Right. Uh this um uh planning board meeting of the township of Franklin for April 15, 2020 2026 has been noticed in accordance with the open public meetings act 1975 chapter 231. Um an adequate notice uh of the
meeting has been provided. If you could all please stand for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all. >> Okay. Uh, no one asked to be excused this evening. Councilman Invar >> here. >> Robert Lort, >> yes. Mark Dancy, >> Jennifer Ragnau >> here, >> Mahir Rafi >> here, >> Charles Brown >> here, >> Robert Thomas
>> here, >> Sammy Siobhan, not here. Uh, Chairman Rini, >> yes. >> And Ted Chase, I was just letting you get situated. I saw you coming. >> All right. So, before we begin, uh, let me take care of a couple of agenda
things. So, Concore Realy is carried to October 17th. per our bylaws, they will be noticed because this was the second hearing. They would have been heard and have not been. Um Christine and I had a little u back and forth by email with them and that's uh very much agreed to.
Not that they had a choice, but anyway, um Somerset County, uh the subdivision, the open space carried to May 6th. No further notification needed there because we're telling you here. Um, so back up to the top, uh, we have minutes,
uh, for the regular meeting of, uh, March 4th, >> and everybody can vote on it. >> I'll move it. >> Second. >> Councilman Inbarison, >> yes. >> Ted Chase, >> yes. >> Robert Lort, >> yes. >> Jennifer Ragnau,
>> yes. >> Mah Rafi, >> yes. >> Charles Brown, >> yes. >> Robert Thomas, >> yes. >> Chairman Orsini, >> yes. And as you will no doubt recall um from the last meeting we had um 789 Hamilton has a extension of time that we
gave them. So um we have a resolution for that and I move to approve that. >> Just Ted can't vote on that one. >> Second. >> Councilman Invar. >> Yes. >> Robert Lort. >> Yes. >> Jennifer Ragnau. >> Yes. >> Mahir Rafi. >> Yes. >> Charles Brown. >> Yes.
>> Robert Thomas. >> Yes. >> And Chairman Arcini. >> Yes. >> Okay. Okay, we have no discussion items I guess. Um, public comment. So, we have one hearing tonight and that hearing is for I Ayanna. Iona um Ayanna let's let's
say Ayanna because Iona is in New York and has one end. So, let's go let's go for that. Um and so if you're here for that um we will um have a separate uh meeting open to the public for comment on that application after the testimony
of that application. So uh the public comment now is for um general planning comments. So with that I move to open the public for any general planning comment. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I meeting is open for any general comments.
Don't see any general comments. So, uh, move to close. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Okay. That brings us to, and you'll correct me if I'm wrong. I'm not I'm not too proud to say I was wrong. Ayanna >> got it right. >> All right. One for one.
Low sample size, but we'll take it. >> Okay. Then just use the mic. They're not going to work. >> Sorry about that. >> That's okay. >> Uh, right on the left hand side. He's an attorney, not an engineer. >> Uh, good evening everyone. Uh, Joe Pero from Porzio, Bramberg, and Newman on
behalf of Ayanna LLC. Uh, we are here before you for preliminary and final site plan and variance approvals for the property at 607 Somerset Street. That's block 164, lot 1.01 on Franklin Township tax map. This is the location of an
existing Wawwa uh fueling station convenience store. Uh Ayanna is proposing to convert existing parking spaces for EV charging. A total of six EV chargers will be installed in the parking area, which will service a total
of 12 EV parking spaces. associated with the EV chargers. There is related equipment, switch gear that's needed to power the chargers. We are also proposing to install a canopy over those chargers for the convenience of those individuals that are uh charging their
vehicles. Um there are some variances that we're seeking this evening and we'll go into those in greater detail through our witness testimony. Uh we did receive uh the TRC memo um and that was dated, let me just grab that for the record.
