adequate notice of this meeting was provided in the following ways Notice published in the Courier News Notice posted on the bulletin board of the municipal building Notice made available to the township clerk Notice sent to the Courier News Uh Miss Buckley would you
please call the role Mayor Waller he's here Present Thank you Councilwoman Cahill here Miss Corkran here Miss Saunders here Reverend Kenny here Mr Atkins here
Mr Foster here Mr Ahmed Mr Edaria here And Madame Chair here Could we all recite the pledge of allegiance which is displayed over my
right shoulder I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands One nation under God under God indivisible
indivisible with liberty and justice and justice for all Madame Chair Mr Ahmed is here Okay good Thank you So noted for the record Thank you Um can we uh have the open public notice
please Mr Barlo Certainly Madame Chair um this meeting is being conducted through this online meeting platform in keeping with the guidelines that has been disseminated by the department of community affairs The planning board has tried its best to comply with the open public meeting act and the
guidelines Uh in addition the applicant whose matter will be heard this evening had the login information for the online meeting platform put forth in their notice Members of the public who wish to be heard will be afforded an opportunity as if we're in an actual physical space We've done our best to comply with the
DC guideline DCA guidelines of the open public meetings act Madam Chair thank you Um can we have the professional sworn in Can you um Carol Sonners can you please raise your right hand Do you swear that the testimony about to give you the truth and nothing but the truth
We do Thank you very much Okay Um item number seven Are there any uh changes to item number six Any changes to our agenda tonight Mr Barla Yes Madam Chair Item number 10 which was a discussion item for the redevelopment
plan for block 5701 lot 11 um commonly known as 1700 South Washington Avenue has been postponed till the May 14th 2025 meeting That is the only change to the May meeting
Yes Madam Chair May 14th meeting Okay Thank you Um proceeding with our agenda then Um item number seven Uh can I have a motion to pay the duly audited bills Madame
Chairman this is Carol Saunders I make a motion to pay the duly audited bills to be paid Do I have a second Mr Atkins second Thank you Roll call please Mayor Waller Councilwoman Cahill Yes Miss Corkran yes
Miss Saunders yes Reverend Kenny yes Mr Atkins yes Mr Foster yes Mr Ahmed yes Mr Etchavaria yes And Madame Chair yes Item number eight adoption of resolutions
Item number eight Miss Saunders Madam Chairman Carol Sonners I'd like to adopt the resolutions to memorialize actions from March 12 2025 Application 24pb21 stag industal indust industal
holdings LLC preliminary and final site plan That's why I'm drinking my water It's like so dry Just get a little dip in there and dust Yes Do I have a second Reverend Kenny I'll second it Thank you
Roll call please Mayor Waller Yes Miss Corkran Yes Miss Saunders Yes Mr Mr Atkins yes Reverend Kenny yes Mr Foster
yes Mr Edaria yes And Madam Chair yes You can proceed with item number nine Miss Saunders Okay Um Madam Chair I like to memorialize the minutes from the regular meeting of March 12th 2025 Do I have a second I second it Thank you Thank you Roll
call please Mayor Waller yes Miss Corkran yes Miss Saunders yes Reverend Kenny yes Mr Atkins yes Mr Foster yes Mr Edaria
yes And Madame Chair yes Item number 10 has been adjourned Item number 11 25 PB01 Piscataway Centennial Developers LLC Um Arena Elgart would you like to enter your appearance please Absolutely Good
evening everybody Ireina Elgart from Wearten Law Firm Um here on behalf of Piscataway Centennial Developer Urban Renewal LLC Um we're in the 88 Centennial Avenue Redevelopment Area It consists of essentially two lots Um they
have since been subdivided Uh we previously have already received preliminary and final site plan approval for the one lot which is a WAWA Uh that's on lot 8.01 and the construction is underway Um today there's nothing to
be heard about the Wawa itself Nothing's before the board with regard to the Wawa itself Um the other lot is the hotel and that is before the board Um we had previously gotten Plumerian Final Um it's located on lot
8.02 Um the prior approval was for a Hilton brand Um this is a slightly different model It's used by Marriott It's called Studio Rez Um it's essentially an extended stay corporate type of hotel Um we're our application
is fully conforming Uh there's no variances or waiverss Um other than one submission waiver that we're going to be seeking Um I you're going to be hearing from Ron Olenback He's the director of engineering and planning on behalf of the applicant Um and he's going to be
walking through our proposal Uh we do have our other professionals here as well if there's any questions that might arise We have Matt Sher from Dynamic Um we also have Justin Oiello from Kafone Consulting Group um as our professional
