This is not working, George. My Okay. Zoning board of adjustment meeting will please come to order. 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 and the Star Ledger. with the I have I'm going to go in the other room. Courtney, is your laptop on? Mr. Weissman, while she's doing that, I'll attempt to call the role. Thank you. Uh Mr. Weissman here. Mr. Tiller
here. Mr. Patel here. Mr. Blunt, Mr. Origio here. Mr. Mirando here. Mr. Ali here. Chairman Cahill, you have a quorum. You may proceed. Thank you. Will joy.
Hey Jo. Hey. Thank you. Uh will everyone please stand for the salute to the flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag 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 all, justice for all. Mr. Conaly, are there any changes to tonight's agenda? Yes, there are. There are many changes. The application of Alicia Gimenez, 20 Mitchell Avenue, will
be postponed until July 10th with no further notice by the applicant. The application of Steven Edens, one Vocal Avenue, will be postponed to August 14th. He must notice. The next change is James Bro, 347 Rock
Avenue. That is adjourned until July 10th, 2025 with no further notice. The application of Edgar Lopez, 12 Howard Street is postponed until July 10th, 2025. They must notice.
Gindo Auto Repair, 1300 West 7th Street, is postponed until July 10th, 2025 with no further notice. Those are all the changes that I have tonight. Thank you. We can start with then on the agenda with number eight.
That's 25-ZB-41B, Vinko Properties Holding LLC. Is Alain Salon present? Yes, present. Did I pronounce that correctly? Good enough. Please proceed. Sure. So, thank you for
having me. Members of the zoning board, um we're making this application for 157 um Murray uh BAV, I believe. Um we're seeking variances
for a garage. Um it's there it's this is a pre-existing non-conforming use. Uh specifically we're looking for um we're looking for um relief for a 25
foot front yard setback. We're proposing a 17t front yard setback. We're proposing uh we're we're proposing a 15oot front yard setback for an accessory structure of the garage. uh where there's a 60- foot front yard setback for an accessory structure.
We're see we're proposing a two and a half foot sideyard setback for an accessory structure being the garage uh where 8 foot is required. And for the accessory building, we're also uh seeking a uh 28 foot by 18 foot
garage structure where recurrently required is 25 feet by 25 ft. Um I I I have with me in here an engineer. We provided a report. Uh we're we're we're describing the um the condition of the
garage. Uh basically this is a very straightforward application. Uh this is a structure that's similar in to other structures in the neighborhood. Uh, in fact, this is a corner lot and I believe pretty much every corner lot within the
ne with within two blocks around this have accessory uh garages similar to this. Actually, a lot of them are a lot larger. Um, so we're just seeking um the relief of of the C varants to allow for
this pre-existing non-conforming use to be to be granted. Um, I also have my my client who's here who can discuss this matter further as to what he's planning to do with the property. I will note that he is a he bought this property uh
to renovate it and to then he's going to resell it. He's basically has permits and and to to make make basically to raise the value of the property to assist with the uh with the property values also in the area. So I think
there's there's definitely positive criteria that assist us here. Okay. Let you know this is pretty standard. Let's Jonathan, do you have any comments on this? Uh yes. So we're going to we're going to want a 5ft temporary construction easement along Murray
Avenue for future work that the engineering department is going to be undertaking. Uh we've received the letter regarding the structural condition of the garage and we accept it. Uh and just an understanding that this garage can only remain in its
location uh so long as it's in uh good structural condition once it needs to be substantially reconstructed or improved uh in a structural way. It has to be relocated to a conforming location. Uh and the last thing I'll add is the uh
from the images, the garage seems to be in good condition except for the uh the the door. Uh I believe based on the testimony provided that that would be replaced. Just want to get some confirmation of that.
So yeah, so I I my I'm my client is on so I can have Shahid if you can just confirm that you're going to replace the the garage door, but otherwise I and he can confirm the other two items, but I've I've already spoken to him and he we are good with a temporary um easement
as well as the restriction of if this if this garage should need uh substantive repair or or or uh is in complete disarray that it will be moved. towards the uh towards the the um within
the boundaries of the of the of the variance of the uh property setbacks. Your representations are acceptable. We don't don't need to call any witnesses, I don't believe. Okay. Perfect. Okay. Okay. Anyone on the board have any
questions or concerns or comments on this request? Hearing none, I I'll close this section and open up to the public. Anyone in the public have any questions, concerns um or comments on this request? No one
chairman. Thank you. I'll close the public portion. I'd like to make a motion to accept uh to to authorize this uh variance. Can I get a second? A second. Will the clerk please call the role? Mr.
