Huh? I work for a company out of Pittsburgh. Parking garages. Township of Edison zoning board of adjustment special meeting of April 29th, 2025 is now in session. Adequate notice of this meeting as required by the Open Public Meetings Act of 1975 has
been provided by the annual notice published in the Home News and Trabune on December 13, 2024. Has been posted in the main lobby of the misal complex on December 18th, 2024. Please join me in the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America
nationy and justice for all. Madam Secretary, roll call, please. Miss Shaw here. Mr. Ayah here. Mr. Johnny here. Mr. Chabra here. Mr. Patel here. Mr. Schneider here. Mr. Sedata here.
Vice Chair Ogorman here. And Chairman Ka here. Thank you. Madam Secretary, minutes for consideration. Minutes of April 22nd, 2025 for approval. Motion to approve the minutes from April 22nd, 2025. Second. Motion made by Vice
Chairman Gorman, second by Mr. Sadata. Roll call, please. Mr. Chabra, yes to the motion. Mr. Johnny, in motion. Mr. Schneider, yes to the motion. Mr. Patel, yes to the motion. Mr. Sadhan, yes to the motion. Vice Chair Gorman, yes on a
motion. And chairman Kumba abstain. Madam Secretary, resolutions to be adopted. Z17 2022 B Oil Corp for approval. Board's pleasure. Motion to approve. Second motion made by Vice Chairman Gorman. Second by Mr. Sedata. Roll call,
please. Mr. Chabra, yes to the motion. Mr. Patel, yes to the motion. Mr. Sadd, yes to the motion. And Vice Chair Gorman. Yes. Thank you. Okay. Thank you, Madam Secretary. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. This is a special meeting of the Township Edison zoning board of adjustment. The board is
composed of Edison Township residents appointed by municipal council who volunteer their time and service to the board. The munipal land use law requires that members successfully complete a land use training course administered by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. This board also holds in-house training conducted by our board
professionals. The zoning board abides by the provisions of the municipal land use law in addition to our board's bylaws. The zoning board is a quasi judicial land use board which differs from the township planning board. Under the misfit land use law, board members are required to be impartial and are not allowed to discuss any case prior to
being considered at a hearing. All applicants will have the opportunity to present their case before the board along with the opportunity for board members and board professionals to question the applicant and their witnesses. At the conclusion of the applicant's presentation of their case, case will be open to the public. Residents within 200 feet of the subject
site will be heard, followed by residents from outside of 200 feet. All residents will be sworn in. They'll provide their name and address and they'll be given six minutes to comment on the application being considered without the opportunity for a rebuttal. Residents may ask questions of the applicant, the applicant's professionals and board professionals. The board
requests that these questions are asked prior to any commentary being made on the application. Once commentary begins, residents timer will begin. The applicant will be allowed for the opportunity for cross-examination of their witnesses. Under the law, the chair is allowed to stop any commentary which is repetitive or an attempt to
filibuster the board. Further, the chair is allowed to stop any commentary that is irrelevant to the case or prohibited from the board's consideration. Once public portion is closed, all public comments are ended unless new testimony is presented by the applicant. Following the closure of the public portion, the applicant will have the right of
summation on their application. Following summation, the case will go to the board for a decision. This procedure has been followed by the board and is similar to the procedures followed by boards of adjustment statewide. The misan use law requires the board to engage in a balancing act and is not required to strictly apply township
ordinances, zoning plan or master plan. As a board of adjustment, variances are granted when appropriately necessary following all legal considerations. As has been the case with prior boards, this will board will see where we're at if we are still in session around 10:30 p.m. Uh I hope that is not the case for
tonight. Um I ask that all applicants, professionals, and residents show respect to each other and be civil throughout all proceedings. I ask that you withhold applause, booing, or interrupting anyone while they are speaking. The chair will not tolerate any or outbursts by applicants,
professionals, or the public. Further, since most cases are being recorded by a court reporter, I ask the speakers do not speak over one another. Uh, first on the agenda is a close session, but we're going to move that to the end of the agenda.
