Right. Oh, good to see you. Have fun. I'll get to it. Not high priority right now. Hi, Steve. What's up, kiddo? just finished the high school baseball game. Okay,
they lost. Oh god. Yeah. Okay. It's all like Where is it? It's never less. You know, you know, See,
it You know, she's almost. Yeah. I No queen. Thanks for jumping on St. James. Nice project.
I've seen you so many times today. Hey, how are you, sir? Good. Good to see. How you doing? Nice to see you. Long time no see. How are you? How you doing? All right. How you doing? Good.
Yes. Um, I guess I did last night. I'll never say anything again. What's that? I'll never say anything again. Exactly. She's not here. I was praying for when I'm in the I didn't bring water. I
didn't bring a cup of coffee cuz I thought it'd be home in time to do it. Oh well. So, we have an extra seat. Which seat do you want? Which seat is better for you? Switching around. Yes. Okay. Good.
Just want to make sure everyone's situated. Is everyone good? Diana, you're good. I will open the meeting. All right. I'm just gonna Okay. Good evening everyone. Uh I called this meeting of the township of union
planning board to order. April 24th, 2025. Um open public meetings act statement, please. Pursuant to the open public meetings law, notice of this meeting stating the time and place was satisfied by the filing of an annual notice with the local source and the Star Ledger
newspapers of general circulation within the township of union and posted on the bulletin board of the township of the township of union municipal building. Roll call, please. Mr. Alexander here. Mr. Cohen here.
Mr. Espinosa here. Mr. Frame here. Mr. Mr. Miller here. Miss Perkins here. Mayor Bowser here. Committeewoman Terrell here. Miss Khan here. Miss Kid, German Lee here. Uh, can we swear in the
engineer? You raise right hand. You swear the testimony about the gives the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. I do. Okay. Uh, the next item up on the agenda is the approval of the minutes of the February 27th meeting. Can I get a
motion to approve? So move. Moved by Mr. Frame. Is there a second? Second. Uh, seconded by Mr. Miller. Um, roll call, please. Is this a resolution of denial? No, no.
This is the minutes. Minutes. Oh, I'm sorry. Excuse me. I got a paper ahead of myself. Pardon me. It's been that kind of a day. I'll be with you. One second. Okay. My papers minutes of the
meeting from uh from February from March that there was no no meeting, right? Okay. Uh and I'm sorry, the second on that was uh Mr. Miller. Mr. Miller. Thank you. Mr. Miller.
Okay. Mr. Alexander. Yes. Mr. Mr. Cohan abstain not present Espinosa. Yes. Mr. Frame. Yes. Mr. Miller. Yes. M. Perkins.
Mayor Bowser. Yes. M. Terrell. Yes. Miss Khan. Yes. Chairman Lee. Yes. We have uh two resolutions to adopt. The first resolution is the resolution of denial of Wong Developers LLC
2024-04. Can I get the motion to adopt the resolution of denial? So moved. Moved by Mr. Cohan. Is there a second? Second. Seconded by Mr. Frame. Again, this is a vote to affirm the resolution of denial for watching developers. Uh
roll call, please. Mr. Alexander here. Is that a yes? Oh, no. You voted no. Okay, gotcha. Mr. Cohan, yes. Miss Espinosa, yes. Mr. Frame, yes. Mr.
Miller, yes. Miss Perkins, abstain. Not present. Mayor Bowser, yes. Committeewoman Terrell, yes. Miss Khan, yes. Chairman Lee, yes. The next resolution up is uh 1939
Voxhall LLC uh 2024-10. Can I get a motion to adopt the resolution? So moved. Moved by Mr. Frame. Is there a second? Second. Seconded by Mrs. Perkins. Roll call, please. Mr. Alexander.
Here. Yes. I'm sorry. Yes. That's okay. Mr. Cohan, abstain. Miss Espinosa, yes. Mr. Frame,
yes. Mr. Miller, yes. Miss Perkins, yes. Mayor Bowser, yes. Committeewoman Terrell, yes. Miss Khan, yes. Chairman Lee, yes. All right. Uh, on to new business on the agenda. Uh, we have our first item here
for application 2024-09 811 Chestnut Street. Can the representative uh Yes, please. Good evening, Mr. Chairman and board members. Stephen Hail representing the applicant, Michael Bika, who is here this evening with us. Um and uh yeah, we're here this
evening for a subdivision of the property. I'm sure you're all familiar with it. It's uh essentially across from Fairway Drive on Chestnut Street. Uh and uh what we're proposing is a uh uh to construct uh three two family homes. it
isn't a zone that permits two family homes. I know there was talk uh about possibly townhouse developments in a lot, but after meetings uh with the uh respective departments of the township decided let's do two family homes again which conform with the with the zone. Um
unfortunately and I did speak to council and to uh Mr. Dami, our engineer had a conflict and was not available tonight. But I thought what we would do is call upon our traffic engineer, Craig Paraguay, who was here with us to address questions that were raised by
the county, by your police department, by fire, and from the Collier's Review. and Craig can take us through uh uh the installation of a new traffic signal, revisions that our engineer will make to that plan, talk about access for fire,
and address the comments of the county and and again police. So, there will in fact be an aligned traffic signal, not a stop, it's not a stop bar or stop sign coming out. So, we will address all of those questions. So, I thought it would be good to have uh Mr. Paraguay take us
through the uh uh the the traffic and site access and address those questions so we can give the board an overview of what we plan there. Okay. Is is that the only uh witness that you'll be calling tonight? Correct. Okay. Yeah. And then
after that uh questions from the board, questions from the public and then um basically we would postpone this to the next meeting. Correct. Yeah. And then I have Mr. Khan, our site engineer, our architect. We'd probably drag Craig back here uh and have him address any further
questions on traffic and site access and the like. But yeah, next hearing would be our uh site engineer, our architect, and our professional planner. Okay. All right. All right. Thank you. So, I'd like to call upon Mr. Craig Paraguay
and well, let me qualify. He'll be sworn and we'll qualify. I was going to say maybe I'll do such a great job that you'll just want to vote tonight. We won't have to worry about Excuse me. Can you state your name and spell your last name for the record, please? Sure. Craig Paraguay. P E R E G O Y.
Mr. Parag, I know you've testified, you and Mr. Stiger, before these this board, on many occasions. Briefly confirm your credentials. Yeah. Uh, I have a bachelor's degree in civil engineering. Can I swear I'm in first? Oh, yes. That's a good idea. Do you swear the testimony you're about to give is truth, all truth, and nothing but the truth? I
do. Thank you. I can't lie. Thank you, council. Um, I have a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Virginia Tech. Uh, licensed professional engineer in New Jersey, been a traffic engineer for 25 years now, and I testified pretty much every night, including here in Union a number of times as an expert in traffic
engineering. Board stipulates. Great. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And again, the key documents that we're going to be reviewing this evening, there is from uh the police director, Christopher Donnelly, dated November 21 of 2024. uh
the memo from the fire department. Um it's not dated, but it's uh uh five items that were raised there. The Collier's review from December 9th, and then the county's letter from March 3rd. So, uh Mr. Pergoy, if you could maybe
just take us through briefly the the site plan that's up there and then if we could address those issues that are raised in the professional reviews. Sure. Uh this is the submitted plan set I assume so it doesn't need to be yeah these are just uh digital versions of
the plans there's no no exhibits as part of this uh presentation this evening yeah so this is the plans that prepared by uh AZW engineering adnan con the engineer he'll be here to give you all the exciting details about lighting and landscaping and utilities but I'll give you the overview of what we're looking
at um you can see it better there here's the uh the the site Chestnut streets running sort of to the left side of the page at an angle and then the signal at Fairway Drive. You can see that do not block the box striping that's there. Um
we are located opposite that opposite Fairway Drive. Um vacant now I think there was a single family home there at one time but it it's uh it's it's been demolished. Um so that that's the existing condition what we're proposing.
See if I can zoom in on this so everybody can see. What we're proposing is three two family homes. You can see the two here that are sort of uh perpendicular to Chestnut. And then we have one all the way in the back closer to Route 22,
which is up here on the the top of the page. Uh each of these two family homes will have a a a combination twocar garage and driveway. or essentially four parking spaces for each of them. And we also have six common uh or visitor
parking spaces. Uh one of those being an ADA space, three of those are uh electric vehicle spaces. And then there's a a culde-sac bulb essentially for for turnaround for emergency vehicles or for anybody who wanders in the wrong way and needs to turn around. They don't have to do a K turn or back
out of there. And what's interesting is that the the residential site improvement standards, the RSIS, which governs the majority of this design, doesn't require this turnaround because the length of the roadway is less than 300 ft, but we're providing it anyway. So, I think that's a little bit above
and beyond uh and a benefit to the project. Uh similarly, we're going above and beyond for uh the number of parking spaces that RSIS requires. I'll go into that a little bit more later. Um, typically you wouldn't see a traffic engineer in front of you for three two
family homes. It obviously is not a big traffic generator. It's not something that's going to create any sort of impact. But the location of this being opposite the traffic signal makes it a little bit more of a challenge. And really the only place to to properly get access to the site is opposite Fairway Drive. And I'll scroll down a little bit
so you can see sort of the intersection that we're talking about and zoom in on it. So we be basically become the fourth leg of that intersection. And I think there may have been a little bit of confusion because it's not really spelled out on these plans. There would be a whole separate set of design plans for the traffic signal modifications and
also the word stop written there which you typically see at a stop sign. That shouldn't be there. That'll that'll be taken off the plan. This is going to be a signalized approach to this intersection. So how do we do that without um greatly impacting the obviously the the major roads of
Chestnut Street and Fairway Drive? The way this signal is phased right now, it's three phases. So the the first phase essentially is a is a northbound chestnut gets the green and then there's a green left turn arrow onto fairway drive. The second phase is both directions are green. So southbound and
northbound go and then the third phase is uh fairway drives green screen signal. What we're going to do is introduce essentially two more phases to it. I'll explain that in a little bit but one would be for this driveway exiting. It could, and and this is
something that we'll take a look at when we get into the design. It could run with its green time at the same time as Fairway Drive, but that might not be the most ideal just because it's a smaller driveway. It just would seem a little bit confusing. So, I'm hopeful that I can get it to work without that. And
then the police letter asked for a left turn phase for coming into the site, which can run at the same time as the left from Chestnut to Fairway. But this is such a low traffic generating use. Three two family homes, you're rarely going to have somebody coming in or out.
