19 2025 planning board meetings called to order. >> Yeah, I I got it. Um >> this to advise that the notice, time, date, location, and to the extent known
agenda of the subject meeting was prominently posted. Public place reserve for such a similar announcements on November 6, 2025. Transmitted to the Times to Princeton Pack and West Windsor and Plainsboro News on November 6, 2025. File with the township clerk on November
6, 2025. Please call the role. >> Mr. Patel. >> Yes. >> Mr. Lavaro. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sheel. >> Mr. Panov. >> Yes. >> Mr. B. >> Yes.
>> Miss Bar. >> Yes. >> Miss Applegat. Councilman Whitfield. Mayor Marte. Vice Chairman Hobberman >> here. >> Chairman Carr >> here. We have a quorum. Thank you.
Um, just one really quick comment that I have. I just want to wish Rob Lavo happy birthday. His birthday was this week. >> I think he's uh 39 now. >> Okay. >> And Mr. Shel has arrived. >> Uh, yeah. And Mr. Be Mr. Shel and Mr. Be
are are here. Okay, at this time I'd like to open it up to the public um for comments on non-aggenda, non-pending items. Please come up to the uh microphone, state your
name and address for the record. Okay, seeing none. Next order of business. Minutes from October. Minutes from October 15th. Now it's working. October 15th, 2025. Any changes, amendments, uh
clarifications? As usual, Trisha did a great job. >> Anybody? >> Nope. Motion to approve the minutes of October 15th. >> We have a second.
Somebody second by Rob. All in favor say I. >> I. Okay. >> Okay. So you have the abstain. Okay. Great. Thank you, >> Rob. It pretty much was up to you and me
>> and Michael, too. >> Okay. Uh >> yeah, right. Yeah. >> Annis, anything on the environmental commission report? members usually but they attended this
meeting. One of the member Mr. Alexandro He expressed concern about the leaves he stacked up on the on the side streets. >> I'm sorry. Say again. >> The leaves. >> Oh, leaves. Yeah. >> On the streets. Okay.
And he's concerned that cause traffic problem when rain comes block the banks you know. So we suggesting that to be shred crushed maybe
fertilizer. So we may have another presentation next meeting >> of what he propos one of the girls would like township to provide space for from their township
property for following guard and she has a partner to work with. Okay. >> It's probably a Girl Scout project. >> It's probably to get her gold star or whatever the equivalent is. >> Uh number three, it was discussed that
she is supposed to provide more steep lines and brighter lines. I think Frank has some discussion on that one in the last meeting. on natural law updates right of the
pushes an issue was coming of title 4 in the draft of will be forced to the council in January of next year and how we are going to uh enforce it that's different story uh the township
for environmental engineer is working on the uh proposed audits Okay, gas still an issue going on and this discussed so many times DC would like to
have audience to limit the use of gas. Still no finaliz but discussed every time. A mayor has signed an agreement for the partnership with sustainable jury to
promote PSCG energy savings programs for Westminster residents. This agreement includes $2500 grant covering expenses promoting the program. So they already
signed and agreed on this agreement. uh there was a meeting yesterday uh about a lunchon I believe for sustainable journey for EC members I could not attend uh to for the silver
qualification that the township received uh one of the EC member uh he presented a good uh presentation about the AI tools and municipalities and here long presentation summary Cities
use AI to group services, reduce costs and repair and respond faster. For example, chatboards for questions to manage traffic and infra infrastructure automated computing and services requirement
and AI can do much more than what I just said. And what he said that algorithm of the AI was there in since 1970 but due to limited computer
uh uh space or what you call memory could not be implemented till last few years. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Any questions? Thank you.
Actually, I have a question regarding um gas powered leaf blowers. >> Yes. >> So, people want it's they're too noisy, right? So, people >> Yeah, that's electric. >> They want everything. They want electric.
>> They I think uh Princeton Township has some kind of ordinance on the use of the gas blowers. the time limits >> time okay >> for one to end >> okay >> okay so I think that maybe may come back
from the EC as a draft proposal are the solution okay and then council have to decide >> okay converting everything over to electric is it's a big deal so
okay >> now they're battery powered also you Oh, >> yeah. Okay. >> Most of the lawns in our mining, but also some of this >> you should pave everything over then you don't need you don't need it. >> Yeah. Sweep it up.
>> That's a lot of impervious coverage. >> Um, okay. Thank you, Jica. Anything on um affordable housing? The last meeting was on October 2nd. Um there's a ongoing engagement work with the Hamlet and the Hamlet representative
Mr. So we reported that the residents appear happy with the progress of work and um that was some good news right so I thought I okay that's >> okay thank you
okay so um for the applications tonight they're all courtesy reviews and so there will be no vote on what's presented just wanted to make Sure we're everybody's aware of that and no resolution. Uh first up is PB24-06
West Windsor Parking Authority former bus garage courtesy review. Just gracious. >> Good evening. U my name is Jeffrey Hall. I am with the firm of Schaeerman Lake and
Bloomstein and Bladder. Um I'm here as conflict counsel. Um, Paul Bishop is conflicted out because the his firm represents the zoning board of adjustment and therefore the parking authority retain me to present the um
application or the reviewing island. >> I'm sorry. Can you just repeat your name again? >> Yes. Jeffrey Paul H. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. You're welcome. >> Yeah. It's hard. It's hard picking you
up. Sam, can it be uh raised? >> Hey, okay. Is this better? >> Much better. Thank you. >> Okay, great. Thank you. As you mentioned, this is a courtesy review under chapter 31 of the municipal land use law uh which requires this
review as a result of um action by this board concerning the master plan. Um the uh parking authority is proposing a project that will u construct 41 parking spaces
u and also a pocket park at the corner of Wallace Road and Princeton Heightstown Road. Uh the property in question is block 59 lots one and two and it's about 9/10 of an acre. The pocket part will will consist of a
covered seating area, public picnic benches and landscaping improvements are intended to screen um an electrical substation which is in the vicinity. Um, as the board is undoubtedly aware, in
April of this year, you amended the master plan to include this project basically and then went through a zoning amendment that was adopted and I think became effective in June of this year. So, this both meets the uh redevelopment plan as