Weissman. Yes. Mr. Tiller. Yes. Mr. Patel, yes. Mr. Reio, yes. Mr. Blount, he's not here. I missed roll call. Mr. Haka,
yes. Mr. Minorando, yes. Mr. Elli, yes. And Chairman Cahill. Not here. Your application's been approved. We'll memorialize this at our next meeting and send you a copy. Good luck. Thank you so much, everybody. Appreciate the rest of the night. Thank
you. Moving on to item number nine. 25-ZB-34V. Harun Mesa, are you here? Is Harun Mesa present? Yes. Okay. I need to swear you in. Could you raise your right hand? Do you swear that the testimony you're about to give
should be the truth? Yes. Your name and address, please? Run me 600 Park Avenueway, New Jersey. Okay. You can put your hand down. Explain to the board what you'd like to do here. Uh
actually uh my engineer will provide testimony for for my uh Paul Fer. I need to swear you in. Could you raise your right hand? Yes. Testimony you're about to give should be the truth. Yes,
it is. And your name and address, please. It's Paul Fletcher. uh 57 West Pond Road in uh Copelan, New Jersey. And Mr. Fletcher, you've appeared before this board on prior occasions as an engineer. Uh I
actually I'm appearing tonight as a planner. As a planner and you've appeared before this board previously? I have. Okay. I believe the board can accept his qualifications. Thank you. If I could ask, uh, there's no button to turn on video, so you I
don't think you can see me. I cannot see you. Did you come you Paul, you came in as an attendee? I came in using the uh because I did not send you a link. I did not know you were coming on tonight. Uh, I just used the I usually just type
in the uh the access the ID number and then what what name did you come in under so we could make you a participant? Uh, well, I'm coming in on my phone. It should say Paul Fletcher. The phone won't let you do it because you came in.
You called it in. You didn't come in under the Zoom link. Well, I did. I did. I came in Well, not the I didn't tap on the Zoom link. You're right. Uh, do you want me to try to do that? Yeah, if you call in on your phone, it won't let you do that. You have to go on Zoom and put
in the ID and put everything else and it's not going to work. Uh, you came in as a telephone call. Mr. Chairman, this is a fairly simple uh application. Perhaps he can just describe the uh what the applicant wants. Yes. Uh certainly the subject property
uh as you have just heard is 600 uh Park Avenue in Piscatoaway. Uh it is block 11303 lot 6. It is a 100 by 100 lot in the R10 zone. It's corner lot corner of
Orchard Street and uh Park Park Avenue. Uh it's a dimensions of 100 by 100. It's fully conforming lot. There is an existing one and a half story uh single family dwelling and detached garage on
the on the property. Uh the applicant desires to uh put a second floor on the single family house. Uh keeping the same foundation uh will be just a small extension out the front uh by the porch by about two
feet. Uh but other than that, it'll just be going straight up. Uh and uh Aha. Excuse me while I tap some buttons here. Mr. Fletcher should be able to get on now. There's something wrong with the
laptop. I had to use another computer. Um, I'm trying to get on. I don't know if you can see me yet. No, we cannot. No. Uh I don't think we need to be labored.
Um uh let me provide the testimony. I I have no exhibits to show you. So can can we hear uh our engineers report? Would that help? John Jonathan. Yes. Thank you. So seeing how the uh
addition does not exacerbate uh any prior non-conforming setbacks, the main concern that our staff report addresses is a fence location uh as well as a landscape buffer for
uh for the fence. Um we also want some testimony from Mr. Fletcher because it there just hasn't been enough information provided for excuse me why the house can't be reconfigured on the lot if we are doing such an
extensive renovation. So uh I I'm happy to talk about explain the the fence the solution that we were discussing in the staff report or we can put it back on Mr. Fletcher to provide testimony uh some additional information as to why uh
there hasn't been an attempt to relocate the structure. Certainly. Uh I believe the video is working now. Yes, it is. Falling water. Beautiful. Yes, it is. Uh let me answer that last question first.
uh and that is uh it would be an extreme hardship to the applicant to request him to move the house. Uh you're you're talking about essentially demolishing the house uh and re and rebuilding it.
Uh in this case, he's saving the the basement and the foundation. He's saving the first floor framing. He's putting a second floor on. Uh that's it's one of the uh reasons that I believe the board has the authority to grant this uh since
it's in uh it is a C1 hardship variance to comply with the required setbacks. Uh there is an existing requirement in the R10 of 35 foot front setback uh on Orchard Street. Existing setback is 29
ft and it will remain at 29 ft. Uh on Park Avenue there is uh an existing nonconformity of 31.4 ft. The applicant proposes to uh have 29.67. So it's a difference of
about 2 feet. Uh and that's because of the uh projection at the front which are I believe closets uh for the front door. Uh now we have to remember these are front yard setbacks so we're not uh getting any closer to any of the
neighbors uh and and in my mind one is an existing and can't really be fixed. The other is a dimminimous change from the existing conditions. Uh apart from that there are no other bulk uh variances required. He's well under on
uh his rear and side setbacks. Well, well over rather uh well under on maximum lot coverage. Uh going to the report from June 2nd, I would agree with the statement that
not we do not exacerbate the existing non-conforming front yard setbacks. The comment number two is that the fence should be brought in uh 22 feet from Orchard Street uh and have a single in
panel coming from the corner of the house. Uh and the applicant I would discuss that with the applicant is very uh agreeable to making that change. Uh number three talks about putting landscaping on the exterior of the fence along Orchard Street. uh we will comply
with those uh requests and also the bonding and installation in in a timely manner. Uh with regards to number four which asks for testimony uh to be provided for the variances. U
believe I believe you can justify this clearly under the C1 hardship criteria where it would be u a hardship on the owner to actually move and remove that existing condition of
the front yard violation. And I see no uh detrimental or negative effects to the neighborhood or the zone out of the master plan. U with regards to I think you can also look at the C2 criteria where the benefits
significantly outweigh the detriments. In this case, we're uh enlarging existing housing stock. Uh we're beautifying the property. We making it aesthetically pleasing. Uh it'll be a proud addition to the neighborhood. uh
with the new uh facade and believe it's also being brought up to code standards and I see no adverse effects of the neighborhood or to uh to his own plan or the master plan. Okay. For those reasons, I think the board has the
authority and I would uh request respectfully that they approve this application. I'll I'll accept that testimony. Thank you, Mr. Fletcher. So, just two two final points. So you understand item two on that staff report how we're proposing that fence
orientation. Yes. And for item three that bond just a uh just a point that's an optional bond uh in the event that they can't install it in a timely manner. I don't want you to be under the impression that it's mandatory. Understood. Understood. I don't have any other questions for Mr. Fletcher. I'm
I'm uh satisfied. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else on the board have any questions or concerns or comments at this time? Hearing none, I'd like to open this up to the public. Anyone in the public have any questions, concerns, or comments on
this request? No one chairman. Thank you. I like to close the public portion and I make a motion to accept this request. I have a second. Thank you, Calpes. Will the clerk please take the role? Mr.