It's going to be very infrequent. So this will be a fully actuated traffic signal. Meaning that you see the cameras up on the the mass arms. They detect if a vehicle is there or not. So if there's no vehicle looking to turn left in and no vehicle looking to turn left or go through out, they won't ever it won't
ever turn green. So nothing will change. The signal will operate exactly the way it does today. When it does detect the vehicle exiting the site or wanting to make that left in, they'll get a very brief green time. You're talking it's one maybe at the most two cars it would
have to process. So five, six seconds of green time, that's it. Then it's done and then it's back to the regular operation of the signal. So it's really going to have a a fairly minimal impact. And there's a lot that goes into that to to ensure uh that the timing works, but
that's essentially the idea. It will also be uh what's called non-locking. In other words, if I pull up to the stop bar and I want to make a right and I make that right turn on red, the signal will know that I'm gone and not give that green phase. So, it's very very
minimally I'll say slipped into the operation of this intersection to minimize the impacts to both fairway and chest and it's really the best uh uh the best way to handle it and the best way to get safe and efficient access to the site. We looked at a number of other op uh options trying to make it a right in
right out. You're still going to have people who try to make the left in and try to make the left out no matter what you do. So this is the safest and best way to to incorporate it. And like I said, this is a fully designed traffic signal plan set that will be done.
Obviously, we want those boards approval before the client goes through the expense of putting those design plans together. But that's essentially how it's going to work. uh to again accommodate pretty minimal traffic volumes but given the location it's the best uh we can
do uh in terms of the site itself just just briefly I'll touch on um as I mentioned ad and I will go through grading and and and those types of things but in terms of the parking uh the the residential site improvement standards require two spaces per unit
um so we have six units in total 32 families so 12 parking spaces would be required. Now, they consider the RSIS considers a twocar garage and driveway combination as three and a half spaces. The idea being some people will use their garage for storage and not park
the car in there. So, that that's what's built in. Uh and then we have the six extra spaces um the six perpendicular parking spaces. So, if you do the math on that, we have 16 12 parking spaces per the RSIS. We're
required to have 12. reason we want to put a little bit extra parking is a there's the room for it. It physically fits and there really is no other option here. There's no street parking in the area. We certainly don't want anybody trying to park on the street. Uh so it made sense given the space that we had to put those extra extra parking spaces.
So we do exceed the parking requirement. Um we provide the requisite number of EV spaces based on the the uh the EV law that actually gives us a bonus an additional parking space. But from a practical perspective, we uh provide
more than enough parking based on the RSIs and we can ensure that visitors will have a parking spot or any overflow for that guy who does use the garage for storage and not for uh parking. Uh in terms of the roadway itself, it's classified again this is RSIS governs.
It's a multifamily access culdeac is the technical classification uh of the uh of the roadway and we do provide that turnaround. Again I mentioned at under 300 ft we don't need it but we are providing that turnaround. There is a turning template in here for
a firet truck making that turnaround. Your fire department asks uh to use their specific truck. I we've used it. It's actually the one that he he used is a little tougher to maneuver. So, we can uh modify that and I'm I'm confident that that will work.
Um the width of the roadway conforms to the RSIS because we have perpendicular parking. It's 24 ft and that's exactly what we provide here. Uh no more no less there. So, in terms of the roadway design, parking, everything is compliant
with what with with the RSIS which which governs Um, that's really, you know, it from the traffic side of things and I I suppose the site plan side of things in a nutshell. Again, more details on storm water and all that to follow. Uh, as far
as the comment letters that we received. Yeah, maybe we could go through each one. Yeah. Um, the first one, I'll start with the police because that's the most important to the the traffic guys. Um he's essentially outlining what I described how the signal uh the traffic
signal should operate. He's looking for the ability for uh signalized movements in and out. And that was really the crux of the entire uh letter. Remove that stop bar, incorporate this into the traffic signal, provide the ability to make the left in and the left out
because people are going to do it anyway. So they should do it under a controlled manner. We completely agree and that is uh that is the intent. Yeah. and we will reach out to uh Mr. Donnelly and confirm uh that and if revisions to
the plans are needed for his comfort level, but that we have no problem complying uh with his request. Yeah. Uh the second letter I'll touch on is the uh the fire department letter. Um as I mentioned, the make sure the
turning radius uh accommodates the Union Township Fire Truck. the plan showed the the generic or that the ASHTO. It's a generic fire truck which is actually not as maneuverable as your firet truck. So, we'll make that revision no problem. Uh they request fire lanes to be marked and
labeled along the curbs and in the turnaround area. Uh that's not a problem at all. Uh the third point request ballards in front of the the EV charging station so people don't run those over and that makes perfect sense and and we'll be done. Uh, and then the fourth
and fifth are not really my expertise. Uh, sprinkler system, I'm sure the architect will touch on that. And then, uh, fire hydrant loop, which uh, Adnan, the engineer, will touch on when he testifies. Next letter would be from your engineer, from Kier. I I think a
lot of what was in here, at least from my perspective, was echoed from the police and the uh, the fire letter. Um any of the other items that are more engineering specific, I'm told that we can comply, but I'll let Adnan come up here and speak to uh speak to that
specifically. Uh there was a note in here to show an area for snow removal. We do have plenty of room for snow removal, but completely understand you want it memorialized on the plan so it's done in the right way when snow is uh taken off the property, but we do have a lot of open space and availability to pile snow and keep it out of the keep it
out of the roadway. I don't know if there's anything else. I think just touch on I think you did already but 6.2 I think that's what was captured in uh what you've testified already. Yeah, that's the that's uh the signal how the
signal will operate which I hope I explained and and you know made sense to everybody uh exactly how we'll incorporate this driveway into the traffic signal and it you know it is it is quite a bit of work and quite an expense that the applicant's undertaking to bring this into the traffic signal but it's going to make the site function
the way it should uh and and is the safer alternative. Uh the last letter was the uh Union County letter and there was really nothing in here. They want they want us to show the site distance which
is less important that it's signalized but we will certainly show that it's it's it's there's good visibility there and they wanted some changes to the way the driveway is situated which may change when they see that we're bringing the signal bringing it into the signal but they'll certainly be party to the
review of that traffic signal. So, even though I believe it's the township's jurisdiction who owns that signal. Um, that was that was only four letters, right? Correct. Yeah. I think everyone has copies of all those letters.
Mr. Chairman, if I just I have a few questions. Okay. So, I'm just I'm a little unclear where we are with your uh the design of the traffic signal. So, I know that it didn't show on the plan,
but it hasn't shown anywhere yet. And I'm like, what what is what's the status with the county? Um, there hasn't been any hard design other than just taking a look at how we're going to do it. I sort of what I explained how I, you know, I I
anticipate it being phased that that's the next step to get into, you know, where the traffic signal heads are, how they line up, all there's there's a lot that goes into it and there's a big expense to the on the applicant's part. So, you know, to to design an intersection for a project that isn't going to happen doesn't make any sense.
So, that's why we haven't really Yeah. that yet, but conceptually, we could put something together if that makes it easier. So, so my concern with that is that if if let's say they don't like the alignment of the county, it changes the entire project, right? So, true. The lot
sizes will change and then variances could change. Is there a way that Steve before you come back there could be from the county at least conceptually that they're they're okay with the alignment. Um and that from a timing perspective
I'm I'm sure that you can work out all the timing issues. But I'm more concerned about alignment because that really changes the application and the board's kind of wasting their time if they don't say, you know, if he says, "Well, it's got to move two feet to the left or two feet to the right." That changes the whole application. lot sizes
and variances and everything. So, um, do you think that be a heavy lift to to get that from them? Yeah, because I don't think it's going to change the location of the driveway, it's so it's we can put that together and submit. That would be my main concern. And my experience with
Union County when since they've kind of taken a step back from all the signals is they're going to say as long as he says it's all right, it's all right. We'll we'll get their feedback. So the other question would be assuming that everything's okay, how long do you think the approval process will take to get
that signal? You know, this could be the, you know, longest lead time for this project. Uh, from the the the Union County will give a very cursory review of the signal. They're going to defer to the township probably to to your office to review it. So, right. You tell me.
But permanent. It won't be like a DOT situation where it's a year and a half, two years to get a signal done. It it it it's not going to be that cumbersome, I don't think. And we're not really modifying the intersection too much, per se. It's more just the signal equipment. So, it's it's
not uh a wholesale redo of it. But from my understanding in that correspondence on March 3rd is that the county has withheld your application. Correct. Has withheld basically. Well, they have not progressed with approval from the county. Correct.
And it's typical of the county. It's more technical things that they're looking for such as making sure curbs, driveways conform to county standards and a uh and a drainage report, which we will certainly supply to them. Yeah. And they actually
don't even mention the signal in their Yeah, they don't. Again, I they're going to from my discussions with uh the county, they're going to defer to the township on that. Okay. Yeah. At some point Union County had enough of dealing with traffic signals and pushed it all to the municipalities and to do DOT.
All right. So, Steve, let's let's co let's coordinate on on uh getting the conceptual plans together and then we can kind of have dialogue with the county, make sure they're comfortable. We can bring in uh Chris from police also and bring in or probably Orlando
from uh from fire. Okay. Coordinate with all Yeah. And just taking a look. I mean, we did the center lines are lined up, so I wouldn't expect I'm drawing on Adnan's point. I wouldn't expect a a huge shift, but you're right. A two-ft shift changes a lot size, and
you should know that. Understood. I have no further questions now. U Mr. Paraguay. Uh questions from the board. Yes, I have one question. Uh this is perfect. Yeah. Thank you. Um, with respect the this is a private road. Is that my understanding? Yes, private and
therefore there's no indication whether or not there could be guest parking there as well or overflow parking. Is it the intention to prohibit that in some way or will that be allowed? The intention is for well any a visitor could theoretically
park any place on on the site. I mean when somebody comes to visit me at my house, they park in my driveway. So the same situation could be here. those six those extra spaces, the six perpendicular like typical parking spaces. The idea is for that to be for
visitors or if for some reason somebody's got an extra car, but you know, that's the point. With respect, I think the reality that you mentioned about the fact that people need more than one parking space for an apartment
that has two for a two family home, put it that way, two bedroom. so forth. So each of them have two one site, one in the garage and one in the driveway, right? Yeah. But I I we share the same concern. There's really no place else to park. So that's why we gave the extra
parking spaces to make sure that we didn't have any problems there. And you know, if somebody has the Super Bowl party, I'm sure, you know, there could be some sort of overflow, but for the 99.9% of the time, this is going to be empty parking space. If in fact, in
your opinion, uh as a traffic person, if in fact uh those parking spaces, that road happens to have cars parked as guests, as visitors, whatever. Um would would it be wide enough for our fire
department and emergency vehicles to come in and make their turns and safely exit? Yes. The and the fire department wants us to strike fire lanes to ensure that. So, somebody's not gonna, you know, somebody's not going to leave their car where it says no parking fire lane, whereas they might if it didn't
happen. And will there be any prohibition for anyone who does not live in the development, I'll call it, uh, to come into it, whereas the road is quote, a private road. Uh, no, there I mean, there wouldn't be any really way to prohibit it. It's not,
you know, if you think of a multif family building that has a garage, you can't really do that here. It's an open air with a traffic signal. Mr. Cohen. Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, so you you testified about the intended function of the new traffic
signal. Yes. That will create a left turn lane on the south, is it southbound side of Chestnut Chestnut Street heading towards Rosel Park. Currently, there's two lanes there, right? If if that is a left will that be a this is the
question. Will that be a left turn only lane or will it be left and straight? The the two through lanes will stay there. We will incorporate a small and like I said you only need one maybe two cars. A small left turn pocket which will shadow the left turn lane opposite.
