Transcript for Piscataway Zoning meeting on March 11 2026

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Mar 11 2026 · Zoning
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Meeting Sections
  • 00:00:01 — Meeting Opening and Roll Call
  • 00:01:07 — Agenda Adjustments and Postponements
  • 00:01:26 — Case Hearing: 25-ZB-86B - Jose Castro 25-ZB-86B
  • 00:07:26 — Adoption of Prior Resolutions
  • 00:09:05 — Approval of Minutes
  • 00:09:09 — Adjournment
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 MitterandoZoning 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 1Okay. 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 MitterandoI'm, I'm on now.
Speaker 1Okay. He's on now. Okay. I'm sorry. I will not just let you know. Jim's on my phone. Fair?
William MitterandoNot a
Speaker 1Problem. Okay. Mr. Weisman? Here. Mr. Tillery? Here. Mr. Patel?
Speaker 2Here.
Speaker 1Mr. Regio?
William MitterandoHere.
Speaker 1Mr. Blanc. Mr. Mitterando here and Chairman Cahill.
William MitterandoHere, will everyone please stand for a salute to the flag? I pledge
Speaker 3Allegiance 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 MitterandoAll. Mr. Kinneally, can you hear me?
Speaker 2I can. Yes, I can. Mr. Chairman,
William MitterandoAny changes to the agenda tonight?
Speaker 2Yes. The application of Wolf Alfredo, pagan 39 Mansfield Road is adjourned until April 9th, 2026. He must notice.
William MitterandoOkay, thank change
Speaker 2That 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 MitterandoAlright, let's proceed. Item number 6 25 dash ZB dash 86 B. Jose Castro.
Speaker 2Is Jose Castro Present?
William MitterandoYou're muted. Mr. Castro, you're muted.
Speaker 2Mr. Castro, can you hear me?
Speaker 1Yeah. Thank need. You guys need, we can hear you now. There they're, there
William MitterandoYou go. Perfect.
Speaker 2Okay. 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 MitterandoCan you hear us Castros?
Speaker 1No. They unmuted. Can you hear us, Mr. Castro?
Speaker 4Okay. Yes, I hear.
William MitterandoOkay.
Speaker 2Okay. Mr. Castro, do you swear that everything you're going to say is going to be the truth?
Speaker 4Yeah.
Speaker 2Okay. Could you explain to the board why you're here?
Speaker 4Oh, wanna variance?
Speaker 1You want the variance?
William MitterandoWhat he say?
Speaker 2I'm showing it's a first floor renovation with a garage and a second story edition. Is that correct?
Speaker 4Yes, that's correct.
William MitterandoOkay.
Speaker 2Okay. Mr. Chairman, Mr. Ms. Rahi has a report on this.
William MitterandoMr. 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 MitterandoWorks 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 6I do.
William MitterandoGo ahead.
Speaker 6Alright. My name is Ne Lawrence and I'm right across the street from Mr. Castro. I know Jose quite well. Anyhow.
Speaker 2I 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 6Yes, it will be the truth.
William MitterandoOkay.
Speaker 2Thank you.
William MitterandoProceed. Sir,
Speaker 6My, 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 6Okay. 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 2That'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 6All. Well, if they're identified, do I get an idea or get notice of what they may be before this all goes down?
Speaker 2There aren't any.
William MitterandoThere aren't any, sir.
Speaker 6There aren't any at this, no. There
Speaker 2Time there aren't. Okay. The only variance is a front yard setback variance and they're making it better.
Speaker 6Okay, 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 6Okay. 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 4Year
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 6Okay, 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 1Until it's finished.
William MitterandoUntil it's done? Yeah.
Speaker 6Okay,
Speaker 1Good. 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 6Okay, good. Thank you,
William MitterandoSir. Appreciate the comments. You No problem. Any other members of the public have any comments or questions? Yeah,
Speaker 7I do have. I just wanna make sure that the construction and, hold
Speaker 2On. Hold on. Ma'am, what is your name and address, please? Oh,
Speaker 7I'm Susan Larson and I live at 38 R Avenue right across the street. Do you wanna swear me in? I
Speaker 2Need to swear. I need to swear you in. Could you raise your right hand? Sure
Speaker 7Can.
Speaker 2Do you swear? Do you swear that the testimony you're about to give should be the truth?
Speaker 7Yes.
Speaker 2Thank you.
William MitterandoGo ahead, ma'am.
Speaker 7I 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 7Okay? Okay. Thank you.
William MitterandoThank you ma'am. Any other members of the public?
Speaker 1No. Mr. Chairman, hearing
William MitterandoNone? I'm gonna close it. I make a motion to approve. Can I get a second? I'll second. Thank you. Call roll.
Speaker 1Mr. Weisman? Yes. Mr. Tillery? Yes. Mr. Patel? Yes. Mr. Regio? Yes. Mr. Mitterando? Yes. And Chairman Cahill? Yes.
Speaker 2Mr. 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 MitterandoMuch. Goodnight. Good luck.
Speaker 2Goodnight.
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 MitterandoLet's move on to item number eight. Adoptions of the resolutions for the regular meeting of February 26th, 2026.
Speaker 2The first resolution is Jorge Mina and Lou's Rago. This was a resolution of denial. Mr. Weisman?
William MitterandoYes.
Speaker 2Mr. 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 MitterandoYes.
Speaker 2Mr. Mitterando? Yes. Chairman Cahill?
William MitterandoYes.
Speaker 2Those 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 MitterandoThank 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 2Everybody for handling the audio.