Q. Hi, good evening everybody. I'd like to call to order uh the township committee meeting for Monday, August 11th. If you are able to please rise for the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it
stands. One nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. Okay, we'll move on to the open public meeting statement. Pursuant to the Open Public Meetings Act, notice that this meeting was sent to the Cranberry Press, Trenton Times, and Home News Tribune on
January 3rd, 2025. Post on the township's website and sent to those requested a copy of this notice. We will now move on to roll call. Mr. Christopher here, Mrs. Obidawi here, Dr. Rogers here, Mr. Scott here, Mayor Coner here. Thank you.
Do we have any uh additions or changes to our agenda this evening? Yes, mayor. will be adding resolution number R08-25-116 uh close session resolution um going into on the advice of uh confidential advice of council regarding pending litigation and that falls within the
attorney client privilege and that'll be ended at the end of the meeting. Okay, awesome. Thank you. Uh can I get a motion to approve the meeting minutes from July 14th which seems like a year ago but uh from July 14th, 2025. I'll move.
I get a second. Second. Thank you. Move on to roll call. Mr. Christopher. Yes. Mrs. Obidawi. I will abstain. Dr. Rogers? Yes. Uh Mr. Scott? Yes. And Mary Caner? Yes.
Four A's and one abstension. Thank you. Okay. Now, there's no way that not everybody has an update. Normally, every two weeks, somebody misses a meeting. We're on a different cadence. Everybody should have something to say tonight. So, start with you,
Matt. Uh, sure. So, as far as liazison responsibilities, July 16th, I attended a parks and wreck meeting. Um, the pavilion roof in Village Park done. It looks beautiful. Yeah, you all seen it. Yeah, it looks fantastic. Um, as of that
last meeting, the uh pickle ball and tennis courts were um they were setting um and they were waiting to get an engineer assessment for um so because it's pickle ball and tennis um and there will be some noise. We um as a TC agreed
to put in some sound abatement which adds extra weight to the fencing. So there was an engineer assessment pending. I I have not followed up. I don't know. I haven't been over there. Um, I was away last week, so I haven't been over to the park, so I don't know what the status is, but it it looked the same from National
Night Out as it did when I was there previous to that, although the fence seemed a little bit more up. Yeah. Uh, so that I mean, realistically, probably another four to six weeks till that's till that's done. Um,
we talked about the upside down chest tables, right? Did we? Yeah, they're right. That's one of my They're They are right side up. However, um and this is something I want to bring up tonight. This is something we need to talk about. Um because it it it's part of parks and it's part of library, but um there's
been some complaints that the chest tables are fantastic, but it's very hot and they're wondering if we could um talk about maybe putting some trees in there. So, I don't know if that falls under library. You love trees. No, but I I think there's is a tree. is
just not mature yet. I was looking at the tree that was that was something I looked I looked over today. Yeah. And I was like, "Oh god, those are in the sun." But there is a tree. Well, yeah, there is. On the eastern side there's a tree, but on the other one there's not. So maybe we could think
about putting a tree adjacent to it. I don't know. It's something that, you know, shade tree probably wouldn't that be that'd be I'll I'll talk. But the library, right, has to be involved. Isn't that library grounds? Yeah, I think the library would need to be involved. Yeah, they would have to.