So you have you you'll have two through lanes that go through and two through lanes that go through just like they do today. This left turn lane will just fit into this striped area and push a little bit into that taper. Okay. And and we'll be a I mean
considering where this is, we'll be able to pull that up, too. So, we really we really won't and and that's something you're discussing with the traffic division at the police department and they're going to approve that. Yeah, they asked for that that left turn lane. All right. I'm just concerned and I I would like you to testify as to whether
or not that new configuration will in any way cause a backup of traffic when the light is red back up Chestnut Street because there's another signal at the end of West Chestnut Street and currently there can be a back up there.
I just drove by and it was done. Yes. Right. No, that the the the intent is to pull that anybody who's making that turn is going to be pulled out of that live lane of traffic into that left turn lane. So, they won't impede it at all. And like I said, they're only these this driveway approach and that left turn
lane are only ever going to turn green if somebody's there waiting. So, it's not like it's every time the light goes through, you're going to get a green for that driveway and nobody's there. It's going to be based on vehicle detection and only give them a green if they're there. All right. And then a follow follow up to Miss Perkins uh line of
question. Could you go back to the zoom in on the the detail of the the culde-sac and the So that area that you indicated would be marked as a fire lane and no parking would that include that culde-sac area?
I believe the fire department asked for it in there. Yes. So that no no no visitors or you know transient folks that come for as as you've characterized it a Super Bowl party would be able to park over there unless they're parking there illegally. They'd be parking there illegally. We'll work with the fire department on specifically where they
want the right and and the area from the end of the first lot on the right side of the entrance toward the back house. There would be no parking along that curb on the right side of the street. Correct. No parking on the curb line. It's 24 foot aisle just like uh typical
parking lot you have 24 feet then perpendicular spaces. And then one other question since this is a private road and I I understand that we're going to receive testimony regarding the homeowners association and some of the other aspects of the application. Trash collection would be
dealt with similarly to access for emergency vehicles. I mean, in terms of of a a fire a garbage truck being able to get in and out. Yes. A garbage truck is going to have no problem just making this making this turn in the culdeac. The fire
trucks got to kind of k it. Thank you. Thank you. Any other questions from the board? Yes, Mr. Frame. Sir, the left turn lane from Fairway Drive going northbound to go under Route
22 onto West Chestnut. You're going to take some of that left turn lane away. Is that what you're saying? Am I correct in understanding? No. The the fairway approach will stay the same, but instead of a left and a right turn lane, it'll be a through left and a right turn lane.
So, it'll just be paint. That would be the only thing that would change there. So, right now when you pull up, if you're looking on the the plane, No, no, we're in two different directions. Okay. We're on Chestn Street at the lake. Go ahead. Development is on the right side
going north. Okay. Okay. Between the Fairway Drive and Route 22 bridge, the underpass, you have a left turn lane to go on to West Chestnut. Are you taking any of that away going northbound, going towards the cannon? No. No. the left turn lane that you see
going off the page, this is there's a taper into that left turn lane, so it'll be a little bit smaller, but no, the the our left turn lane into the site is going to shadow exactly opposite the left turn lane in the opposite direction. So the so the left turn lanes face one another to make the turn.
So you are taking away a left turn lane somewhat between Fairway Drive and going on to West Chestnut. Correct. You're taking away from the taper, not the full width of it, but yeah, some of that some of that room. There's like
probably eight feet wide median and you need 10 we need 10 ft for that left turn lane. So there will be two feet less right at the right at the edge of it. For how long? Uh we really only need
one vehicle. So maybe maybe 40 50 feet at most. But it's not the two through lanes will will still have two receiving lanes to meet them. You'll just you're you're you're cut into that next left
turn lane will just be a little bit sharper. Kind of more like the vehicles actually do anyway. And how will that create a problem coming out of Fairway Drive to make the left turn onto Chestnut? If you want to make the left lane and you want to make a left turn,
will that be a problem? a left turn into West Chestnut. No. Coming out of Coming out of Fairway Drive, making a left. Will that make be a problem making a left onto West Chestnut? No. And one of the things that we'll do and that we have to do for all of these is we'll show a tractor trailer making that left turn and make sure that
if the stop bar has to get pulled back, it will. But this case, you have two lanes in each direction. It's pretty wide. It shouldn't be an issue. Thank you, sir. Thank you. Any other questions from the board? I have a question for the attorney. Do do you have a a draft of the HOA agreement?
I'm sorry. Have you guys prepared a draft of the HOA agreement? Yeah, I can send that. Provide that. Thank you. Any further questions from the board? Questions from the public? Okay, hearing none. Um, so um this was
very helpful by the way that the questions from the board and your board professionals. So, I think our next step is that um with no other witnesses to call, what we'll do is call for a motion to uh adjourn the matter until the next meeting without notice. Is that correct?
That'd be great. And I I don't think we're well, we might be near time, but we'll stipulate in any appropriate extension of time. Okay. Wonderful. Chairman, is did you want to uh talk to um Mr. Hale about the association at all
and how he envisioned that was going to ask for a copy. I'll draft the HOA document. You just want to get the document and then we can Yeah, I think let's let's have the HOA document be provided so that um the board and as well as council has enough time to read
it and as well brief the board accordingly. So, um no problem with that. Might as well defer those questions until the next meeting. No problem. Okay, Mr. Chair. So um just so that we're we're clear I understand that your agreement is that well we need to
see all new design plans certainly our engineer does correct for the traffic signal. Traffic signal. Yes. And if there's any other uh questions relative to comments and you need to add additional design plans.
I think it would be helpful if the board had as much information as possible. Correct. I think go through this very thoroughly. Yeah. Thank you. No problem. Uh, can I get a motion to postpone the application to the next meeting without notice? So move. Moved by Mr. Cohan. Is there a second? Second. Seconded by Mr.
Frame. Roll call, please. Mr. Alexander, yes. Mr. Cohan, yes. Mrs. Espinosa, yes. Mr. Frame, yes. Mr. Miller, yes. Miss Perkins, yes. Mayor Bowser, yes. Committeewoman Terrell,
yes. Miss Khan, yes. Chairman Lee, yes. Thank you all again and really appreciate the feedback again from the board, the board professionals. Look forward to seeing you next month. All right. Thank you very much. Take care now. Have a great day. Take care. All right. Next in new business is application
2025-04 CRF Development uh 1307 Cyson Avenue. Can the representative please uh Steve Roseberry? Oh, go ahead. Mr. H. Yeah, the last application I had spoken
to council and to uh Vince about that that actually um we thought it was going to be on. We noticed for it and we requested that that be carried to next month. So, we'll send a confirming letter. Again, no problem with stipulation of time. Thanks, Rosemary. Okay. Um I think we'll we'll need to act
as a board to adjurnn and postpone the uh is the application 2025-061331 um cyson, right? Correct. Yeah. Okay. Uh, can I get such a motion? So moved. Moved by Mr. Cohan. Is there a second? Second. Seconded by Mrs. Khan. Uh, roll
call, please. Mr. Alexander, yes. Mr. Cohan, yes. Mrs. Espinosa, yes. Mr. Frame, yes. Mr. Miller, yes. Miss Perkins, yes. Mayor Bowser, yes. Committeewoman Terrell,
yes. Miss Khan, yes. Chairman Lee, yes. Thank you. And thanks, Rose. Have a great All right. Can uh you are the representative for the applicant for CRF Development. Uh I'm the attorney. Yes. Good evening, Mr. Chairman, members of the board, board
professionals, Mr. Mayor, and Mrs. Councilwoman, Attorney Rosemary Stone Dowy with the law firm of Ay Strauss. I'm here tonight on the application for the preliminary and final site plan for CRF Development LLC for the property
located at 1307 Styverson Avenue. It's located in the DT which is your downtown transition zone known as block 2210 lot 41. The application just a really quick summary is for uh retail on the first
floor of approximately a little under,00 square feet with residential units located on the second and third floor. There will be three variances associated with the application is one is one pre-existing non-conforming condition
that I did conservatively also notice as a variance even though normally pre-existing non-conforming conditions are not typically variances as well as three design waiverss. I'd like to give Mr. Chairman and members of the board just a little bit of a road map. I plan
on first calling our professional engineer which is Mr. Giovani Minnelo from Manttood Design LLC. Then I plan on calling Mr. Paulo Dantes who is from Dantes Caret which is our architect. And then lastly we have Alexander Dowardy
who is our professional planner from Dowardy Development and Planning LLC. With that being said, u Mr. Chairman, members of the board, if we can have Mr. Giovani Minnelo come up and have him sworn in. Mr. Manella, can you spell
your last name for the record? Sure. Uh M A N I L I O. You raise your right hand. This where the testimony about to give is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. I do. Thank you. So, Mr. Minnelo, I know you've appeared in front
of this board before. However, can you just give us the short version of your professional credentials and confirm that all of your licenses are current as of this evening? Of course. So, I have a bachelor of science and civil engineering from Syracuse University. I've been licensed in the state uh for
the past 16 years and licensed in good standing testified in front of numerous boards and in front of this board in the past stipulates. Okay. Thank you so much, Mr. Chairman. So, Mr. Manelo, can you kind of walk us through what the exists at the site today and then segue
into what the proposal is? Uh, sure. Just give me one second to uh bring up my exhibits. And I don't know, do you want me to introduce the exhibits uh prior to going through or or during the testimony? These are the same as the plans that were submitted. Uh these are um but then
we do have two new exhibits in the aerial exhibit. Um so council, would you like us to mark those two new exhibits now or wait till he comes to them? Why don't we wait till we come to them? Okay, not a problem. Thank you. Well, we'll start with the first one that's up here. It's uh Okay.
