All right, s >> good evening and welcome to tonight's meeting of the zoning board of adjustment of the township of union which is being held pursuant to the open public meeting law C231 laws of New Jersey dated 1975. Notice of this meeting was advertised in
the local source, the newspaper of record, and notice has been posted on the bulletin board in the municipal building adjacent to the municipal clerk's office. Roll call. Mr. Wy >> here. >> Miss Martins >> here. >> Mr. Bena
>> here. >> Miss Scott >> here. >> Mr. McNeel >> here. >> Miss Little >> here. >> Mr. Graves >> here. >> Miss Ricketts >> here. >> And Mr. Champion >> here. There being a quorum present, this meeting is now declared open.
Uh there are no minutes this uh this evening. Uh Mr. Monguso, are there any communications? >> Uh Mr. Chairman, there are no communications. >> Hearing none, we'll continue with tonight's meeting. Our first order of business will be the adoption of a resolution for calendar number 3473,
New Singular Wireless PCS LLC, which is AT&T. Location is 2322 Mars Avenue, block 3915, lot 17.01. Uh, applicant wishes to construct a
telecommunications facility. Board members, you've all had a chance to read the resolution. At this time, are there any board members that would like to comment, make changes, or modification to this resolution as it has been written? Hearing
none. May I have a motion and a second to adopt the resolution? >> Mr. Chairman, I move that this board adopt the resolution as written and as accurately memorializing the previous findings of this board. >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Mr. Wy, >> yes. >> Mr. Martins, >> yes. >> Mr. Pente,
>> yes. >> Scott, >> yes. >> Mr. McNeel, >> yes. >> Mr. Little, >> yes. >> Mr. Champy, >> yes. Our next order of business is calendar number 3434 Toro's Home LLC located at
103 Union Avenue, block 1903, lot one. Applicant wishes an addition to construct an addition for more event space and the restriping of the parking lot. And this is uh carried for uh it was a previous hearing. Uh councelor.
>> Hi, good evening chairman and members of the board. Natasha Montalvo with Javver Bomb Warcraft. Um we were previously here back before the board in December of 2024. That's when we had our professionals come and testify. This application is
for um preliminary and final site plan approval with the D2 use variance and bulky variances. The applicant is seeking to um have turn the building into at least the first floor into assembly event space uh which is
permitted in the zone. However, there's an existing apartment upstairs which is not mixed use and residential is not permitted in the zone. So that's why we're D2 use variance. However, it is existing. Um, the applicant is seeking
to expand the event space on the first floor with a 2,148 square foot addition, resulting in a 5,857 ft building on the bottom for event space assembly. Uh, the three-bedroom apartment upstairs will be remain the
same. It's not being affected by this application. No work is being done. Uh, our engineer was here and testified about parking. Uh there are 70 physical parking spaces on site but with the EV credits it brings us to 72 parking
spaces. There's a total of 80 parking spaces required in the Collier's letter from 2024. Um I just want to point out that um at the time the board engineer said that we
needed 94 parking spaces. I did speak with um William Hoover at Collier and we did discuss um the parking calculation and how it was calculated. Uh he did send an email that I provided to the
board this afternoon that and I would like to mark it as A7. um where >> I don't think we need to mark it for the I'll note it for the record that the uh collers did amend the if you remember back in 2024 I know I went back and
looked at the tape as well I had raised the issue I think on the record that there was a discrepancy based on the applicant's engineer as compared to what Collier had said and obviously Collier wasn't here to testify um the parking expectation is 80 so that has been
clarified by Collier the applicants engineer was correct. >> Thank you. Um the so 80 parking spaces are required that includes the assembly use and the residential parking for the apartment and we are at 72 parking
spaces. We will be adding a new trash enclosure and new LED lighting on site. Um, and as stated on record previously, as a condition of approval, our engineer will provide drainage improvements to capture the additional runoff from the
addition of the building. Um, our architect testified to the floor plan. Um, there was also a discrepancy in the Collier's letter and the square footage of the addition that was clarified at the last meeting. And I just want to
reiterate the accurate square footage of the addition is 2,935 square ft. Um the two it's 2,138 square ft of assembly area alone. That does not include the kitchen and
bathrooms. Uh we also stated previously there were fire comments and in resolution compliance we will address all fire um violations and um all the comments from the fire department and bring everything up to code. And then
our planner was here who provided proofs for the D2 variants along with the other bulk C variances which are um the minimum sideyard setback off streetet parking and then there's
existing variances for minimum lot size, minimum lot width and design waiverss for minimum parking setback and light intensity. Um, we agreed to comply with all of Collier's comments in the engineering
review. And last time we were here, the applicant, since the last time we were here, the applicant has purchased and now currently owns an active liquor license attached to the property. It is not being used as they're not open, but
there is they do own a liquor license. So we are here today to prevent present operational testimony as the board had a lot of questions on the operation of the business. And with that I if there are any other if there are any preliminary
um questions I would be willing to answer. If there are none I would like to call the owner and applicant. >> Miss Scott, >> will the tenants have reserve parking? >> Yes, they have they would have their own
parking spot in in the back. Yes. >> Yes. >> Are there any other board members that would like to uh question council >> hearing? None. >> I would like to call the applicant Mariam Gumman.