well as the zoning for the property. Uh the parking authority will be leasing this property from the township. Uh so believe we'll be presenting two witnesses and perhaps a third if their comments relating to landscaping. Uh our
witnesses are going to be Andy Lupo who's the chair of the parking authority and Reese Nordine um who's the project engineer from ACT Engineers. Uh Andy will discuss a little history and background of the parking
authority and the foundation. basically it's a public entity which I think we all know but I guess for the record we'll present that and then u Ree will discuss the the plans uh go over the
board um professionals comments and then answer any questions of the board the professionals and the public if the public's invited to ask questions so with that I would bring up Andy Lu pump
should take this side. >> Got to go lower for me. Uh thank you all. Appreciate that the opportunity to discuss this with you. As you know, the parking authority was established in 1971 as an independent authority of the township. Uh back in 2012, uh we worked
with the township in uh taking the old toxic dump site and creating uh Upper Vaughn. Uh and that was a working with DP. Uh and that was a a great win for the township. And we're always looking for opportunities to see some additional
parking uh for the parking authority, especially with the housing that's going on in town. When we looked at the bus garage, we immediately talked to township administration. Uh with the help of the mayor, uh Marina Francis, Sam, we were able to move forward with
the plan uh to try to work with uh Amtrak and uh remediate the contamination that's in the soil there and then to turn that into the pocket park and parking that we're uh discussing tonight. Um, so from our point of view, I think you all know the
parking authority, you know me. Open to other questions later, but I will turn it over to Reish right now. Question to Andy. This is next to the permit, Wallace permit. >> Thanks. There's a uh there's a Amtrak electrical station substation between
the bus garage and then it's the Wallace daily lot, which is a New Jersey transit lot. Then we have the semicircle uh right in front of the pla the terminal. And then we have the Wallace permit lot which is a West Windsor lot. So this
would be another West Windsor uh lot for us. >> I'm Reese Nine. Um I'm I have over 10 years of experience as a site civil engineer. I've graduated uh TCJ in 2014 uh with a civil engineering bachelor's
degree. Um I'm licensed in New Jersey and my license is in in good standing. I'm also licensed in four other states. U I've worked on hundreds of projects including storm water design, um site grading, utility zoning, roadway design.
Um I pro the projects that I've worked on uh have included both new development and redevelopment of mix of resident residential and commercial developers as well as as well as projects for municipalities and nonprofits. Um I've
provided engineering testimony in front of several different uh zoning and planning boards including Bordon Town, Chesterfield, Commercial Township, and Trenton. Uh so some some of this has already been uh spoken about. Um the existing condition
of the the site is currently a municipal uh bus garage. Um it's gra mostly gravel um right now that was being used as um bus parking and storage. Um it's 9/10en
of an acre. Um, blocksif block 59, lots one and two um are both owned by the township. And there's also a portion of the the site is uh just within the township's right of way. Um
uh >> yes, that's Wallace. It's it's uh in front of Wallace Road. Um and there's two uh driveway entrances from Wallace. Um it's on the corner of Wallace Road and and Princeton Heightstown. Princeton
Heightstown's on the west side of of the property. Um and um Wallace Road is south of it. Um behind the the property to the northwest is an electrical substation and north of the property is
um >> um I'm sorry, >> Amtrak training facility. >> Okay. Um to the east um is the Ellsworth shopping center and south is the PNC Bank. Uh
>> but as you did existing conditions the the building closest to the tracks not part of the site your site >> but uh is to remain correct >> the building >> and that building functions as and will function as >> to remain. Yep.
>> And what what is the function of that building there? >> I believe it's a training facility. that they >> say it again. >> So it's a separate lot. >> Yeah, correct. But what's the function of such building? >> I I believe they train um their workers to I I don't know exactly.
>> Andy sounds like he knows he >> trailer. It looks like a a one-story frame building. That's what the the survey says. >> Okay. >> No, thank you. Thank you. I'm sorry. Go ahead. >> Is Is there an easement on the property
for Amtrak to access? >> No. Uh they they >> How do they get to it? >> They the >> right way. there will need to be needed for them to access it. They are both township to get
to their but currently they just say that Wallace roads >> and having traced that line that you just did do they have trucks uh going to and from that site that would go through this the site we're talking about tonight.
>> So I wouldn't think trucks just like smaller cars but >> so radiuses are not an issue with >> Yeah. Right. Okay. >> Right. And and to follow up on Curtis's point, so if all the parking spaces are filled, would a small truck or an SUV be
able to go through? >> Part part of what we're proposing is a fence with a secure gate so that only Amtrak people would be able to access their property. >> Yeah. Yeah. But the pro the issue the issue I'm raising is that so an Amtrak
person he has the authority to go in use that facility and he has pass to get make the gate open >> but he drives a Suburban or you know huge you know a pickup truck and will that fit through? >> Yes.
>> Okay. Will the uh parking of those uh Amtrak vehicles be on the Amtrak site or on the Westminster parking authority site? >> The Amtrak site. >> And will there be any other uh reserved parking spaces uh on the Westminster uh
parking authority site such as for Westminster parking authority people or >> um Amtrak or New Jersey Transit or anybody else? >> No. >> No. We we don't anticipate that you should have a reserve parking there's
van track road that's plenty of space in back the lot track department vehicles and our maintenance cars to come up we'll have an opportunity most of the time our maintenance likely to do some loan maintenance or some landing and
it's an easy job for us and we can also just pull in and actually double off off to the side where uh you'd be able to move and distribute them anymore. >> And the only reason I ask is on the
Wallace uh road lot you have two spots or Westminster parking authority. Does it? >> Yeah. And primarily in the past what we've had is many times we have meetings with New Jersey Transit the past when we have an or service we have meetings with
Amtrak in the beginning in the morning and our computers we take up all the spaces and then our board members going into the office at 10:00 and we have a spot. So we end up reserving spots. We end we end up using those spots as we
actually wobble the site quite often to ensure that everything ends up to the bars. Yeah. And uh for any of us person use this was never permit or anything like that.