Weissman, yes. Mr. Tiller, yes. Mr. Patel, yes. Mr. Reio, yes. Mr. Haka, yes. Mr. Minando, yes. Mr. Elli, yes. Your application's been approved. We'll
memorialize this at our next meeting and send it to you. Thank you very much. Have a good night. Moving on to number 10. That's 25-ZB-30 V. Mr. Amitava Roy. Is Amitava Roy
present? Yes, I'm present here. Okay. I need to swear you in. Could you raise your right hand? Do you swear the testimony you're about to give should be the truth? Whatever I say, I'll speak the truth. Thank you. Uh, give us your name and address, please. 973 East Lincoln Avenue, this getaway,
New York City 08854. And your name? Amitava Roy. Okay. Mr. Roy, could you explain to the board why you're here? Yeah, I'm here for I'm requesting a six foot privacy fence inment area in the back of the house and in the front yard
set back. And that fence I am requesting as a privacy for the family and I would like to have a you know, garden, created garden with the flower plants and vegetable plants
and I want to protect them from deers. And then I have a dog that you know also important for the fencing should not go out and then children playing in the property.
So for safety reasons and to some extent security also. Okay. And do you understand that if the township ever needs access to that easement, you would be responsible for removing the fence and replacing it at your cost? Yes. And you're agreeable to that? Yes. That's all that I have, Mr. Chairman. Thank
you. Jonathan, you have any comments on this? Uh, we are requesting a landscape buffer along East Lincoln Avenue. Does the applicant agree to that? Yes. Okay. No further questions. Thank
you. Thank you. Anyone else on the board have any questions, concern, or comments on this request? Hearing none, I'd like to open this up to the public. Anyone in the public have any questions, concerns, or comments on this request?
No, chairman. Thank you. I'd like to close the public portion. I make a motion we accept this request. Will the cler I'll second it. Thank you. Will the clerk please take the role? Mr. Tillery. Yes. Why are they Mr.
Patel? Yes. Mr. Reio, yes. Mr. Hidala, yes. Mr. Morando, yes. Mr. Ellie, yes. And Chairman Weissman, yes. Your application's been approved. We'll memorialize this in a written document at our next meeting and we'll send that
document to you. Good luck. Thank you. Have a good night. Thank you. Moving on to number 11. That's I can drop up. I can drop up. Yes. Yes. Yes sir. Okay. Thank you very much. Moving on to number 11. 25-ZB-42B.
Manish Patel. Is Manesh Patel present? Manesh Patel, are you present? Yes. Yes. Sorry. Okay. I need to swear you in. Could you raise your right hand? You swear the testimony you're about to give should be the truth. Yes. Uh your name
and address, please. Uh Manish Patel uh Piscatway uh 56 Rachel Terrace. Thank you. Could you explain to the board why you're here? Uh yeah. Uh let me my daughter explain a little better than me. Okay. I need to swear you in. Could you raise your right hand? You swear the
testimony you're about to give should be the truth. Yes. Your name and address, please. Mayor Patel at 56 Rachel Harris. Thank you. Speak up and explain to the board what your family would like to do. Uh good evening. Um, we're requesting to
have a portion of our proposed second story deck extend five and a half feet into the rear yard setback. So that's uh instead of the 25 ft, we want it to be 19 1/2 ft. In a previous variance, we
were already approved for a 19 1/2 ft uh setback for an addition to the house. So we just want to make the deck flush with that addition. Um the previous uh approval granted was under 24 ZB11B.
Um the deck wouldn't go any further than what the house already is. So the overall footprint and visual impact would remain con like consistent. And from the staff report, we understand
the board's concerns about potential sight lines or privacy, and we're open to putting screening or anything up to protect privacies of neighboring properties. And we've already spoken to our neighbors, like the adjacent neighbors, and they're they like showed support. We
can provide a letter if necessary. So, that's for the deck. We also have um a fence like in the previous variance it was also approved to extend it out 20 feet. We just wanted it to start from
the front of the house but I know the town sees it as the side of our house because we're a corner lot. Um so that was another thing. And we were also asking for a depressed curb. Our driveway is currently a threecar
driveway but we only have like a one car opening. So we would have to like turn the car to make go in. So we're just asking if we could make a depressed curve for the the entire width of the driveway so it's easier to reverse in and out and such.