>> Just for the record, uh part of the submission, updated submission from the applications manual for event hall. Uh I've marked that A7. We had a A1 through A6 when the professionals had testified >> including renderings and site plan
details. So A7 will be the operations manual. >> Um there was one further input that we received to council just and I'll I'll kind of dovetail it >> to this particular exhibit. The security plan and I know it's mentioned in here.
I think what the police want to see if this is approved is an actual security plan that they want to have their fingerprints on before any event actually takes place. They want to be able to weigh in uh one officer, two officer, who goes where and what and
where, 40 people, 120. You know, I think it's important since they're it's their area of expertise not to wait till the night before or a weekend of an event. They want to have that immediately. So, I'm just going to add to this exhibit that uh there's an
expectation of a separate specific security plan for Union Township Police Review because I think the men in blue the security aspect is going to be through them. >> Correct. >> Uh so, the local flare is there and I think that the town was uh very
receptive to that. So, uh that's a good thing. >> Okay. >> Can I ask the witness to swear or affirm >> that the testimony you provide this evening is the truth and the whole truth? >> Yes. And for the record, could you just state and spell your name with your affiliation?
>> Okay. My name is Maria Pomavilia Wang. Spell it. Spell it. Maria is M I A. Pomilia is P O M A B like Victor. I L L A.
>> I'm having a hard time here. I don't know. Does anyone else am I just over Could you spell the name? >> Can you Can you bring the mic closer and try the spelling again? Okay. Okay. Uh, my name is Maria Rosa
Pomabilia Wang. Okay. And the spelled name is M A R A I A. Maria Rosa is R O S A. Pomia P O M A. B like Victor. I L L
A. You get it? >> Did you get it? >> Pavino. Yeah. >> Gu U L L A. >> Okay. All right. Um, you can put your
hand down. Okay. So, you are you are the owner of Toro's Home LLC, correct? >> Yes. >> Okay. And um can you provide can you let the board know what type of events that you plan to host at your at this
property? >> Okay. Uh like a birthday parties, um weddings, um Baptist, uh like t like like what else is like some graduations like that?
>> Okay, so normal events. >> Yeah, events like >> Okay. >> And then what are your proposed hours of operation? How what days a week? Like are you going to be open Monday through Friday, Friday through Sunday? What how what do you >> It's the mostly the the people's want is
in weekend. So it's Friday, Saturday and same time have Sunday. >> Okay. And um Friday and Saturday at what time can they come and have an event? What time will you be open to let them have? >> Um they can start like 700 p.m. or
>> 700 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Okay. >> 2 a.m. >> 2 a.m. I'm sorry. And then on Sundays um the events would be during the day. What time? What are your time frames for Sunday? >> That depends. Some some customers one
day, but some customers they want night too. So >> Okay. So >> it's one party for day. >> So there will at no time will there be two events happening at the same time? >> No. >> And only one event per day. >> One per day. Yeah.
>> Okay. And then um how many employees will you have? >> Uh we start with eight. >> Eight. And that includes you and your husband. Me and my husband. Yeah. >> Okay. So a total of six employees plus you and your husband. Okay. >> And um how what is the maximum capacity
that you will allow? >> Uh 140 150 maximum. >> Okay. So no more than 150 people. And you will have um security and there will be ca cameras. Correct. >> Yeah.
>> And your security cameras will will be um will keep footage for how long? >> Uh like start to finish that >> no like so um how many days? So you know when you record when the security camera records how long will it keep?
>> Oh 24 hours a day. >> Okay. And then um for security um you will be hiring offduty officers from boys uh jobs for blue. Correct. >> Yes. >> And as the um as the board attorney
mentioned, you have no problem providing a security plan to the police department prior to any events. Correct. >> No, I don't have any problem. >> Okay. >> Not just any event. If approved before opening, >> they want to see it shortly after any event happen.
after the approval before any event even happens. >> Correct. >> Yeah. They're they're looking for we're looking for a universal plan that's going to, you know, for that they don't have to keep saying each month or each week a universal plan that they can tweak and say, "Okay, this is what we
expect." >> Correct. Um, and then will there be live music or just a DJ? >> DJ. >> No live music. >> No live music. >> Okay. And there will be no outdoor events, correct? >> No.