So, we have our first exhibit. So, this would be A1. Yes. And it's entitled Aerial Exhibit with today's date. Uh 1307 Styson Avenue. Uh it's an aerial of the uh general vicinity uh with the property highlighted in yellow and the zoning
shown as well. Uh so, properties in the middle highlighted in yellow. Um it's as stated earlier in the DT zone. um 1307 styson a um it's approximately 102 feet wide by
120 feet uh deep. It has a a little bit of a shape because Styson does have an angle so it's a little trapezoidal. Uh lot is approximately 12,652 ft and currently consists of a twostory it's a little hard to see here 2 and a half story uh office building
that used to be WER realy. Uh, additionally, there was uh, parking or still is a parking lot in the rear uh, for 15 parking spaces uh, with two driveway curb cuts. Uh, one of them is off of Stson Avenue where my cursor is, and that's a one-way driveway that comes onto the site. And then there's a
two-way driveway that is off of Maryanne Way, uh, which is a, uh, is on the east side of the property. Uh currently as situated the building is situated on the high point of the site uh which is roughly at an elevation of
128.5 for the ground elevation and then the the property slopes towards the north or towards Maryanne way uh with an elevation of approximately 121.5. Um as far as uh pre-existing non-conformities uh two of them that we did notice were the lot widths uh that
was uh mentioned earlier and also um there's there's design waiverss uh for the location of the parking. So, the parking right now is located um too close to both the side and rear property lines. I will now go to my next exhibit
u which is entitled 1307 Styson Avenue uh entitled site rendering with today's date I believe. So, this would be A2. Okay. Um and this shows what is being proposed as part of the site. Um it's a colored rendition of the site plan with the landscaping shown and the zoning
information. Uh so what's being proposed and in the middle of the site here in uh brown is the proposed building. The dark brown represents uh the building that is on the first floor. Um and the light brown represents um an overhang or uh floors on the upper level. Uh so what's
being proposed is a three-story mixeduse building uh with a retail component located in uh the south uh west corner of approximately 1100 square ft. uh we call it retail space um but speaking to the applicant um they don't anticipate that it's going to be something that's of a heavy use. It's a small retail
space or a small space for commercial um and they're probably going to be marketing towards u professional offices or some type of um service facility as far as serving the community. Uh and then additionally on the first floor is amenity space um a lobby, a
mail room, um elevator, stair tower, a trash room and utilities. On the upper floors which are um above the dark brown and the light brown area, there's two two more stories and that will consist of residential. Uh the residential will
consist of 10 um studio or onebedrooms and four twobedroom um units as well. and the architect will go into a little more detail on what those units look like and what the building uh looks like as well. Uh the driveway along Styson Avenue will be closed and the um
driveway on Maran Way would be modified slightly. Um so relocated slightly and widened by 2 feet to be in conformance with the regulations of 24 ft. Um we are proposing a parking lot in the rear of the um site or on the east side of the
site. Uh there will be 22 physical parking spaces. I know uh the plans that were submitted as part of the application, we did have 23 parking spaces. Uh but per the recommendation of your board engineer, uh one of the uh recommendations was to widen uh some of the parking spaces uh along the building
or underneath the building. Uh so this exhibit right now that we're showing does reflect that change. So, we revised all these spaces to be 9 by uh 9 by8 uh for the regular parking spaces and the um ADA spaces are in compliance with ADA as far as being 8 by8. So, we did
lose one parking space from the original application. Uh underneath the building or underneath the canopy, there are 11 spaces. Um and of that, three of them will be tandem. So, what that means is that there's one space in front of each each other. Uh so that there's these six
spaces right here again where you have three spaces in front of the other three spaces. And the way we anticipate that to work is that those would be designated to the two-bedroom units and they would be designated spaces for those units as well. And no different than you know your own single family house where you have a driveway and a
garage or um a townhouse type of situation. Um on the east side we have another 11 parking spaces. Uh three of those will be EV and then we do have one EV underneath the building as well which is ADA compliant which is required by the state. Um and we do have one regular
ADA space as well which complies with the um ADA regulations um with the EV credit. So the way that the the state works if you do provide EV spaces they do provide a slight credit for those spaces. Um so even though we have 22 physical spaces with the credit
um it does count for 24 parking spaces. Uh based on the configuration of the number of bedrooms, the number of units and the retail space uh this application requires uh 28 spaces. So we are deficient by four. I do want to note that um by removing the the the driveway
off of Styson, we actually do gain one on-site parking. Again, it's it can't be designated for this development, but as a whole for the community, there is additional one parking space that that is gained on styon. Uh entrances to the building. So, main entrance to the building um for the
residential is located here on Stson and in the rear of the the building. Uh essentially, we would anticipate all the residents would uh come out uh come through from the back of the building. Uh but if they do want to go into downtown or venture into the town, uh they would come out the front and walk
the town that way. Um as far as retail or the um office space, again, there will be uh an entrance in the front and an entrance in the rear as well. Uh the trash room as I had mentioned earlier is located back in the back of the building over here. Um, so
that how that would work is the residents and the retail would bring the trash into that room and property maintenance will bring it out during uh trash collection and that would be picked up by a private hauler. Um, additional improvements that we are proposing, we are proposing a dry
well storm water system in the back parking lot and what that's going to do is pick up any increase in impervious from what's out there today. Um so we do are asking for a slight um deviation in the impervious coverage for the um the zone but again we are detaining all the
water that's being increased as far as the um improvements. Additionally I I do want to note that the parking lot right now that's in the back of the WER building all sheet flows all goes down and out the driveway on Marion Way. Um and that parking lot was about 6,500
square feet. Um, this parking lot, even though it might be slightly bigger, uh, a lot of it is underneath the building, so it's being collected by roof leaders. So, the roof on top is collecting the water and putting it into the the drywall system. Um, so that the, uh, net result is a reduction in the overland
flow towards Marion Way by about 2500 square feet of of pavement or impervious area. So, I think that's a benefit as well. Um, so I just want to mention that. Um all the utilities are anticipated to come off of Styverson uh with the exception of the gas which would come off of Maran
Way. Uh we are proposing landscaping and this actually plan actually has additional landscaping from what was submitted. So on the north side of the building originally there was a um a door that was anticipated with an entryway off the side off of Marion Way. um after speaking with the applicant uh
and they decided that it probably didn't make sense to have a door there um since they have a door in the front and the back and as far as security purposes it made sense to have less doors into the residential space. Um so we took out that um landing and added additional landscaping as well. Um and then there's
the landscaping as well on the uh southwest corner of the uh building. As far as lighting, all the lighting that we're proposing is either building mounted or canopy like underneath the um uh second floor. Those what these black dots represent. Um and I believe
we do comply with the lighting requirements um for the town. Um I did misspeak. So we do have actually two retaining walls or one retaining wall that goes around the side and rear. So the east side and south side of the property. So, it's a
retaining wall that varies from uh two feet to four feet. Um, and originally we we showed a fence on top of the wall on our renderings. We we put it uh below the wall to to eliminate that variance, but uh we we did speak to some residents um prior to the meeting. And um their
preference is if we did keep the fence on the top of the wall to provide an additional buffer for the them and and their families. And again, we have no issues with that, but we will be requesting a variance for the uh fence on top of the wall. So, it's a six-foot privacy fence. And like I said, that
that wall varies from 2 feet to 4 feet. Um, and the reason we're doing that is if if you recall, the WER building is on the high point of the site, which is right on on this area right here where my cursor is. And we're bringing the building all the way closer to Styver. Uh, in order to do so, we have to drop
the grade. So, we're actually going to excavate and get rid of um that that mound that's over there. So, we're actually dropping the parking lot by two to four feet as well uh to provide actual another um uh benefit to the neighbors as far as head headlight glare and and any uh nuisances that might be
provided by these parking spaces. Now, Mr. Minnell, that's an important point because the site is being dropped rather significantly. Correct. It's going to lower the um elevation look of the building that's long styent, right? It's going to lower the effect of what exists
today with the WER building being on the highest point and overlooking into the residential yards as well as lowering the parking in the rear. Correct. Uh correct. And and I believe we did a a math. I don't have the numbers in front of me, but the actual proposed building right now that the height of that
building, the top of the roof is actually lower than the Wiker's top of roof. Um even though this is three stories and that's two and a half. uh given the way that the uh the building was situated on the site and how this one is situated as well. And then I just want to go back to a moment because we have spoken to the two neighbors that
are immediately affected to the site. The residential neighbor to the rear and the commercial um neighbor that is to the right of us on stent. Right. Correct. Um so the neighbor to the rear would prefer to have the fence on top of
the wall which would add a fourth variance to our application. Correct. And then there was also um talk about making sure that the turn out onto Maryanne would be a left turn sign only. Correct. Yes. So there was concerns
about um people driving down Maryanne, not knowing it's a dead end or there's a culde-sac when they come out of the the um parking lot. Uh so we have no issues of putting signage at the exit um either saying no right turns or left turn only uh to kind of uh promote the left turn back onto Stson.
Thank you. You're welcome. Um, as far as loading and unloading, I mean, you do have apartments and you do have a commercial space. We don't anticipate that a commercial space of this size will need full-size trucks or big deliveries. Um, our anticipation is that the biggest truck you'll ever see
is a FedEx or UPS truck. Um, and the way it would operate would most likely be they're driving on Styuson that they would pull to the curb and and unload there and drop off a package or pick up a package um and then get back in which would be momentarily. Uh, the other kind of deliveries that we anticipate also is
your Door Dash and Uber as well. And again, we, you know, seeing it, you know, in different situations, most likely they would drop off on the curb as well since it's momentarily and the front door is right here as well.
Um then I'll just briefly go over the relief that we're requesting. Um so we have the lot width variance of 106.9 ft. Uh that's existing and proposed where 125 ft is required. Again that's a pre-existing that's not being uh changed
as part of his application. Uh the impervious coverage so 80% is permitted uh where 86.9% was shown on the plans that were submitted. uh given that we lost one parking space um we widened the spaces but we lost one parking space we actually um reduced the impervious by a
little bit so that what we're asking for tonight is 86.4%. Um and again we do have storm water proposed uh to mitigate any negative impacts. Uh building coverage there's a slight um overage uh 50% is permitted where 53.1% is proposed. Uh we
mentioned the parking uh 28 spaces are required per the code and 24 spaces are proposed based on uh the EV credit. Uh and then there's the one uh variance for the the fence. Uh I believe
with the at the worst part it'll be 10 ft from the bottom of the wall to the top of the fence uh where I believe six feet is permitted. And then you kind of skipped, you didn't skip over, but you mentioned the building coverage being slightly over at
53.1. And a big chunk of that is driven from the fact that this site is showing that the garbage enclosure would be inside the building. Correct. Rather than typically you would see it outside with some type of dumpster. Correct. And then we think that's a better alternative as the garbage is not out in
the, you know, in the open and blowing around or people have to walk to the dumpster. it's it's contained within the building. Um and then there are also three uh design waiverss that we're requesting. Uh so one of them is the 11 spaces to the east. Um so parking
dimension of 9 by8 is required by code and uh those spaces are 8 by8. Again I think that's uh dimmin dimminimous when it comes to the size of the stalls. Um it's not being utilized um heavily like a retail use where you have a shopping center and people are coming in and out.
