Yeah, hope so. Township of Medicine zoning board of adjustments special meeting of June 24th 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 tribune on December 13, 2024 as opposed to the main lobby of municipal complex on December 18th, 2024. Please join me in the pledge of allegiance to the flag. To the flag of the United States of
America to the republic for it stands with liberty and justice for all. Madam Secretary, roll call, please. Mr. Rubenstein here. Mr. Aat here. Mr. Cerrito here. Mr. Schneider
here. Mr. They here, Vice Chair Gorman here, and Chairman Kumba here. Thank you, Madam Secretary. Uh, minutes for consideration. Um, minutes for approval, June 17th, 2025. What's the board's pleasure? Motion to approve.
Second. Motion made by Vice Chairman Gorman, second by Mr. Certo. Roll call, please. Uh, Mr. Cerrito, yes on the motion. Mr. Det, yes on the motion. Vice Gorman, yes on the motion, and Chairman Kumba, yes on the motion. Thank you. Okay, we have one notice for this
evening. Z172025 Suresh and Daram Modi at 152 Lond Avenue uh will not be heard this evening. It is improperly noticed. Uh so renotice is required. Good evening ladies and gentlemen. This is a special meeting in the township of Edison zoning board of adjustment. The board is composed of
Edison Township residents appointed by the mal council who volunteer their time and service to the board. Miss land use law requires a member successfully complete a land use training course administered by the department New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. This board also holds in-house training conducted by our board professionals.
The zoning board abides by the provision of munipal 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 mipal 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, the case will open to the public. Residents within 200 ft of subject
property will be heard, followed by residents from outside of 200 ft. 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, the resident's timer will begin. The applicant would be allowed 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 less 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 adjustments statewide. The M land 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 necessarily following all legal considerations. As has been the case with prior boards, this board will see where we at if we are still in session around 10:30 p.m. Hope that is not the case this evening.
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 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. Madam Secretary, first case on the agenda, please. Case number Z9 2025, Sam Basivo Gangula at 665 Denver Boulevard. Applicant is
seeking bulk variances to construct an addition and add a level to the existing single family dwelling. The following standards have not been met. Minimum one sideyard required is 10 ft. Proposed is 6.6 feet. Combined sideyard setback
required is 25 feet. Proposed is 16.6 feet. Minimum lot width required is 85 ft. Proposed is 60 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 Conv and Shire representing the applicant uh Mr. Mr. Mrs. Gangula uh with reference to their
property located at uh 665 Denver Boulevard in Edison in the RBB zone. Uh presently it is a vacant house. Uh the proposal is to uh
put a new uh addition on the house uh with more living space. Uh the family is four people. They have uh two daughters, 15 and 21, who need their own rooms. Uh and uh what we're proposing is to add a
second floor to the home. Uh and uh the at the request of the board after the first hearing uh what we've done is eliminated one of the variances where we now uh have uh we're not changing uh the
existing sideyard and we are keeping uh one sideyard at 10 ft which complies. Uh that was what the board requested. Uh the other violations are existing. Uh it's an extremely
narrow lot. Uh so it is uh obviously difficult to add on to an existing house. Uh but the lot is extremely deep. Uh it is uh 308 ft deep. Uh so uh this
addition uh will not uh really have any effect uh on any neighboring properties or the neighborhood. and in fact uh is going to improve the aesthetics uh existing and provide living space for
the family. Uh unless there are any uh preliminary questions uh regarding the revised plan uh I have uh our planner, Mr. Fletcher uh available to testify to add to his prior testimony. Mr. Sh, can you just remind me uh as to where what
you were at in the original sideyard setback? Uh at the the original uh one sideyard was uh approximately 6 ft. Uh we were going to reduce that. We are now
uh proposing uh that it remain the same and we are uh on the 11t sideyard we're changing that by 1 foot to 10 ft. Okay. Does any board have any other questions? Mr. SH, Mr. Chairman, Mr. D.
So, the existing foundation remains or you're getting rid of the foundation? I'm sorry. The current house. You're demoing demoing the current house. Correct. Sir, sir, sir, you're going to have to be sworn. If you're going to speak, you're going to have to be sworn. He's
already been sworn. I believe it's a new It's a new It's a new evening. He's going to have to be sworn. Okay. Yeah. My name is Sam Gangula. I'm a resident of uh Edison last 11 years. But we have to swear you in first. All right. Stand up for a second. Raise your
right hand. Do you swear or firm to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth? Okay. Thank you. So I'm resident of a decent last 11 years. So I current existing home. I don't have place. So I have bought this house to you know
extend the home. Um to rebuild the home to my four member family. The house currently is about um just only um 1200 square f feet. I want I'm extending the back uh and adding a second floor. So
the current house still remains on the same foundation. Yeah, I just very And you are just extending it and putting a second floor. Yeah, extending the back on. Okay, thank you Mr. Chairman. Thank you. Any other questions? Okay, you may proceed. Right, Mr.