>> And if you want to have an outdoor event, you will come and get permits, required permits from the town. Correct. >> Yes. >> Okay. And um how how now that you have a liquor license, how will alcohol be
handled? Will will the customers who the people who are throwing the events, would they be able to bring their own alcohol? >> No. We have to give for them whatever alcohol or they they need it. But I don't want to pay per me to they bring
own alcohol. >> Okay. So they're not permitted to bring their own alcohol. They have to purchase the alcohol through you. Yes. Correct. And only your employees who is a licensed bartender can serve alcohol. Correct. >> Yes.
>> Okay. And how and your bartender will be checking IDs every time someone comes to the bar. Correct. >> Yes. >> And if they are if they're visibly intoxicated, the bartender will not serve. Correct.
>> Yeah. >> Okay. Um and then food. They can Are you going to be serving food or do they bring their own food? Uh some customers they bring own food but uh always I want
to ask for um for the insurance for the own >> for the caterers only. >> So the caterers will have to provide proof of insurance for the event that day. >> Yes. >> Okay. And um there's no cooking on site correct?
>> No. >> So the caterers will bring their own food cooked and just prep in the kitchen. Correct. >> Yes. Okay. And then um parking uh there you have a verbal agreement with your neighbor across the street for
overflow parking. >> I spoke with the the guy is to the front and they say no problem if uh if they prove it and they can give any paper. So uh he sign it. That's all he say. >> Okay. So, I would like to offer as a
condition approval, if this is approved, that once um once this is approved, if it is, we will get a a parking agreement from the neighbor across the street in writing and turn it into the town so the town has a copy of the overflow parking
agreement. Okay. And then during the event you will have um will an employee be monitoring the time of the event to make sure everything is going according to the plan? >> Yes. >> And towards the end of the event, how
will people be notified that their time is up? >> Uh we can uh tell them before hour like it's missing one hour or half hour something like that. So have time to go out. >> Okay. And then you will start cleaning
up once everybody has left. You will not leave until the entire event space is clean. Correct. >> Yes. >> Okay. I have no further questions. >> Are there any board members that would like to question the testimony that Miss Palm Villa has provided?
>> Mr. Chairman, I do have >> Mr. McNeel questions with respect to security. Is the intent to just use men in blue or are you going to also have your own security? >> Um
the blue uh the blue security is okay. Yeah. >> So three days a week you're going to be tapping into men and blue. >> We it to elaborate on his question. Um, are we only using boys uh men in blue
sorry jobs for blue or um are you going to also have a private security firm as well? >> Uh the party of securityurities too. >> So you're going to have both sec private security and jobs for blue. >> Yes. >> Okay.
Is there a trigger when you would go and use uh jobs in blue uh a 50 patron event, 100 patron event or is that going to be determined um by our township?
>> We can h you can have we can have it either way. Um, we I have to look into the security plan to see how much how many people if it's if it's a birthday party for a 5-year-old during the day
from like 12 to 3 in the afternoon, I I I personally think that a security officer, a security guard would be sufficient as no alcohol would be involved or anything. But if it's like a wedding or an event where alcohol is
involved, I would highly suggest and encourage that jobs for blue will be hired for that for for that security >> and all that will be defined in in >> the security plan. >> Eight employees. That's all I have.
Mr. Benanger. Hi. Um, so you mentioned earlier that there's only going to be one event at a time. How many different rooms do you have in the place? >> Different rooms, >> right? Is there any is there different rooms or is just one main room? >> Uh, yeah. One main room and and
downstairs in the basement, but that's is for storage. >> Okay. So, mainly all the parties are done in the one room. >> Yeah. >> And and there's a bar in there, correct? >> Yes. >> Okay. So, what do we do in the case that there's a sweet 16 and there's no alcohol being served or is the bar
closed off? Is what's the plan for that? >> For can I use for a sweet 16 ora when there's no alcohol served because it's a kid's birthday party. Will the bar be closed off?
>> Yes. uh if they uh sometime even is six uh 16 sweet or 15 sweet some people's they use the alcohol like uh um not the kids but the adults sometime they
>> right the adults will will >> alter so if they want to we open but if it's not we don't not open >> what what we can also do as a condition of approval if it is a if it's a birthday party for someone under the age of 21, we cannot we can suggest no
alcohol and have the bar closed so there is no um risk of underage drinking. >> Understood. >> I'm good. >> Any other board members? >> I have I have a question. Um will the will the will it be open to say you're
having a party there? It's always going to be private. Is there ever going to be a time where there It's just a function going on and somebody that's not necessarily invited can come in just because of the nature of the business. >> Uh no, it's a private so someone
checking in the front so it's not coming anybody say like it's everybody coming like a show something if is they party is there the >> all the guests will be there. There's nobody that can come off the street and
just come. Say you're having a party in the evening because you you originally said you would start around 7 p.m. >> So if you're having an event at 7 p.m. >> and somebody just is looking for something to do and they came across your place, would they be allowed in?