planner Um and with that I ask that um Mr Mr Beck be sworn in Mr Olenbeck Miss Sanders will swear you in Mr Olenbeck can you please raise your right hand Okay hold on I'm looking for him I can't
see him He's there Oh okay There he is I had to scroll over Okay Do you um swear that the testimony about to give will be the truth and nothing but the truth I do Please just state your name for the record Sure It's Ronald Olenbeck A len bac
Thank you Thank you Great Thank you So Ron if you could just walk us through the application and what we had previously received approval for and what we're proposing now as well Sure Thank you Um Madam Chair if it's appropriate Um and Laura I could share
my screen Yes Yes please Ron if we could just refer to any exhibits you put up that's A1 through A2 and just keep going just for ease of the record Okay Absolutely Um the first exhibit that I'm
going to refer to is a site aerial Um it is entitled proposed Waw Wa and Hotel with a revision date of April 7 2025 This is actual drone footage that was actually taken today As Miss Elgard
indicated the site's located on the corner of Centennial and River Road The site is currently under construction for the the Wawa uh convenience store and fueling facility It's located in the lower right uh corner of the project itself What we're here before you
tonight is located in the rear portion of the light where you kind of see the the the stockpile portion of the site here that's under construction As as Miss Elgar also indicated the um the previous approval which we received in I believe
three years ago um was for the hotel operator as well And as most of you may recall it was for the Wawa convenience store located in the lower right hand corner and sort of an L-shaped hotel uh building 120 rooms The application
that's before you tonight is for the same exact 120 rooms Sorry Ron I'm just going to stop you for one second I'm sorry We'll mark that as A2 and the prior exhibit was A1 No no worries Go ahead You're right Mr Barl I'm sorry This is the prior site plan approval
rendering and it's dated September 9th 2020 Thank you Arena Uh as indicated in the upper leftand corner we have the L-shaped building Um this hotel itself sat approximately uh 54.9 feet off of
this residential lot that's located to the south um of the project itself Uh the access points off of River Road and off of Centennial are unchanged Uh basically what we're really doing is just putting in the new um Marriott
footprint into the the plans itself So the site plan that I'm going to show you now again this is the current site plan rendering with a revision date of April 9th 2025 Uh again and we're going to mark it A3 A3 Sorry for the record No you're
good You're good As indicated the access points off of River Road and Centennial are exactly the same Uh what changes primarily on the site plan itself is the building went from an L-shaped building to just a more a rectangular building It does increase the setback from the
residential zone uh from 54.9 feet to approximately 144 feet So the building setback of the four-story building uh is almost triple what it was under the prior approval Uh there is disturbance of in a way of parking lot in that area
but again that was also increased from about 54.9 ft which is where the building sat uh to approximately between 65 and 75 ft So again the disturbance has moved further away from the R10 zone the residential zone to the south
I I don't mean to interrupt you What' you say the setback to the hotel is It went from 50.9 to what 54.9 approximately 144 ft Thank you You're welcome Um again as I indicated uh the
main entry to front door is facing south on the building or away from the Wawa So the main entrance to the hotel is located on this side of the southern facade of the building itself Uh there is vehicular movement around the entire building Again under the prior approval
we didn't have the ability to get around all four sides of the building Uh so it does allow for easier access around the site The parking is more centrally located to the hotel Uh again we are as Miss Elgard indicated um we are not
applying for any variances or waiverss with this site It's simply just coming in now that we have this uh new tenant coming in with their footprint and their prototypical uh building The last exhibit I I will share
with the board is the building elevation itself just to give the board uh and the professionals a flavor of what the building would look like Again this is their prototypical uh building It is a mixture of uh cement boards and um sorry
Ron again It's A4 that we're going to be marking this exhibit Sorry No you're good It's okay It's a A4 and it's uh dated 32425 Uh this was not prepared by my office So mayor I apologize for the
misspelling forcaway Really Um you're going back to eighth grade right Really Uh again the building consists of of fiber cement board um ephus and metal