The TRC memo was dated March 11th, 2026. >> So Joe, if I could just if I could just uh guide you guys a little bit. I think um this can I think you're going the right way, but I just maybe give you some guidance. So the way I look at it, uh we have four staff reports. Three of
them basically say they they don't have a horse in the race, that they have no opinion, um or as long as you build it by 2031, they're not going to come back and and bother you. So that takes care of that. I'm almost certain that you will have no problem stipulating to
agree to comments in the TRC report of 2 through13. >> That's correct, Jeremy. So, I think what the board is probably going to be most interested in um and certainly they can ask their own questions after your testimony is done is essentially uh for
for the equipment, especially the canopy um that may well extend higher than the 6T fence that you now have there. And we have pictures of the landscaping that looks fairly dense. um what a neighbor
would see uh and what you may do to mitigate that um because I think that's really the crux of any questions we would have. >> Appreciate that and thank you for you know really cutting to the heart of the matter. Um so as noted we have no objections to the reports. Um there are
some clarifications regarding your uh EV ordinance that we'd like to make on the record and actually it's consistent with the recommendations in the TRC report. So, it's we're going to follow the report and frankly not your ordinance. Um, but in any event, let's um uh let's
uh turn it over. I'd like to qualify Joseph Enur. He's our civil engineer uh who prepared the plans. Um he has some exhibits to run through to really focus in on that buffer area. Uh chairman, as you've noted, um and any impacts resulting from the canopy and the equipment. So, Mr. Ventur,
>> if you could raise your right hand, do you swear the testimony you're going to provide is the truth, whole truth, and nothing but the truth? >> I do. If you could state your name, spell your last name, and give us your address, please, for the record. >> Uh, name is Joe Vanto. It's uh spelled like Ace Ventura. So, Ven Tur R A. Um,
and I work at 301 Carnegie Center Sweet 202 in Princeton, New Jersey with Kimley Horton Associates. >> And Mr. Fenthour, for the benefit of the board and the public, your education, area, and the license, if you >> uh, yes, that's correct. I have a bachelor of science and civil engineering from Lehigh University. Uh,
and my license is in good standing. >> Chairman, I would offer Mr. Ventur, >> you qualify. >> Thank you very much. Um, Mr. Ventur, I'd like to get right to the, as the chairman said, the heart of the matter, as I said, in summary of the chairman's direction. Let's get right to talking about the location of this equipment,
the canopy, um, any buffering that we'd like to address. And just you could orient the board and the public through which portion of the site, which frontage is this on, and again, so the board can orient themselves. This property has multiple frontages.
And what you're displaying is exhibit A1. >> Yes, this is uh exhibit A1. Thank you, Joe. This is the existing conditions as they currently are on site. As uh Joe touched on existing um Wawa convenience store and gasoline service station. The location of the proposed improvements is
going to be along the rear of the property right along Myrtle Street with Juliet Avenue on the east side of it. As Joe did mention, uh, while this is in the rear portion of the property, due to the, um, layout of the property with the associated street being Myrtle there,
this is being classified as what's considered a front yard setback. So, due to it being a front yard setback, uh, we have the associated setback of, I believe that is 40 ft there. So, the location of the chargers and the canopy and all the associated equipment is being located within that front yard
setback. um not only the front yard setback but also the 20ft residential buffer as well associated across from Myrtle Street and with the location of the Chargers there while it is in the setback there there is uh two existing fences that are located on site there is
a 6ft tall uh white vinyl fencing and then along the property line itself there is the um that's like that black striped um privacy fencing along the property line as well and there is existing landscaping and buffering within in this uh residential buffer
area there. So, while we are proposing the improvements within both the buffer area and the front yard setback, we are not proposing any um disturbance or changes to the actual buffering trees and landscaping itself in that area. >> So, the fencing that exists will
continue to screen as well as the landscaping. >> That's correct. Yes. And with the fencing itself al right along the back of the pads there, there was a comment within the TRC letter um regarding that should that fence be shifted back or anything that that be accounted for. However, we are not proposing to move
the location of that fence. If there's any regrading there, it would be reset in the location itself. >> Would the grading be at the same grade or would it be lower or higher? I mean would the in other words I guess what I'm asking is though the fence is 6 feet
at grade would the effective fence be 5t or 7 feet or you know what am I saying? >> Yeah I I I understand what you're saying. So we've done the grading in a way that the rose footings and right at that fence space we treat that fence as our limits of disturbance. So we're tying into right there to meeting the
existing grade at that fence. >> Okay. So basically we can say that anything that's six foot and less will be shielded by dent of the fence if nothing else. Um and from the exhibits that I can see in the TRC report most
most notably probably figure three looks like you have a fairly dense foliage there. Uh which we would of course ask you to maintain. Um there's no doubt you would. Um but at any rate um continue I
Um so yes, so that was in regards to the residential buffer and the front yard setback. In addition, um the other uh setback variance that we're looking at back here is in regards to the sideyard setback on the what is the west side of the property located right over here
where I'm drawing this rectangle now. Um again due to the layout of the site with the streets going in their manner that is a sideyard setback right there with a 40 ft of sideyard. Again due to the proposed canopy in that location that would be a proposed canopy um
sideyard setback variance of the 24.4 ft. Um so that kind of encompasses the um canopy setbacks and variances that we're looking for. >> Mr. Ventoro, so regarding the setback variances, you've talked about the configuration of the site. Would you classify this site as a unique property
characteristic with multiple frontages? >> I would. Yes. >> And in your professional opinion, do you feel that that presents hardship to comply with all setbacks if you have multiple frontages? >> Yes, I would. >> And in your professional opinion, do you feel that the setback relief uh is being
mitigated by the existing vegetation and the fencing? >> I would. Yes. >> Do you see any negative impacts on any adjacent properties based on your design and set back that's being provided. >> Uh I do not know. >> Can you just speak briefly to the um
signage? The signage was another um variance that was being requested. There's actually signs uh proposed to be installed on the canopy for Ayana and as well as VAWA. Um and I think you may have a showing a rendering.