Who's the leazison? Me. Okay. So, we I'll talk to Shri. You'll talk to them? Yes. And I'll connect. Yeah. Okay. Um I spoke to uh Noel Kenny this afternoon for updates for the Helen Cody um memorial sculpture. Um as of this
morning, actually just today, they they laid the concrete pad. So, they're hoping for uh installation of the sculpture itself between uh the the 29th and the 1st. So, um it should be up for um
for Cranberry Day. Close, but uh hey, you know, kind of how we do it. All right. Um they brought up the issue of of a splash splash pad again in Village Park. Um and I I touched on with them again the need
to do some kind of survey. So I think that they are going to look into doing um maybe some sort of Google survey to uh sort of um assess um townwide commitment and interest to such a project and and hopefully they'll
be be able to present that to us before the end of the year. Um, is the resurrection of that based on feedback from residents that they're getting? No, no, they've just been sort of still discussing it. So, the
I think at our last meeting or the meeting prior, we discussed it and I think feedback from you guys was like they should get some more input before before pursuing such a potentially expensive project. So they are still sort of sussing that out. So they they
want to get more um feedback from the town. Yeah. Instead of doing it in a vacuum. Yeah. I think the feedback and everybody correct me if I'm wrong was not so much that it if we didn't know we didn't think that there was enough interest in the town
but in the future there might be. So in order to take a project like this, do the due diligence around it, the who, what, when, where, why, so that if it is resurrected again, you take it off the shelf and say this is the work that we've done previously, so we don't have to redo that work. And if a quick survey
is part of that, yeah. And that'll vet out if it's the hypothesis is true that there's it's very expensive and there's not a lot of interest for it, okay, that's great. Put it on the shelf. Yeah. If it's still very expensive, that won't change, but there's a tremendous amount of interest in it, then we have
an obligation to look at it. Yeah. And and yeah, that was my Does that is that right is I think you're correct. And I you know, I almost want to say we did some research here uh amongst ourselves as TC members in terms of the pros and the
cons. I think that would be valuable to share with maybe members of the parks uh commission just to sort of say let's take a realistic look given the fact that we are a smaller town and our resources especially in terms of maintenance are what they are. Um you know how would that extend us um further
if we do decide in the future for something like a splash pad. So maybe that would be something Matt to share with them some of the research which I think we've all provided. So it's just a matter have we? Yeah. Oh, I remember we all we all independently
provided uh some feedback on it. Yeah, I I can say that. They understood, but I um again, so many of these decisions and ideas are made in a vacuum. I mean, no one in the town knows about it at all. You know, they might go out with a
survey and all of a sudden you've got a massive response, which is unlikely, but but you have a large response and a large ground swell of public opinion wanting it. So, you know, so anyway, so they'll they'll they'll do that for us. Um, which I think could be great. Um,
that's all I have from parks and wreck. I just want to share um something I think will be of interest to the TC and to the to the uh folks who are here gathered tonight. So, as you may all know, I I did a CNN interview regarding
Henry Farm um at the end of July. Um interview was great. you know, I got some some good good feedback from it, but I also got a lot of uh very pointed uh very kind of hateful voicemails, which I know that that you Lisa certainly.
Sorry. Um I know it's really bad. Um so yeah. Yeah. So I did this interview with CNN at the end the end of July. Um, and I, you know, I got a lot of, not a lot, I got like a dozen or so voicemails on my
personal phone. Um, and one in particular was was very pointed and very um, unnerving. I mean, it mentioned my wife, my my kids um, and it, you know, it was threatening and it was very
concerning. So, I I contacted Cranberry Police Department and they were fantastic. I just want to I just want to call them out tonight. Um, Detective Fmer pursued it. Uh, apparently this gentleman who left this voicemail um was uh lives in Indianapolis of all places
and he just had seen the interview on CNN and it basically flipped a switch for him. So um Cranberry PD actually called his place of work, called his phone, he didn't answer. So they uh went further and they contacted the
Indianapolis Metro Police Department and they actually went to this guy's house. Um, and this gentleman was very contrite. Uh, apologized profusely. I'm looking at the he's actually sent me an apology letter. Um, saying that, you know, he's he apologizes, but he just
felt like, um, you know, he has a lot of personal issues going on and, uh, this just kind of triggered him, but but he apologized and he, you know, kind of said he understood and he wishes no ill on any of us. So, just want to share with you guys just as a testament to um
how much some of this stuff has been blown up and sort of aggravated by by national media attention. Um and also want just want to highlight the the efforts and the professionalism of the cranberry PD for for getting a a
resolution to that. So that's all. Thank you. Thanks. I'm glad there was resolution to it. There's a lot of open-ended situation as you're aware at the police department. Um, you know, we're it a lot of it dead ends, which is unfortunate.
So, in this case, I'm glad there was there was resolution. It gives you peace of mind, especially since I listened to it. So, yeah, I shared with you and Robin and I mean the the tenor of voicemail was such that I was genuinely concerned about safety. Yeah.