coping and and metal branding around the windows and the mechanical units uh on each unit There is a artificial or prefab wood type grain system around the door uh as you entrance or the main entrance along the southern side of the
building Um Miss Algar Madam Chair that's pretty much the overview of the site and our changes Okay Um next I was going to go over the review letters Um we've received uh four review letters
There's the CME one that's dated uh March 21st 2025 I think the comments actually start on page 11 So I'm going to direct you to page 11 However um it looks you know
comment one is just basically what any the standard uh verbiage for a fee variance um which we're not seeking But the second comment related again to the Waw Wa and not to the hotel And likewise
with regard to the third comment Um and so starting with comment four Ron Um I believe we're going to comply with uh obviously that but what I think you're going to clarify how many rooms and you
did say how many rooms before but yeah just for the record Mr Clarification there was uh the architecturals did have an error on it said 124 The application before you tonight's for 120 rooms the same as previously approved
Excellent Thank you And then for the signage comet five Sure As indicated on the architectural elevations we have two signs that we're proposing One is on the western facade which is facing River Road The other is on the northern facade
Uh both of them are conforming uh to the ordinance Okay great Um I guess the next comment is number six That's will comply I'm sorry Okay All right Gotcha Just making sure And I
believe for seven eight and nine it's will comply Ron Is that right That's correct And then I think 10 11 and 12 were just uh statements deferring to other departments So um the next review
letter that we're going to address is the staff review memo the one that's uh March it's dated March 21st 2025 Um and with regard to this memo I believe we're going to comply with all the items other than number eight and 11 If you
could I I you did clarify eight already with regard to the number of rooms but if you just for the record if you could go over it Yes Uh again as indicated uh it's 120 rooms The other aspect of number 11 is asking me to put on the
record um materials and colors of the building I think I testified briefly about the the materials itself Uh but the basic colors uh for the board's reference is more of a tan alabaster is the color they're referring to for the
predominant building There is a a wood tone as well as a brownish So it's more earth tone type colors that are proposed for the building itself Gotcha Great Um next I'll refer you to the DNR engineering letter It's uh March
25th 2025 And with uh this letter I believe we'll comply with all the items except for number seven which discusses a logistics plan And we're going to be seeking a submission waiver for that
Yeah that's correct Um as previously applied for and granted by the board um we're asking for a waiver for the logistics plan Obviously once we get closer to um should the board act favorably on this application be closer to construction a pre-construction
meeting will be held with the township engineer uh to go over exactly um how the the construction is going to take place And that's that's typical for what we do on all our sites Okay Well can I just interject for a second So Irena it's not that you're seeking not to do
it at all I what I'm hearing from Ron is you just want to wait till construction starts and then sit down with engineering in the township and and work it out at that point in time Correct It's just a timing issue So you agree to do it It's
just do it while we get closer to resolution Yeah Resolution compliance Resolution compliance Okay Right Because obviously I don't think the the municipality wants to forego all that You're just saying resolution compliance Okay that's correct Thank you
So you'll agree to it just as part of resolution compliance Correct Yes Thank you I sorry Mr Just so we're clear Um you know there's different timing here Resolution compliance I submit I'm able to get signed plans That gives me the
ability to go get a building permit I'm just saying I'd like to do it prior to site work commencing So it may be after uh resolution compliance I defer to Dawn on how they handle it but I don't want it to be part of I don't want it to have to do it in order to get the map signed
because again it's usually later prior to construction But and and you are required to have that as you said Ron you are required to have pre-construction meeting prior to doing any work So you will be meeting with our engineer um your team you know your your
contractor and so forth So it is going to come into play I mean it's um it's not going to hold They're going to get through resolution compliance They're just not going to start construction until So we should do it We'll just I guess rather than resolution compliance we'll