Mr. Weissman, you may want to check with Mr. Ms. Rahi. Yes, Jonathan. So yes, thank you. So we'll start with the uh driveway. So you will need a street opening permit to do that. we can we can
address that almost separately from everything else that we're doing here. Um there's a required um detail for how that sidewalk and and driveway apron needs to be that should have been uh included in the memo that
was sent to you. Yeah. Uh so that's something that we can you'll come into the office. We can handle that. Uh do you have any of these neighbors on the call tonight that you've spoken with about the rear sidelines? They are not on the call now.
Okay. Um, and I just want to again just reiterate the the fence location doesn't exacerbate the prior approval. Uh, and like you said, it's a it's a we see it as a front yard. It's your sideyard. Uh, the staff the staff feels like the deck
shouldn't we shouldn't grant this um encroachment in the rear yard setback. Have you considered doing a smaller deck with a patio? Um, it's a second story deck, so we we have considered moving it out like uh shortening it so we wouldn't even have
to go through the whole variance thing, but it it wouldn't look as nice like the appeal like from the back because it wouldn't go flush with the house. We also have a big family and we have like lots of
gatherings. So, it'd be nice to get the full yard, like the full deck instead of it. Okay. Uh, Mr. Chairman, I'll put it like this. I'll we'll put it up to a vote. If this gets approved, I want to condition this with uh uh evergreen landscape
screening along the uh back property line and the side property line as needed to screen this from the neighbors as well as a uh road opening permit for a street opening permit for the the driveway work. But
I'll I'll leave it up to the board to place a vote. So that the screening you're suggesting this is a seconds story deck uh will provide actually privacy for the neighbors from who are people standing
on the deck looking into other yards. Is that accurate? I'm just trying the intention would be the intention would be for neighbors looking looking up into the into the deck. Yes. Okay. Thank you. That's acceptable.
And we'll also we'll also condition we'll also condition a landscape screen along Rachel Terrace post fence uh to be consistent with uh how we're handling um uh the six foot solid vinyl fencing
and that's something that we can that's something that we can work on together. uh it' be uh shrubs uh spaced every three to six feet and uh we can we can work on the details of that once you get the fence installed. Okay. This
acceptable, Mr. Patel? Yes. Okay. I'd like to open this up to the any any member of the board have any questions, concerns, or comments on this request? Hearing none, I'd like to open this up to the public. Anyone in the public have any questions, concerns, or comments on
this request? No one chairman. Thank you, Laura. I now close the public portion and I make a motion to accept this request with the conditions laid out by Jonathan. Uh, can I get a second? A second. Okay.
Thank you. Uh, will the clerk please take the role? Mr. Tiller? Yes. Mr. Patel? Yes. Mr. Reio, yes. Mr. Haka, yes. Mr. Mirando,
yes. Mr. Elli, yes. And Chairman Weissman, yes. Your application's been approved. With those conditions, we'll memorialize this in a written document at our next meeting, and we'll send that document to you. Good luck. Thank you. Thank you so much. Have a good night.
Good night. Moving on to item number 15, 25-ZB-1B. It's Parkway Plastics. Good afternoon, board chair, members of the board. Uh my name is David Prasad, licensed attorney in the state of New
Jersey uh with Bob Smith and Associates uh here tonight representing the applicant Parkway Plastics uh for 25 ZB11V. Um tonight we're seeking a use variance uh a D1 use variance for the use of
outdoor storage containers uh that is used for the business the primary business that's on the site and we understand that these containers are violating the accessory setback accessory structure setbacks. Um we'll get into more detail. Uh however, we are
the property that we in question is located at 561 Steelton Road designated as block 5302 on lot 1.03 in the LI5 zone. The property has
approximately 300 ft of frontage along Steelton Road and has a county drainage easement along the western property line. uh to the north of the property, which would be the rear yard, there is a Conrail railroad line that uh goes along
the length of the rear yard. Um past that rail line is approximately 40 acres of undeveloped land that is currently owned by the NJ and is a super fun site. Surrounding this property, uh there are commercial, retail, and other industrial
uses. Currently on the site, uh there is a family-owned business which manufactures high quality plastic lids and jars and ships them to a variety of businesses both locally and worldwide. Uh this business has been in this location for
three generations and over 75 years. And the Rowan family has operated this site and used outdoor storage for a long time uh while this business has been uh operational. The containers on the site are utilized
for manufacturing to store products that are used for the manufacturing and to store products that are already ready to ship out to customers. Um there is one main building on the site. Uh that building is consist contains uh offices and also most of the manufacturing
production area. Um the site is in immaculate condition. I have walked it with um the client. It is very well-kept. Landscaping is wellkept. The concrete and uh pavement areas are sealed or repaved where
needed. Um and it is very organized and maintained. Tonight, the applicant is proposing um to continue utilizing the outdoor storage containers for the manufacturing and product operation. Um while some of
the containers are within the accessory uh structure setbacks, the shape and features of the the lot limit the ability to store these containers on the site. Uh however, they have been there for 75 years and the containers have been on the site for since approximately
1970s. Um the applicant will go into more details on the site conditions as well. So as mentioned we are here seeking a D1 use variance um for the containers to remain on site and to utilize them. Um I have gone through with the applicant and
we have come up with a solution to mitigate some of the setback uh requirements and also to provide some landscaping. Um so for testimony tonight I have the applicant Mr. Ned Rowan that is here from Parkway Plastics. I also have Mr.
