ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT RARITAN TOWNSHIP, NEW JERSEY REGULAR VIRTUAL MEETING JUNE 3, 2021 MINUTES Chairperson Schaefer: The meeting will be offered virtually for all Board members, Board professionals, applicant and applicant’s team, and interested parties and members of the public. To attend this meeting virtually, enter the link on your computer or device as provided.
If you do not have access to a phone or computer with a camera, you may call into the meeting for audio only. Dial 1-929-205- 6099, https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kegFiIL8Xk and enter Meeting ID number 295 335 1895.
1. CALL TO ORDER:
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairperson Cynthia Schaefer.
2. NOTICE REQUIREMENTS:
The notice requirements of the Open Public Meetings Act were read into the record by Chairperson Cynthia Schaefer.
3. ROLL CALL:
Board Members Present:
Cynthia Schaefer, Chairperson Kevin Kuhl Randy Block Steve Farsiou Roger Ahrens Jim Ferraro
Board Members Absent:
Bradford Perry Bill Cummins (Alternate)
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4. OTHER PERSONNEL PRESENT:
Jessica Caldwell, Board Planner John Morgan Thomas, Township Landscape Architect Jay Troutman, Township Traffic Engineer Jeff Vaccarella, Township Assistant Planner
5. APPEARANCES:
MESSRS. STICKEL, KOENIG, SULLIVAN & DRILL, LLC 571 Pompton Avenue Cedar Grove, New Jersey 07009 Attorneys for the Zoning Board of Adjustment BY: JONATHAN E. DRILL, ESQ.
MCNALLY, YAROS, KACZYNSKI, LIME, LLC 275 East Main Street Somerville, New Jersey 08876 Attorneys for Pioneer Developers, Inc. BY: KARA A. KACZYNSKI, ESQ.
A motion was made to approve the absences of Bradford Perry and Bill Cummins by James Ferraro, seconded by Randy Block.
(On roll call, all members voted in the affirmative.)
6. BOARD MEMBERS AND COUNSEL:
a. Comments: None
b. Announcements: None
c. Distribution and Correspondence: None
d. Minutes: None
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7. RESOLUTIONS:
(A) RESOLUTION #2020-34 Briteside Adult Day Centers, Inc. 16 Sand Hill Road BOA Case 08-2020
A motion was made by Randy Block to adopt Resolution 2020-34, seconded by Kevin Kuhl.
(On roll call, all members voted in the affirmative.)
(B) RESOLUTION #2021-08 Harbor Freight Tools, USA, Inc. 263 Route 202/31 South BOA Case 21-2020
Kevin Kuhl made a motion to adopt Resolution 2021-08, seconded by Chairperson Cynthia Schaefer.
(On roll call, all members voted in the affirmative.)
DISCUSSION OF VIRTUAL MEETINGS VERSUS IN-PERSON MEETINGS AT THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING:
Chairperson Schaefer indicated that although the notices through July 15th indicate the meetings will be held virtually, there was a question as to whether or not members should attend meetings in-person going forward from August through the end of the year.
Attorney Drill indicated although the mask requirement has been lifted, it is still the Board’s prerogative to decide whether or not they will meet virtually or in-person.
After discussions, the Board members decided that through the August meetings they would meet virtually.
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8. APPLICATIONS:
(A) Board of Adjustment Case No. 26-2020 APPLICANT: Pioneer Developers, Inc. LOCATION: Block 36, Lot 13 180 Pennsylvania Avenue APPLICATION: Preliminary and Final Site Plan with C Variances and a D-1 Variance to Allow for Multiple Principal Uses
Attorney Kara Kaczynski, of the Law Firm McNally, Yaros, Kaczynski, Lime, LLC, Somerville, New Jersey, appeared representing the applicant. She presented witnesses that were previously sworn for this application: John Mannino, Architect, and Wayne Ingram, who testified as a Planner.
Architect Mannino produced exhibits indicating the size and location of the buildings; the signage allowed for said buildings; the required number of parking spaces, as well as parking spaces to be banked. The property is located in the Industrial Zone and would not violate or be contrary to the Master Plan, the Zoning Plan or the Planning Ordinance. Mr. Mannino stated that he saw no impact to adjacent properties which are industrial in nature.
Planner Ingram testified as to the ground cover, the removal of trees and the reforestation of the area. He indicated that the property is environmentally sensitive. Also, any work proposed in the regulated areas on the site would be completely out of the buffer zone. The Ordinance provides calculations for compensation for tree removal, which was discussed with John Thomas, the Landscape Architect.
After discussing the conditions that would be necessary should an approval be granted, the Board asked questions about the the type of businesses that would be allowed in said industrial complex.
Attorney Drill indicated that he would list all of the permitted uses as conditions to a Resolution if it were granted.
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After hearing all of the testimony and reviewing the exhibits, Chairperson Schaefer opened the meeting to audience participants, but there was no response. Attorney Kaczynski then reviewed all of the variances being requested, the details of each, and indicated they also wanted preliminary and final site plan approval.
A motion was made by Randy Block to approve the application, seconded by James Ferraro.
(On roll call, all members voted in the affirmative.)
9. Next Board Meeting
After discussing the next meetings which are scheduled for June 17, 2021 and July 1, 2021, the Board adjourned the meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
Jacqueline Klapp
JACQUELINE KLAPP