Just have the opportunity to fly closer and get into the normal trip. Johnson. Yeah. Uh um uh where yeah the the and the the site's within a quarter mile of the Princeton
Jun Junction train station. It's just down a quarter mile from from Wallace Road. So proposed um the applicants proposing a 41 uh space parking lot and a parking pocket park, sorry. Um the pocket park will have a gazebo, picnic
tables, bicycle lockers, and landscaping intended to screen the adjacent electrical substation. Um and it's designed to uh mirror the pocket or the pock park um on the
opposite side of Wallace Road for um at the PNC Bank. Um the parking lot is p primarily to be used for a train station parking for the weekdays and a community gathering area during the weekends. It's envisioned that uh food trucks would be
um parked at the parking lot during the weekends to serve uh >> Okay, let's take that one a step further. >> Okay. >> Um food uh an a scenario an a Saturday event at the pocket park. >> Mhm. And in this scenario, there will be
food trucks. >> Where do the food trucks park? >> We'd have uh blocked off spaces before >> they block off. So it would not would not be entirely 41 spaces of parking for the event because some of the spots would be with for the food trucks. Correct. Correct.
>> Yep. Okay. Uh and then I'm going to ask another question on a different thing. You mentioned bicycle lockers. Why bicycle lockers at this particular location instead of just a bicycle rack?
>> Why the lockers? I mean lockers I understand at the commuter station. Very understandable. But why lock bicycle lockers at this particular location? >> G generally for security of the the bicycles. If if they wanted to bike to
this and use the train station and actually yeah realistically nurse or MTA they provide the bike lockers has nothing to do with everybody
from perspective a bike rack or bike locker we just want to have the opportunity bikes to be there um people feel more comfortable if the bike is covered and it's going to be forever dollars which your typical New Year time
is. Uh what happens on a weekend, you know, the people are going to be in that event. >> Yet my concept would be that uh a bicycle commuter would want to park closer to the station and take advantage of the bicycle lockers that are already present at the
Princeton Junction train station. I just think bicycle lockers are overkill and I would suggest bicycle racks. I' I'd like to know my colleagues thoughts on this. Uh just a question on that. The the current bicycle lockers that are at the
the daily right or >> right am how how occupied are they 90% filled on a daily basis. Does anybody know that? >> Generally that's controlled by greater mer
>> I'm just curious is is it you know how many lockers are there >> um currently? 40. >> And would you say on a daily basis 39 of them are filled? >> I honestly could say that can go in get
there before about 7:30 and they're there until late at night. So the greater TMA is the one that ransom out here full. >> Yeah, I'm curious about them. >> I'm curious because when I used to commute daily, I've never saw one
bicycle ever use that locker in years. So, >> but I you know you know maybe that was a long time ago you know so >> at the end it's not >> right that's the ideal >> I've seen people use it I've also seen
it in the past where they were used to long so we'd be happy to have >> here here here's kind of a compromised position I think that if it's found that the current uh number of bicycle lockers
is less 50% or less being utilized. Why put more in this new lot? You know, just common sense. You know, why add more that probably won't be used because they'll want to put their bike closer to uh you know, as stated, closer to where
they're going to get on the train. If you find that 39 out of 40, you know, are occupied, then sure, we should have them because I agree that bicycles should be covered and locked up because if they're not visible, especially people using more ebikes now.
>> Yeah. We'll talk to see what the uh volume is if they have and if it's not >> right. >> Right. Right. >> Right. And this space can >> it's easier for you and then you know
the space will be less cluttered because bike u bike lockers take up more space. >> I mean and my whole approach is that of a bicycle locker is for like longer term storage and the pocket park to me seems like it's a day a daytime use. Um, and
that people who would park their bike at the pocket park would be for an event or activity at the pocket park. So that's why I I I'm reacting to bicycles. >> You're a commuter lockers over here. >> You're a commuter and you're going you're going to be parked there for 10
or 12 hours. It could rain, it could snow. It wasn't wasn't happening when you left the house in the morning. You don't want your bicycle, especially if it's an e bike, an expensive bike, you don't want it getting ruined. So, I could see why you put in a locker >> yet. Michael, I would say that if I was
uh of the what you just described, I'd want to park my bike closer to train station because coming southbound, there's it's much more of a walk to get to this pocket park to retrieve the bicycle. >> Agree. That's why I made the point of finding out what the occupant rate is
because if it's full every day, then sure, we should add. Right. That's if there aren't spaces available at the station, that would be a reason. >> Right. >> We can move on. We can move on. >> Yes. Okay. We uh killed this point.
Thank you. >> Um where where do people park for the overflow for these community events? >> The overflow. >> Yeah. So Wallace per >> there I say you know it's a little bit
of a fall but I guess so far right there realistically we would envision something on Saturday or Sunday possibility could exist for Ellsworth that eventually park um but we would have sufficient food
parking permit and we want to suggest suggesting it's going to be food trucks every weekend. >> They've made it a goal. We've done some food truck events in farmers market area >> drive a lot of work put together.
>> No, I'm not I'm not thinking about a a uh a food truck event. I'm thinking about just an event, but uh you have a large crowd at your pocket park and you have more than 41 cars
uh parked there to uh access that event. >> Yeah, we have >> Okay. and you'll have signage or something that says Clark at Wallace. >> It says free on weekend, >> but that's only free for West Windsor
Township residents. If somebody from Plansboro or Princeton wants to come to your event, that's not free. Correct. West. >> They'll park at the bank. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. We can move on.
>> Uh move on. Uh so the parking authority has been working with the township engineer to uh with several grants for this project uh with NJ dot both of which are pending award. Um, one is the transit village grant which is intended
to help fund the pocket park portion of the u project and the other is safe streets to transit which is intended to help fund um between this site and the train station entrance some improvements
to the sidewalks and crosswalks. Um both Mercer County and NJH DOT have provided letters of no interest for the the entrances to Wallace Road for this project. Um as well as DRCC has made a
jurisdictional uh determination that um no review is required. Um the site the site u meets the district's bulk um standards and no variance or waiverss are required for this.
Um, I can get into the technical re or the review comments um where testimony was requested from uh the TRC if we'd like to get into. >> Is there anything that the our professionals presented that or raised
awareness to that you can't um agree with or want to? >> No. >> So everything in their comments you you're going to adhere to? >> Yep. >> Okay. So then we can move on.