Uh these are residents that uh most likely, you know, during the work week are coming in and out two or three times a day. Um and then they'll see a little more activity during uh the weekends. Um the tandem parking spaces where, you know, no parking spaces can be blocked by another parking space or uh cannot
maneuver out uh is a variance or a design waiver as well. So there's three of those um shown right here. And lastly, the parking setback from the residential uh zone 10t is permitted uh where 4.5 ft is uh being proposed as
part of this application. Uh currently the setback for the parking as it is today is actually right on the property line. So we are making that a little bit better by about 4 and 1/2 ft. And the additional buffers with the drop in the grade and adding the uh fence, privacy fence. And that concludes
my my testimony. Uh not quite yet. We're not done. Okay, there's a couple review letters I want to make sure we go through just for clarity for the board. Okay, so why don't we start with the board's engineer review letter of April 15th? You've had an opportunity to
review it, correct? Uh, correct. Okay, so um going through here just kind of going in order. Um, is there anything that you cannot stipulate to or uh, no, I I think just the only one that I'll talk to Mr. Tonav offline is the
uh, EV parking spaces. I think there was a clarification that came from DCA on how that's measured. But if it's required to do a fifth space, we'll do a fifth space, but I I think I'm pretty comfortable comfortable with four. Um, other than that, I I don't see any issues uh in the letter. Okay. So,
you're able to address all the storm water and drainage concerns that are noted. Um, I know you testified as to the lighting and landscaping. We discussed the walls and the fences. Um, how about the, uh, signage? Uh, we didn't really touch base on that. I know the architect's going to go into that a
little further. Yep. So, this the signage on the building will be in compliance with the town code. Okay. And then the utilities you mentioned are all going to come in off Stacent, correct? Uh, correct. And there was a question to want to make sure that there would be no
groundmounted transformer on the site. Your initial investigations are that one would not be required. We don't Yeah, we don't anticipate a ground transformer. Um looking at the site and given the the size of the development um and also looking at the poles, there's actually um a poll right in front of our site that have three transformers on it
already and one on the other side of Marian Way over here on this intersection that has um two transformers. So I I think we'll be okay. Um, and obviously if if we do need that ground transformer, um, I'm sure we'll come back to this board and ask for for that location. And then just to
go back for a minute regarding their um, refuge room, right? Again, just so the board better understands, can you explain again some of the rationale for wanting that inside the building rather than a enclosed dumpster area? Yeah. So maybe the architect could talk as well.
But what we're seeing in developments like this is and residential developments is I don't want to say people are lazy, but people are lazy and they want to kind of just go the least amount of uh steps as possible to to get rid of their trash. Um so keeping it in the building serves two purposes. One, it's convenient for the residents. Um so
trash is not piling up inside the apartments or or somewhere else in the in the hallways. And it keeps the outside of the site clean as well um with any wrappers or anything that's blowing with the wind. um as well. We know there's covers, but you know, obviously not all the time they get covered or closed again. Um and it's a
convenience thing again, especially that the property maintenance is going to be bringing it out during trash day. So, all you have to do is bring it to the trash room and then it's taken care of from there on. And then you also had an opportunity to review the Union Fire Department um memo. It does not have a
date on it, but uh we received it over from the um board secretary. Is there anything on the fire memo that you would not be able to address or need to discuss? Um, as far as site related and now there's no issues. Okay. And then lastly, we did
get a word back from Union County. Um, there were just two minor comments to the design of the site. Correct. In their March 18th, 2025 review letter. Um, can you just touch on those very briefly? Yeah. So, they're requesting uh new sidewalks and curving along their
frontage uh which we have no issues with as well. Okay. And that was it, right? That was it. Correct. Okay. Thank you, Mr. uh Chairman. Yes. Uh questions from the board. I have some Mr. Frank. Sir, this is a
sprinkler building. Uh I believe so, but I'll leave it to the architect, but I'm almost positive it is or has to be. So, there would be a sprinkler in that garbage area, that garbage room that I I don't know the answer. I'm not not the architect. Okay. And uh for trash pickup, how is a garbage truck going to
get in there? Yeah. So, uh I don't know if the applicant has picked out a uh hauler yet, uh but there's different size haulers, and we've seen this in the past. Um they have small haulers, which are like pickup trucks with like almost a dumpster in the back, or um a regular uh garbage truck as well. Um, and if
that's the case, you know, they would pull in into the uh parking lot. Again, this probably most likely be during off hours. Um, and then back out into Marion Way and back out. And how about for uh moving companies where they bring it?
Uh, probably the same situation. Um obviously if there's no parking along Stson or um Marian Way uh what we were talking with the applicant is that they would try to schedule those with management um and try to see if they could reserve spaces in the parking lot um and try to schedule it so it's an off
hour when residents are not home and then we could block off some of those um spaces. But is there would there be a door uh uh an entrance to designated to uh designated loading area? No, they would come out the the main either the main back door or main front door into
it. I would assume the main back door since that's where the elevator is. But yeah, thank you. You're welcome. Any other questions? Mr. Follow up to Mr. Fra's questions. Again, I I'm still I'm still not clear on this
concept of this trash room. How will the trash be stored or or contained within that room between collections? Uh yeah, usually you will have uh garbage cans either those you know rolling um trash bins that you you have at your house. Um
and we did talk about the size as well. So talking to the architect during the design phase that that room will get a little bit bigger as well. Um they think the lobby and many space is a little too big. Uh so they'll steal some of the space out of there. there'll be, you know, 96 gallon trash bins um that you have on wheels. Has there been any
discussion about rodent management, you know, given that there'll be trash stored in a confined space? Uh not that I'm aware of. Um we do a lot of these and and I would say it's very typical to have them inside the building and again maybe the architect has a little more insight on it. Um but yeah, I think it's
very common these days. Okay. Thank you. I'd like to follow up uh with a question relative to c certainly we all perhaps thought of the possibility of rodents which are happening in private homes where garbage is inside carefully placed. Um
furthermore it's in a a public area where people will be coming in and out. Um will there be any uh mitigation for odors? Uh again I mean that's that's a significant uh portion of quality of
life. Yep. So I will my opinion as far as odors in the building I don't believe so and I'll defer to your architect. Um in the past I've seen either some type of louvers you know high up to allow great right out into the hallway. Oh no no no. This is not so this is its own room on the outside. So it's attached to the building but it's on the exterior
wall. Thank you. Uh so the only access and entrance I believe is from the exterior. Yeah. And further uh.1.6 six in the proposed design waiver relative to the uh EV parking
spaces, pardon me, the tandem parking spaces. Mhm. Would you explain s in a practical manner if you will respectfully uh how that will work? I understand that you say as in a private home that often exists where there's a
garage and so forth. However, the the our ordinance prohibits that and yet you've still proposed it. I I missed that last part. I'm sorry. If I'm reading correctly, parking area shall be designed to permit each motor vehicle to proceed to and from the parking space
provided to it without requiring the moving of any other vehicles. Correct. We're asking for the proposed parking has provided three tangent spaces. Therefore, a design waiver is required. Why would How can you convince this board and our community with that? note that that design waiver should be
offered. Again, the way that we're going to monitor that is those two spaces, the one in front and back is going to be assigned to one unit. So, it's not like, you know, I have to go knock on somebody's door to have them move a car. Uh it's like I said no different than
you know you asking your husband or your wife you know I'm going to be leaving or you plan it strategically where you park you know in the morning or in the night to I understand the um arrangements that would have to be made by personal opinion that it's impractical and uh
almost prohibitive for choosing this as my place to park and how will that be assigned then which apartment will have use that. The idea is that the two-bedroom units would be the ones assigned to the tandem since under the
RSI standards and plus the fact they're two bedrooms, they would typically have more than one vehicle. So, they would be assigned to the two-bedroom units. And again, this is um a design waiver. Um it's not a variance that we're asking
for, but it is a waiver. Um the tandem spaces on these types of mixeduse development you'll hear from the planner are becoming more common um in the way that buildings are designed. But again, I don't want to testify. I'll leave that to the planner. Okay. And another
question is relative to the EVSSC parking spaces which are apparently u underneath overhang. Uh just one is that's against the fire laws. Am I correct, Mr. Crane? You would know that better than I. I'm sorry, Mr. that the
UV spaces being located under an overhang. We don't want that, right? Could you for the public, would you explain why how my question is relevant? In simple terms, as my old captain would say, it's an unfriendly source of heat.
Can't get it more simple than that. No, I I totally understand. And actually, I I sit on a on a board for my own town and we have the same discussions all the time. Yeah. Um, and we just actually got a a good lesson a couple weeks ago, um, for all parking in in a in a garage and
EV parking spaces. And what we were told is it's not the charger itself that is the cause of fire. It's an EV vehicle that is the reason for it. And the reason being is, you know, in most cases, it's not like a new car where everything works fine. It's usually an
EV car that got into an accident or got damaged somehow, like it hit a curb or a pothole. Um, so again, I know the the concern is about the EV charger, but the the concern is really the EV vehicles and my concern is a a fire, right? No.