Thanks for sharing that, Matt. Yeah. So, That's all I have. Thank you. Any questions? Good, Rob. Yes, I will go. I had a meeting with uh
HBC on the 15th of July, which feels like forever ago. Um they shared some results for a survey that they sent out um regarding essentially HPC in general. Um they had I think 19 respondents with
varying feedback on the complexity of the requirements, standards, consistency, etc. Um they're looking for a first reading of their design guideline design guidelines. That's hard to say sometimes. And boundaries um
sometime in September possibly. Rob, I hate to do this to you. Can you speak louder because I am right behind this. I think it's the air will will melt. Um, so they're going to do a first reading
of the design guidelines. Yeah. Can really you guys can't hear me at all? I'll go this close. Is that better? Hey, look at that. We'll sweat. Um, first reading design guidelines and boundaries sometime in September. Um
there was concern about a the CLG grant that they've uh applied for and that timing slipping. However, I think late breaking news. Um that grant did not come through based on an email that we received maybe an hour or two ago. Um so I will uh connect with them regarding
that. Um there's an application in the works for a certificate of eligibility for the Hamlet. um they are not aware of any updates to the pertinent farm at this moment. I know there's a couple of walkthroughs going
on this week um for us on the TC. I will be there tomorrow at noon I believe. Um additionally had a follow-up call to this meeting um specifically I feel like every conversation we have for every board ends up in the same topic. um
looking for the potential of the Victorian home at 1274 to be incorporated into the site plan. Um I said I would discuss it with the subcommittee. Um I know it is not part
of the site plan. Uh we can certainly discuss that at a later date. Um at this point I did not provide any optimism that that building would uh last as part of the plan. Um, but I did promise I would follow up on it. So, this is me
following up on it. Um, that was it for the 15th. Um, the Municipal Alliance summer meetings were cancelled. Although the National Night Out was awesome. Um, I think we all I well, not all. Some of us were traveling. Um, but those of us who
were here, I think it was an awesome event. I'm sure you're going to touch on that a bit. Um, who doesn't love a free dinner? I got like pizza and burgers and ice cream. It was pure Americana. Um, so that was great. Um, I haven't met with
the board of ed since. Um, but I was on vacation. And I think that's my update. Any questions for Rob? Okay. Go next. Okay. Um, thanks Rob. Thanks Matt. Um, so I did have uh two uh
meetings. I missed the environmental commission. I was on vacation, but um they are continuing um with their outdoor classroom initiative. Um they are really up on doing preserve management. I know I was at Reinhardt um
a couple months ago clearing out Reinhardt. Um and um uh I'm I'm really glad that the mayor's uh update continues to uh put out there community um solar energy. We are
getting uh more interest and more bites now that it is simplified. It's no longer third party um pay. It's all going through PSEG um and solar landscape. Uh, and they have a code that you put in so you can get a percentage off on the solar um
energy that comes uh through through PSENG. Um and uh they suggested um they reviewed a zoning board application and they wanted to make sure that um a a
business that uh is going to expand their parking lot. Uh they review their imperous ground cover to make sure it's not more than 60%. Um and um they're prepping for Cranberry Day. They've got some really great
activities. Um, they reached out to ANJ, which is the Association for New Jersey Environmental Commissions, and they have some displays that they're going to be borrowing from them, as well as doing some hands-on stuff. um zoning board was uh August 6th and they discussed a major
site plan approval for a property off of Route 130 and um they got through it and then there was public comment and once that public comment got going they realized that there are a lot of questions that still need to be answered and they've asked for a continuation in November for that particular site plan.
Um, as you all know, Main Street is being ground up and um and uh I I I reached out to the county because if they are going to stripe, I want them to be considering the bike network plan um
and that uh you know, we work so hard on Plainsboro Road and uh Maplewood um that if they can to make sure that the box is pedestrian and bicycle friendly um so that we can cross and make left turns in
a safe manner. So, sent out an email. Has not heard yet, but hopefully we'll hear and maybe they'll do something. Um, uh, so we're on top of that. Um, uh, and National Night Out, it was fantastic. Thank you to the police that
were just working so diligently and the fire company brought out all their beautiful trucks and people and uh and it was a a really well well attended night. One of the first really well attended in several years.
So I think that is it. Any questions? I I have a question um regarding Reinhardt and I guess all the all the trails in town. Um, I'm in there quite a bit with my dogs in there. Um, on leash. On a leash, mostly
licensed. They're licensed. Yes, they're licensed. It's a tough crowd even up here, man. Go ahead. Both those things. Um, and over the years, I mean, it it's a fantastic trail. It's beautiful. I It's
really um I think it's one of the the gems of of Cranberry um nature preserves. Um, but I've noticed over the years, you know, there there's trail markers. Um, there's uh bridging for some of the areas that get soggy in the fall and the spring and they they're not
maintained. And you know, I brought this up to parks and they're like, "Oh, it's not us." So, I just want to know if if there's like a a general plan to keep these things maintained like the the trail mark the trail map signs are on the ground now. They they know that that's why they go and um those are have been identified
and they are working on those. Absolutely. And those mud bridges, you can thank my husband for those. Those are called mud bridges. And um yeah, um those do need some maintenance. Yes. And um they're aware of it. Reinhardt was just looked at like a couple like a month or two ago.
Fantastic. And I and I was in there walking through and you know. So when you say they, Barbara, who's the Okay. E. Okay. I'm sorry. Yeah. That's okay. Yeah. And they are really being really diligent about making sure. Okay. We're going to do pinos. We're going to do Reinhardt, you know.