>> Okay. The So for the uh redevelopment plan, the um testimony was was requested for the redevelopment plan portion of this. Uh the township recently, as we said before, um two ordinances to amend
uh the Princeton Junction redevelopment plan and the plan land use plan element for the RP9 district. Um and now these um allow commuter parking as a permitted
use for this um area and um but it still keeps some of the the goals that were originally in um um that redevelopment plan. Um the development is um still
um going to be mirroring the uh public park and the um screening the adjacent power plant. Um, and we're still intending to convert this in uh building into something that's more useful to the
public. Um for the handicap spaces, it's notably there's there's no handicap spaces um proposed for this um site in this site, but they are in the site plans for this where um the Wallace
permit lot will have a couple of spaces restriped to be um handicapped spaces. Um the purpose of that is because if this is going to be mostly used for commuter parking, we want the handicap
spaces closer to the train station. Um we have taken a look at survey data at the existing um parking lot uh the Wallace permit lot um and they those spaces do meet ADA requirements. Um,
for storm water, the site's actually going to be decreasing the amount of imperous surfaces and decreasing the amount of motor vehicle surfaces as the site's currently mostly gravel parking lot that was used for um storing
buses. Um, and the site's actually smaller than an acre. Um, so there's kind of no chance of this becoming a um a major development for storm water wise um
for the driveway and circulation um >> you can actually carry the mic in hand. It's can because this is being recorded. Uh this is a left uh left or right turn in.
Um cars would be directed around. Um we we'll have arrows directing cars around. Um being able to park um as they circulate through. If you were going to Amtrak, you would be making a right into
um this driveway access that goes to their site um and circulating around this way. Um they would if you're exiting the site at this point, you would you would be going to this exit um
driveway aisle. Um or if you need to recirculate through this, you you'd be able to make a left and recirculate. Um, this longer driveway um for the exit is intended to to be able to um allow a
little bit of stacking if as as Wallace Road does get fairly busy um especially during rush hour. Um there you'd be able to fit about five cars along this um if this starts
getting backed up. Um but both the entrance and exit would be right or left turn only or right or right or left turn. >> Okay. Thank you. >> So it was mentioned in in uh Francis's
report and something I picked up even before I read Francis's report about uh the picnic tables um that there should be a picnic table that has barrierfree access. >> Yes, we we get that. And it sounds like you consent to that. Y >> but you're not consenting to providing a
barrierfree parking spot. Is that my understanding? >> Um so if we we could probably >> this parking space be a a handicap space. Um
>> I would like you to explore providing a barrierfree parking space at this >> uh location. I I Okay. Uh I'm an architect. First of all, um uh a point of learning um people
can have handicaps. Parking spots do not have handicaps, but parking spots and entries can be barrierfree, meaning that the person can a person can go through without any barriers. So I I I've trained myself to use language of
barrierfree in describing objects and things related to uh accessibility. So um I always react against you know I always wse when I hear handicapped parking because a parking spot cannot be
or is handicapped. >> Thanks for setting me up for that one, Jodica. He's been waiting three years. >> I've been waiting a lot of years to say that one. I don't know if I've ever said it in zoning. >> As a point to to that, if if we do end
up making that a barrier-free parking space, um there will be um you will be within ADA guidelines for the sidewalk getting to that um uh okay table. I think it's really important that we do a
handicap parking space. >> Thanks, Ellen. >> Rub it in, Alan. >> Okay. >> I agree. >> I have a question regarding your electric vehicle spaces. I read in the
professional reports, uh, one professional indicated that you had two Yes. electric vehicle parking spaces and others said three. So I wanted you to go on the record and ask you how many
electric vehicle parking spaces will you have in this sporting gun? >> Two. Two. >> Two. >> Yes. >> And will those be reserved for electric vehicles only? >> Yes. And they will obviously be required
to charge their vehicles during that time period or not. >> So these are also they're they're make ready um electric vehicle spaces. So they'll be wired to do that. It's not required to actually have the electrical
charging spaces in >> Oh. So so they're they're reserved for electric vehicles, but you won't have charging stations. It'll just be prewired for some potential future use. >> Yes. >> Charging station right there.
Commuter a lot. Um most people are flooding over 10 12 hours. They generally charge at home charging overnight. But unlike a mall or shopping area, they're in and out quick, right?
>> For commuters, they're there all day. We don't want them to be charging the vehicle, >> right? They're not gonna be charging all day. They'll, you know, so it doesn't make any sense. >> It takes up the space. >> Takes up the space. So, >> good point, Kenny. >> So, if I have a if I have an electric
vehicle, which I do, and I park in your 41 space lot, there two spaces that I can park in because I have an electric vehicle, but I cannot use that spot to charge my vehicle. Right now we're only
committing to having it readily available. I would not committing yet how to mark that because I also have an electric vehicle and I'm charging right >> and I shouldn't be able to park closer
if there's no charging. I should be the same as everybody else. I should have thought. >> So all right. So just I'm confused about it because you know the whole point of having an electric vehicle parking space is so you can charge your electric
vehicle. But if you're pre-wired for it and you don't put a electric vehicle charging station there, then there's no there's no difference between that and a regular vehicle. >> Right. Right.
>> Yeah. Yeah. It's it's not it's an it's not an electrical vehicle spot. It's a regular spot that in the future may be converted to an electric vehicle space. >> Need arises. If the need arises and the third party comes in and says, "Hey, I want to put in charging uh parking
spaces there. Those will be the two spaces that are available >> for you as an electric vehicle. If you plan on going into the city, see a Broadway show and out to dinner, you don't want to park there for seven hours, right? You want to charge your car at home. Or we can charge it there.
>> Yeah, but you can't charge it there because it's not available. So, I don't want you to get stuck and not get be able to get home. So, you could charge it in the morning. >> Okay, we cleared that up. >> Yeah, it's just basically it. Um, we
already talked about the bicycle lockers. The the other um thing that um was requested testimony for was um the pocket park size. Um what's required in the the redevelopment plan is 6,000
square ft. We're providing just over that 6,50 um square feet. Um what would what's required is four picnic areas. We're we're we're showing five um right now in
the um pocket park, but then there's also an additional four um within the um the parking lot and um near the intersection of Wallace and Princeton Heights Road. Um and we are showing on
our plans um street furnishings, planters, refuge containers, and decorative thematic lighting. >> Okay, great. Thank you. That is all that I have. >> Any other witnesses? Um, no. >> You had any questions on that?