And when that happens in the EV vehicles, as you probably heard from your people, and I have heard of ours, is that water that cannot be used, put that out, that has to be the most practical is a blanket and so forth. Will that be provided to the person who
parks there? Uh, not that I'm aware of. Okay. I can't answer that. I mean, that's it's a danger and it's concern for me personally. Thank you. Additional question. Yes. So, you testified this is a Springwood building. Uh, I I believe so. I'm going to leave that to the architect. Architect
question. Yes. Sorry. I'll defer. Any other questions from the board? Mr. Chair. Uh, Mr. Dave. Yeah. So I technically I mean I think you're answering all of our questions but my concern
is that is definitely revolves around the parking which in in many ways has to do with the size of the building right and I I don't envy your position of trying to to cram enough parking in there but I think there's a few factors
that are are troubling when you look at the parking you're doing tandem parking which really takes takes away your flexibility for their other tenants. So you're saying we're going to take our two bedrooms and we're assigning them two, right? So there's no flexibility
there. You have a handicap spot. So how do you how do you assign the other spaces or if they're not assigned, what happens with the retail? And then let me layer on the fact what happens when a guest comes because my
understanding is Maryanne has no parking. Is that a is that a no parking uh street? Uh so they do have parking as permit parking. Um and from what I could being to the site, it's everything past actually the project site that has permit parking. So from the far
frontage, uh that is permitted as far as open parking. So would your would your tenants be eligible for that parking? I I would say if it's open, but the intent is to have everybody park on the site. Yeah. So, where where do you think where
do you think guests would park and and where do you think any retail would would get parking on this site? If they can't fit on this site, where would they go? And that would be my concern. No, it's a good question. So, I mean, the beauty of a mixeduse development is that you have two different uses and
typically the peak hours for the parking uh for retail versus residential don't always kind of coincide. I mean, there are some sometimes, you know, uh the evening rush around 5:00 that you do have residents coming back and the business is still open, but I would say during the day is is when most of the
residents are gone. Um you do have some that stay because they work from home. Um obviously that's the the way that life works these days. Um there's parking along Styverson. Um we do have parking along our frontage on Maran Way. Um and I'm not too familiar with the
municipal lot across the street if that's metered or permit only. Um but that that is an option too if if if that's something that the municipality allows. But just to follow up on um Mr. uh Donab's question in the earlier design
phases when looking at building placement on this site. Correct. Correct. Um there were a lot of factors that were being considered. Yeah. Given the shape of the lot, you can see the lot has an angle along Styson Avenue. Um so putting a parking lot in the front obviously is not attractive from the
visual standpoint but also makes it not efficient to get rectangular parking spaces in an angled um location. So essentially twofold moving the building to the front helps um as a visual standpoint and and um I guess promote
the downtown uh and the zoning um intent and also provides an area in the back that's square or rectangular to fit the parking. Right. And the other issue was um in the earlier designs looking at if you were to make the building not face the front which is preferred under the
union's zoning and also their master plan was even if you did it on the side or an L-shape. The problem is the lot width and how that affects the parking. So really in fairness reducing the footprint of the building doesn't really
net the um parking spaces. It would probably be more a factor of the uses in the building that would play as to a factor of reduction in the parking spaces. Would that be fair to say? That's a fair statement. Yes. And then
as far as the handicapped EV for ADA compliance, is there any place else that you could look at placing that? I mean that becomes so this that that is a state requirement that one of the ED spaces has to be sized for ADA um and
not signed for ADA but sized for it. Uh that's essentially why we put it next to the ADA. It just was the most efficient layout. Um again the other option would be to flip it to the other side. Um I believe we'd probably lose another parking space in doing so. uh unless we
move both the ADA and EV across the aisle which I don't think is ideal as well u with getting uh people across the uh u the aisle as well. So so we'll have to look at that in a
little more detail. Yeah. I mean, I look at this as, you know, the the concern I personally it's the board's decision, but if you're going to go over the lot coverages because you need to maximize the parking, I get it. But my concern is
being deficient parking before we know what the retail use is and not knowing where you can park. is one thing if it affects the building owner and he has trouble renting because he can't, but it's the other thing when it starts to affect the
neighborhood and I'm not sure that we have an answer to what where that overflow is going to go. So, have you looked at I guess to that end because you can't really shrink the footprint of the building. uh have you looked at potentially changing the the
room makeup or the the units or something to try to reduce the requirement for that. And I know that that's always painful, but you know, that's the only other way to to try to balance out parking. If you can't add more parking, you have to reduce the
parking requirement, which would mean losing something within the building. So, I know you have a small retail component, so that's not where you're going to lose it. It would be in the residential end. Is that something that's possible to look at? I think it is possible to look at. And um I'm not
sure what time the board normally takes a break if you do. Um but maybe if we had um five minutes, I I do think that could be something that we could strongly suggest to the applicant. I what I would suggest is that the these
this is my comments. I would want to see if the board was in agreement with that with that direction before you go through that effort. I'm not sure that that's something that they may be comfortable with the application as it is. I don't know. Right. And I will say we will also have the planner on who
does have experience with traffic as well and he is going to go into more detailed proofs regarding that mixed use which is not as uncommon for retail and the types of retail uses that the board
um and residents may see in this because this site and again I don't want to testify would not be conducive for all of the uses that are permitted in the zone. Right. So, Mr. Dave, um since uh you deferred to the board in terms of
this recommendation, I I firmly believe and I think I speak on behalf of the board here is that if there a fivem minute caucus and then coming back to us and change saying that you're going to change the number of units, honestly, we can't make a decision or even a conditional approval just based on a
fiveminute caucus and a decision and a recommendation put forth um by you. We would need to see basically an updated site plan how that would affect the parking how that would affect the the architecture the the the entire site plan basically and and I understand that
Mr. chairman is what I can say um because one I don't know what the applicant will say number one but number two um there's many different variables there so if one of the assumptions was in talking to the applicant that the building itself is not changing but it's
the makeup of the residential units that are changing inside of it then in respect the building and the site plan would not quote change it would be the reduction in parking as a result of what's inside the building, which would
be a change in the interior floor plan of the building. Um, if that were the case, if that's what the applicant would be leaning towards, I would ask only because of availability of professionals, as you know, it's harder and harder, as you saw with the application before us to get everybody
out on a team on the same night that I might want to at least get the planning testimony in and then hold off the architectural or something of that nature. Well, I mean, we can we can still hear your other uh witnesses testify, but ultimately if this is going
to end up resulting in a modified plan, we're not we're not going to make a decision based on conditions. So, understood, understood. I just meant for purposes of the testimony. Thank you. Uh any other questions from the board? No,
just a comment that it appears that you have um understood and considered in fact the that this application as first seen and testified about and I know we haven't heard from the architect uh is problematic in some areas. You've you've
mentioned the fact that you have considered make making the building smaller, changing the parking arrangements and so forth. Um, it's a comment that I have concern and I perhaps others do as well, but I personally have some concern about the
fact that I would we really would need to see a new plan that addresses the concerns. Just with respect, I'm sure when you say you will address them that you will. I'd still need to see the pro the problem in the new projections.
Understood. Thank you. All right. Uh, I actually have a bunch of questions. I normally defer to everyone else to ask their questions first before I do. Um, so, um, can you clarify on the site plan, uh, how many parking spaces have a width of 8 ft and how many have a width
of 9 ft? Uh, so it's a little tricky question because the ADA is 8T and that's that's by code uh because it has 8ft aisle. So that that's one of them. Uh, so there's 12. So the 11 on the east side on this side right here are all 8 feet and then
the ADA space is 8 feet. But just for clarity the ADA is compant I think the chairman wants to know which ones are undersized requiring the waiver. So per the the ordinance 11 are unders sized and 11 are undersized and 11 are
conforming. Okay. Um, I want to go back to uh the tandem spaces. Um, and and you've testified that basically the tandem spaces would um basically go to tenants of two uh two-bedroom units. Correct. That's the intent. I I think
management can manage how those parking spaces are delegated. I mean, obviously, if if they have a residence coming in that's a family, uh, let's say it's a husband and wife in a in a one-bedroom, and that those two spaces are available, um, I think they can get delegated to them as well if they know they have two
vehicles. Um, and again, I I think the thought is that it's going to be a nuisance, but the nuisance is on the actual tenant that that that knows what's going to happen, that they're going to get those two spaces. um it's not a nuisance on another tenant or or
to the to the public. Yeah. And and you I guess you are aware um based on the engineers letter that the ordinance for the parking demand from a two-bedroom unit is uh two parking spaces. Correct. Correct. Okay. So if you have six uh and
and I just also want to reconfirm here is that you have four two-bedroom units, right? Correct. Okay. So from from that you have a parking demand of eight spaces but you have six tandem spaces. How can you reconcile that? Um I'm I'm not sure if that's a
something that needs to be reconciled. So a one bedroom or a studio requires 1.8 which is essentially two parking spaces as well. Um yes. So it it doesn't mean that you know a two-bedroom can't have two other parking spaces on the site that are not tandem. Um you know I
I think it just depends on how they're delegated. So, so how would they be delegated? Again, I think those are the only spaces that will be delegated. I haven't spoken to the applicant as far as how if everything's going to be delegated per per resident. Um, but essentially those will definitely be delegated. Uh, so
when a resident comes in for they have two vehicles, they will delegate them to them. And the thought was the two bedrooms make the most sense right off the bat. Okay. Yeah. Um I think it's Ari. Uh actually I I do have a couple questions with regards to uh some of the black boxes that I see on the on the
side. Those are lights. The lights that are mounted on the uh the canopy. Oh, so those are lights. Um do are they just flat lights or are they lights that kind of stick out from the ceiling? They're they're flat. I mean they might be a little thickness but they're not hanging or anything off
of a chain. Um by and this might be more of so of a question for the architect and I could always defer that question. Do you know what's the um the height clearance of of those spaces? I believe it's 9 foot six inches, but the architect could clarify. Okay. Um my my
next question pertains to the 8 foot wide spaces. Um I think I think it's established that 8 ft is not the standard. Correct. Uh that is correct. Not not in the town and not per RSI is correct. And so let's say for example I
drive a Ford Explorer utility vehicle. Right. Um, by any chance you know what the width of a of a Ford Explorer is? Uh, not off top of my head. No, I can't. So, according to Ford, it is uh uh I do believe it's 89.3 in which is about 7.5
ft. All right. Measure to the uh the rearview mirrors or the body. Okay. Yes. Yes. just whatever. So if if I drive uh and if I do a perfect parking job at an 8 ft wide space, basically from the edge
of the car to the um boundary of the line of the parking space, it's basically 3 in. Correct. Uh say that again. I'm sorry. It's three in three inches. Um yeah, with your math, yes. Yeah. And let's say hypothetically if there was another SUV that was parked
perfectly to the left of me, this the space that I would have from my car to that person's car would be 6 in. Right. So you would have a 6 in clearance to to get out if your math is right. All right. Well, that's the clearance between the the mirrors. When you open the doors, you have more clearance. So
the Right. Would you how much would you say is that? I I don't know. I don't know how wide the mirrors are. Um, how much would you say is the standard clearance of getting someone getting out of their vehicle without them potentially damaging the other car next to them? Um, I would say probably about 18 in, but again, that's not a number
that I I know of off top of my head. And so, does the 8 ft wide parking space is that sufficient to provide that clearance for you're saying your scenario where you have to Yeah. I mean, can it be done? Yes. Is it ideal or or comfortable? I I I don't know. I guess
part of it is is the person too if if if someone is let's say clinically overweight or obese, would they be able to get out? I I I don't know. Yeah. Um and obviously it's it's it's a realistic expectation that no one that everyone will do a perfect parking job
every time, right? So the scenario that I'm talking about of potentially 6 in uh 6 in 7 in that might be potentially less maybe because someone did a lousy parking job, right? Okay.