And it would be nice if like, you know, we did reach out to try and get some scouts or any volunteers that, you know, but it tends to be No, they're three or four diligent people to do it. Yeah. And you can't blame them. I mean, they're not
Yeah. But um but yes, they are. and they would like to add more signs to certain um certain paths too that they're looking at, but they want to be consistent like with UNAMI sign and Reinhardt sign
and that Reinhardt um was uh was done by a grant from the Association for New Jersey Environmental Commission. And we had a really great turnout. This was what 10 15 years ago now. Wow. Yeah. Very nice. And it's a question about Main Street. Um, I know it's a cranberry
or I'm sorry, it's a county project. Is that going to be from Plainfair Road to the lake? Do we know like the the repaving? That's uh it doesn't look like it's go up because I haven't milled now. It's that's that's the end of it.
So, it's Plansboro to um station station. Okay. But I mean, if they could, you know, I mean, are you optimistic they would do the bike lane stripings? That'd be great. just just at Plainsboro. I did not ask
for through Main Street because the um the width varies so much that it's really hard to get up a bike striping there. Yeah. Barbara, if I could ask a question with regards to the EC. Um just going back to
uh a meeting we had last year regarding the adopt a drain program. Has that gone anywhere? I I I think that's kind of still on on hold there. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Thank you. I guess it's my turn. I actually um
But you know what, Aman? I'm going to check on that because I was not at the last meeting, so I can't say that. That'd be good to just find out. Um on August 7th, there were two meetings, the DRC and the planning board. Uh both of which I missed. I was not here. I did catch up on the DRC and it was nice to
see that um the owners of the old uh pizza pizza. Yeah, cranberry pizza. They're resurrecting sort of some more thoughts of plans of what they'd like to do. This is I think the third meeting that they've come before a board. The first was DRC, then they went to the HPC
and now they're back at the DRC sort of refining their plans. And in the beginning it was just a restaurant, now it can be a restaurant with some housing. And so now there's u you know additional discussions and we'll see where all that you know plays out. I did not catch up on the planning board meeting but you have that. I I assumed
you would so I will leave it at that but um I just wanted to say that I you know took a little vacation and came back and that first trip for me when I passed by Teddy's I know I'm home and so I want to
thank George and Teddy's for that. So yeah I just u I I missed it all. I miss Cranberry and I I love this town. So, it's good to see you all. Oh. Oh. Oh, and we have a birthday amongst us. Happy birthday. Happy birthday.
I spent my birthday here. Yes. Can we not make this a habit though moving forward? Can we, you know, maybe schedule around your your birthdays? Is it? Yeah. Meeting. Um they reviewed and approved a warehouse rooftop community solar
project uh which was terrific on top of Home Depot. Um planning also approved the variance and application for the new group home being built by CHA on Old Cranberry Road. Um there will be a special meeting uh that uh forthcoming announcement on August 26th uh to
approve um a preliminary uh major site plan and bulk variance approval for 1274 South River Road. So, they just agreed and that announcement will be forthcoming. That'll be August 26th. And I think they're going to add a couple other uh agenda items on there to just do some housekeeping and catch up on a
couple of things. Um I thought, uh National Night Out was phenomenal. Like what everybody said, it was a great food, great environment, great weather. Um and it was a wonderful reminder not only of the importance of emergency services in this town but because of
municipal alliance social services and that the things that we have at our disposal and I thought this was a much better venue for them um to get some attention to all the initiatives that they were working on. Um the only thing I thought was absolutely terrifying was that K9 demonstration. It started out
very informative and interesting and educational and then they started the bite work on the arms and I was like I have a small fear of dogs and I was like oh it was it was pretty intense but I I applaud the work that that K9 um uh
training group does but uh it it was a really cool thing and that was really neat to add that as an event as part I missed the bite part. Yeah, it was pretty that's disappointing. Yeah, I'll never underestimate the work that is done uh by anybody in emergency services. Um just the latest on the road
improvements. Uh if we're overcommunicating, I'll take the hit for that. Like whatever. Uh you can criticize us for overcommunicating, but this is one that has been a little bit confusing. And today's update was and I got a phone call from a resident today for me to be a little bit more specific
when I'm talking about Main Street, whether I'm talking about north or south. So I've auto corrected that for the mayor's update tomorrow. But the North Main Street work that's being done, the paving I was originally told by the county was supposed to start tomorrow. That's been delayed and that
will start on Thursdayes on track. And then today was our first of our new recycling program. Uh I did not check the big blue bin at the end of my driveway. It's lighter. It's empty. Okay. Swimming weight. But I anticipate that because of the milling that was
occurring on Old Trenton Road, we may have had some residents that had their big blue bins out on the road and then they were put up on the grass. And I don't know how the recycling truck did that and the milling was happening. So I expect maybe we'll get some feedback on that, but again, I don't think we could
have been um predictive of that. Um and that's all the updates that I have. Uh thanks for bringing up about the recycling. I think we still um I just see people throwing boxes not broken down, you know, and then these the I saw