James Higgins from James W. Higgins Associates as our professional planner. Um the staff report that we will be referring to tonight is the Piscatoaway Township staff report that is dated April 21st, 2025 and we intend to address the comments that are on there
and hopefully we'll be able to work with uh Mr. Misrai to come to um an agreement on how we can make the site more functional. Um with that I have if the board has no questions of me I'd like to introduce our first uh witness.
Is that Mr. Rowan? That is Mr. Rowan. Mr. Rowan, uh, can you hear me? Yes, I can. Good evening. I need to swear you in. Could you raise your right hand? You swear that the testimony you're about to give should be the truth. Yes. Your name and address, please. Ned Rowan. My full
name is Edward Rowan. Uh, 55 West Lane, Madison, New Jersey. Thank you. Go ahead, Mr. Prasad. Thank you. Uh, Mr. Rowan, can you please for the benefit of the board tell them your role and relationship to the business at 561
Stelton Road? Director of operations. Um, business. Sorry. Go ahead. Uh, okay. So, the you're the director of operations and this is a family-owned business. Correct. Correct. It was founded approximately 1953 by my grandfather.
Um, can you please tell the board why we're here tonight seeking a use variance for these containers? We received a notice from the township um essentially relating to some of the uh storage containers on our property
and stating that they were not conforming to authorization um for the township currently. Okay. And we and tonight we are seeking to maintain those containers in the current layout. Um but we do intend on changing
some of those um setback issues. Correct. That's correct. Sorry, I had to step away to close a door. I apologize. No worries. Um, so can you please explain to the board why you chose Piscataway to open the or why your grandfather and why you continue to run
this business in Piscatoaway? Well, my grandfather chose it because it was uh, you know, just a a great great town to grow a business. Um, he's he'd always been from the area. Um, our
family's been in New Jersey for many generations and his sister lived at the shore and he lived up in this area and they actually purchased the property together um and were 50% owners at the time that they purchased it and um, you
know, it just seemed like a really great and central location. Obviously, we all know that it's near to all of the main arteries servicing both the uh you know, east and west in the country and of course up and down the country as well.
Okay. Um and there are a number of employees that you have at your operation currently that are that are residents of Piscatoaway Township. Correct. Yes, that's correct. I do not handle HR but my understanding is seven are within uh Piscataway um and then
many are also within the surrounding towns you know maybe another 7 to 8 to 10 are within the surrounding towns call it Dunellen um okay understood um can you please explain to the board the hours of operation
the business operates five uh days a week uh at times where we are extremely busy we ramp up and can go as uh lengthy as seven days, although we try and manage the schedule to allow the time off on the weekend. Um
and um it's three shifts, so it's 24 hours a day and the shifts in the evening tend to be lighter than the day shift. Um and how many employees do you have on site? It does vary between 35 and say I think at our absolute peak it
was 47. There's 47 employees, but not all on site at the same time within three. Not all on site at the same time. Um, you know, generally speaking, the dayshift tends to be the more populated shift. Um,
having somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 uh 20 to 25 people and the night the evening shift and overnight shift tend to have more along the lines of seven to six to eight people. Understood. Um can
you please explain uh what the purpose of the containers are on site? It's to store generally speaking finished good inventory. So these products these are products that are already manufactured and kept in the containers to be shipped. That's
correct. And um what types of products do you manufacture? We manufacture plastic containers, plastic jars, plastic caps. And these vary in shape, sizes, and colors depending on inventory and customer needs. Correct. That's
right. We have about ballpark 250 different shapes, sizes, and then we also hold them in stock for customers because it is a proprietary line. We're generally not a captive
manufacturer. It's almost like a grocery store for packaging. And so you you know need an ability to have them in specific locations and to enable access as well. Understood. Um so keeping these products in these course containers allows you to
maintain organized and uh an organized manufacturing and also an organized sale process. Is that correct? Yes, that's correct. Um are all the containers on your site currently being utilized? Yes, they are. And how do you know what's in each
container? We have a detailed inventory list with specific mins and maxes um specific locations. So at the moment you are using all the containers that are on site and um have you reduced the
the amount of containers on your site? Yes, we have. So I was in college until 2001. um entered the business in 2003 and at the time of entering the business it was probably we might have had as many uh you know at least maybe 30 to 40% more
30% more containers but you know over the course of the prior 22 years as sad as that is um we've reduced them you know I I've really made a a pretty big effort to try and manicure the property
and eliminate items that were not needed um in the interest of you know being a good citizen to the township. So in that process you removed approximately 25 containers I believe correct it might be 35 35 containers
um and the materials that are stored in these containers are manufactured products. Do any of the containers have any hazardous or chemical or flammable substances inside? No. Um, currently how the site is, how are
the containers screened from view from the neighboring uh, properties? We have a six-foot chain link slatted fence. And the chain links the the the slats on the chain link fence, which I also installed to assist
in that capacity for, you know, adding a nice aesthetic to the property. um are a forest green, shall we say? And um over the past 10 to 15 years, we've also proceeded to paint the containers the
same color, forest green, you know, and that's to reduce the visibility through the slats if any. Yes, understood. And uh there are some trees along the eastern property line. Is that correct? That's correct. Okay. Um, you also
propose to take some additional measures to to mitigate the uh the visual of these containers. Um, right now it appears that maybe they're only visible from the shopping center. Is that correct? That's correct. And the additional measures. Uh, if I can pull share my
screen, I'll um show an exhibit that we have created. Um, and then Ned, if you can talk through what the uh measures what we are talking about. So then if I can ask you uh specifically um are you willing to relocate
containers numbered on this plan numbered 1 2 and three and are you willing to relocate them to where the position of 8 n and 10 are? That's correct. Yes I am. Um, and 8, 9, and 10 will be removed from the site. That's my
proposal. Okay, let me just stop you for a minute. Uh, this we're going to mark this as A1. And can you supply a paper copy to the zoning board for our file? Yes, we'll do. Thank you.