Um, in terms I want to go back to the parking spaces um that are um under the building. Um, there are columns if if I'm uh there are like uh how many columns that are there's three within the parking area. Three in the
parking area. Um, can you just describe like the the the the structure in terms of the the building material and the thickness and the dimensions of them? Uh I I can't um I can ask the architect or you could ask the architect when it comes up. But I believe there's there's
cement but again I'm just speaking from my knowledge working with the architect in the past. I will save those questions for the architect then. Um and ultimately because you have 22 spaces um and granted you have the two EVSE
credits. I know that gets to 24, but with all that in mind, even the park even you have not even met the parking demand for residential only, right? Because the residential is basically 26, right? 26. Yes, we're too shy. Yeah. Now, I have
another question. And um when we think about those 11 spaces on the east end of the property, by any chance, if we convert them all to 9 ft wide parking spaces, how many additional parking spaces did we would we lose potentially? I would say one at the least. Um and
then we would have to widen um that back parking by about 2 feet or one foot, I'm sorry. and is the intention of not doing that because by losing another parking space it's it's basically an acknowledgement that the that it it's
way too um below the parking demand the deficiency between what you have now and what is the parking demand. Uh I don't believe that was the intent. Okay. So why are those spaces 8 ft wide then? Uh uh given again that this is a residential use and not heavily
trafficked u we thought that the eight would be sufficient. There are other towns and cities that permit uh smaller spaces. I mean that's why I said Union Township is nine feet. So you you did mention about traffic. Um I did notice that in the engineers letter that there wasn't traffic study submitted. You can
confirm that a traffic study was not conducted and was not submitted. Right. Correct. Yes. Okay. All right. Um, now interestingly enough, in terms of the square footage of the property, so the building itself, if you add the
7,35 and the 3930, you get around a little less than 11,000. Um, so essentially the retail space that you have is around 11 1141, right? Correct. So retail really would only
comprise of maybe around 10% of the total square footage of of everything of the of the three four floors combined, right? Um I I think that math is a little wrong. So the sec the footprint of the second floor and the third floor 7,000 each, not total. Exactly. So that's 15
plus another four or 19. It's about 19,000 I think is the floor area roughly. Okay. Because you have 1141, right? Square feet for the retail space. Mhm. The ground floor footprint is 39 30. Correct. Second and third floor
footprint is uh 7,35. So I think what each each? Yes. So it's even less than 10% then. Uh yeah. Right. Okay. Um I do want to go uh and um
examine uh some of the calculations that you put forth for the storm water detention calculations. Um, now I I was looking at your site plan. I was looking at your calculations and for me it feels like there's some discrepancies in terms of the square
footage that you provided especially for the postdevelopment uh here. So I just want you to reconfirm what I know initially in the site plan you had for example for buildings the square footage as 6725 but now you have here
736. So, I just want you to confirm what what number should we rely on? Uh, so I don't have the storm water report in front of me, so if you give me a minute, I can sure up. Um, I might need Wi-Fi access though. So, I mean, to be honest with you, we could
go over over the board. I know it's a question. Um, but we could comply with whatever u Mr. Davi reviews and make sure that it does comply with the ordinance in town. Well, yeah. So I'll just I I'll just make a comment in terms of the discrepancy of the square footage then is that you know there are
discrepancies in terms of the site plan that we received and the numbers that we were provided for buildings pavement uh especially and so if there is a discrepancy in what's in the site plan and what's in the calculation obviously that would affect your your weighted C
in the calculation of the runoff right correct and like I said Mr. Davi would have the final say as far as um reviewing it to make sure that we comply and if we don't we we have no choice. We will comply with the storm water regulations. Um another part of my question uh with regards to the storm
water um with the tension calculations is with regards to the runoff coefficient. I noticed here that you have for pavement that you set your coefficient at uh 0.85. What source and reference did you determine that to be 085?
Um, so does the town have wi-fi login so I can look at the report itself? Uh, yeah, we we do have Wi-Fi. Um, I mean it is Well, maybe not to delay too much. I get your point that you're you're saying that there's some discrepancies in the
storm water report and that's fine. I I I I don't I trust you. Um, but we're not trying to say that we're trying to get skirt the regulations. No, no, no, no. I I just want to make sure that we are not sure what the dot our eyes and cross our tees and making sure the details work
here because I'm I'm sure you're aware of the New Jersey storm water best management practices manual and they provide some standards for runoff coefficients and according to them if you have a paved area i.e. parking lots, roof, driveways and etc.
regardless of your hydraologic soil group your coefficient is.99 not 85. So my question is why is that why is there a discrepancy and what source are you relying for that runoff coefficient and a difference of that would probably
drastically significantly affect your your weighted sea right uh I don't know yes I don't know if it'll be drastic but again I I believe Mr. Nav had that in his letter that there were some discrepancies. Okay. And I did testify that we would make sure that we would comply with those um comments and
obviously if the runoff is is different based on adjusted calculations that means will get bigger. Yes. Exactly. Okay. And the applicant's okay with it. All right. Um those are my questions. Are there any other questions from the board?
Yes. Just one. Um Mrs. Perkins and then Mr. Dave. Thank you. just to to point out that uh in the engineered design letter uh review item 6.4 relative to the site triangle uh issues for the parking lot onto Marian
Way. I understand that you are aware as as we are that Marian Way is a oneway going into a dead end. Uh it's a dead end. Yeah, I wouldn't say so. And that you said that there could be could be some parking uh out on the portion that
is not uh prohibited because it's permit. Correct. Prohibitive for some. So did you are you able to prove or show us that the site triangle with cars parked public cars parked would be safe and and efficient? Yeah, we could
provide that on on a plan as well. Uh there is also another sign here that that that designates that you can't park from a certain portion to the corner. So the the cars won't be able to park all the way to the So I guess we're trying to I'm trying to ascertain how many cars there's got to be spillover. This is a very small parking lot. Yeah. Visitors
are not going to come and park in in a space that's already occupied, nor dare park in somebody else's space because that that doesn't happen. Well, um I'm trying to get a sense of how much spillover since one needs to park 50 ft
from the corner and the rest of a great deal of the rest of the street is permanent parking. It's also gives us a squeeze there in my opinion. Yeah. So, we think we could fit two cars on the on the on street along two two vehicles. Yeah.
Just one more comment. Um, and it's really a question. Have you looked at the other uh uses on the on the block and even gone out to them and see if they have excess parking? You I know next door I think is a roofing company that may not be the the best, but two
down there looks like you have the union leader there and it looks like a large parking lot that's probably underutilized. Is that something you guys could possibly look at as a a potential uh potential answer to to talk to them about leasing parking or Sure. Um, I'm not I don't know that much about
the union leader, but typical paper typically papers are underutilized for parking and that may be a shared parking opportunity for whatever spillover that may may occur. Yes, definitely a possibility. Yes. I just have a quick question on the
parking also. Um, are you anticipating uh how many spaces are you anticipating having assigned for specific residents? For example, I know you said that the two tandemss will be assigned to, you know, the two-bedroom apartments. Um, are the residents going to each have an assigned spot. Does that mean that 18 of
the spots are all going to be assigned out uh to very, you know, to the to the units or how many spots are you anticipate actually being assigned to residents so that because I'm assuming that only the residents will be allowed in those units to park there? You know,
how you you know, how many spots are going to be left open for other other parking, right? So, in speaking to the applicant since this will be a rental and not an HOA building. The idea was through property management to ascertain as tenants come in number of vehicles to
see if it would make sense for the site if they can have the vehicles, what the vehicle tag numbers are, etc. to make sure only tenants are parking on the site. Um, and then assign those spaces to the tenants as they come in and out through the rentals. Um, again, the idea
with the tandem was those make the most sense to be obviously assigned probably to the two-bedroom units because of the typical nature of a twobedroom. Um, again, as Mr. Manila testified, sometimes you do get a two-bedroom
tenant that does not have two vehicles. Um, so maybe they don't need that space, but that was the idea behind the tandem spaces. And then obviously to make sure that the two spaces for the retail are kept open during the day for that um mix
sharing of parking which you'll hear a lot more when the planner comes up. Uh any other questions from the board? Hearing none questions from the public? Yes, sir. if you can uh come up to one of the microphones. Um you'll
just need to identify yourself um for the record and we would need you to speak into the microphone so that you're in on the record. Sir. Yeah. Good evening everybody. My name is Caros Prior. I am a resident of Marian
Way. Things are getting out of hand there and this was going to make it a lot worse. We the residents of that street have a problem getting out of that street to get onto Styuset or cross it to K Avenue. It's almost
impossible. A few times I have called the parking enforcement because we can't get out and these people do whatever they want to do. Now, according to the original owners, homeowners of Maryanne Way, they
told me some of them have passed away. Excuse me, council, if I may. This is just the question of the engineer part of the hearing. If he's going to testify, he would probably need to be sworn in. Have to make sure we know what address he lives at on Marian. Sir, can
you can you limit your questions to the to the engineer if you're going to have there'll be a time for comment? And by the way, you will still have time at the end to come back to the microphone and provide like a a comment portion. Um, but we would need you to get to like a question for the engineer. Um, could you
formulate your thoughts in the form of a question? Uh, that I I wasn't prepared for this. I am not a lawyer or an engineer. But I I just want to say you will have the time um to come back up to provide any comments that you would like with
regards the application. Right now we just have to do a Q&A period. It's almost like uh questions from the public on the app on on the engineer and then we do the same thing with each of the witnesses and then we call basically anyone up to provide comments. I didn't see any of
that. What I see was that he says they were going to eliminate the parking the driveway. Sir, sir, again you need to ask the question of the engineer. Try try to try to ask the question your concern. Ask the question the engineer. Maybe if you phrase your qu maybe if you
phrase your statement as a question to the engineer. Would you like him to clarify something? You're making it difficult. I I am a resident of that street for 36 years. Okay. Okay. Now we having suddenly we have a lot of problems
because we allow a roofing company to stock his pro products there. The doctor has no parking space on that street. Now we going to get away with more parking space and he's going to block a driveway that was the main
supply for that wer park parking lot. Sir, I I want to make sure we're being very efficient with our time. You will have time at the end to come back and provide whatever statement that you want, but this is just super period now to ask questions for the engineer. And that's just how the meeting is run by
law. So, okay. Good night. You can come up back up at the end. Okay. Okay. Um, any other questions from the public? They want to hear. Any other questions from the public?
Okay. Um, would you like to call your next witness, please? I'd like to, if possible, Yes, please. I'd like to, if possible, have that five minute recess just so if there are going to be substantial revisions, I don't waste the board members time, you know, and have you
guys hear all of this if we're going to be coming back. So, I'd like to have that fiveminute recess if I could just to clarify some of the concerns we heard. Sure. I we'll grant a fiveminute recess. We'll be back at um 8:51. Okay. Thank you. Thank you.
here. Um, yes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the board. Again, professionals. Um, we conversed with the applicant and the applicants professionals. They've heard some of the concerns and comments that the board has made. We think it would be
um better well spent of your time since you're all volunteers if we ask to be carried to your next meeting with no additional notice. So we can make some modifications, revisions. Of course, we'll resubmit minimum 10 days ahead of time as required by law so that maybe we
can take some of the advice that we've heard and some of the questions and come in with something that meets some of those concerns that the board and Mr. Chair have. Uh, sure. Mrs. Perkins, do you have a
comment? Yes. I I would like to just comment on the the wise wiseness of the the process you've just asked. What were I think as a board member and the rest of the board speak? I'm sorry.
