Transcript for Piscataway Zoning meeting on
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Mar 11 2026 · Zoning
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Meeting Sections
Meeting Opening and Roll Call
AI
00:00:01 – 00:01:07
Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting called to order with formal notice requirements stated. Roll call conducted with all board members present (Kinneally attending via speaker phone). Pledge of Allegiance recited.
William Mitterando 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 board, 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 role?
Speaker 1 Okay. Mr. Chairman, if you gave me a quick second, Mr. Kinneally iss having problems logging on. I have him on speaker phone. Okay. His audio's not working. Everything's not working. Steve, can you hear us? Because I know you're calling also. Okay.
William Mitterando I'm, I'm on now.
Speaker 1 Okay. He's on now. Okay. I'm sorry. I will not just let you know. Jim's on my phone. Fair?
William Mitterando Not a
Speaker 1 Problem. Okay. Mr. Weisman? Here. Mr. Tillery? Here. Mr. Patel?
Speaker 2 Here.
Speaker 1 Mr. Regio?
William Mitterando Here.
Speaker 1 Mr. Blanc. Mr. Mitterando here and Chairman Cahill.
William Mitterando Here, will everyone please stand for a salute to the flag? I pledge
Speaker 3 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
Agenda Adjustments and Postponements
AI
00:01:07 – 00:01:26
Chairman inquires about agenda changes. Wolf Alfredo's application for 39 Mansfield Road is adjourned/postponed until April 9th, 2026.
William Mitterando All. Mr. Kinneally, can you hear me?
Speaker 2 I can. Yes, I can. Mr. Chairman,
William Mitterando Any changes to the agenda tonight?
Speaker 2 Yes. The application of Wolf Alfredo, pagan 39 Mansfield Road is adjourned until April 9th, 2026. He must notice.
William Mitterando Okay, thank change
Speaker 2 That I have.
Case Hearing: 25-ZB-86B - Jose Castro
25-ZB-86B
AI
00:01:26 – 00:07:25
Jose Castro seeks front yard setback variance for residential renovation project including first floor renovation, garage, and second story addition. Pre-existing non-conformity exists; proposed renovation reduces setback from 16.4 feet to 23.6 feet (40 feet required). Board engineer provides technical analysis. Two neighboring property owners (Ne Lawrence and Susan Larson) provide public testimony regarding construction timeline and property boundary concerns. Board approves application unanimously (6-0 vote: Weisman, Tillery, Patel, Regio, Mitterando, and Chairman Cahill).
William Mitterando Alright, let's proceed. Item number 6 25 dash ZB dash 86 B. Jose Castro.
Speaker 2 Is Jose Castro Present?
William Mitterando You're muted. Mr. Castro, you're muted.
Speaker 2 Mr. Castro, can you hear me?
Speaker 1 Yeah. Thank need. You guys need, we can hear you now. There they're, there
William Mitterando You go. Perfect.
Speaker 2 Okay. Mr. Castro, could you raise your right hand? I need to swear you in. Do you swear that the testimony you're about to give should be the truth?
William Mitterando Can you hear us Castros?
Speaker 1 No. They unmuted. Can you hear us, Mr. Castro?
Speaker 4 Okay. Yes, I hear.
William Mitterando Okay.
Speaker 2 Okay. Mr. Castro, do you swear that everything you're going to say is going to be the truth?
Speaker 4 Yeah.
Speaker 2 Okay. Could you explain to the board why you're here?
Speaker 4 Oh, wanna variance?
Speaker 1 You want the variance?
William Mitterando What he say?
Speaker 2 I'm showing it's a first floor renovation with a garage and a second story edition. Is that correct?
Speaker 4 Yes, that's correct.
William Mitterando Okay.
Speaker 2 Okay. Mr. Chairman, Mr. Ms. Rahi has a report on this.
William Mitterando Mr. Jonathan, jump in.
Jonathan Rahi (Planner) Yeah, certainly for the benefit of the, the board members, this application came in front of us 'cause of a pre-existing non-conformity. With respect to the front yard setback, the proposed renovations will eliminate a front porch, lessening the non-conformity by about 4.5 feet. That's great. The result will be 23.6 feet, where 40 is required.
William Mitterando Works for me. 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 portion have any questions or comments about this application?
Speaker 6 I do.
William Mitterando Go ahead.
Speaker 6 Alright. My name is Ne Lawrence and I'm right across the street from Mr. Castro. I know Jose quite well. Anyhow.
Speaker 2 I need to swear you in. Sir, could you raise your right Handly? Do you swear that the testimony you're about to give shall be the truth?
Speaker 6 Yes, it will be the truth.
William Mitterando Okay.
Speaker 2 Thank you.
William Mitterando Proceed. Sir,
Speaker 6 My, my questions are primarily for clarity, not for support or, or resistance. This is R 20 right now. Right? This is a single family dwelling?
Jonathan Rahi (Planner) Correct.
Speaker 6 Okay. And the, so it will continue that way. I noticed in your paperwork it said that there, there may be other variances and release as requested, and that would be something that you all would be pursuing. What are they?
Speaker 2 That's standard language that goes in every notice, sir, that's language that we give the applicant in case something comes up during a public hearing. There are no additional variances that have been identified
Speaker 6 All. Well, if they're identified, do I get an idea or get notice of what they may be before this all goes down?
Speaker 2 There aren't any.
William Mitterando There aren't any, sir.