Um, so just to reiterate, 8, 9, and 10 are going to be removed and replaced with one, two, and three. Correct. Correct. Uh, additionally, item uh, containers numbered 11 through 17 will be reduced to 20 foot containers.
Correct. Yes, correct. They are current the containers that are currently there are 40 foot containers. And I'm proposing to remove those and replace them with 20 foot containers. And those containers are the containers that are the most violative of the sideyard
setback. Correct. That's correct. Um, and additionally, uh, in in conjunction with the staff report, are you proposing to do landscaping, um, along that property line to screen it from the shopping center? Yes, we're willing to help make it more pleasant to
the shopping center if that's what the town would like. And will you work with our the township landscape architect, Mr. Misrai, is present on this call. Will you work with him to get a good landscaping plan that's the satisfaction of the township and also that provides functionality for
your site? Yes, I am. Um to address another uh comment on the staff report dated April 21st, 2025. Um there are additional structures that were placed on the site uh prior to Mr.
Rowan um working at this facility. Uh, Ned, can you please tell us about that 19 the structure labeled 1950 Quanet hut, please? I mean, I can tell you that I I I think it predates 1950s. It's
always been referred to as a World War II quite hut. So, I'm not sure the true date of it, but I think that is it. I think it was an a hanger of some sort. I'm not sure sure what for. perhaps military vehicles, but I really can't tell you which kind.
Okay. Uh, also there is another structure on the site uh labeled as a 1998 for storage. Can you please tell the board that uh what is inside that container or that structure that's also used for inventory storage of inventory? Correct. Um there's one more that is
just below that label 198 1998 structure for production. Can you please explain to the board what that is for? We use that for printing and other types of uh production related processes. Okay. And that container that is used for
production that is sprinklered as well. Yes, that's correct. And uh you have a yearly fire inspection done by the township and you have never had an issue or any any uh fire hazards that were noted. Correct.
Um, additionally to request one of the uh to address one of the comments on the staff report. Uh, have you considered expanding the building to increase storage in the interior of the building? It
it has been considered over the years, but it really just does not seem like we would be able to do that without having to shut the business down for an extended period of time. And I just don't know that the business would survive. And it also will put your employees out
of a job for until the renovations are complete. Is that correct? Correct. Um to address another comment on the staff report, uh are you willing to install the fiber optic cables uh along the property frontage as requested by the town? Yes. The fiber optic conduits,
not cables, I'm sorry. Sorry. Yes, we are. Um, and for security around the site, can you explain what kind of security you have uh currently for the site? I mean, we have uh several camera
systems. That contains about 39 cameras. That correct? 39 cameras. That's correct. And the lighting around the site is also motion sensor lighting. Is that correct? Yes, that's correct. We replaced it within the past five years. Okay. All the lighting's been switched to LED.
I believe that's what it is. Understood. Um I have no mo uh no further questions for Mr. Rowan if uh the board does have any questions. I'll jump in. Yeah, I'll jump in quickly. Uh, so has there been has there been any consideration for for putting
up another one of these um uh I'm going to pronounce it wrong, the quanet huts or some other form of accessory uh storage unit that's not a shipping container that might have additional capacity. It has it's just has not seemed to be
practical um to allow the business to continue to run during that time. We did look into it uh upon receiving the complaint from the town and we'd considered it prior. It just it it really could cause irreparable harm to the business in in
its current location. Yeah. I just I feel like if we're if we're talking about moving a lot of these 20 foot units and kind of shuffling them all around along the uh along the border with lot 1.04, 04. It
It's uh wouldn't that cause the same wouldn't that cause the same hardship on the business that this would impact your your business in the same way? I could argue that, you know, installing a a more substantial permanent storage solution would have just as much impact
as this proposal would. I don't think that I think that it would be significantly easier for us to facilitate the transfer of of these containers than um disrupting the entire inventory
system for you know what could be 12 to 24 months to I mean we would have nowhere to put anything that currently is there. Okay, David, are you uh do you have any
other witnesses for for this applicant? Yes, I do have a professional planner, Mr. uh Higgins, here to testify on the uh variance. I I'll hold off on any further questions. John, do you have anything you want to add for Mr.
