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Record of Proceedings

Franklin Township Planning Board Meeting - September 24, 2024

Planning Board — Tuesday, September 24, 2024
BodyFranklin Township, New Jersey
SessionPlanning Board
DateTuesday, September 24, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 24:50

Original source
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0:00

This is the planning board meeting of September 18, 2024, in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act, PL 1975, Chapter 231.

0:10

Adequate notice of this regular special meeting tonight.

0:16

Regular meeting of the planning board of the Township of Franklin has been provided.

0:21

So board members, applicants, professionals, and members of the public, please speak directly into microphones so that our recording secretary can properly process minutes.

0:33

Applicants and professionals, please fill out the sheet on the table when you have completed your testimony.

0:46

Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

1:04

All right, we're gonna move to roll call.

1:09

Okay.

1:12

So Jennifer, Robert Thomas, Rebecca Hilbert, Mark Dancy, and Mike all asked to be excused.

1:20

Sammy just emailed me and said he can't make it.

1:24

So councilman and Barson?

1:27

Here.

1:27

Theodore Chase.

1:31

Robert LeCourt.

1:32

Here.

1:34

And Mahir Rafik?

1:36

Yeah.

1:37

And Charles Brown.

1:38

Here.

1:39

Thank you.

1:40

We're now gonna move to the minutes, the regular uh meeting minutes from June 19, 2024.

1:46

Um who here can vote on that.

1:48

Everyone can vote on that.

1:50

All right.

1:51

Um I'll make a motion.

1:54

Seconded.

1:55

It's been moved and properly seconded.

1:57

All in favor?

1:59

Aye.

1:59

Any opposed?

2:01

Seeing none, motion carries.

2:03

Let's move to the regular meeting minutes for July 10th, uh, 2024.

2:08

Can everyone hear vote?

2:09

Uh no.

2:10

Councilman Embarson, Theodore Chase, Mahir Rafik, and that's it.

2:17

Okay.

2:18

Is there a motion?

2:20

I'll make the motion.

2:22

I'll second it.

2:24

It's been uh moved and properly seconded.

2:26

All in favor that can be in favor.

2:28

Aye.

2:29

Any opposed that can be opposed?

2:32

Seeing none, motion carries.

2:34

Let's now move to the uh resolution.

2:36

There are no resolutions tonight.

2:39

Um let's next move to discussion, and we have 31 Voorhees LLC regarding PLN 2000 3, and you're looking for an extension of approval.

2:55

Yes, that's correct.

2:56

Matt Flynn from the law firm of Savo Shock, Corsini, Warner, Gillespio Grodnik, and Fisher.

3:01

It's a long-winded name on behalf of the applicant.

3:04

Uh the applicant is a redeveloper of a number of uh non-contiguous parcels and received approvals to construct uh various townhome uh buildings on a number of block and lots that are referenced in our application form.

3:20

The resolution was adopted on December 15th, 2021.

3:24

Um we are asking for a two-year extension that would bring us to December 2025.

3:30

Um we are in the process of responding to comments and going through resolution compliance, and we also were held up from uh receiving NJDP approval for um there's a uh wetlands verification that we needed.

3:47

There's you know various DEP issues that are affecting the site.

3:51

So uh there has not been a change in zoning.

3:53

We're hoping that the board acts favorably on the extension because uh the application was unanimous unanimously approved back in 2021, uh and we'd be asking for an extension through December 2025.

4:09

All right.

4:11

Any questions from anyone?

4:15

I'll move the extension.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████37%
Water And Wastewater Management█████████████████████████████████████37%
Public Engagement██████████10%
Land Development███████7%
Environmental Protection█████5%
Traffic Safety████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Franklin Township Planning Board Meeting - September 24, 2024

Note: The original agenda listed this meeting as September 18, 2024; per the summary instructions, the date used is September 24, 2024.

The Franklin Township Planning Board convened on September 24, 2024, to approve minutes from prior meetings, consider a one-year extension of approval for a townhome development, and conduct a public hearing on a fire service upgrade at a pharmaceutical facility. All items were approved unanimously.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes: Approved for the regular meetings of June 19, 2024 (all eligible members voting aye) and July 10, 2024 (only members who had attended that meeting voted).

