman? Yes. Mr. Patel? Yes. Mr. Reggio? Yes. Mr. Mitterando? Yes. And Chairman Cahill?
Speaker 5Yes.
Speaker 2Your application's been approved. We'll memorialize it in a written document in our next meeting and we'll send that document to you.
Speaker 1Chairman, thank you for chairman. Somebody just raised their hand. I don't think she was able to hit the button. Susan spiel. Okay, I'm sorry.
Speaker 5No, put her on.
Speaker 1Okay. Yeah, she has to unmute herself. Star six to unmute if you're on your phone or unmute Susan.
Speaker 10I just did. Thanks. Perfect. Yeah, I live at 32 Lakeside Drive South. I'm right next door to the property.
Speaker 2Okay. Hold, hold on a minute. I need to swear you in. Could you raise your right hand? Do you swear that the testimony you're about to give should be the truth? Yes. Your name and address please?
Speaker 10Susan Steele. S-T-E-E-L-E 32 Lakeside Drive. South Piscataway. Thank
Speaker 2You. Go ahead ma'am.
Speaker 10I just have a concern about, about the, the drainage from the house. 'cause I was, look, I'm looking at the plan and his elevation is higher than mine. And so if you look at the plan, the sump pump discharge location is at the back left hand side of the property, which is closest to my house. So I mean, we did discuss it. I'm not blindsiding him or anything, but I guess, you know how as I'm looking at is I'm c concerned about erosion to my foundation, you know, as the years go on and then I guess, you know, 'cause it's, it's a substantially bigger house than what's there now. So I'm just worried about like the impervious coverage, like what it's gonna do to my, you know, to my ero erosion of my property since his elevation is higher than mine and you know, like what is the location of the liters because like now you're talking about a lot more water coming off of a lot bigger roof.
Speaker 5May I chairman please. So those are all very valid concerns. I believe looking at the grading, the orientation of the slope in the backyard, I don't see that sum pump discharge being a, a structural concern for your foundation. I'm gonna pull up the architecturals very quickly in regards to the, the leader locations, but we did make a note on this staff memo that they are still within the building coverage that's allowed for the lot size. Okay,
Speaker 10Good. But with that garage coming closer than it should be, like, is that gonna cause me a problem? Because I'm looking at the elevation and like, okay, his is like 71 mine, 69. As you further go back in the backyard, mine 68, his is 69, you know, and as you keep going down toward the lake, it's the same thing.
Speaker 5Right? The grading, the grading was actually quite, quite minimal compared to existing grade as as it appears on the, the plot plan that their engineer prepared. I'm trying to see my variance list here.
Speaker 10Like I told con, I just don't want five years down the road on a trial and you know, my, my foundations eroding.
Speaker 5So this, this garage is an encroaching on the side yard setback. It's within the building envelope in that direction. I think these architecturals do not show leader locations, which is, which is typical for architectural plans of this level of detail. We could make a condition of approval, the orientation of the leader outflows if the board would like and that could mitigate some of the, the concerns.
Speaker 10Yeah. 'cause I just had a question like, so is there gonna be like a drain pipe all around the perimeter of the house or is it tied into the sewer? Or like,
Speaker 1Well, Ms, Ms. Steel, just so you know how it works when they give their plans in, it gets reviewed by two engineers.
Speaker 10Okay. They
Speaker 1Go, they see the water, they need a drainage, they need a plot plant. They, they need a grading plant all from their engineers and everything else. It w it goes through about three or four people in town before they even break foundation.
Speaker 10Okay. Got it.
Speaker 1Yeah. And if there's any issues, if they start building, you notice something, you come in, you know where we are, you call us and then the engineer will send their inspector out to double check to make sure they're doing it as per the plan.
Speaker 10Absolutely. So how do I know that that's happened
Speaker 1When they start building? I mean, well
Speaker 10No, I mean like in this case, you know, con came around with, you know, the notice from the township and I
Speaker 1Signed, he doesn't have to notice. He could tell you, but you only get notice for variance. People don't get notice if they're just doing permits. So that would be between you and him. You know, we, they don't go tell the neighbors when, hey, I'm starting to build something. They don't tell them they don't have to by law.