like the the thing is open and there's these boxes about to fly out and stuff. I think we really need to just be a little we're going to have a continued problem like that with with this change. I can speak for my own household that that box filled up is I mean, think about the average Amazon deliveries that people
get here, right? And then you have to break those boxes up plus your plastic plus your glass and they all have to go in that bin. Whereas before your cardboard could be broken down and it could be on a separate one. They're not accepting that anymore. So I think that the one bin per household and we've had a couple residents speak up about it. I
don't know how you're supposed to fit everything in there if the cadence is every two weeks because I saw the same thing driving around today. All the lids were open. There were boxes on top of boxes on top of boxes. I mean even if we like broke them down instead of it just being a box shoved in
there, it might be a way to help with that. I agree. I mean, I thought I saw the encouragement for boxes to be dropped off at the recycling center could do that, too. But the hours of the our recycling center one day a month for three hours. So, the opportunity to do that is even less frequent than using
your recycling program. So, I don't know. It's just something to be aware of. But I saw a lot of those bins open today with people even broken down overflowing. So, uh you know, we'll see how it goes. It's like anything that's new, you see how it progresses and if there's any
change. But we used to use like wanted to use the small bins for all the cardboard still and you can't you can't do it. So also probably this time um maybe people put their bins in too like their old bins. Yeah. So maybe that took out a lot of space too because I know we did.
Yeah. Okay. Yeah. I think we're good. Any questions for me? I I have a question for Iman. I didn't get a chance. Um, regarding the old cranberry pizza site, um, it's like probably one of the number one questions I get, like why why has it been
lingering for what, three years now? Yeah. Four years. Yeah. And I know there's issues, but like is there any sense of urgency with with it planning or DRC or because I mean it's just it's an eyesore and it's just crazy that
I know it has come up a lot of times and um you know I even got comments from residents saying hey listen we're going to take a can of paint and we're going to do something about it ourselves and um I'm like please don't please don't. Yeah. Um, I'm not sure where the delay has occurred, but I do know that they have been looking at several different
types of plans and in the very beginning of this project, the property changed hands. So, that created its own delay. I I'd like to believe the owners are, you know, doing their best at trying to create the, you know, the next best thing for Cranberry. I just, um, you
know, I'm wondering if they're also sort of just trying to take a pulse of what's going on in the community and what type of business would be the best. Um, so I can't speak on their behalf. I do appreciate their diligence. Like I said, they've come before three different boards at three different dates at this point and they must have a reason for
changing their plan from time to time. And um I'm, you know, I'm I'm sure they're going to have a thoughtful offer for the town, but uh we certainly all would encourage them to do that sooner than later. The other thing I I think that may have
held it up is that people were looking um there was some legislation that went up trying to make it potentially easier to get a liquor license in New Jersey. And there was some legislation that I think that they were looking at to see if that maybe changed it having it
versus it being population based. And there was also different types of liquor licenses, right? And then also with the addition of the 200 plus homes in uh Toll Brothers, did that create a tipping point to now have a new liquor
license be available in town? So I know that there was some discussion around that too and you know if you're going to wait around for legislation, we all know how that goes, right? So um but so again if that's any insight toward it.
Well, thank you. But point made. Yeah. Okay. Uh do we have any subcommittee updates or department head updates? I do have a few. First I wanted to ask if the uh TC is going to be
participating in cranberry day. If so, I will make sure that a table is reserved. You guys can work on the schedule. You can let me know after. You don't have to decide right now, but obviously we have to let them know. Um and the August 25th uh TC meeting that we
have on our annual calendar as optional will be taking place. So we will be having that meeting. And thirdly on cranberry day uh we did send out um which became unanimous that we're going to be having um the cranberry in participating cranberry day which will
be including a beer garden around the area where they're going to be having a food truck. Um the the fire and police uh are really the ones that'll be working with CBA on where the that location will be. Um Diane with the uh
tents and the trucks and obviously chief with you know how to manage it. Uh they'll be working with that. So I will be uh reaching out to CBA tomorrow morning just confirming that we've approved that. Then the uh license electronically will be done by Cranberry and we're the chief and I will be signing off on behalf of the township
which is why we went to ask prior to that. So that's I believe that's all. Okay. Did everybody get a chance to look at this schematic that was sent? Yes. Okay. Um and just so everybody knows how this works. It's very similar to like a state fair. So like when you go to the
state fair or like a county fair, they'll have like a section where they may be serving alcohol, but it's like roped off and contained like a pen. So a beer pen, let's call it that. And you consume a beer in there. You can listen to music and enjoy the atmosphere of
Cranberry Day. You finish your beverage and then you leave. You're not walking down Main Street with open containers and and beers. If you want another libation, you go back into the pen and you're contained in there. So, um, that's similar to how other What are the hours that are going to be?