>> Yeah, we're going to turn over to our professionals. Now, you've already committed that any of their comments they've already agreed to and or well, you you're not required to follow, but it's nice that if they make a good recommendation that you go and say,
"Hey, it makes sense." So, um, want to move quickly through this. So Ed, if you want to, you know, take a, you know, go through and, you know, make your comments, please. >> Certainly, Mr. Chairman. Good evening, everyone. I'm filling in for Dave Novak
as well. So, I'll touch on planning and for the landscape architectural aspects. I concur with all the testimony that's been provided as to the zoning, the master plan, the land use plan, all of those provisions. Um, I appreciate the applicant's willingness to address any of our questions. The only questions or
comment maybe I would have is just to identify the signage that's provided on the property. Um if you can touch on that. So one of the things that uh we added to our plans since the last technical review committee was um a
meeting was a um wayfinding sign um which is different uh different from the monument sign that we were putting in the uh corner of Wallace and Princeton Heightstown Road. Um the the purpose of that sign is is more more to just label the um the name
of this lot which is currently undecided. Um but um it's kind of consistent with the rest of the uh parking lots that parking authority owns around um this and it kind of match that style. >> Okay. Thank you. I didn't have we didn't
have any issue with regard to the wayfinding sign. It seems to make sense in addition to the overall Princeton junction sign as well. Um, and some of our landscape comments were inconsistent with the latest plans that you had provided. It looks like you really
addressed a lot of our issues and uh comments that we may have had. Um, and Mr. Chairman, I think that's that's it with regard to the land. >> Okay. We we addressed the bicycle lockers. They'll do a review and whatever makes sense. You know, you I know you want to do what makes sense and
we want you to do what makes sense. The one thing I would offer is sometimes the bicycle lockers are helpful, especially today with people buying electrical bikes. They're so expensive that they like to see them in. >> Totally. Totally agree. But if they have 40% occupancy at the train station, might as well try to utilize those.
>> I agree as well. Thank you. >> Okay. Um Fran, anything that you need to address? >> Uh good evening. No, I don't believe that there's anything that I had touched
on in the report issue that they have not covered already. So, unless anybody has any questions or comments for me, it's I have nothing additional to add or ask at this point. >> Lighting plan is acceptable.
>> Uh for for what they're intending to do, yeah. Um there there weren't any actual calculations of the average light levels, but I'm assume in keeping with the other parking facilities in the area as long as they're not overly commercial
there anyways. >> Correct. >> Okay. Sometimes if it's residential across the street, they may get upset about lighting. That's why I wanted to ask it. Okay. Uh thank you, Fran. >> Okay, Quasi. Um I'm interested in your
take on traffic. >> Yeah. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Frank. Uh my name is Quasi Misud. I'm traffic engineer uh Auror and Associates. We represent the township uh planning board. Uh we did uh have a
conversation with the applicant and we exchanged some emails. We issued a letter on October 29, 2025. Primarily their comments were mostly related to the carb ram the type of carb rams and
also the typicals as well as the detectable surface. We I received an email from Rhys Nordine and econ all the comments that we had and they're going to address all the comments and yeah other than that there
are two minor comments that I had. mostly relates to the uh labeling of the signage the penalty plate as well as the other one was you see the ADA so based on the new MATCD standards so I believe they will
address all those >> yeah we will address and again >> I'm sorry >> we we will also assuming that the um DOT awards um the safe streets to transit um I'm I'm assuming that the D would be
interested in making sure that those kind of comments are addressed too. >> Sure. >> So, >> yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That that Yeah. Our bas our comments were based on the DOT standards. So, we went by the standards for the DOT. >> Make sure the those are compliant.
>> That's all I have. Ch. >> Okay. Thank comment regarding um memo from Chief Lynch regarding um the application. basically says that this is for fire emergency services. Applicants provide
an exhibit demonstrating adequate emergency vehicle access to the site and concludes the fire emergency services does not have any issues or objections with this application. So, thank you very much. >> Okay.
Thank you. Have a good night. Um No questions. Sorry. Okay. Next up, PB25-07 West Windsor Plains High School South.
Courtesy review for a carport photoactic system. >> We'll take them together. No, >> it's two separate schools. Two separate schools. Okay. Kids can take advantage of changes they
grab. >> Yeah. >> This uh car was seven, right? Okay. >> No, I'm still working. >> Excuse me. >> Excuse me. Could
you could you move um the exhibits around more? Pivot them so that that that's great. Well, that that No, that >> No, no, this both both. Oh, that's that's good. Okay, great. Perfect. Perfect.
>> Perfect. Okay. Both locations, right? >> Good evening. >> Sorry, I don't want to. >> Okay. Okay. We get moving. Okay.
>> All right. >> Hi. >> Good evening. >> Good evening. >> My name is Brandon Croker, attorney at the Kamenolo Group here on behalf of the West Windsor Plainsboro Regional School District Board of Education. Uh with me tonight
have um Chris Rosadi from um FWH Associates and Alex Barry uh director of engineering from Green Skies Energy. Um so this is we're here tonight for a courtesy or capital improvement review. Um I just is the board's preference. I
don't I don't know if for capital improvement reviews you would um do you need me to swear in or or qualify the experts or just in terms of We're We're not going to swear you in because this is courtesy review. Can you just repeat your name again, please? >> Sure. It's Brandon Kroger. >> Brandon Kroger. Thank you.
>> Absolutely. >> Yeah. No, no swearing in because it's courtesy review and basically you could take all our recommendations and not care about them. We hope you that you take into consideration what we recommend, but um you know, we appreciate you being here.
>> Okay. Absolutely. We we appreciate the opportunity. So, we're here tonight for for two matters. They're they're both courtesy reviews. Um they both concern solar facilities within our existing parking lots. And one one project is at the high school south and the other's at
the Morris Hulk Elementary School. And just um so just for the record, it's so PB25-07 is the high school south application and PB2508 is more Morris Elementary School. It's
that project. Um, and again for the record, High School South at 346 Clarksville Road. It's block 17.13, lot 2, and it's located in the R24 zone.