>> I absolutely do. So I'm just going to pull that up. This is exhibit uh exhibit 42 A2 sorry exhibit A2 and this is a rendering that was prepared by Ayanna um that is used for visualizing the proposed signage on the canopy. This is
not um directly akin to our site configuration uh with the fencing behind it and the grades there. This is just being used to show the signage associated on the canopy itself. So on the canopy itself, we'd be proposing the Ayana sign right over here to the left
and then two Wawwa signs also on the front of it and to the um eastern facade as well. And the intent in these signs is as motorists are coming onto the site that the signage would identify where they have to go for their charging and so they make a quick access to it. So,
it's really to distinguish between Wawa's uh traditional gasoline and fueling uh area and the area of the site that's now going to be electric vehicle charging. >> That's correct. Yes. And on the screen, I went back to the uh enlarged site plan exhibit here just showing in um aerial
view of the location of the three signs, one, two, and three. >> Exhibit A2 that rendering. I know it's not being presented to show the conditions of the proposed property or fencing, but the chargers uh that is an accurate representation of Ayanna's
branding when it comes to colors and the like. Correct. >> That's correct. Yes. >> Um Mr. Ventur, there was a comment in the TRC letter that we've agreed to comply with I mentioned in my overview. It's a recommendation to make sure we stripe the parking spaces for the
electric vehicles uh with white striping. You're you're aware of that? >> Yes. >> And you've talked to the client and the client's in agreement. Correct? >> Yes, absolutely. >> I note for the record that the EV ordinance of Franklin Township recommends using green. Um that's
something that we would respectfully ask for a design waiver from. Uh we've encountered this throughout the state. Ayanna's currently doing this exact same upgrade at other Wawaas throughout the state. And Wawa obviously has a branding
issue with introducing colors such as green that really don't promote any of their branding. So I I we're in agreement with the TRC's recommendation to use a neutral white parking street. >> Too close to quick check. >> Probably probably. So if we would we
would ask for a design waiver to pivot from the code requirement of green paint on the pavement and curb and go with what the TRC recommended which was traditional white. >> Those signs just before we leave the sign and I I find the signs unobtrusive
that um they're not facing the residential portion. Correct. They're facing interior to the Wawwa and on the side uh that you would enter. >> Yeah, that's correct. I put I put back on the screen here. So the residential portion that you're referring to is right up here with Myrtle Street. So the two signs on the one faces, one right
here and one right here facing the rear of the Wawa building and then the other side here facing what is to the right which is I believe that is Juliet Street, >> Juliet Avenue. >> And those signs are are they lit? >> They're internally lit. >> Internally lit,
>> but not like not more than the colors that they already are. Right. The Wa red. I guess it's red, right? And then >> Yeah. Chrome. Yeah. So, >> and Mr. Venture, your lighting plan, and I know you're going to be submitting a revised lighting plan >> that incorporates the illumination
coming off of those signs, correct? >> Yes, it does. And the the signs and the lighting of the canopy itself will be uh put together, a revised one to address the comments in the TRC report, >> and it will comply with the lighting maximums allowed by Franklin Township. >> Yes, it will. >> Thank you. >> Are there are there solar panels on the
top of the canopy there? >> Are there They're not solar ready or nothing. >> So, so one thing actually Ram got to read my mind tonight. Um I was going to ask so I mean we've all seen um what do you call it? Um charging stations,
right? They don't require canopies. This one you're asking for a canopy. And so I'd like you to to just testify why the canopy um the height of the canopy and how that's going to look to the residential area and what you can potentially do to um mitigate to the
largest extent possible its visibility to uh like if you were on Myrtle Street because that's the residential area really we're talking about right here. Okay. >> That's with the canopy itself. We we see it in a similar way is as a as a gas station. So when people are going there
on site, they're going there to fill their cars up. They're going there in the hours of the night and it's dark out there. We have um duty to have uh the lighting there be uh pretty bright for the safety of the residents there. Um and also the canopy for the protection of the of the residents and the patrons they're going to fill their cars up um