Um, one announcement case Z24 2022 Old Post Realy LLC at 604 and 610 Old Post Rail Road will be carried until September 30th, 2025 and it will be subject to further notice required. If you're here for this case Z24, 2022
Opaly LLC, it will not be heard this evening. It'll be heard on September 30th, 2025. Madam Secretary, first case on the agenda, please. Case number Z6 2025 John Daniel at 62 Terry A. Applicant is seeking bulk
variance to construct a garage addition to the existing single family home. The following standards have not been met. Minimum rear front yard setback required is 25 ft. Proposed is 11t 3 in. Affected property is located in the RB zone designated as block number
643.10, lot number 76 on the Edison Township tax map. All noticing paperwork is in order. Good evening, sir. Good evening. I'm Gideon Gilbert. I'm Would you please raise your right hand? Oh, sorry. Do you swear or affirm to tell the whole truth, nothing but the truth? I hope you got it. Yes, I do. State your
full name for the record. My name is Gideon Gelber. I'm a registered architect in the state of New Jersey. Is the applicant here as well? Yeah, the applicants are in the room. Uh, Mrs. Mr. Daniel and Mrs. Paul. Okay. Um, so you are registered
architect? I'm a registered architect. And if you could please just provide the board with a summary of your background and qualifications. Uh, certainly. I, uh, graduated from architecture school at Cornell University in Ethic, New York, uh, in, uh, 1996. I have been practicing
architecture in New York and New Jersey for well since I guess about uh, 97 or 98. Um, license are current and good standing. It is in current and it is in good standing. Great. We'll accept you.
Thank you. You may proceed. Right. The hardship here basically is just it's just the lot geometry. It is a triangular lot at the end of a block um with no neighbors. It's got it's bounded by roads on three sides. The um and is
an acute it's an acute angle. Um the the the client basically just wants to build a garage, a onecar garage on the side of their house. Um which is nice because then we don't have cars parked on the street. Um the but because of the shape of the lot and the and just the the odd
geometry of it, um we're going to be closer to the road at the back of the property than would generally be required. And so we're seeking relief from that setback for for the for behind the house. Um, I mean it's really really
basic. The the question I would be asking me if I were you would be does it uh create any issues with sight lines for the traffic that passes around the the house on three sides? And the answer is no. It's it it complies with the 75 foot sighteline requirement
there. I wish it were more complicated. Had something cool to say. Does anybody Does the board have any questions for Mr. Gilbert? Mr. Chairman. Vice Chairman. Yes. You have there's currently a garage there now. No. There's no garage on the house. House
does not have a garage and we are adding them. Okay. On this proposed addition, would you remove any trees? No. There would be no trees removed. No. Some bushes maybe. Mr. Could you just bring the uh microphone closer? Yeah. Yeah, that's perfect. Make sure we hear you at home. Thank you. Any other questions for
Mr. Gilbert? Mr. Chair, Mr. Chabra. Um, so the house never had a garage? No. There's a Ma'am, I'm sorry. You cannot testify unless you want to be sworn. I can swear. Sure. Come on. Come on over. Is there Is there was there a garage there before I She's
going to have Wait, before you ask your question, she's going to have to be sworn in. Okay. Sit down. Make sure the microphone's on. I got you. Is the microphone on? Um, yes it is. All right. If you would raise your right hand, do you solemnly swear or affirm to tell the whole truth, nothing but the
truth to help you, God? Yes. And what is your name? Christine Paul. I'm also um an owner of the house. That's my husband whose name is first. My name is also on the application as well. Was there a garage there at some point? Yes, sir. You cannot question her. You not an
attorney. Yes, she's going to tell us what she's going to tell us. Um there was a garage in the home. We had with permits closed it off in 2022 uh to make more room for ourselves in
the house. Uh the garage that we were given was very small. We could never fit a car in there. So we and we didn't have a proper laundry room. So we with permits closed the garage to make a laundry room and an office for my husband who works from home. So we
currently do not have a garage. But we did. The house did come with a garage, but it could never fit a car. Okay. Thank you. Does the board have any questions for the applicant? Okay. Thank you very much.
Um, board have any questions for Mr. Gelber? Seeing none. Okay. All right. Thank you very much. Do you have anything else to add? No, it's it's a simple request. Okay. Well, in your opinion, it's a simple request. Okay. provide in my opinion, in my professional, we we we volunteer our time to to sit here and and call that
whether a ball or strike. Okay. We're going to go out to the public. Anyone within 200 feet of subject site wanting to be heard, if you're within 200 feet of subject site, you received a notice via certified mail. Ma'am, would you raise your right hand? Do you solemnly swear or affirm to tell the whole truth, nothing but the true self you got? I do.