That project uh, and I'm going to ask um, Mr. Rosati or Sperry to speak about it, but it's essentially a 952 kilowatt solar carport system within the existing parking lot. And again, for the record,
the the Morris Hulk project u is located at 303 um-305 Clarksville Road. That's block 11, block one. It's located in the R20. So um and that's at 270 kilowatt. So you're going
to present um for both applications at the same time. >> Oh, whatever the >> No, I I mean I'm fine with that because they're both exactly the same thing. just different schools. >> Yeah. I mean, however the board would be like we could separate them or >> No, I No, I'd rather, you know, do it
together. >> Okay. >> Let's maximize our time. >> All right. Fair enough. Um, so maybe now's a good time I'll ask um Mr. to speak a little bit about the the projects and explain to the board. >> Sure. They're
similar, but there's going to be several distinct differences that I'll touch on as we go through. Um, so they're both uh school parking lots. Actually, you know what? We can real quick, we all know where they are. They're on Clarksville Road. Uh, the high south is in the right
side of the exhibit. Maurice uh Hawk School is on the left side. Um, high school much larger array one megawatt um talk about megawatt. They are both
metered systems, meaning that the um array does not supply 100% of the of their electrical needs of each school. At times there may be where the array exceeds the um requirements of the
school, not open, it's a really sunny day, dead noon, the array may, you know, produce a little bit more because no one's in there using it. But on the average throughout the year, it's not a it will back feed the grid at the time
when the school's not taking that power. But other than that, it's not producer. We don't have a battery system for storage or anything like that. It's just a net metered um carport arrays. One at the high school, one at the uh the other school, the Moraurice Hawk School,
as you can see. Oh, let's go real quick. Oops. Sorry. the the high school array are we have two different kinds. We have a t a tea array which you have a column in the middle and the array itself is is going to be tilted towards the sun in the
shape of a T. On the edges of the property we have a cantalie array which the bulk of the array is on one side of the column with a a smaller part of the array on the other side of the column. So that's the only there in the more
situation. We have two arrays as well as this very large uh array all as one system. Underneath this array, there'll be a mixture of columns, different heights because the array is tilted towards the sun. Uh I believe this one's about a five degree tilt. So you'll have
a little bit taller columns on the high side obviously. And then the um columns are interspersed throughout the array. We don't know exactly where the columns are going to be other than that they're going to be at the head of parking stalls. Um this not been completed as yet.
Typically what we do is we come to the the boards, we get our planning approval, what have you, and then when we go for building permits, that's when the real meat and potatoes get done with the structural design, the real hard line electrical designs, etc.
So, let's see. Let me make sure I hit on all the things. We did review the the um the um professionals review. They all made good points and I'll I'll address them as we go along. Um each uh module
is about 7 feet by 4 feet. Um the modules are wired together and there's going to be um array mounted inverters. The inverters convert DC current coming off the uh panels to AC current which then goes to the building. Once it hits
that DC converter that or that inverter, everything else is like normal electrical systems like you'd have in your house. So everything's under NEC code. Everything is per code, even down to the signage that we have to have on the on the array itself as far as shut off locations, the heights of the um of
the array elements, etc. Um again with the car ports are going to be built on steel frames. The uh steel frames will be on columns. The columns will be in the ground with supported with concrete like sauna tube type foundation elements. Our plan calls for a three-foot
diameter. Typically once that hard engineering and structural is done, it's a little bit smaller, but we were a little bit conservative. So that bulk it'll infringe on a parking stall about 18 in. So yeah, I won't be able to park my F250 in one of those stalls, but I can just go to the one right next door
and it'll fit. Yes. Yes, there it's existing parking and we're just putting carports on the existing parking. Both um schools have rooftop
solar already and this is just going to enhance what's already there in place. Um minimum clear height is going to be 13'6 in and that's basically to clear make sure school bus underneath more importantly emergency vehicles. You've
got to make sure your fire apparatus can maneuver in and around the array. Um the highest point on the high school will be about 16 ft and on the other one I believe it's about 19
because again we have that large array coming across at that angle. It's just going to be a little bit higher on the high side. Um all panels will be fixed in place. uh parking lot lighting. There'll be undermounted uh LED fixtures firing down
onto the uh parking lot. There were um let's talk about the high school real quick. There was a comment in the professionals review letter and it's well taken because here tonight I actually drove this perfectly dark night on the uh
easterly side of the parking lot where the arrays are going. There's a group of about 11 spots that are right now lit by a large stansions where we're going to be covering them up. So, we're gonna be taking them down and putting down firing uh lighting in this area. So, we're
going to have to look at this when we change the lighting to make sure this area that's not under an array to make sure it has adequate lighting. We might be able to move a couple lights here and there a little bit more spill there, but that's something that we'll definitely be looking at uh as a from a safety uh
perspective. U there will be no additional impervious surface on either one. Yes. >> Yes. Yes. Yes. Well, this is right here where I'm pointing on the on the exhibit for the
um for the high school. This is roughly 20 or so parking stalls. So, it's going to be over all of them. Now, if we go to the Maurice Hawk, a This is one, two, three, four rows of parking. It's going to be a rager roof
structure over that. Okay. >> So, keeping it on the Maurice Hawk plan. Yes. as you're talking about the location of the canopies. Um, what was the criteria that you that led you to locate them where they are instead of
other parts of the parking lot f further away from the building, you want to get as close to the building as possible if you can because you have electrical feeds and conduit runs that have to go into the building. Um it brings up an interesting point of one of
the differences between jobs is at the high school we're so far away from the school itself. We a second transformer because we have a lot of voltage loss from the uh switch equipment to the tie-in point that we have to then step
it up again. Try to keep it as close as we can to the school. Again, we have less uh conduit runs, less disturbance, less, you know, just less work and it's it's it's more economical. And that leads to my other question. Um, why is the second transformer located so
far away closer to Penile Road than at nearer to the site >> on >> of your work? I'm looking at a doc page uh of page on the uh I've got it in the
doc set. It's uh page five, sheet five, where you have the transformer number two located all the way on the other side of the building. >> Again, because the distance that this electrical feed has to go, it might be more of an electrical engineering
question, but again, due to the length of it, we have a lot of voltage loss. So then, right before we combine into the building, it gets bumped up. So, it's two two transformers just because we're so far away from where we're tying into the building itself