Does it say hours? Is it during cranberry? It'll end up being on the application that's applied through the state and that the chief and I'll be I presumed it was good portion, but I don't have the exact time. That'll be on. Yeah. Once I get that from them and and the chief and I received that, we'll
make sure that we pass it on to you guys. Okay. So, we're good on that. Okay, perfect. Okay, I just wanted to triple check that. I knew I had another piece of paper in
here for a reason. Okay. Um, do we have any follow-up items? Tree. That's action item. That's all right. Being proactive. Okay. And then we have um for boards and
commission vacancies um we have a first and second alternate available for the um environmental commission and then we have a second alternate for the zoning board um as as well open and those are only vacancies. Yeah. After we do the
after we do the resolution which we have two appointments um today uh which we're doing and we'll do that in resolutions. Okay. We'll move on to ordinances. We have a first reading this evening. Yes. So, the ordinance that is on for first reading is Cranberry Township
Ordinance number 08-25-10, an ordinance of the township of Cranberry, Melex County, New Jersey, authorizing the execution of a financial agreement with Cranberry Senior Apartments LLC, pursuant to NJSA527D-320, and a tax exemption and payment in low
of taxes pursuant to NJSA527D-320 for property located at 1274 South River Road, which is block 5, block 16, 1 and the second reading on this will be August 25th, 2025. If we can have a motion to introduce.
I'll move a second. Thank you. We're going to move on to roll call. Mr. Christopher, yes. Mrs. Eladawi, yes. Dr. Rogers, yes. Mr. Scott, yes. Mayor Con? Yes. Unanimous. Thank you. Okay, we have no second readings uh this evening, so we'll move on to consent
resolutions. We got a lot of them. A through J. Can I get a motion or if anyone wants any of them pulled out separately? I'd like to move uh resolutions A through J. I'll second.
Thank you. We'll move on to roll call. Dr. Skipping around. Mr. Christopher, I thought I just got a new degree. That was very exciting. Yes. Thank you, Mrs. Oatari. Yes, Dr. Rogers. Uh, yes. Thank you, Mr. Scott.
Yes. Mayor Coner. Yes. Thank you. Is unanimous. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Now, we have all of our business done with. Now, is time in the meeting. We'd like to open everything up to public comment. And if you could just sign in on that paper um with your name and then state
your name and address. And as usual, our public comment is limited to three minutes. And Glenn, you can hit whichever button keeps the red light on. Yeah. So, make it red. There we go.
Madame Mayor, members of the extension committee, um, my wife and I bought our house at 77 North Main Street in the year 2000. And it came on the same property with a building, a retail building at 79 North
Main Street. The two buildings are connected by a small breezeway. And when we moved in, we were informed by somebody here at at Town Hall that we lived in the Village Hamlet residential
zone and that if we wanted to rent 79 North Main Street, uh, we would have to get a variance from the zoning board of adjustment. So, we went through that process a number of times in the early years, and it was cumbersome and it was
expensive. I mean, it was well over $1,000 each time. And there is really no way for a landlord to pick the winners from the losers. So, some tenants were there for, you know, a number of years and some for a number of months. And
each time we would go before the zoning board of adjustment, they would wipe out the previous um variance, replace it with a new one that coincided with the new business. So we never assembled
a list of permitted uses. Um, in 2010, my wife and I went to the uh, master plan committee meeting and we explained this whole thing and
the fact that the village commercial zone came to the southern edge of our property and we asked if we could be included in that so that we could end up with a list of permitted uses in that zone. and they discussed it and they
decided that um they would recommend it. And the planner at that time suggested that to get a nice clean demarcation line, it might be best to extend that zone up to the corner of Bunker Hill.
Um, so we left the meeting, thought that there was a process in place, it would move to whoever else had to act on it. We were home free. So for 15 years, we thought we were in the village commercial zone until we listed our
house for sale this year and got into an argument with our realtor who insisted that we were in Village Hamlet residential. And of course, he was correct. Um, so what we're trying to do now is to get the property reszoned to
village commercial, which would afford us and any future owner a list of permitted uses. And as long as they stayed within that that list, they could avoid going to the zoning board of adjustment for variances.