And state your full name for the record. Then provide your address. Janet Santoro. I live at 61 Terry AB. You have six minutes. Bam. Okay. I live directly across the street. I've been there 20 years. Um the couple
moved in. They're a great asset to our neighborhood. All our neighbors are in full support. I think you have a letter where they've written off on it. Ma'am, we cannot look at letters. We have to have people come in and be sworn in and you can only testify as to your personal knowledge. Well, I I misunderstood
because we did sign. Okay. So, anyway, and I did want to come here tonight in support of them. I'm also been a realer 29 years, so I know that this is also going to add to the value of their home and the other homes in our area. We are
a dead end. There's only one other home beyond me that is beyond them. It does not affect the back street. If you went by the area, it has nothing to do with it. Nothing is changing. And again, I just want to add my full support to
them. Thank you very much. Anyone else within 200 feet of sub site want to be heard? Anyone outside 200 feet want to be heard? Can I get a motion to close the public portion? Motion to close public session. Second a motion. Motion made by Vice Chairman Gorman, second by
Mr. Schneider. All in favor signify by saying I. I oppose. Nay the eyes have it public portions now closed and I'll go to the boardw Mr. Chairman vice chairman like to make a motion to approve this application based on meeting the positive and ne negative criteria and
also with the support of um 61 Terry Road the neighbor and um I that's my motion second motion made by Vice Chairman Ogorman seconded by Mr. Patel roll call please Mr. Mr. Chabra,
yes to the motion. Mr. Johnny, yes in motion. Mr. Schneider, yes to the motion. Mr. Patel, yes to the motion. Mr. Sedata, yes to the motion. Vice Chair Gorman, yes on the motion. And Chairman Kumba, yes on the motion. Your unan approval. Congratulations. Good
luck. Good luck. Madam Secretary, next case on the agenda, please. Case number Z9 2025 Visa Gangula at 665 Denver Boulevard. Applicant is seeking bulk variances to construct an addition and an add level to the existing single
family dwelling. The following standards have not been met. Minimum one sideyard setback is 10 ft. Proposed is 5.42 feet. Combined sideyard setback required is 25 ft. Proposed is 11.8 ft. Affected property is located in the RBB zone
designated as block number 497 lot number 52 on the Edison Township tax map. All noticing paperwork is in order. Good evening Mr. SH. Good evening Mr. Chairman, members of the board. My name is Bernard Shy with the firm of Conre and Shire representing the owner
applicant uh Mr. Gangula. Uh the property in question is 665 uh Denver Boulevard in the RBB zone. present use as a single family home. Proposals construct an addition and alteration uh to the uh existing
structure uh which will lead to the requirement for two sideyard variances. Uh the uh lot itself is oversized for the area but it is uh narrower uh than
the uh properties required in the zone. Uh it's uh 60 ft wide instead of 80 ft wide. Uh but it's extremely deep. It's uh three times the necessary depth at
308 ft. Uh the existing sideyards are uh the existing uh the existing sideyards are 5.8 ft and 11.8 eight uh total for two. Uh the requirements uh
are uh 10 feet for one and 25 ft for two. Uh these are necessitated by the unusual shape of this lot. Uh the reason uh my client is seeking the addition and uh alteration is there's no garage presently on the property. They would
like to have a garage. Uh the house is rather small uh for four people in his family. Uh so he's uh adding a second floor. Uh he has two daughters that live with him and his wife and they frankly just need more room and a garage. Uh
unless there are any preliminary questions, I would call Mr. Gangula. Word of any preliminary questions for Mr. Chair. Seeing none, you may proceed. Mr. Gangula, would you raise your right hand? Do you solemnly swear or affirm to tell the whole truth? Nothing but the
truth. Yes. And state your full name for the record. Yes. Sam Shabba Gangala. Uh 65. Mr. Mr. Gangula, you're the uh you and your wife own this house. Yes. Me and my own this. And how long have you owned
it? We owned this only since November. Since 2024 November. Okay. And uh it's a rather small home, correct? A small small home. Yes. And how many people in your family? Four of us. Two kids and two. All right. Mr. Sh, I'm going to cut you off for one second. Mr. Could you
just bring the microphone a little closer to you? Thank you very much. Appreciate it. Yeah. Thank you. Uh it's you and you have two daughters. Yeah, I have two daughters. And then my wife, me and myself, my wife will be living in the home. Okay. Uh and what uh you're
planning to add a garage? You have no garage. Yeah, there is no garage to the current home. So I want to build a garage and then since it becomes so small, I want to add addition to the floor to the house. All right. And you'd like to have a little more room for the
family. Correct. Yes. Uh and what is going to be in the addition besides the garage? So, I'll be adding a second floor. Uh, adding bedrooms in the second floor. Yeah. Okay. And how many bedrooms will that give you altogether? Uh, altogether it'll be five bedrooms. All
right. Uh, I have no other questions of Mr. Gangula. Does the board have any questions for the applicant? Yes, Mr. Uh, any bathrooms to the So, I'm adding bathrooms, right? Four bathrooms. Okay.