Mr. Chairman? This is John Jadwick. I did submit a report. It wasn't referenced at the outset. is dated April 8th, 2025. There are five items raised in the report. The testimony
uh on discussion prior addresses all but one. Is that fence still have bob wire on the top? Yes, it does. But we would be more than happy to remove that because it wasn't mentioned and I think it should be. I
apologize for that. And I also the landscaping on the front of the building. Jonathan, I guess you can take care of that. I just think it's pretty sparse. Thank you, John. Sorry to interrupt. That's okay, John.
Thank you. Uh, if the Excuse me. If the board has no further question, I'm sorry. Absolutely. These containers aren't mobile. You don't ship product with these containers. Correct. That's correct. They're they're simply a
storage unit and where you keep inventory. Correct. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, John. Uh if I may witness, if there no further questions, you can call Mr. Higgins.
Thank you. Uh Mr. Mr. Higgins, if you can uh turn on your mic and your camera and be sworn in by the board, please. Yep. I think they're both on. Do you swear the testimony you're about to give should be the truth? I do. Your name and address, please? James W. Higgins, HI GG
I NS, 14 Tilton Drive, Ocean, New Jersey. Mr. Higgins has been accepted as a planner before this board on numerous prior occasions and my license is still current. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh Mr. Mr.
Higgins, if you can please uh run through your testimony on the variances that we were seeking and the justifications under the MLU well and also if you can uh give the board your opinion on the site and the current operations. Yeah. Well, I'll start with the site and the current operation. The
uh site is a 3.81 acre site. It's in an area with industrial and commercial uses. As David said, there's a railroad conra directly behind the site. And on the other side of that railroad is a very large super fun site. So the
properties actually surrounding the site are not substantially impacted by what's going on on this site. The the uh site is screened from the property to the east from the supermarket to the east by the fencing and also by the topography.
the site, the property slopes down about three or four feet from the adjacent property. And that mitigates a lot of the visual impact of the uh storage units. And the storage units themselves have been upgraded and very very
wellmaintained. They're painted. They look immaculate. Uh the property itself is quite frankly immaculate. I'm very surprised that it's an industrial property and in the condition it's in. In fact, it's better maintained than my residential property. I was a little bit embarrassed when I was walking around
it. Uh the uh or I mean because I just got my thing in the mail, so you're able to pay whatever the the car registration and the property tax. Hey, Bill, can you mute the your
Yeah, I can't hear you. I was asking Bill to M to the registration. Mute your Bill, please mute your uh mic. Bill, please mute yourself. But you don't have to do um inspections.
Oh, that's nice. Yeah. Well, Bill did that because you can uh in North Carolina, you have to have it inspected. Um, but uh
I apologize for the uh interruption here. We're having problems. Oh, there we go. Okay, we can continue. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, the site, in my opinion, is particularly suited for what they're proposing to do. The containers are not the same size, the same height
as a building would be. I did a very quick calculation based on the number of containers that are there and the square footage of storage and it's about 3/4 of an acre. So to replace those containers with a building would be a substantial
uh impact on the property and probably would close the business down for a while uh because they would lose the ability to store the product on to begin with and would be uh improving much of the site uh with with the construction of a new building and whether not in
fact the uh it would be practical for the applicant to do that I don't know. Um, but the site is particularly suited for what the applicant's proposing to do. I think the minor modifications that are being proposed with reducing the size of some of the storage units and
proposing the landscaping along the eastern property line, I think are a substantial improvement and would improve the appearance of the site. And like I said, the appearance of the site is is very very good to begin with for for an industrial site. So I don't see
any substantial negative impact. I do think again this is an industrial use in an industrial zone. It's a light industrial use in a light industrial zone and the storage is necessary for the business to continue to operate in the manner that it has operated on and
has been on the site for over 75 years. Um the other point I would make is that the site up until the last 20 years had has basically been the rear of the site has basically been dirt and there there were uh containers stored on the dirt
area. The applicant the current operator of the site has come in. He has made substantial improvements in terms of grading the site in ter terms of putting landscaping and grass in the south the northwestern corner of the site does
flood periodically. So he removed all of the containers out of that area and just put in a grass area which I think is was a substantial improvement also. So when I look at it, I think there are substantial benefits to what the applicant's proposing and and what
what's been done and that he's proposing to maintain these uh storage units in their current condition uh in their current locations with the with the changes that were suggested. And I don't see any substantial negative impact to the surrounding area or to your zone
plan. In fact, quite frankly, the uh storage containers, should the business leave the site and another business come in, it would not be a major uh production for a new business if they wanted to to remove those storage containers and to uh do other
improvements to the site if it suited them. Uh Mr. Higgins, I can ask you a question. Sure. Um you did say that the site uh floods periodically to the rear. It doesn't exactly flood. Is that correct? It just uh the grass gets a
little too soft to support a container there. I have not witnessed it. The applicant has explained to me that at times it it flooded to up to the area where the grass is. It's covered gets covered with water. So, it's not and that's and that's because of a drainage
easement that's existing. There's there's an e there's an drainage structure that exists on the western side of the site. It's basically a dry ditch most of the time, but there are times when there's heavy rain that it does flood and it goes under the the the
ditch goes under two with two coverts under the railroad track to this to the supervised site on the other side of the railroad track. Understood. Uh I have no uh further questions for Mr. Higgins if the board has any questions. Anyone on the board have any questions?