>> No. >> Okay. >> Any other board questions? >> Yes, Mr. Chairman. Can you confirm the business that uh offered for additional parking? >> Uh the neighbor across the street I don't know off the top
>> how many how many spots? >> I don't know off the top of >> they they have like 18 spot and they don't use it in Saturday and Sunday they don't use it. They coming just Monday to Friday. That's one he
explained to me the last time when I spoke with him. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> So you won't be open any other days except for Saturday and Sunday? >> No. Monday through Friday. >> The to the front >> for your business?
>> Uh no no just in weekend >> and Friday night. >> Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Yeah. Okay. >> Yeah. >> Just just a thought. Uh I if you're going to if you need to use the other spots on the other property,
I don't know how many employees you're going to have, but maybe put them over there first. So saves 18 spots for you or whatever. I mean, I don't know. You know, I know you get servers and >> bartenders and stuff like that, but that might be the easier thing. So, okay.
>> You don't have >> drunken people walking across the street on somebody else's property, >> right? >> Okay. Okay. >> Any other board members with questions? >> Can I just ask, are they the owners of
the property or they're leasing this part of the building from somebody? >> They own the property. >> They own it. Correct. >> So, they have this business. They also are the landlords for the teny, the residential teny. >> Correct. >> Is that I know I got into this I think a
bit with the planner. Is is is that occupied now? Is the Is the apartment upstairs occupied? Do you It is. >> Yes, it is. >> Okay. So, I assume they're aware of the event private event use that's going to be going in there, especially on the
weekends. I realize that's the nonpermitted feature, but they are there and they do have rights as long they've been spoken to and understand. >> Yeah. The um the guy who's living there is he was working with me so he doesn't
have any problem. Okay. noisy. >> Will your tenants have a separate private entrance into their unit? >> Yes, I is two entrance. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I believe their entrance is in the rear of the building. >> Okay.
>> And they do have designated parking spots. >> They will they will >> residences. >> Yes. >> Residential tenant. >> Yes. >> Any other questions by the board? Hearing none. Are there any members of the public that would like to question the
testimony that Mrs. Pomabilia has provided? Hearing none, councelor, do you have any other witnesses? >> No, I have no other witnesses. >> Would you like to sum up? >> Yes. Thank you. You can have a seat. >> Um,
this application has been lingering for a long time. Um, I uh thank you for letting us finish this application and hear the operational testimony. As you heard previously, our professionals did go ahead and put the proofs for the D2 use
variance and all the bulk variances on the record back in December. Again, this is a a applicant who wants to bring um nice event space into Union and allow residents to throw little gettogethers
and parties instead of going outside to a a different municipality. Um I I hope that you guys approve this application and I thank you for your time. >> Thank you. >> At this time, I believe we can
conference this Mr. Bentegna, would you like to begin this evening? >> Uh, sure, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. Like uh like council said, this has been going on for a while. After hearing the revised testimony, um in my opinion, I think they um
satisfied all the requirements and I think it's going to be a good application. So, I'll be voting yes tonight. >> Counselor, um Miss Little and Miss Rickettts cannot vote tonight. They were not >> I believe they were not on the board at that time. Okay.
>> So, I'm going to skip over to Mr. Graves. >> Yes, >> Miss Martin. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, I think all my questions have been answered. I don't see this as a negative impact to to the area. As well, I wish the the owners u
much success in their new business. So, I will be voting yes. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Wy. >> Yes, Mr. Mr. Chairman, I'm going to support this application. I think it's a good, clean application and I don't see anything negative with it. So therefore, we'll move yes. >> Mr. McNeel.
>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I I would concur with all that's been said by my colleagues and I too will be voting yes. >> And Miss Scott, >> yes, I also my colleagues will be voting yes. I think application makes it more
amable for us. Thank you. As for myself, based on tonight's testimony and the revised application, I believe the applicant has demonstrated that they are entitled to the variances that they have requested. Uh these proposed variances will not have a be a
detriment to the public good and the property is well suited uh for the proposed use and I wish the applicant much success in your new endeavor. Uh so I will vote yes. May I have a motion and a second to grant the application?
>> Mr. Chairman, I move that the board grant the variances applicable to this application and the council is directed to prepare a resolution consistent with the board's decision. >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Mr. Wy, >> yes. >> Martins, >> yes. >> Brena,
>> yes. >> Scott, >> yes. >> Mr. McNeel, >> yes. >> Mr. Graves, >> yes. >> Mr. Champion, >> yes. >> Thank you so much. June 10th. I'll put it on for the resolution of approval. June 10th. >> Mr. Chairman, there being no further business coming before the board, I move
that we adjourn. Second. >> All in favor? >> Opposed? So moved.