The question was about bathrooms. How many bathrooms? Four. Four. We are adding four bathrooms. That's what sir. No, there's existing two bathrooms and I'm adding two more. Two more. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Any other
questions? Okay. Seeing none. Thank you very much. I call Mr. Paul Fletcher, our planner. Thank you. Mr. Fletcher, raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear or affirm to tell the whole truth, nothing but the truth? Self you got? Yes, I do. And just state your full name for the record. Thank you.
Miss Paul J. Fletcher. Mr. Fletcher, if you could please provide the board with a summit of your background and qualifications. Yes. Uh, graduate of a bachelor of applied science in uh from the University of Toronto. Uh I'm a certified uh sorry
licensed uh prof professional planner in the state of New Jersey. I've testified in front of this board of numerous other boards in the capacity of planner. Your license is current and good standing. Yes, it is. You may proceed. Yeah. Mr. Fletcher, uh you've been hired by the
applicant to deliver planning testimony regarding his application for two variances. Correct. That is correct. And you familiarized yourself with this uh particular property and the neighborhood? Yes, I have. Uh could you please just give the board a brief description of the area? Certainly. It's
uh it's the RBB zone uh which requires a minimum of 10,000 square ft with a minimum lot width of 85, minimum lot depth of 100. Uh front yard set required 25
sideyards required are uh side single sideyard 10 combined sideyards at 25. Uh this area of Edison uh as this and a few of the parallel streets
uh are uh in the RBB zone and they're characterized by very deep lots. Uh but they also have uh various lot widths. This particular lot is only 60 feet uh as is the property to the left. Uh the
one to the right is is slightly larger. It's at 100 ft. Uh it's because of the uh narrow lot and the location of the existing house uh that is causing the uh
required single and combined sideyard setbacks. Uh clearly there's no land to be purchased to the left. It's a 60ft lot. Uh the applicant has told me that the house to the right is approximately 12 to 15 ft from the property line. So
to acquire any land uh on that side would create a variance on their property. Uh I would note for the board that the lot coverage by building is well under the allowed as is the F ratio. Uh this
area of Edison has been uh being redeveloped uh on an ongoing basis. of smaller homes, smaller older homes being uh being demolished and larger homes uh being constructed. Clearly, this new
home will not be out of character with that neighborhood. Uh I believe that the board can grant these variances uh based on the C1 criteria for hardship uh whereby the uh unique width of the lot creates a hardship uh for the
property. uh and also I believe uh C2 criteria applies in that the uh benefits significantly outweigh any detriments. Uh firstly the the removal of a functionally obsolete home and
replacement with a new uh or effectively new two-story structure that will accommodate the applicant's family will be an aesthetic improvement to the neighborhood. uh and I don't see any significant impact to the public good uh nor to his
own plan or master plan of of Edison. Uh it's for these reasons that I believe the board uh can grant these variances as requested. I have no other questions. Board have any questions for Mr. Fletcher?
I'm going Mr. Chair. Go ahead. Vice Chairman. Okay. How many is it a onecar garage or twocar garage? It will be a twocar garage. Okay. So, if you went to a onecar garage, you would meet the requirements for the 10 ft. Correct.
Well, it's not just the garage. The whole building behind that uh is is in line with that that same sideyard. So, what you're proposed 5.42 ft. If someone puts a ladder on the side of the
house that they're going to be on the other person's property, correct? At some point. I mean, the ladder might not be there, but it's the person is going to have to go on the other person's property to to access the ladder. That's
possible, as would be the case on the right side of the property. No, no, on the on the left hand side, but a garage. I I I understand the question, but I'm I'm pointing out that the existing setback on the right is is
uh uh 5 uh it's 5 7 ft. That's the existing setback. So it' be a similar issue. Uh so it would be an issue on both sides if someone want to access an
extension letter. I don't personally I don't see that as a insurmountable problem for You don't see it as a problem. It's someone going on somebody else's property access to someone's house. Is that your testimony?