through all through all seasons of it. uh in order to mitigate the possible heights of that um we would work with um the town and your engineer as well to maybe add an additional uh landscaping if needed. Um yeah, >> and that canopy provides obviously
shelter from the elements when someone's going in and out of their car for charging. >> Correct. Yes. >> Transaction. >> Okay. Um, >> we do have a representative of Ayanna if you want to know, you know, something about the business, but I know
>> I don't think so. I'd rather I'd rather turn it. I'd rather turn it Sorry, Christine, apologies. I'd rather turn it over to the board for any any questions. A >> Charles. >> Yeah, as someone uh who who drives a EV, I can certainly see the benefits of the
canopy. I don't, however, understand the importance of branding the canopy. Especially considering Waw Wa already has a very strong uh brand. So the combination with Ayana and Wawa um I don't I don't see the necessity in that.
People already understand at the driver's eye level where the charging stations are. So I don't see why there's an additional need to brand this as well. >> Understood. >> It feels like overkill to me. >> And I think that's that's been taken into consideration, Mr. Ventura when you
worked with the company to really and if you want to put the rendering back up to really minimize the size of those signs I mean they really you look at the rendering they disappear on this um in our opinion on the signs and they do have the the bolt for the charging and
as we discussed Wawa and Ion are finding that especially with the multiple uses going on that >> some of the customers are going into where the traditional we call traditional viewers um and and you know and circling around
the site to find where the chargers are. This was this really just directs everybody to a separate part of the site. We understand the comments. Appreciate it. >> I I'm going to suggest I agree with Charles, but I I can I can also see your
point in that you you want people who um who might be coming in, you know, just thinking about, you know, how great their coffee is going to be and they they wander over to the gas station and they they, you know, are almost that close to putting the fuel into their
charger. Probably wouldn't be good. So, you want to make that distinction. My suggested compromise is could you live with just the interior sign on the front towards the Waw Wa and not the side sign because I think where you're really going to come in and see some I you're
probably not going to a Waw Wa, let's just face facts to charge your car. You're going there for either gas or food or both. And um you know you're going to charge your car while you're doing your business there. I really think you'd probably be okay just with the two with the Waw Wa and Ayana sign
in the front interior to the site and not necessarily on the side. >> Could we live with that? >> Yeah, I could live with that. >> And chairman, I just spoke with a client. That's a fair compliment. >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Great. Great. >> I have a question about the uh
the view. Somebody asked about what the neighbors across the street will see in terms of the canopy. Uh but to preface that what does the those people across the street are facing the rear of the wall right?
>> Yes that's correct. >> What what is their view now? >> Is it a solid concrete building >> that that's the front of it now? So it would be the reverse of that right there now. So I I I did drive by
the site today itself and I went along that rear side there because in the street there's one street. So on the opposite side of it there's additional screening and then there's that um privacy fence right there. Right now >> what I'm getting at is if they're looking out across the street and they're looking at the back of your
building. Are they seeing any aesthetic features of the building or is it just a plain wall? And and in fact, is it possible maybe that the canopy breaks up that view a little bit? It
might even be stretching it a little bit and say it might even be a little more positive view than what they're getting now >> compared to what the vantage point is. >> Especially if you add landscaping, a little bit of landscaping.
>> Bob, I think now I think this photo basically shows it. I mean, I think now they see land they see a landscape buffer, >> right? >> Um, and there's and there's at least a six foot wide vinyl fence. So, you know,
maybe from the second floor of the buildings, maybe they can see the top of the of the Waw Wa, but I don't think they're looking at the I don't I don't think they can see the parked cars. I think the view that might be added to it is they're going to see I don't think they're not going to see the switch
gear. They're not going to see the transformer cuz those are below the fence. I think what additional thing they might see is maybe the top portion of the canopy. >> What's What's the dimension of the top portion of the canopy? What's the prof >> the height of the height of it? >> No, no, the height the height of the canopy itself. >> 15 ft.