I came in under three minutes. you you did you're well in you're well in yeah if you're in Congress you could give your time you could yield your time yeah so I think everybody got the feedback on this so the research that we were able to do was that it was recommended in 2019 it should have been
um 2010 2010 sorry and that um when it was re-examined to go into the master plan in 2019 it was kind of like not there at all it was almost like not addressed so for whatever reason so Um the right way
for us to manage this is that we're going to recommend that this go back to the planning board um for um consideration of it. They'll investigate why it wasn't done and then they will bring it back to the TC. uh during the
planning uh board meeting um we asked during their special meeting that's up upcoming so we could kind of try to expedite the process a little bit if they would add this to their agenda on their special meeting on August 26. They will do that. I've also asked that you
that be first in line versus the applications which can tend to take a very long period of time in a planning board meeting as you may have witnessed. So that they will put that as the first agenda item to hopefully move this through quickly and they've been predisposed to this. So we don't expect
it to be any any issue and that's my take on it and then I'll open it up to the township committee. Glenn, do you think this will affect your ability to sell? you know, I think anybody who owned a house would want to be in the commercial
zone just so that if there's a change in tenency, um, at least you know what business or businesses are acceptable. Um, so it it's I suppose if we got an offer from
somebody who had been a landlord and was familiar with zoning and things like that, it could be a deal breaker, I suppose. But most people are mostly interested in the house, I think, and they're not they're probably not that aware, you know, of some of the
tenency issues. Glenn, I just wanted to say that it's um it's a pleasure to hear your voice again once again in these chambers. It's true. I agree. I appreciate it. It's a lot of fun. Yeah. Yes. That's a word for it.
You folks have had it here. Yes. So, um again, normally I guess you know when we can address something during public comment, we want to address it during public comment. We were, you know, very well verssed in this topic prior to you coming here. So, we're doing our best to try to expedite it for you.
I appreciate it. But it'll be on the planning board agenda item on August 26. Tuesday, August 26 at 7 p.m. here in town hall. Very good. Okay. What? I don't know. Do you want to tell them the rest of the schedule so they're aware?
Well, I think I did the other night, but I might have misrepresented it. So that'll be the timing of it is August 26th and then it what you said an ordinance has to be drafted at TC level. So we're hoping to get that in September. The first meeting in back to the
planning board and their meeting isn't until October and then it come back to back to TC for adoption. So it so it looks like a good Christmas for the Johnson. No, it'll be by the end of October it'll be done. Can't leave yet. Yeah. Yeah. it we have to look at the
schedule of the October planning board meeting and then our first meeting in October planning's first it's before us so right so that the good news with that is that it the first meeting in October the planning board will review and it'll come back for adoption at our first
meeting in October as long as they get the ordinance drafted they should yeah couple more cranberry pizza nights Glenn yes there you go thank you very much thank Okay, we have some No, you can leave it on. Thank you.
Okay, we got more folks here. So, any more public comments or anyone else public comments evening? Sorry, I was looking behind you at the same time. So, you guys make a decision. Poland infeld uh Griggs Road.
So, as uh as we're getting towards autumn and the uh DPW is going to be doing uh wood chipping and uh leaf collection, um I just uh wanted to ask if there was any way that uh they could um make some of that material available
for uh residents who want to use it as mulch or um uh renewable gardening. Um, I know they uh they they d they dump it on at the nursery on uh Anel Davidson. Um, if there's any way to uh make some
of that available uh to residents, it' be great. I think we I think they did it years and years and years ago. Ever done that? Yeah. I I it might it might be a D issue. I'm
not really sure if they're allowed to keep it on their property. We'd have to check with J. Yeah, I I don't know. Yeah, thank you. Okay. All right. We'll follow up.
Mark, it's getting hot in here. I don't know what I want. It's sticky and it's hot and fans. Okay, maybe fans. All right, hold on. Good evening everyone. There you go.