to the point of connection to the building and that that all that conduit between transformers is totally underground. Correct. >> Yes. Correct. >> Are you not um putting your solar panels
in the faculty lot because is not uh uh pointed toward the sun or uh you're just using the student lot of high school. >> A lot of the actual location of the layout itself was developed through
working directly with west the regist. So um in the development of this we really put in there noting what was just said about the efficiency of the system as well, but um really a lot of those specific layouts
were directly taught. >> Is the school district planning on doing this at their other schools or just here? >> We will be in Plansboro hopefully in January for two schools. The one the two
on Grover's Mill Road across from each other. Did we have applications pending there as well? Oh, sure. No. Well, again, for a large long vehicle, they may not be able to park every place. They'll have to choose which one because
there'll be columns interspersed, but as far as an overall loss of parking, there will be none. There will be no change to the ADA compliant spots um with with the array construction either. So there no disruption to existing
parking. Yeah. Not that one specifically, but we've been involved in in many projects. We do a lot at at malls and and other facilities and actually becomes a very popular place to park especially when it's sunny out because your car doesn't
get thousand degrees in the summertime um even or in the winter even when it's raining. Now it's not a solid um surface where rain just sheets off. It's each uh the rain water will drip in between each panel. They're not touching each other. There's a little bit of of
of space in between. So the rain does drip through the panels. Snow is same thing. Uh typically the panels are about 20 degrees warmer than ambient temperature. So the snow melts a little bit quicker. Each one of these will have snow guards on them also. So you don't have that potential for once the snow
hits that critical mass or melt temperature where it just slides off. So we'll be uh preventing that as well. Well, we're going to have um telemetry, which basically is a a minute-by-minute monitoring of the system. So, if there's
anything that it shows that a panel or a string of panels is not functioning appropriately or where it should be, then you can come out and take a look at it. Other than that, it's cleaning every once in a while. Um it's, you know, really soap and water and some scrub brushes. Honestly, um, typically what we
say in the beginning, maintenance and equipment checks will be once a month for the initial tr troubleshooting, then quarterly, and then on an as needed basis because they can check remotely how the array is functioning. And obviously, we'll want it functioning optimally, constantly. So, if there's a
whole string out, someone will go out there and typically the the uh maintenance vehicles are like a a work van or something like that. No large vehicles or anything uh of that nature. Yes. The Bulls do rooftop um solar.
>> Yes. Yes. >> Well, the other ones are already existing, so they're already in place. >> No. Uh I don't Oh, they basically like the school district. Are you planning on doing this installation,
say during the summer or school break, or planning on doing it while the school's in session? And how do you plan on modifying the traffic pattern if you're closing part of a parking lot or
closing an entire parking lot to put these carport devices in? >> The goal is to do them during the summer. Um that being said, another comment in the review letters was a staging plan
which we will offer uh at the time of building permit. That's to your and planning department where we're going to be storing while they're waiting to get installed, where the trucks are going to be going, that type of thing. Yes. Um, being that
it's going to be during the summer, it's not going to be that critical, but you know, it we should know where things are going to be going and and how things are going to get in and out. Uh, from a landscape perspective. Yes. Sure. But
you know include the solar that's generated from the roof. Is that something? >> Yes. >> Yes. No, it's the it's the whole package all together. >> Yes. Yeah. There.
Heating and air conditioning is the big one. So, when it's warm out, you're never going to meet it unless we have, I don't know, several factors higher of of of gray. Um, again, from a landscaping perspective, each job a little bit
different. We we proposed on the Maurice uh Hawk School some plings along the uh Clarksville Road frontage, but we called out one specific species and the the request was to not have my culture and
to fake them a little bit better. So we with that and it makes some sense. Um we were showing uh green giant arbor vites and they were just going to get you know the suggestion was to remove several of them interspersing with different species to make it a nicer looking buffer when you put
>> in the time of planting of such uh landscaping what would the planting height be and I'm trying to think how long it's going to take to grow up >> you pro I got to look at the plan but we probably spec like five to six foot but for >> green time of planting
>> yeah so green giant arboriting nice environment. They're going to get big in several years. >> Current are providing landscaping and burn on road. >> Yes. So that
going to be seen over top of that or do you anticipate the burm and the uh landings to cover that as well? Now you'll you'll see well the way the plant because they're not they're not that large. I think maybe they're about 6 to
8 feet maybe at best. So you will you will see it. The change in grade from the parking lot to the road is only two or three feet. So it's really not that much different. Um uh but sticking to landscaping on the um on the high school
site, we have three trees that have to get removed due to shading and they'll be in the way of this um canolver array. We uh are of the understanding that we will need a permit for those removals and we are showing in some additional plantings along the um like the
northwest corner of the entrance drive. >> Some of the neighbors on the other side of Bugsville Road and what they may think about seeing carports over top of land. >> Yeah, I mean it's a it's a decent distance away. Hey, I mean it's not
going to be invisible by any means and it is softened by the um the existing vegetation and as the vegetation does mature it will help help that sitation. >> Well, I I think it's um it's a preference over parking spaces,
right? They're shiny, they're new. Why not? >> Yeah. either the roof of a car or or the shiny new object. I go with the shiny new object. >> So, um Oh, tonight we've looked at both the Morris Hawk property and the high
school south property. Is it part of the strategic planning of the school district to maybe do this at the other three uh school district locations within West Windsor, Dutch Neck, and the two properties along Village Road?
Is that a part of a strategic plan or down the road or anything? >> No, no, no. I'm talking about West Windsor. >> I can't speak to that. I I can say that. So, the BA of from the school district, he has a medical surgery, so he couldn't be here, but he did share that they're they've
received um some calculations on their on their current arrays that are on the roof and and they they're doing very well. That's why they want to >> at the other three West Windsor locations >> was that >> the other three West Windsor locations. >> Um I I have to check I mean I just in in general the existing arrays that they
have are they're very pleased with how they're doing in terms of as part of their EIP to the Fraser energy cost and I I I do not know the answer that I can find out but um I just they're very happy and that's why they want to expand these projects in terms of the the other schools in West Windsor. Um I can find
out. Have you looked at your energy bill lately? Of course. Stolen solar. >> That's true. >> I'm not happy with my energy bill. >> That's true. >> Costs do keep going up. >> They're going they went up quite a bit. Okay. Um, anything else?