>> What? >> 15. >> Not not not the >> Oh, sorry. The canopy itself. >> Yeah, the can. Yeah, then the Yeah. So, what what's Yeah, cuz obviously it's mounted on posts, I would imagine. And then you've got something that's going to be in the air. How much of someone's vision is that gonna take up? Because
it's not a 15 foot visual or even nine feet the the difference between the 15 and the six. It's going to be whatever is floating in the air on the two posts or three posts or whatever they got. >> Yeah. On on top of the two posts, it's about it's a two foot thick >> two foot thick there. And then it uh can
lever up a little bit slightly. >> Okay. And I'm assuming that the the canopy is slanted. >> So I'm hoping that that would be contribute to shielding neighbors from any of the light.
>> Correct. Yeah, the canopy was sling down towards Myrtle Street. >> Is there shrubbery along the Myrtle Street side of the fence? >> Yes. >> And how high does that get? Uh the shrubbery along the side of
Myrtle Street. >> Yeah, some of it's in the airport. They have a very good photo. >> Some of the existing landscaping is actually higher than a 6ft. >> That's what I was hoping. >> Yeah. >> And then they have trees that are
probably double that. If you look at the TRC's photoensive >> that buffering >> certainly are these stations uh are these um the charging stations uh the supercharger types uh so they they can get out in 15
minutes or are they uh >> let me just call Mr. lane. >> Okay. All right. I I drive a Tesla, so I know I use the superchargers time to time. >> Yeah. >> Sir, if I could swear you in quickly, if you could raise your right hand, you swear any testimony you provide is the
truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. >> Yes, sir. >> If you could give us your name, spell your last name, and give us your address, please. >> Sure. I'm David Lane. Uh, place of business is 4022 Stirup Creek Drive, Sweet 315 in Durham, Durham, North Carolina.
>> Mr. Lane, your position with Ayanna? Sure. I'm a site development manager >> and I mentioned that IMS is currently uh installing these chargers and the related equipment throughout WAS in the state of New Jersey. Correct. >> That's correct. >> And the question was what types of
charges these superchargers. What's the average time that charge will take for customer? >> Sure. We're level three fast DC charging. So it could be as quick as 15 minutes, 30 minutes depending on the type of battery and amount of charge needed. >> And these chargers will provide both options of charging. Correct. There's
two different charging options, >> correct? Yes, we um there's a CCS plug and an AX plug. We serve Tesla vehicles, all makes and models of other manufacturers as well. >> And just two little center two followup items. I mentioned the issue with the
green paint. That's what you know the preference for the white by the TRC is consistent with what Wawa and other locations is required. Correct. >> Correct. Yeah, the white is preferred. You also have signs for identifying the
uh EV charging spaces, correct? >> Correct. Yeah, we'll have signage. You specific on poles or >> the the for the parking space. >> Okay. On the ground. Correct. Um for um locating the different type of plug port for the customer. >> And Wawa's preference again is to make
sure that the public knows that these are, you know, EV um they're open to all customers. Um where the ordinance specifies that must be a eating only designation. Correct. >> Correct. Yeah. WA puts signs for EV preference, but they leave their parking
available to anyone that they need a spot. >> Thank you, Mr. Thank you. >> Any other questions from the board? >> Yeah, I have a question about the lighting. There will be no lighting on the highest point of the canopy, right?
Only the lighting will only serve the vehicles pointing downward. >> That's correct. Yes, it's underneath the canopy and it's pointed downward. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Y >> and and and to to that point, I mean, and you've already testified you'll be resubmitting your lighting plan, uh illumination plan, so that's that's
good. Um, we're good. Okay. Um Joe, if you have anything to sum up there, if not, I'll just going to open to the public. >> I'll be really brief. Uh again, thank you. We appreciate your your time and your consideration. Um we mentioned the relief uh Mr. Ventur went through the
setback variances which we would consider to be technical in nature. Uh our position and Mr. Ventur's testimony would demonstrate that the setback relief can be granted under a C1 hardship argument under the municipal land use law. This property has multiple frontages um which makes it difficult to
comply with setbacks um on all frontages and based on the testimony that Mr. Ventura provided uh we would respectfully request that those variances be granted along with the site plan approval for this installation. We noted the two design waiverss from the
EV code. The one is uh from the requirement to use green paint. The second is to have signs that only allow EV spa um EV parking uh for EV vehicles. Again, Wawa makes it available for all customers. So, with the addition of those two design waiverss uh from the EV
code, uh we would respectfully request the board approve the application as presented. Thank you again for your time and your consideration. >> Thanks. Um move to open to the public on this application. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I.