Yes. My question just yell at me. No, my my concern really and the basic question here from the board relative to the concerns are what would a compliant application look like and that's what we would like to see when you come back with some additional changes and okay um
just so I understand I don't mean to cut you off I apologize if I did um I'm not able to say we'll come back fully compliant but if you're saying you'd like an idea of what that would look like I think that's something we can talk about and see. Um, as you've heard
and we haven't even gone down planning, there are some challenges with the site. Um, obviously, and I don't want to get into testimony, we feel there's some benefits to the site by closing off styins, ingress, and things of that nature, which we think will balance some
of the variance relief we're seeing. But if I'm reading this board correctly, and I may be wrong, and I hope I'm not, I'm hearing a big concern with parking, parking, parking, and that's what's driving our conversation that we're going back with. And obviously, when you
look at parking, that's going to make other factors come into play. Yes, I think you've understood uh the board's concern well. And I also think that the possibility of uh looking into the overflow onto Marian way Maryanne way
pardon me uh is is something that relative to the site triangle and how much parking would impact the residents whereas most of it is permit parking that's that's a traffic issue and I hope that that'll be in your concerns as
well. Thank you. Understood. Thank you. Obviously through my line of questions there are profound concerns with this application. Um I'm sorry with the fan. I'm sorry. Can you hear me clearly? Yes. Yeah. Obviously with the questions that I have I I think you can infer that I have profound concerns about this
application. Uh and honestly just based on what I've seen from the testimony I can't possibly see how this would work as is. And so is the idea of you the application coming back as as basically
a a brand new site plan potentially? Well, I wouldn't call it a brand new site plan. Um, typically in my 30 years of experiences coming in front of boards, and I've been in front of this board, although it's been a while, um, is that we like to think that when we come in with an application and board
members like yourself have comments and concerns that when we go back to our plan and we make modifications that we're doing, uh, you know, improvements that make the application make more sense. So, I can't say it would
necessarily be a new site plan because we haven't even had the discussion. We've only had a fivem minute recess. as far as new to me would be changing the uh complete design of the building, changing where it's sitting on the parking lot, changing the configuration
of all the parking spaces. I think realistically given what we've already done behind the scenes before we came here about different ways to configure the site that made more sense for the residential neighbor behind us and for the property next to us and getting rid
of the access office Dyson. You know, you're still going to see a building in that front location that you do now. The question is as hearing um a former member of your fire department's concerns with the ADA EV, that obviously doesn't work. We're going to need to
remedy that. Concerns about how wide an SUV is in those parking spaces. We're going to have to remedy that. So, how does that get remedied? There could be a whole plethora of different ways it gets remedied. And I don't want to play engineer and architect because I get yelled at as attorney all the time when
I do that. Um, but those will be the discussions we'll be going back with. Okay. Um I think with that just to be fair to all the sides of of the argument here we
can entertain to carry it over to the next meeting. Um but obviously uh time is of the essence and if the modifications are as we say not compliant or uh insufficient or any way
incomplete for us um I think we would have to take that discretion on whether or not we would be able to hear it at the next meeting or not. So it really depends on what you guys come back to us with and how complete that is. Okay. So is that fair? I I because you can't just
come back to us with a concept. Well, no. Is what I understand is what we come back with can't just simply be uh an exhibit, right? You want something meteor than an exhibit. Yes. You know, we want a complete application, right?
Okay. Understood. Yeah. So, you need a motion. So, uh any uh Mr. Dave, any comments on your end? That's why I had you. Any comments, Mr. Dave? I I thought you had something. No, no. U I'm I'm fine.
You know, I I'll talk to their engineer. We'll try to clean up a few things on on that end before the next meeting and whatever you come up with a redesign we or you know, whatever you work on. Be happy to talk beforehand so we clean it up a little bit. Thank you. That would be appreciated. So, I I I also want to
be fair since we're providing comments as a board here. I also wanted to open up comments from the public to state any concerns on the record. So, comments from the public. Are there any comments from the public? There you go. There you go. You are the
public. Yeah. And sir, if you could state your name, if you could state your name and address for the record, please. My name is Carlos Prior 1984 Maryanne Way. So now you know. Sir, can can in Union New
Jersey 07083 speak into the microphone. Yeah. Can you can you raise your right hand? You swear the testimony about too big for me to raise your right hand. Raise your right hand. Amen. Swear the testimony about to give is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
I didn't. Do you swear the testimony about to give is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? Yes, I do. Okay, you go ahead. Okay, I heard a few things here tonight that are wrong. I heard someone saying that they
were going to eliminate the the north the south side park uh driveway of that property. That is the only access to that property to get in to get out. Yes, they
can get out through Maryanne way, not to get in. So, forget about that. It's in the books. Okay. If you didn't see it, you should look a little closer. Now, right now, we having a problem with
traffic on Maran Way, a dead end street. We can't get out. At times we have to call traffic enforcement cuz we can't get out. My wife is very small. She drives a 1992
Toyota. Okay. It's a lot lower than these SUVs that she see these days. And she can't see because people park right on the corner of Marian Way and Sident and that blocks the vision. So, it's nearly
impossible. So, I don't see adding more cars, more people to that spot in the town. To me, I do not approve of it. Here, I only see one more resident
of Marian Way. I don't know if he wants to come in, but he's new there comparing to me. So, I've been there my whole life. And why did I come to Union? Because Union was a good township. But
if we let it go the way it's going. Goodbye, Union. I'll better I'll find a a place somewhere else then. Okay. Good night and thank you very much. Thank you for your remarks. Um are there any other comments uh from the public? I gather
it's a way just to get some feedback as well from the public. Um sir, if if you want to come up, feel free. Hey, good evening everyone. Thank you for, you know, giving us the opportunity to hear all this out. Uh, my name is Brian Scarpellini. Um, 1988 Maryanne way
right behind the the proposed block. Okay, sir, can you raise your right hand? You swear the testimony about to give the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Yes. Okay. Thank you. Um, well, to be honest with you, I came here more for information to understand, you know, what everything was going through. I had
Oh, sorry. Uh, I had the opportunity to, uh, you know, speak with some of the owners and, uh, the other representatives of the team. Um, you know, I do think that from my own experience and having issues with my other property on Roosevelt A with the Chaffi's owners,
uh, you know, we understand that Union is trying to change and develop, but obviously as being a tenure in Union, uh, you know, we are concerned with Union losing its culture. Um, but we do appreciate when, you know, developers are taking the time to, you know, really
look into the details of what's going on and making sure that they're, you know, minimizing the impact of those changes to the, you know, residents in the surrounding areas. Uh, so with that being said, I'm looking forward to, you know, seeing more information, seeing how you guys are working it all out. So
far, I can understand, you know, what they're doing to take measures and I can appreciate that. Um, you know, again, understanding that this meeting is going to my understanding is it's going to go to the next month, right? Yeah. So, I'll be here for that one. And if there are any concerns, I will bring it up. But,
you know, understanding Carlos's point and understanding other, you know, citizens in this, you know, we are all aware of what you guys are approving and it is a little concerning, but we also see some of the benefits there. So, I'm just hoping that we can see that in this area as well because we definitely don't want it to be as congested as, you know,
uh, downtown by like Centurion and stuff like that are. But I, you know, I do think that they are taking the necessary steps to at least communicate with us and, you know, kind of make sure that we're kind of at least all on the same page. Um, but like I said, I I unfortunately don't have any additional comments or concerns. I'm just looking
forward to more information and you know kind of speaking with them further to see you know what we can do to make sure that everything is again you know amicable for everybody. So again thank you for your time today. I do appreciate you guys you know letting us hear this out and you know taking the opportunity to show us you know what we're
potentially planning for our street. Thank you for your feedback. All right. Uh any other Yes. Hello, my name is Sergio Fonco. Um, so I'm here I'm I'm one of the owners of the roofing company next door on the
southside. Um, I just want to express to the board and to everyone here and I'll say that I do before I move forward. Mr. Pasqual, do you need to swear him in you raise right? Do you do you swear to the testimony about the gives the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth? I do. Yes. Yeah. So, I do a lot
of development in my personal job in in dental facilities and healthc care. Um, and I'm kind of the ideal tenant for them. Um, you know, I'm in my late 20s. I would be the one moving out of my parents house and and moving into one of these apartments. I think Union is moving in the right direction. Um, you
know, we have these new great facilities in in Union Center and I like the other side of Cydon to see that cuz um as you go past and and closer to the Irvington side, it's kind of lacking a little bit. So, this is a project that I'm enthusiastic about. I approve of um you
know, if and when the board and everyone gets on the same page with parking and everything else, but I just wanted to express I think union is moving in the right direction with approving projects like this. Um again, we're investing in the youth. We're investing in things that people my age like and these are one of these things.
Thank you for your feedback. Uh any other comments uh from the public? Um, all right. Um, I I think with that, um, I just wanted to give the public a chance to also state it for the record. It might help in your considerations of
Oh, yes. I'm sorry. Yes. Yes, sir. Yep. Eric O's 1083 Mayfair Road, Union, New Jersey. Um, we were just here recently with our group with something very, very similar. Um, do I need to be sworn in or is just a comment? Let's let's you in just for the record. You swear the testimony about gives the
truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Yes, I I will. Um, the only comment that I wanted to make is that I see similarities and I understand what um this gentleman is uh speaking about regarding the changing of the complexion of his neighborhood. Maybe if the developer, the applicant went through a
little bit more effort in um which would be expenditure like for example they talk about reducing some of the the units. Um we all know that that's cost prohibitive to them but maybe it's better for the community. Um maybe there's a consideration that could be made for possibly underground parking.
Again, that's another cost issue. Um but that could alleviate that could actually maybe get rid of the variance. From what I looked at, the site itself seemed to be relatively robust, but if you take it all down below grade, now you can get more below grade, some above grade and kind of balance that out. Um, that may
need to be investigated. So, some creative um ingenuity may need to be may need to take place here. Um, uh, possibly. I was looking at the backtoback parking wherever we have that. I happen to be designing in New York City. We do attended parking. You
can't depend on residents to follow the rules and this is my parking space but you got to move this one so on and so forth. Maybe attendant works. Um you you got to kind of think out the box when it comes to something like this because you have a large development in an enclave of smaller developments and you're going
to get gentlemen like this that are disgruntling other gentlemen who are somewhere in the middle. Okay, he's in the middle and I'm not sure where this gentleman is but nonetheless you know de what we're not anti-development union. We're not anti-development. We're anti-inappropriate development. That is
a statement that we made at our hearing and that these gentlemen are trying to ladies and gentlemen are trying to make here. So I think that that needs to be considered. Thank you. Thank you. Any other comments? And so just to conclude, uh
just want to make sure that you and the applicant has uh the ability to hear any of the concerns whether from the board as well as from the public. Maybe that will help uh in terms of any further outreach and collaboration and partnership with with the effective
stakeholders and hopefully when you come back to us maybe it's an application that uh people can get on board with. So Okay. Yeah. And in the meantime uh when is the next hearing date that we're being carried to with no additional notice? The uh I'm sorry I couldn't
hear. So what's the date? May 22nd. May 22nd. Thank you. Yeah. Okay. So, with that, uh, can I get a motion to, uh, um, to to postpone the matter until the next, uh, meeting of the planning board on May
26? Second. May 26. So, move. Moved by Mr. Cohan. Is there a second? Seconded by Mrs. Perkins. Uh, roll call, please. Roll call. Yes. Mr. Alexander. Yes.
Mr. Cohan. Yes. Mr. Espininoza. Yes. Mr. Frame, yes. Mr. Miller, yes. Miss Perkins, yes. Mayor Bowser, yes. Committeewoman Terrell, yes. Miss Khan, yes. Chairman Lee, yes.
Thank you very much. Thank you. All right. Uh, there's no further new business. Uh, so can I get a motion to adjurnn? So move. Moved by Mr. Cohan. Seconded by Mrs. Khan. Um, all those in favor say I. I I any oppose meeting
adjourn at 9:11 p.m. I didn't know who second that and who who moved it.