>> One last item that was uh in the professionals review letter is when we put the columns in and design the columns to make sure that we avoid any subgrade infrastructure at the Maurice Hawk School. We're close to a storm water pipe. We understand that and any
location will be adjusted accordingly. >> Okay, great. Um, now you reviewed all our professional reports and are there any issues with any of the recommendations they have or you know you just disagree or
>> No, I mean there were all points that were well taken, especially the one with the lighting. Uh, without that I probably wouldn't have gone there tonight and looked at it and it was um eye opening. Um, the one thing I did notice also was it seems that the
lighting intensity is fairly low at the site. So, I think that might be a a theme of of the town. We may be over lighting our array. So, we'll be taking a look at that. I'll have our landscape architect take a look. Um,
>> it might be lower because of res all the residential around, right? But, you know, then yes, you got to you'll have to look at that. because we can light that thing up pretty well because it's, you know, it's a reflective
surface above us. We're firing straight down. We're about 16 feet off the ground. If we're not careful, it can uh glow pretty brightly. >> If someone walks through the parking lot with a flashlight, so they're not going to they're going to be upset about bright lights, >> right? So, just for the record, I'll be
we'll be talking to our landscape architect staff to make sure that we're kind of >> Okay, that makes sense. in in the same mode of the rest of the of the facilities, >> right? Okay. Anything else? >> Unless there's other questions on like
general maintenance or anything like that. >> Ed, do you want to take the go first here? >> Yeah, certainly. I can walk the board through our comments just quickly. Uh with regard to the high school south uh and also the Morris Hawk School, um both
of those are consistent with our land use plan and community facilities plan for the purposes of why they're here tonight with regard to uh getting that uh review before this board. But in in addition to that, the applicant has obviously made changes and made
adjustments to certain things. I was just going to ask you to clarify the maximum height of the panels as well as the clearance for buses or any larger vehicles. >> Sure. The the minimum clearance we have is 13'6. Um and the heights for let me make sure
I have my notes for the Maurice Hawk. I have the um the highest point being approximately 19 ft above grade. And again, that's for the large for the large array because again, we have 13 feet six on the low side. We're coming up at an
angle over that larger distance. It's just going to be a little bit higher. And I believe on the high school, the max is going to be about 16 feet. Again, with the minimum being 13 point uh 13t 6 in. >> Okay. Um and then that clearance will be high enough for the buses and
circulation pipes. >> Yeah. Basically the per New Jersey regulations the highest vehicle even emergency vehicle is 13 foot6 and that's typically your like um fire uh aerial apparatus um and typically that highest point is in the middle of it and so
we'll will be um the clearance is fine >> clearance purposes there won't be anything hanging down that might hit the >> Okay, I appreciate your comments regarding the lighting. One of the things we were wondering is if there is a um a timing of the intensity of the
fixtures that could be worked into the plan or not because with the LED fixtures nowadays you can scale them down during the evening hours things of that nature so it's not too overlit >> right maybe it starts bright early and then dims down something to that >> it's a thought we can look into that and
also I forgot to mention that the light timing will be coincident with the other lights of the sites >> thank you >> makes sense uh with regard to the screening for the high school. Um, as I understand it, there might be a few arborites that have to be replaced. They
may have died along the frontage. Would that be something that you would consider? Uh, making those replacements as needed. >> Sure. >> Might only be a handful. >> That's fine. >> Um, but right now, as the board was asking, what kind of view is there? Um, I would say they're more like 8 feet out there right now, believe it or not, uh,
in the landscape. look lower, but at the same time, I think they provide a fairly consistent uh screen along Clarksville Road. I think I appreciate the other trees that are being added as well. I know you had to take down the the trees along the south side, which leads me
back to the Mars Up School. One of the things I may not have communicated very well in the review was just the eventual height of some of the trees, and it looks like they're all in the south side of the uh arrays. you may want to consider possibly even moving them back a little bit further.
>> Sure. >> Like for instance, the Green Giant get the 40 to 60 feet tall. So you may get a pretty significant shadow from that >> uh in certain times of year. So just just future plans. >> Absolutely. >> In consideration of that. >> I think that's all the questions I have.
>> Okay. Um >> uh good evening. So listening to the discussion so far, uh there's there's not too much that has been touched on that, um
hasn't been brought up in the report and vice versa. Uh I do appreciate the comments about the lighting and the extra attention given especially at High School South. Um the uh other things not talked about
just for the board's information is that the improvement coverage really isn't affected and as mostly with these going over existing parking which is the preferred situation as opposed to covering green space with them. But even if they were covering green space, the
municipal land use law doesn't allow the town to count that as improvement coverage. only the found permanent foundations would be counted. But in this case, there's there's no storm water management required uh requirement triggered. Um I do appreciate the
sensitivity to the underground infrastructure, making sure that still functions after installation of the foundation systems. Um but no, other than that, I don't I don't have anything new that hasn't been brought up already.
Thank you. And again, everything in the recommendations have been addressed, right? >> Yeah. All points very well. >> Great. Um, I'll just read in for the record uh from Chief Lynch, Fire Emergency Services.
Um, basically for both sites, the pro proposed design does not impact fire department access to the site. So, he gives his blessing. Um any other questions for the applicant?
>> Michael >> question is what's typical useful? typical it's about 25 to 30 years but I'll qualify that also that doesn't stop after 25 after 25 30 years your
efficiently efficiency goes down to maybe 80 to 85% of what they were um and then it becomes a numbers game where it doesn't make sense to replace them with new technology and actually one of the quote unquote recyclable uh ways to do it is they take those panels down and
they bring them to somewhere else where they can't afford the really expensive panels and they you you know, maybe out even out of the country and they'll reuse them somewhere else because they're still doing 80% of what they were designed to originally. >> Yes. >> Yeah.
Yeah. Sure. Anything else? Okay. Thank you very much for your presentation. >> Thank you for your time. >> Have a great night. >> Thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> Sam, what's the rest of the year look
like? >> December 17th. December 17th >> meeting. Uh well, entertain a motion to close the public session. Motion to close the public session. Anybody? Moved by Sue, second by
>> Okay, Annis. Okay. Uh, all in favor say I. >> I. >> So, Alan, I didn't wear it tonight, but Fred has given me CM.