>> Anybody from the public wishing to comment? We'll hand you a microphone if you do. No. Going once, twice. Yes. Okay. Can you um Yeah. Can you just give
her the mic? Uh and then that way we make things easier. >> Thank you for your testimony. Um I wonder if there any
um char um because people in wheelchair and I type a the um device.
So I wonder about that. >> You need a microphone. >> So can you just talk briefly about the uh EV parking spaces and the ADA accessibility? >> Yes, absolutely. So, um, back towards the beginning of this, we're proposing
the six, um, EV chargers that are now dual-headed to propose to two spaces. Two of the spaces that we are proposing are ADA ADA accessible on the left side of the site right here with an access aisle in between. Um, and on our grading plan as well, that was uh, submitted
shows the ADA accessibility from this uh, striped aisle along the crosswalk and into the uh, store. So, yeah. Is there anything to indicate that those spaces are to be you know are are uh are to be used you know essentially like a
handicap parking right that there's 80 so people just don't go in there and and yeah okay the right hand corner of the plan >> okay you just point it out >> sure the righth hand corner these are the the three signs that would be shown on specifically the ADA spaces there it's the EV charging the all welcome
parking from Wawa and the accessible EV charging used last ADA Sounds good. >> Thank you for your question. We appreciate it. Thank you. >> Um, seeing no other people from the public wishing to speak and move to
close >> motion. I'll take that as a second. And so, all in favor? >> I I Okay. So, let's see. Let's wrap this up here. So, I >> chairman, I just I noticed something. So
I believe it's six EV stations you're going to do. >> Six chargers and that'll serve 12 parking spaces. >> Okay. Now on Mark's report uh it says 10 EV charging two of which will be ADA compliant. So is that you have changed
that or lowered that? >> Yeah, that was quoting that that that's a screenshot from their application. >> Oh, okay. All right. >> Yeah, it's been modified. What you see before you is >> Okay. Six chargers, 12 spaces,
>> 12 space. >> Okay. So, a total of 12 spaces plus an ADA space >> includ >> inclusive. >> Inclusive. Okay. >> All right. So, it looks to convert 13. Is that true? Existing parking stalls um
to 10 or two of which will be and now that's going to 12. One of one of which is but dual. So, somebody could park there. two pe two 88 people could park there in charge of cars. Correct. >> Okay, I think we Thank thanks for
pointing that out. Appreciate it. >> Yep. >> Any other board comments? >> Chair, I'll just make one comment on the um you know the waiverss that were brought up tonight. I I don't have an issue with those. The um the green striping. My guess is that came from the model ordinance from from the state. And
I'm guessing that that was probably to try to distinguish when you have EV spaces that are comingled with regular spaces to probably differentiate it. You you may have the charger. So where should you park? That's probably the intent. I think here it's going to be pretty clear where people need to go if
they want to charge there. So I don't think the green striping is necessary. So I have no issues with that. >> Yeah. The last question is uh regarding snow. I know you you're gonna have um a pitch on the canopy, but we have more
snow than Durham and so how do you Mississippian man I can say that you um how you how do you handle that in terms of maintenance? >> So Joe, you want to talk about I mean the canopy does have drainage.
>> Yeah. So >> the yeah the canopy is again it's slanted back. So um as it was melt it would fall towards the back there and also has internal um a trenching and then a um within the sorry the foundations and the posts of it uh we
have additional um there was a comment in the TRC actually regarding it uh with PVC down spout that goes down the columns itself and drains out. So that's where that water would then drain out. >> Yeah. That's once this becomes water, but the snow itself as it's falling
technically now the landscaping and the fencing behind it >> would receive a larger snow impact because the part that would be falling directly on the park install now is being shift towards landscaping. >> So just just want to point that out.