I would point out that the minimum sideyards for, you know, other residential properties are six feet, which is very similar to what we have. There are towns in New Jersey with three and four foot
sideyard setbacks. Uh, Mr. This is this is Edison. I understand. This is this is this is this zone. We're not, you know, of course in in other areas there's going to be tighter density. We understand that. But so so are there other uh houses in the
neighborhood that have this setback of 5 point 5t? No, you're not. You're going to have to wait until Mr. Fletcher comes is done and then you come back in. Uh I did not do a survey of other properties with similar setbacks. However, I would
suggest you uh allow the owner applicant to speak. He had mentioned uh information about the left end property. So I that's all I know about sidebacks at this. Okay. Thank you. So to answer the board member's question, we're going to allow the applicant to step back in
and then Mr. Fletcher, you remain under oath. Of course. Step up, sir. Yeah. uh the property next to the left to the 661 uh which is uh also same size exactly 60
by 38. So that house was built with uh you know similar 50 ft uh wide of the home and then leaving uh some variance 5t 5t something on both sides 6 and
four. The house is house of the house uh number left of the my house 661 which is built with similar uh size similar size with variance. So if you're standing in the street and
you're facing the house on the left I don't my left of exactly on the left 661. I don't I don't know if if I'm standing in the street. I'm standing in on Yeah. I'm standing in front of Let me ask my question. Yes. All right. If I'm on on
Denver Boulevard and I'm looking at your house, you're saying the house to the left? Yes. And you're saying that your testimony is that the setbacks on that is 5T on each side? Yeah. My I'm building the home similar to his size. All right. Thank you.
Okay. Thank you. Mr. Fletcher, back up. Mr. Chair, Mr. Chron, uh, Mr. Flesher, um, my first question would be, how tall is the existing house right now? I'm I'm sorry, say again. How tall is the existing house right now? How close?
How tall? How tall? Uh on the survey we're calling it a one-story home. So I would expect it to be in the range of perhaps 20 ft. Okay. Um so obviously we're going you guys are proposing 34T for the new house. So even
if the existing one is 5.8 ft, I mean looking at the geometry as Mr. Gorman had mentioned previously, you're going to have the issue on the right side and the left side. And it's not going to be just what's existing, but it's going to get worse knowing that you're putting a 14 foot structure on top of it. Um, has
the applicant considered making a onecar garage? You have a large setback in the back rear of the lot where you can build in the rear easily without encountering that problem. U, I was not the architect on the
project. Uh, I would leave that to the applicant to answer that question. Mr. Fletcher, just since we're on the discussing the wooded area there, there is no, to your knowledge, there's no uh woodlands easement or anything like that
back there. It's not like where it's like protected property. It's just a wooded area there. There's no easements or conservation easements shown on the tax maps. Okay. Nothing was uncovered when when we did our survey. Okay. Thank you
very much. Appreciate that. Miss Sh. Okay. Any other board? Any other questions for Mr. Fletcher? Okay. All right. M Char uh that's the uh
applicant's case. Mr. Sh, I'm just seeing that there is room. There's no need for for these tight setbacks. There's plenty of space in the rear if the applicant would be willing to consider going back in some way
utilizing the depth of the lot. For what it's worth, that's my opinion, Mr. Chairman. Vice Chairman, I would agree with your opinion. need a few minutes. MH, we're going to take I'll tell you what, we're we'll give you a fivem minute recess. That's okay. Okay. Thank
you. board will return to session more than I have. Thank you, Mr. Mr. Chairman. The applicant has uh heard the concerns of the board and uh will redesign the plan. Excuse me. To redesign the plan to
lessen the impact of the sideyard variance and come back before the board. Uh will take How long would you would you estimate you'll need? Yeah. Uh it is for 60 days. Okay. Madam
Secretary. Um how about June 24th? Would that June 24th? Yeah. Okay. Okay. All right. So, for anyone here present and for anyone listening at home, uh this case will be carried until June 24th, 2025, uh with a
meeting beginning at 7:00 p.m. here in council chambers. If you have received a notice for this case, this will serve as your notice. Um this case will uh resume on June 24th, 2025 again with the meeting beginning at 7 p.m. here in council chambers. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you very much. Good to see you. All right. Next on the agenda is close session. Uh madam secretary, please read just the notice. Close session. Close session is discussion on our care one litigation. Can I get a motion to go into close session? Motion to go in close session. Second. Motion made by
Vice Chairman Gorman. Second by Mr. Schneider. All in favor signify by saying I. I oppose. Nay. The eyes have it. Board will adjourn to close session. Okay. [Music] Can I get a motion to return to public session? Motion to close the session.
No. Motion to return to session. Return to session. Return to session. Yes. Second. All right. Motion made by Mr. Sad, second by Mr. Patel. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Those nay. The eyes have it. or return to public session. Madam Secretary, is there any other further business to come before the board this evening? That'll be all
this evening. All right. Seeing none, can I get a motion to adjurnn? Second. Motion by motion made by Mr. Sadata, second by Vice Chairman Gorman. All in favor signify by saying I. Oppos? Nay. The eyes have it. Board stands adjourned. Thank you everybody.