Speaker 10So I would have to wait until my foundation erodes.
Speaker 1No, I'm talking about when he starts building the house. If there's a oh
Speaker 10Well I'm talking about, how would I find out? You know that about the water?
Speaker 1Well he has to build a plan and then they have, they'll see where the leaders are. The, the engineer goes over everything. They check the grading. So if everything's done as per that plan correctly, you're not gonna have any aero.
Speaker 10That's what I wanna make sure that it's being done. Correct.
Speaker 1Yeah. As long as they bill what wouldn't be approved by the engineer? They right. It should be fine. They okay. They check. Trust me, it goes through several people before they even get a rubber stamp on it, so, okay.
Speaker 10Yeah, they
Speaker 1Don't, it's a whole
Speaker 0Checks and balances. It's a whole checks and balances where we make sure that before anything gets constructed, they know the grade, they know what the, what the situation is with the neighbors on either side. I do like Jonathan's idea though about the leaders making it a condition, having the runoff go to the opposite side or maybe to the back and not towards the neighbor's property, Mr. Steel's property. So if that's something we could, we could add on. Do I need to vote on that? Is that something we could just make a condition?
Speaker 2I can, I can add that as a condition.
Speaker 0Yeah, I would, I'd like to do that Jim. I think it, it protects neighbor.
Speaker 2Appreciate it.
Speaker 0Okay. Manam, have a great night. Okay.
Speaker 2Thank you.
Speaker 0No problem. Thank you. Alright, well we don't need to vote on this again. It was already approved, so we are good to go.
Adoption of Resolutions AI  00:18:29 – 00:19:41
Five resolutions from the February 27, 2025 regular meeting were formally adopted: Lucas Garcia, Cap Laman, Paul and Nanette, Solar Landscape LLC, and 200 Centennial Property.
Speaker 2All right, thank you everyone have a good
Speaker 0Night. Thank you Mr. Y. Take care. Good luck with construction. Thanks. Thank you. Alright, let's move on to item number 12. Adoption of resolutions from the regular meeting. February 27th, 2025.
Speaker 2First resolution. Lucas Garcia, which you voted to approve. Mr. Weisman? Yes. Mr. Patel?
Speaker 0Yes.
Speaker 2Mr. O'Reggio? Yes. Mr. Mitterando? Yes. Chairman Cahill?
Speaker 0Yes.
Speaker 2Next is Cap Laman Kja Patel, which you voted to approve. Mr. Weisman? Yes. Mr. Patel? Yes. Mr. O'Reggio? Yes. Mr. Mitterando? Yes. Chairman Cahill?
Speaker 0Yes.
Speaker 2Paul and Nanette, which you voted to approve. Mr. Weisman? Yes. Mr. Patel? Yes. Mr. O'Reggio? Yes. Mr. Mitterando? Yes. Chairman Cahill?
Speaker 0Yes.
Speaker 2Solar Landscape. LLC, which you voted to approve. Mr. Weisman? Yes. Mr. Patel? Yes. Mr. O'Reggio? Yes. Mr. Mitterando? Yes. Chairman Cahill?
Speaker 0Yes.
Speaker 2200 Centennial Property which you voted to approve. Mr. Weisman? Yes. Mr. Patel? Yes. Mr. O'Reggio? Yes. Mr. Mitterando? Yes. Chairman Cahill?
Speaker 0Yes.
Speaker 2Those are all the resolutions I have this evening.
Adoption of Minutes AI  00:19:43 – 00:19:54
Minutes from the February 27, 2025 regular meeting were adopted unanimously.
Speaker 0Okay, let's move to item number 13. Adoption of minutes from the regular meeting of February 27th, 2025. All in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Okay. Item number 14, Ajour. All in favor say aye. Aye.
Adjournment AI  00:19:54 – 00:19:55
The meeting was adjourned.
Speaker 2Aye, aye.
Speaker 0Alright guys, thanks for a great night. Sorry I dragged this on so long. Get's laughing in the background. Good night.