Uh Mark Burkowski, North Main Street, uh representing Cranberry Housing Associates tonight. I just want to expand a little what the mayor said about our planning board meeting last week. Uh the CHA group home for Eden
Autism was approved. It will take about uh two months to perfect the planning board resolution and file for building permit. So we hope to be in the ground in the fall and this committee will be uh invited to attend a groundbreaking
which we've had for all our prior projects uh and looking forward to a completion in uh probably 10 to 12 months. So it'll be uh wonderful uh for Eden. Uh it may be a little late also for an invitation for tomorrow, but um
we did invite the planning board uh to attend an Eden ribbon cutting in Robinsville. Uh they do uh have group homes in Mercer and Middle Sex County. So I think it's a good education or a lot of uh operational issues that were
asked the planning board to understand that a group home is a home and it's just for individuals who have uh people helping them. Uh so it it's really good education and we look forward to presenting more of Eden autism and what
they do and how they really help the community and people. Uh the one other thing that's going to get to dollars and cents. So, we're going to be looking for our $400,000 grant uh when we start construction. So, I know you want some time in order to get the money
available. So, we'd say about uh 45 to 60 days we'll be uh looking for that funding. Yeah. And just a um just quick question, I was surprised, but I might be wrong quoting, but maybe I have it in my 37 or 32 Eden House group homes that they they
run. Eden House. She mentioned it during the meeting, but I was really surprised at that number, but it's quite quite a bit. Yes. Uh and and towns like Robinsville and Hamilton have been extremely supportive. Uh the newest house is uh
again in Robinsville. We have one house that's going to uh will be under construction soon in New Brunswick and partnering with Rutgers University. Yeah. So, it's u we're we're all around and they they are not
two main volunteers hat uh hats I wear. One is with Eden Autism. I've been on the board a number of years. I also work with Community Options which does group homes for developmentally disabled people and they're a national organization. So, the need is is
certainly there. So, we thank you. Thank you. My name is Martin Herren. I'm uh 44 the boy drive in the four seasons uh community. I'm the board president. Uh what I'm hear about is that uh the
signage we have on our in our roads in the in the town, you know, in our community pretty bad. Uh a lot of the stop signs, you can't read them. Uh we'd like to have the town engineer or somebody come over and take a look at them. You know, the reflection is not
that great. Uh we also have a problem with people coming off of Old Trenton Road onto Lead Key. There's a small area, then there's a stop sign. That area, they either go through it or they or it's what they call the California stop where they just kind of like, you
know, go through. Uh myself, I've only been have just about been hit a few times. So, it's the kind of thing like when you come down uh Mal, which is a horseshoe, you come down there, you got to slow down and look both ways because I
didn't get the license plate, but a car did come in, went straight through, went down, went through that stop, went out on the old cranberry road, made a right, and right on out. So, we have a problem with a lot of people going through, and
it's with a and they go through pretty fast. So, you know, and some of the stop signs there, you can't see them. There's no reflection. So, I've been here for a while and there's one right outside our clubhouse. You can't even read it. So, if you can just get the town
engineer or somebody like that to come take a look at it, that's that's all we ask for. Okay. Do you have speed Do you have speed limit signs up? Do you have speed limit signs up? Do you know? There's one of them we know that is in there. Uh, and that's going down uh,
Labour. Um, it's very different coming off of Old Trenton going into your, as a matter of fact, there is one across Labour as you're coming in from Old Trenton and Leaky. It's on the other side, but it's like right there in your face. So, you uh, you should be able to
see what it is. People don't care. Go right through. So, rather than go up Old Trenton Road and make a right on Old Cranberry, they're using going through the neighborhood like a bypass. Is that what you mean? Okay. short. Can't figure out why because all they got to do is go down to uh you know old cranber think it's takes you longer.
Well, unless you're speeding and blowing stop signs, right? Okay. Now we have no problem because the road is ripped up. Nobody's going through. So Okay. Just real quick, is your concern a lack of signage or the condition of the signage? Condition of the sign. Condition. Yeah. Okay. Okay. That that's it. I mean they've been here
for a long long time and it's starting to get you know faded. One of them you can it's like with the you know the cop cars you got the you know it says police on the side and it's black and you can just about read it. It's like that except worse. Thank you.
Thank you. Do we have any other further public comment this evening? Okay. Seeing none, I'm going to close public comment for this evening. And that brings us to action items. Tree,
correct? Yeah. Okay. Uh tree library shading. What else? Uh adopted drain. Yeah, we'll look into that. Uh
signage at Four Seasons. Oh, and uh chipping. What? Wood chips. Wood chipping. Got it. All right. And then signage. You said that. Yeah, we got signage. Okay. I was say it again.
Just texting the environmental commission right now. Okay. Okay. At this point, um, we have, as, uh, Debbie had, um, indicated, we have a third resolution, uh, for close session,
uh, letter C. So, at this point, I'm looking for one motion for all three resolutions to go into close session. I will forward that motion. Iman already did it. Second. It's so hard to hear over all of this.
Okay, we're gonna move on to roll call for that. Mr. Christopher. Yes. Mrs. Elvadawi. Yes. Dr. Rogers. Yes. Mr. Scott. Yes. Mayor Coner. Yes. It's unanimous and we will uh be moving into close session and there'll be no action taken. Thank you for the members of the public
for joining us tonight and those that are online. Thank you. Thank you.