I think it's important just have a a snow removal maintenance plan or something that uh can be agreed to to protect landscaping and the fence behind it. >> Yeah, I just I just spoke with Mr. Lane and their agreement there I guess it's a license agreement with Wawa includes
maintenance and those are the that Wawa has a canopy as well. So >> they would work with Wawa to incorporate their canopy into their maintenance plan. Right. Yeah. Cuz Charles makes a good point because I mean the the canopy over the gas I mean they're not really impacting landscaping. And I think
Charles makes a good point in that you know you you a greater snow load could crush landscaping bushes etc. Uh 15t high I mean depending on where the trees are now could impact them as well. Maybe longterm no but um I think it's a great
point. So, uh, yeah, I mean, it's got a pitch, so hopefully it will shed as it goes. Uh, but still, um, I have solar panels on my house, and I have to say that my landscaping does like in the blizzard in late February,
uh, it suffers some damage, but, uh, it grows back, but, um, they're not trees, they're just shrubs. All right. So, with that, I'll make a motion to approve with the uh variances for front yard, sideyard, setback. Um,
do you need the signage variance anymore? Because now you're only proposing you're proposing one less one less sign. >> I think the signage still. All right. So, I just want to make sure that you still need that. So, and and the signage. Um,
>> yeah. I mean, I think the the justification for those is clear. uh that that um they are technical in nature because I don't think you're going to notice a a change from the way it's built now. It's just going to be what's there. Um and of course we I
think with the price of gas and u how hot it is in April 15th here, I think that we can use some more electric vehicles. So I think it's it's good from that standpoint. So um I I would move to approve >> and including the waivers too. Uh and including the design waivers. Yeah. For
the signage and for for the color. Yeah. Second >> and compliance with Let me just amend that one second. Compliance with the TRC report that you're going to redo the uh lighting plan um or the lighting the illumination um and and um the I won't
say outside agencies because they've already all weighed in. So yeah, >> second the amendment. >> And Mr. Chairman, maybe it's a specific condition that no none of the existing landscaping would be disturbed. >> No, if anything, I would hope that would be you know enhanced if it needed to be. Yes, certainly. Um that may would
maintain as as existing u as the existing approved plan for the Wawwa, right? Should would be maintained regardless of what happens uh here. >> Okay. And then Charles second that. >> Yep. >> Okay. Councilman Embarson. >> Yes. >> Uh Ted Chase,
>> yes. >> Robert Lort, >> yes. >> Jennifer Ragnau, >> yes. >> Mir Rafi, >> yes. >> Charles Brown, >> yes. >> Robert Thomas, >> yes. and Chairman Oscini. >> Yes. Uh so before Thank you very much
and have a have a great evening. Before >> the board heads for the hills here, um um there's a couple of board comments that I'd like to make. But before I do, um I want to um I want to give Bob uh the opportunity to say a few words about a couple of things for Franklin 250
happening this week. A pulpit is a terrible thing to waste, so go for it. >> Well, thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Um, this Saturday is a cocktail affair with George and Martha Washington. So, it is something that the Meadows is
going to put on at the Hegman Barn. It's going to be kind of um inside decorated to kind of a tavern type of a thing. And you'll be able to meet uh George and Martha Washington.
The two have portrayed um George and Martha quite a few uh years and um oh the um actress is um oh I'm
forgetting her name Mrs. Dubois and she is absolutely wonderful. Um you'll you'll get a kick out of it. It's $50 to go and that is a colonial style affair sampling of historic spirits and support
the Meadows Foundation. Um there aren't many tickets left. So if you're going to go, you need to go on to the Meadows website or the uh um meadowsfoundation.org and you can register um on that website.
Sunday is Patriots Day and that's going to be uh a 250 event that's free to all ages. Um parents and anybody can come and you'll be able to step into their day u childhood back in 1775, play
colonial games. Um experience the moment everything changed. You you'll train with some of the militia. Uh you can send spy messages. There'll be you'll learn how to do that. Um what the soldiers carried and how
families survived when they when everything changed. Imagine a 7 8 n 10year-old. One day you're playing with uh toys and the next day you're picking up a armed um rifle.
Um, and there'll be bow walks and the stories and uh a community quilt, which what we're doing with that is at all our our events, you'll be able to do whatever kind of drawing that you want and then um uh that will be all sewed
together and at February of next year put into a time capsule. So, um can I hawk one more thing? >> You sure can. You're on a roll. Okay, real quick. our our second batch of coins are coming in. They were shipped.