Speaker 6 There aren't any at this, no. There
Speaker 2 Time there aren't. Okay. The only variance is a front yard setback variance and they're making it better.
Speaker 6 Okay, good. The other thing is that there is no, at this point, an R 20 doesn't provide for commercial use of the property, does it?
Jonathan Rahi (Planner) No, it does not.
Speaker 6 Okay. And can you gimme an idea of when the, maybe Jose can tell me what the construction date would be if everything goes the way it's, it's intended to and when it would complete
Speaker 4 Year
Jonathan Rahi (Planner) After. If this, if this app application is looked upon favorably, it will be memorialized at the next meeting in two weeks, after which Jose can go and submit for permits. And then after those permits are approved, then the work may begin.
Speaker 6 Okay, good. And then you don't have a completion date. You basically do it year by year. How long are the permits good for?
Speaker 1 Until it's finished.
William Mitterando Until it's done? Yeah.
Speaker 6 Okay,
Speaker 1 Good. Yeah. There, there's no timeline by, by law that makes them finish within a certain amount of time. Once they start, as long as they keep going on there, there's not a limit for when they have to finish.
Speaker 6 Okay, good. Thank you,
William Mitterando Sir. Appreciate the comments. You No problem. Any other members of the public have any comments or questions? Yeah,
Speaker 7 I do have. I just wanna make sure that the construction and, hold
Speaker 2 On. Hold on. Ma'am, what is your name and address, please? Oh,
Speaker 7 I'm Susan Larson and I live at 38 R Avenue right across the street. Do you wanna swear me in? I
Speaker 2 Need to swear. I need to swear you in. Could you raise your right hand? Sure
Speaker 7 Can.
Speaker 2 Do you swear? Do you swear that the testimony you're about to give should be the truth?
Speaker 7 Yes.
Speaker 2 Thank you.
William Mitterando Go ahead, ma'am.
Speaker 7 I just really have questions and concerns, so I just wanna make sure that the construction will stay on that side of the street. There will be no interference with our property, people turning around in our driveway, things like that.
Jonathan Rahi (Planner) That's, that's not a, that's not a concern for this board. If there are issues during construction, you can file a complaint with code enforcement.
Speaker 7 Okay? Okay. Thank you.
William Mitterando Thank you ma'am. Any other members of the public?
Speaker 1 No. Mr. Chairman, hearing
William Mitterando None? I'm gonna close it. I make a motion to approve. Can I get a second? I'll second. Thank you. Call roll.
Speaker 1 Mr. Weisman? Yes. Mr. Tillery? Yes. Mr. Patel? Yes. Mr. Regio? Yes. Mr. Mitterando? Yes. And Chairman Cahill? Yes.
Speaker 2 Mr. Castro, your application's been approved. We'll memorialize it in a written document at our next meeting and send that document to you. Thank you so
William Mitterando Much. Goodnight. Good luck.
Speaker 2 Goodnight.
Adoption of Prior Resolutions
AI
00:07:26 – 00:09:03
Board formally adopts resolutions from the regular meeting of February 26, 2026. Five resolutions voted on and passed unanimously: Jorge Mina and Lou's Rago (denial); Daniel Chin (approval); Sigma Construction (approval); VFW Properties (approval); Surrender, Giselle and Rupinder Giselle (approval).
William Mitterando Let's move on to item number eight. Adoptions of the resolutions for the regular meeting of February 26th, 2026.
Speaker 2 The first resolution is Jorge Mina and Lou's Rago. This was a resolution of denial. Mr. Weisman?
William Mitterando Yes.
Speaker 2 Mr. Tillery? Yes. Mr. Patel? Yes. Mr. O'Reggio? Yes. Mr. Mitterando? Yes. Chairman Cahill? Yes. Next is Daniel Chin, which you voted to approve. Mr. Weisman? Yes. Mr. Tillery? Yes. Mr. Patel? Yes. Mr. O'Reggio? Yes. Mr. Mitterando? Yes. Chairman Cahill? Yes. Next is Sigma Construction, which you voted to approve. Mr. Weisman? Yes. Mr. Tillery? Yes. Mr. Patel? Yes. Mr. O'Reggio? Yes. Mr. Mitterando? Yes. Chairman Cahill? Yes. Next is VFW properties, which you voted to approve. Mr. Weisman? Yes. Mr. Tillery? Yes. Mr. Patel? Yes. Mr. O'Reggio? Yes. Mr. Mitterando? Yes. Chairman Cahill? Yes. Last is surrender, Giselle and Rupinder. Giselle, which you voted to approve. Mr. Weisman? Yes. Mr. Tillery? Yes. Mr. Patel? Yes. Mr. O'Reggio?
William Mitterando Yes.
Speaker 2 Mr. Mitterando? Yes. Chairman Cahill?
William Mitterando Yes.
Speaker 2 Those are all resolutions for this evening.
Approval of Minutes
AI
00:09:05 – 00:09:09
Board approves minutes from the February 26, 2026 regular meeting by voice vote (all in favor).
William Mitterando Thank you. Item number nine, adoption of minutes from the regular meeting of February 26. 2026. All in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Item number 10, adjourn. All in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Great work. Tough job tonight guys. You all came through. Everyone. Patrick's Patrick,
Adjournment
AI
00:09:09 – 00:09:26
Meeting adjourned by voice vote (all in favor). Chairman thanks board members for their work and acknowledges audio support staff (Patrick).
Speaker 2 Everybody for handling the audio.