do it as part of pre-construction prior to commencements of site work I mean we have to do attachment requirement Okay Okay And is that clear Tom Is that Yeah I I mean I think we're all saying the same thing Okay You're not going to
start moving dirt and putting things in the ground until Dawn the township engineer and and the township are comfortable with you know off-site staging you know road closures all that I mean that stuff's going to all be discussed sat down and worked out So yes
Okay Um and then the last memo I have is the fire department memo Um and there's two items there that we will comply with um with regard to the vehicle circulation plan as well as as well as uh item one
which is just moving it put So and I'm going to turn over if any anybody on the board has any questions or the professionals have any questions Members of the board um does anyone on the board have any questions of this witness Madam Chair I have um I think
just one question Um I don't think it's really a major concern but just um since the hotel um brand change this time um there between the time in which the the gas station the convenience store are
built there's still chance that this hotel could be a different brand again or a different concept and then you'd have to come back Well if there's any changes to the actual site plan in other words if we can fit in the footprint if there's something we'd have to see things when
it comes It doesn't necessarily change with the brand It doesn't mean the brand It could be the same Yeah Okay So but I guess my question being is that right now everything's go for Studio Res but it it could be a different Marriott brand or it could be a Hilton again It
doesn't you know you still have that option to come before us Councilwoman Cahil if I if I can just so we're clear here Um it was it was a Hyatt House not a Hilton just for the record Oh I'm so sorry about that House to to a Marriott Um as some of you may
be familiar with this there's a there's a developers agreement in place and a developers agreement has certain restrictions on us of what we can do and what we have to do in order to get the Wawa open which is why we're um trying to expedite going for this
revision so we can make the changes so we can get footings and foundations into the ground to keep our obligation uh with the town under the redevelopment agreement So unless something major changed um obviously to your point we would have to come back to the board but it's our intention to move forward with
this um as quickly as we possibly can so we can keep our obligations to both our tenant and also to the town Yeah No I I I know I know the redevelopers agreement um definitely um important because we you know obviously have had times where we
thought something was going to happen and it didn't So that being said though Ron um um and and it's not really imperative to know necessarily for the approval because the hotel's the approval but may I ask was there like a hold up with the
Hyatt side Um I mean this Studio Res um is a is a I'm a Maria Bonvoy person It's like a brand new brand that's being marketed in a certain way going up very quickly Was there an issue with Hyatt
that was going to hold up the project I guess was my question And obviously it has no bearing because you're approved for a hotel but just curious out of curiosity Yeah I I don't think I can answer that question because I wasn't involved at the time So I'm not sure
Yeah I don't know Sorry Yeah at the time you know the Hide House was obviously the product that we're moving forward with Uh we couldn't come to terms with the franchisee of the Hide House uh and we just went our separate ways And then um since that time um one of our new
employees as a former Marriott person and he was able to bring this you know the people to the table and they had this new as you indicated this new um product if you will or new brand under the Marriott name for these studio res
um and like you said Mahill they're trying to introduce this in a bunch of different new areas and this is one of the ones that they uh had targeted We're doing actually a couple deals with them on a couple locations Okay Um any other members of the board have questions Uh not not a question
Madam Chair Just to let uh Ron All uh we're expected to be under construction for Centennial Avenue in June So just want to make sure you guys keep a breast with Joe Herrera with your progress out there Uh dearly not Thank you Mayor I was under Thank you Right
Yeah Um I think we should open it up to the public Now members of the public you've heard the testimony uh regarding um of this this uh person testifying about this construction of this um hotel
Does anyone have any questions for this witness You you can either raise your hand or unmute and speak You say anyone No I gave them all permission to Oh here we go Pablo
Hi good evening everyone Um Ela write that construction Sir sir sir I I don't mean to cut you off but before you start speaking if you could state your name for us spell your last name and just give us your address Okay Uh my name is