Um we'll have those in two weeks. And then on July 2nd, um we have a flag. If some of you saw the flag that uh the the Victory Town flag, which is u white
lettering on a blue background, what we did was we switched it around and have blue lettering on a white background. 5 bay 8 and that'll be put out during the uh fireworks ceremony somewhere by the
library and we're asking anybody from the town who is going to the fireworks come sign the flag um and then put your name in there and that will also be put into a 50-year time capsule.
>> So >> thanks Bob. >> That's it. >> Thanks Bob. Bob's everything from Franklin 250. So, if you have any questions, he's he's your guy. Um, I just wanted to take a moment to um just a couple actually planning related things. And so, Mark, this is a little
bit for you to kind of note because I I'll need some answers uh based on what I heard. So, on Saturday, I I went to the Cel's Run uh stream cleanup. Um at that cleanup um I met our past board member Rebecca Hilbert. she's doing
quite well in Hillsboro and she gives her fond regards to everyone. Um, so there are a couple of planning issues related to some of the trash that we uh cleaned out of the stream. Uh, one has to do with the uh stop and shop. So,
there's a lot of trash including shopping carts that get thrown over the fence. Um what was suggested to me by a number of people from lower rarershed partnership as well as the environmental commission was if we could ask kindly um
stop and shop if they would put up a higher fence. And the example that was cited to me which I had no idea existed was the fence around Inman Park. Apparently that fence is quite high and apparently it has barbed wire and it's slanted barb wire to the outside. So you
can't throw trash into the park and it collects along the fence and public works can clean it. That would be ideal because people literally toss freaking shopping carts into the stream and you should see what we cleaned out of that stream. it's the really not so much a
stream but the banks stream is actually pretty clean itself but um what's on the banks gets to the stream. So um my question mark was basically what does the shop stop and shop site plan look like? Um you know did they ever have a
larger fence than that? Um, my guess is no because I remember approving that, but um, maybe we could ask them if they could put up something larger um, at least on the buffer between them and the the Celies Run Bank. On a related very
related note, Franklin Greens also their trash enclosure, their recycling enclosure, uh, quite inadequate, over stuffed, probably doesn't have enough um, bins. Uh we picked out a fair amount of their recycling uh from the stream
and simply put it back in their thing because it was quite clear where it came from. >> I was writing notes on the prior issue. What what site is that? >> Franklin Greens dump uh dump trash enclosure. So, you know, if you were to go in the back by the IHOP and you were to go across that little bridge and and you
get to Franklin Greens, there's a trash enclosure. that trash enclosure just needs to be either they need to increase the number of dumpsters, but probably more more than that, they just need to make the enclosure better. Um, and that enclosure that should be easy to enforce cuz that had to have been on a site plan
to begin with, but it's it's just not containing the trash. So, th those are the two things that I wanted to mention. Um, the stats were amazing. I think we pulled out 54 bags of trash in recycling. Um, so um yeah, it was it was a good day. And so, um, so yeah, that
was that was that was my one thing. Um, anybody else? >> Well, stop and shop should want to have >> you just use the mic there. Yeah, >> because we're still we're still Yeah, >> stop and shop should want to retain the
the shopping carts. >> You would think so. Yeah, >> but it's it's true. I would I remember from the first cleanup we did of that stream some years ago. There was a shopping cart there then in out in the stream.
>> Yeah. So yeah, that's just a couple of site issues to check on. I think I think they're easily curable. I think we can we can ask Stop and Shop to do that. They're generally good neighbors. Um but you know the the folks who come out to these things have the impression
uh as many people do when it comes to things to do with government that quote unquote nothing can be done or no one will hear them. So when I listen to them you swear to God that you know I had some power because they just want to be listened to. But the sad thing is that people don't actually say I'm going to
call Marque Healey because I think something will be done. It's not that they don't think you're going to do anything. It's just that they just don't think anything can be done, quote unquote. And I'm like, well, if you don't ask, you're absolutely correct. So, I promised them some somebody from
the environmental commission was there. I forget who it was, but it wasn't it wasn't Stan. It was somebody else. Maybe it was Stan's wife. Anyway, um yeah, I'm like, yeah, I'll bring it up at the planning board. So, there you go. So, if we can check into those two things, that would be great. >> That's all I have.
Anybody else? Okay. Uh with that uh motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> See you May 6. Okay. >> Yep.