Discussion Items

  • 31 Voorhees, LLC / PLN-20-00013: Matt Flynn, attorney for the applicant, requested a two-year extension of approval (through December 2025) for a townhome redevelopment project. He cited ongoing resolution compliance and NJDEP wetlands review delays, with no zoning changes. The board approved the extension via roll call vote (5-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • General Public Comments: No members of the public spoke; the board opened and closed the public comment period without any testimony.

Hearing: Janssen Pharmaceuticals / PLN-24-00009

  • Applicant Proposal: Preliminary and Final Major Site Plan with a C variance to construct a fire service upgrade at 1 Cottontail Lane, Somerset (Block 517.01, Lot 8.03, B-I zone). The project includes an underground meter pit and a heated backflow prevention enclosure ("hot box") in the front yard, requiring a setback variance.
  • Representatives: Tom Mellman (attorney) and Ralph Petrella (civil engineer, Van O'Harvey/Pannone) testified. Petrella explained that the existing vault would be removed, and the new structures would be placed to minimize disturbance, improve fire protection, and reduce impervious surface by removing unused pavement.
  • Reports: The Technical Review Committee (TRC) recommended plan revisions (mostly note additions), which the applicant accepted. The Franklin Township Sewer Authority had no comments. The Environmental Commission suggested landscaping in front of the hot box, which the applicant agreed to explore conditionally, noting limited space between bollards and the right-of-way.
  • Board Questions: Members inquired about pedestrian safety (locks, protection from vehicles), visibility (the hot box is 6 feet tall but sits about 2 feet below road grade), and aesthetics (applicant stated the color will complement the building). A suggestion to wrap the box with art was noted.
  • Outcome: The board approved the application by unanimous roll call vote (5-0).

Key Outcomes

  • Approved Extension: 31 Voorhees, LLC received a two-year extension to December 2025.
  • Approved Site Plan: Janssen Pharmaceuticals received preliminary and final major site plan approval with C variance, subject to addressing TRC comments and exploring landscaping with the Environmental Commission.
  • Next Meeting: Scheduled for October 2, 2024.

No committee reports or new business were discussed. The meeting adjourned.

Meeting Transcript

This is the planning board meeting of September 18, 2024, in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act, PL 1975, Chapter 231. Adequate notice of this regular special meeting tonight. Regular meeting of the planning board of the Township of Franklin has been provided. So board members, applicants, professionals, and members of the public, please speak directly into microphones so that our recording secretary can properly process minutes. Applicants and professionals, please fill out the sheet on the table when you have completed your testimony. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. All right, we're gonna move to roll call. Okay. So Jennifer, Robert Thomas, Rebecca Hilbert, Mark Dancy, and Mike all asked to be excused. Sammy just emailed me and said he can't make it. So councilman and Barson? Here. Theodore Chase. Robert LeCourt. Here. And Mahir Rafik? Yeah. And Charles Brown. Here. Thank you. We're now gonna move to the minutes, the regular uh meeting minutes from June 19, 2024. Um who here can vote on that. Everyone can vote on that. All right. Um I'll make a motion. Seconded. It's been moved and properly seconded. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Seeing none, motion carries. Let's move to the regular meeting minutes for July 10th, uh, 2024. Can everyone hear vote? Uh no. Councilman Embarson, Theodore Chase, Mahir Rafik, and that's it. Okay. Is there a motion? I'll make the motion. I'll second it. It's been uh moved and properly seconded. All in favor that can be in favor. Aye. Any opposed that can be opposed? Seeing none, motion carries. Let's now move to the uh resolution. There are no resolutions tonight. Um let's next move to discussion, and we have 31 Voorhees LLC regarding PLN 2000 3, and you're looking for an extension of approval. Yes, that's correct. Matt Flynn from the law firm of Savo Shock, Corsini, Warner, Gillespio Grodnik, and Fisher. It's a long-winded name on behalf of the applicant.

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