Pablo Bautista And uh how do you spell that live on 552 River Road and it's right across where the construction is going on Okay Just real quick sir You said
your last name is Batista Yes sir B A T I S T A That's correct And I'm sorry you said your address was what 552 River Road in Piscatoaway River Road Okay Could you raise your right hand sir You
swear the test Do you swear the testimony you get before this board will be the whole truth Yes I do Okay What would you like to tell the board Uh I was just concerned about the traffic uh that's been going to get created cuz right now we have uh we have been having
problems making right turns and left turns on our property and one time I almost got rear ended Are there any plans of um like uh easing up the traffic on River Road with the opening
of the Wawa and the hotel I'm not sure if that was directed at me All right I'll try to answer that You know we are proposing certain improvements along both River Road and Centennial in conjunction with our development but other than that we're not proposing any other traffic
improvements along those roads Just so you're aware Mr Batista this is a a redevelopment project and and it's a permitted use uh there So um traffic generation was taken into account um
when the redevelopment plan and the zoning went into effect Um if I may uh madam chair uh for the resident out there there there are no plans by the county at this time As a matter of fact that section of River
Road correct me if I'm wrong Dawn that was that is the buildout of River Road right in that area the county reconstructed that area about five or six years ago and you know the state just reconstructed the bridge there The only other thing that may happen in that area is with the state DOT
um doing some improvements for the interchange down by the bridge uh and on the Franklin side but there's nothing that's going to be out in front of uh your your home I mean what's out there is going to stay out there Okay I have no further questions
Thank you Mr Thank you Mr Batista Thank you Ma Madam chair if I too for for the resident is that that entrance into off of River Road into the hotel there's no left out there because you you cannot
make a left under the reconfiguration There is a median that as you come off of 287 right If you're headed south 287 or even if you're headed north once you cross over 287 there is a a cement
median So traffic in off of River Road to the hotel would be you know headed northbound on River Road Um and leaving the hotel from the River Road entrance
they could only make the right-hand turn U Mayor Waller is um can I just request like to put like we're the first house on the right hand side coming off 287 going
south on 18 Okay Is it possible is our our property is like on a blind curb So is this a possible to put a sign like there's a driveway upcoming Yeah we can uh we can have our um our engineers speak with the county engineers That
would be a a county road We'd have to contact the county to see if they could put additional signage out there Okay Okay Thank you Mayor All right Uh any other member of the public have questions about this construction
from this witness No one Madam Chair Thank you Close to the public Um do we have any other witnesses Mr Alenbeck Uh no We're not going to have any other witnesses unless um any other
any other if there's any other questions from the board But members of the board do you have any other questions or can we proceed to discussion of whether you want to approve this application Madame Chair just just Reverend Kenny just for uh is this going to be a uh Mr
back Is this going to be a long extended stay hotel Yes it's an extended stay brand for the Marriott Okay Cuz I know we had discussed that before on the extended stay but I wasn't a big fan of that We
have a few of them in town anyway and I think I made that expression before Okay Thank you I got it You're welcome Are you ready for it The motion Members of the board Okay Members of the board Uh what is
your pleasure Madame Chair Don for I'd like to make a motion that we approve the application subject to the board professional reports Um also subject to the uh fire pro fireers fire hero excuse me report
Um they've they have agreed to comply with all of the reports Um so therefore I think we should approve the application Do I have a second Carol Saunders Second Thank you Roll call please Mayor Waller yes Councilwoman Ko
yes Miss Corkran yes Miss Saunders yes Reverend Kenny yes Mr Atkins yes Mr Foster Yes Mr Ahmed Yes Mr Edaria Yes And
Madame Chair Yes Thank you very much Thank you Take care everybody Have a good evening Enjoy Thank you everyone Um that concludes our agenda for tonight Um
our next site plan meeting is April 23rd and our next month's planning board is scheduled for May 14th I believe Easter is coming during that time Everyone have a happy holiday Passover Passover Yes Yeah Everybody
enjoy the holidays Yeah And maybe to be warm And maybe we'll get we even get some spring in there