Fletcher. Mr. Fletcher, do you swear to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth? Mr. Fletcher, you're Hang on, hang on, hang on, hang on, hang on. Mr. SH, you're in a hurry tonight. Mr. Fletcher, you've appeared for us before us
recently. If you just give the board uh the summary of your qualifications, the background, please. Certainly uh I'm a graduate of University of Toronto with a bachelor of applied science. I'm the principal of Fletcher Engineering. I'm a licensed professional planner and have been for approximately 32 years. I've
testified in front of uh this board and planning board and numerous other uh towns within Middle Sex, Union, Mammoth County. And your planning license is current and good standing? It my planner's license is current and in good standing. Yes. I may proceed. Thank you.
Thank you. Mr. Fletcher, you testified previously in this matter uh as to the reasons uh why uh these variances uh could be granted. Uh in this situation, we've actually uh decreased the
violation. Is that correct? Yes. We uh originally were asking for uh an existing sideyard variance on the right side, but also a proposed uh I think it was 5.4 ft on the left side. We have uh
removed that uh requested variance on the left and we are now proposing that to be a conforming 10-ft sideyard. We still are looking for the combined uh sideyards which uh I believe is 25 is is
required in the zone uh are at 16.06. Uh the other variance that is necessary is uh minimum lot width. The RBB zone requires an 85 ft lot width. uh we have an existing condition
of 60 ft. Uh I believe these variances can be granted under the C1 criteria which is uh a hardship. Uh clearly it would be a hardship to the owner to have to move the house uh to comply with the
10-ft sideyard. Uh and uh there's no available land to to make the property conforming. Uh I see no uh detriment to the public good. Uh I see only benefits uh a new
uh new looking uh home that will be an asset uh all uh new uh mechanicals, electrical uh would be brought up to uh current standards
required. Um and I see no detriment to the master plan or the uh the zone plan. And this lot is extremely deep. It's uh three times the required lot width in the zone. Correct. Three times the the depth. Yes. The total area is it's just
narrow but extremely deep and uh all other uh requirements bulk requirements are well within the limits set by the town. That's correct. We're well under on lot coverage, F requirements, total impervious coverage.
Just the, as I mentioned, the lot width and the combined uh sideyard and the single existing sideyard on the right side. I have no other questions. Mr. Fletcher, before I go to the board, I just want the record to reflect that Mr. Chabra has arrived. Mr. Chairman, Mr.
Dav, so I'm looking at the drawing A001. But the architectural [Applause] Right. So the testimony was there from previous gentlemen that the existing house
remains. I see here that you have a full basement brand new. So what are you guys keeping as existing house? [Applause] Here's [Applause] [Applause]
the right side of the of the building. Uh the basement floor I think is being retained. [Applause] The base says the existing walls to be
removed patch as required. Um and I can see everything is now excavated where your old house is there as well. Correct. It would be excavated where it's not already a basement. Same goes for the
first floor as well. You see all the walls, everything is new. So, I'm not the architect. [Applause] Yep. If I may, chairman. Yes. Mr. Is this going to be a new home?
Sir, you're going to have to approach and be on a microphone. [Applause] So um this the the plan we we're keeping the right side of the home as is right side of the foundation right side of the wall
and then the when the left side we're just adding a feet to keep the garage just we're adding one ft on the left and And going back uh basement is almost uh we keep extending only about 30 ft. How
much we are extending the back side on the left hand side of the basement is not excavated on the cross mark on the front is the garage where is not excavated only right on the back side we are extending on the right u on the
right side. So you have a current basement and a current house. Yes. And you are keeping that basement intact. Intact because and then you are extending the the basement. Yeah. But part of it, right? I'm extending back only half of the house back. And what
are you keeping on the first floor as as of the house? What are you keeping? Yeah, we're keeping the right side of the wall. Just one wall you are keeping. Rest of the house is coming off. Yeah, some walls are coming up. Few couple of walls we'll keep in and then and then left hand side also we are keeping the
basement walls. So do we have to keep the current? Well, he's here before us today. So um for the setbacks so is it so the question is is he removing
more than 50% of the existing structure. Correct. Okay. So, if you move more than 50% of the existing structure, the home would have to comply with the current standards for the RBB zone. Um, which would mean you would be
required to have a 25 foot yard setback, which s if you just bring the microphone close to you. Yeah, thank you. which would mean that you would need to have a 25 combined sideyard setback. Um if you remove more than 50% of the
existing structure I'm not removing the existing structure. Uh I'm keeping all the only in order to keep the b the garage. It doesn't have a garage. I'm that's why I'm keep I had to keep remove some of the existing walls. That's is the garage attached? There's
no garage for the existing home. There's no garage for the existing home. Okay. Okay. You're putting in a garage. Yeah, I'm putting in a garage. Yes. In order to keep the garage, I need to close the existing basement
part of the basement. I'm extending the and same thing to the back. Okay. So, do you understand what my statement that you cannot remove more than 50% of the structure? Yes. Okay. All right. So, you're going to keep the
50% of the structure of the old house. Yeah. Okay. I certainly understand your concern about this being a long deep lot and narrow lot and you want to keep the existing setbacks, but you need to keep the 50% of the foundation there to just
Yeah, I Yeah, I'm keeping the foundation the front. Yeah, I'll keep the foundation. I'm keeping the foundation on the right. And then there is on the there's a one reshape that existing foundation. Okay. All right. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Dav.