No, we nothing from the board. Do you have anyone else? Uh, no. Uh, Mr. Higgins is the uh the final witness that we have tonight. Okay. Jonathan, do you have any uh things you'd like to add at this point? Yes. Thank you. Uh, this
type of container is still not permitted. So, if there is if the board does look favorably upon this application, uh I would feel more comfortable having some sort of um
uh written understanding between the applicant and the township, Jim, however we feel like that's best, whether it's a deed restriction, a developer agreement, whatever uh document of the sort. Uh we need to limit um the future addition of
shipping containers and we also need to condition that once this property is sold, the shipping containers will be removed. Uh otherwise, Mr. Chairman, I'm uh looking forward to working with the applicant on landscaping matters should this be approved.
And uh that's that's all the comments that I have. Mr. Mr. Purs a after you make the changes suggested in your exhibit A1 uh moving containers 1 2 and three and removing 8 n and 10 I believe. Yes. How
many containers will be present on the property? Um it will still have um Ned you might be able to answer this better than I can. Um essentially it will have what is there now? - three - 10 - 10 I think.
Yes. If you pull up your sheet again, three go away when we move them. Plus, I think we proposed removing another seven. So, we'd be getting rid of net 10. Reducing. Yeah, net reduction of 10. And
what would the the final total number be after you take away 10? 75. And I would have no problems with the deed restrictions requested. I believe uh Mr. Prasad and I can work that out. And you also have no problem that uh if you vacate the property you
would remove all of the containers. That's correct. I mean I'll be honest just we've been in Piscataway for 75 years and you know I myself have been running it for 20 years and you know the word immaculate has been used several times.
We truly take pride in our property. So if the board would be willing to give this consideration, we would be thankful. That's all that I have, Mr. Chairman. I think I can address Mr. Ms. Rahi's comments with uh the applicant's attorney. Very good. Uh Mr. Chadwick,
did you have anything you wanted other than the removal of the barb wire and the enhanced landscaping which I've already said? Okay. Thank you. Anyone on the board have any questions, concerns, or comments at this time? Hearing
none, I'd like to open this up to the public. Anyone in the public have any questions, concerns, or comments at this time? No. One, chairman. Thank you. I'd like to close the public portion. I'd like to make a motion that we accept this request with the comments uh of
John of Mr. Chadwick and Mr. Ms. Rai. Can I get a second? I'll second it. Thank you. Will the clerk please call the role? Mr. Tiller, yes. Mr. Patel, yes. Mr. Reio,
yes. Mr. Haka, yes. Mr. Midando, yes. Mr. Elli, yes. And Chairman Weiss, yes. Your application's been approved. We'll memorialize it at our next meeting. Uh before that, I'll be in touch with you to go over some language to for the resolution. Understood. Thank you,
council, and thank you, board chair, and thank you, members of the board. Have a great night. You, too. Thank you to the board. Thank you very much. Okay, moving on to the next one. Item number 16. This is 23-ZB-76B. Mary Joe Bonowski. Did we hear from the
res the uh applicant today? No, we have not, Mr. Connealy. And he was sent to Zoom link also. Okay. Uh Mr. Chairman, this uh application, as you can see from the ZB number, is several years old. Uh, the applicant has not cooperated and they have not responded. We put them on
notice at their last hearing that if they were not ready to proceed tonight, the board would entertain a motion to dismiss for lack of prosecution. I would like someone from the board to make that motion if you so desire. I will make that motion. Second. Thank you. We'll need a roll
call on that. Thank you, Mr. Tiller. Yes. Mr. Patel. Yes. Mr. Mr. Reio, yes. Mr. Haka, yes. Mr. Morando, yes. Mr. Elli, yes. And Chairman Weissman, yes.
Thank you. Okay, moving on. Number item number 17, adoption of resolution from the regular meeting of June 12th, 2025. First resolution, NYSA Verizon Wireless, which you voted to approve. Mr. Weissman, yes.
Mr. Tillery, yes. Mr. Patel, yes. Mr. Mirando, yes. Mr. Ali, yes. Next is J. Patel, which you voted to approve. Mr. Weissman, yes. Mr. Tillery, yes. Mr. Patel, yes. Mr. Mirando, yes. Mr. Ali,
yes. Next is RS Madison, which you voted to approve. Mr. Weissman, yes. Mr. Tillery, yes. Mr. Patel, yes. Mr. Mirando, yes. Mr. Ali, yes. Final resolution, Yahia Abbas, which you voted to approve. Mr. Mr. Weissman, yes. Mr.
Tiller, yes. Mr. Patel, yes. Mr. Mirando, yes. Mr. Ali, yes. Those are all the resolutions I have this evening. Thank you. Moving on to item 18, adoption of minutes from the regular meeting of June 12th, 2025. All those at
Dava say I. I. Any nays and abstensions? Passes. Thank you. Item number 19. 18 again. 19. Uh, adjournment. Can I get a motion? I'll make a motion. I'll second it. Everyone
have a good night. Happy happy July 4th. Thank you everyone. Everyone have a good night. Sorry about the technical