Any other questions, Mr. Chairman? Vice Chairman. So, on the right hand side from the structure to the property line, is that going to remain six feet? Yeah, it remains six foot. Yeah. Okay. Thank you. Any other questions?
See none, Miss Shar. That's the applicant's case. Uh, I think we've done what the board felt should be done with the application. Obviously, it's an extremely deep but narrow lot and uh I think we've
done the best that can be done to uh improve it uh to standards that the town would be happy with. Thank you. All right. So, we now go out to the public. Anyone within 200 feet of subject site wanting to be heard. If you are within 200 feet, you receive the
notice via certified mail. Ma'am, just pull the microphone. Do you swear to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth? Okay. Hello. Hello. Oh, there you go. Yeah, if you just please uh state your name and your
address, please. Christy Fan, 661 Denver Boulevard. Um, so thank you. Thank you for the opportunity to speak. Um, I live at 661 Denver Boulevard, the property left of
um, 665 Denver. And so I'm born and raised in Edison, New Jersey. Went to JP Stevens High School. Am now looking to have my own family in Alderson. And so I just want to clarify that there will be the minimum sideyard setback met for the
distance between the two houses. Is that correct? Yes. We will have 10 feet on Yes. Yes. on these on 61 side there's 10 ft. Yes. Okay. I just want us to be thoughtful because I know the existing lot is very narrow and very deep as we've talked about and currently there
is a driveway next to the current structure that gives us that bit of distance between the houses. So I just want us to be thoughtful about how close they really are in the expansion of the house. um just because it's not beneficial for either of us to have our
homes too close to each other. So that is just the one confirmation I'd like to have. Um the second piece is we've seen a lot of houses um built on 66 or on Denver Boulevard. And so what we've seen is some of the constructions are on
elevated surfaces and then the rainwater run off into neighboring properties. So, I just like to request a proper drainage plan for 661 Denver and 665 just to ensure that that rainwater doesn't have any impact or damages to our property as
well during the construction. Mr. Yeah. Yes. This would go through an engineering review if so approved. I'm sorry, sir. Department of Engineering would review this. Yes, if so approved. Okay. Thank you. That that that's the resident's question.
Thank you. Wonderful. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Vice Chairman, I have a question. Ma'am, if you could just come back. So, looking at the house, you live on the left side, correct? Okay. And that and that's Okay. All right. So, now I have a question for them. That's going
to stay 10 ft. Yeah. 10 ft. Yes. Okay. Did Did they answer all Did you get your all your questions answered? Yeah. I just again want to call out, you know, there is a very small space between the houses today. The houses of when these were built are not to like the standard
of today. So just making sure that we have proper distance and then again like the drainage piece because again they're so close to each other. Absolutely. Thank you so much. We appreciate it. Yeah. Is there anyone else within 200 feet of subject site wanting to be heard?
Mr. So, just to clarify, one sideyard will be 10 ft and the other side yard Can we just let me just close Well, I'll close the public portion and then then we'll go. Okay. All right. Um, is there anyone else within 200 feet in a subject site want to be heard? Anyone outside of
200 ft? Seeing none, can I get a motion to close the public portion? Motion to close. Second motion made by Vice Chairman Gorman, second by Mr. All in favor signify by saying I. I nay the eyes have it. Poke portion is now closed. Mr. AOT.
Uh, so one to clarify, one sideyard will be 10 ft and the other sideyard will be 6 1/2 ft. Correct. Right. Okay. So, we're going to have a total combined sideyard of 16 1/2 ft. Right. Okay. I
just want to clarify that for me. Okay. For the public. Thank you. All right. So, now move the board. All right. Mr. Chairman stabby. Uh I make a motion to approve this application. The applicant has agreed to keep the existing current
50% of the structure to hold the current uh non uh compliance setbacks. Um applicant will comply with the engineers report. Uh this is a dimminimous request. It is not detriment to the neighborhood. It would enhance
the neighborhood and it's not out of character with the neighborhood. Second motion made by Mr. Dav, second by Mr. Shrito. Roll call, please. Mr. Chabra, yes to the motion. Mr. Cerrito, yes on the motion. Mr.
Schneider, yes to the motion. Mr. Deain, yes to the motion. Vice Chair Gorman, yes to the motion. And Chairman Kumba, no on the motion. This case is approved. Madam Secretary, any other business come before the board this evening? Oops. That'll be all this evening. Can I get a
motion to adjurnn? Motion to adjurnn. Second. Motion made by Mr. Schneider. Second by Mr. Shrio. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Those nay. The eyes have it. Word stands. Ajourn. Thank you very much. Good. You're the best.