OpenPublica

Accountability starts with access.

© 2026 · Filed for the public record

Use casesAboutAPIPrivacyTermsLinkedIn
Home/Franklin Township, New Jersey/Planning Board
OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Franklin Township Planning Board Reorganization Meeting - January 8, 2025

Planning Board — Wednesday, January 8, 2025
BodyFranklin Township, New Jersey
SessionPlanning Board
DateWednesday, January 8, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 34:27

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:00

Planning board meeting for January 8th, 2024, and in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act, appeal 1975, Chapter 231.

0:07

Adequate notice of this regular meeting of the planning board of the township of Franklin has been provided.

0:12

And if everyone could please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:23

For which it stands one, under God, indivisible with the Liberty Justice Raw.

0:36

Okay, so Pete has already administered the oath of office uh when people were coming in.

0:45

So he did that already.

0:47

Uh so everybody can, you know, is here.

0:51

Uh for the reorganization, I guess we can start with that before we start roll call.

0:55

Is that right, Pete, or no?

0:57

Well, you can do roll call first.

0:58

Do roll call first?

0:59

Yeah.

1:00

Okay.

1:01

So now this system I have to hit something every single time I talk, so sorry about that.

1:11

Okay.

1:11

Well, you don't hit me.

1:12

Well, no, I'm not going to.

1:14

Okay.

1:14

So Theodore Chase.

1:16

Here.

1:16

Bob Lecourt.

1:18

Here.

1:18

Shaw Keller.

1:19

Here.

1:20

Maheer Rafik.

1:21

Charles Brown.

1:22

Here.

1:22

Mark Dancy.

1:24

Chairman Rossini.

1:25

Here.

1:26

And for the record, uh Councilman and Barrison, Jennifer Ragnow, Robert Thomas, and Rebecca Hilbert all asked to be excused this evening.

1:35

And Shaw Keller is the newest member to our planning board.

1:39

Yeah, and I wanted to say welcome to welcome to Shaw, and I I think you'll you'll have uh a fun time here.

1:45

We have uh some interesting stuff in the year ahead, which we'll get to today.

1:50

Um so reorganization, um nomination selection of chairperson.

1:56

So theoretically I shouldn't be necessarily talking, but um we'll uh open the floor for nominations.

2:07

Oh second.

2:08

Are there any other nominations?

2:11

Hearing none, the nominations are closed.

2:14

And Christine, can you uh call the roll?

2:17

Theodore Chase.

2:22

Bob LaCourt?

2:23

Yes.

2:24

Shaw Keller?

2:25

Yes.

2:26

Mahir Rafik?

2:27

Yes.

2:28

Charles Brown?

2:29

Yes, for Mike.

2:30

Mark Dancy?

2:31

Yes.

2:32

And can he vote for himself or okay?

2:35

Chairman or Michael Orsini?

2:38

No, I mean, yes.

2:39

Um we like it if they if they don't vote for themselves, it's a little sketchy.

2:44

Yeah, so I thank you, everyone.

2:45

And and you know, uh in the new system, believe it or not, you can go back and look at click on your name and find out how many terms you've had.

2:54

And apparently the years have passed faster than I gave them credit for.

3:02

Yeah, when I was elected to council.

3:04

Yeah.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Affordable Housing█████████████████████████████████████37%
Land Development██████████████████████████████30%
Procedural█████████████████████████████29%
Personnel Matters████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Franklin Township Planning Board Reorganization Meeting - January 8, 2025

On January 8, 2025, the Franklin Township Planning Board held its annual reorganization meeting followed by a regular session. The board re-elected its chair and vice chair, reappointed the board attorney, approved prior minutes, and advanced several administrative and planning matters, including the appointment of an affordable housing subcommittee and the continuation of two development applications.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes Approval: The board approved minutes from three previous meetings: October 16, 2024 (vote: 3-0), November 6, 2024 (vote: 6-0), and December 4, 2024 (vote: 4-0).
  • Resolution Approval: Resolution PLN-23-00024 for Twelve 31 Properties, LLC was approved (vote: 4-0).

Discussion Items

  • Minor Subdivision Committee Report: The board endorsed the minor subdivision committee's approval of 179 Cedar Grove Lane, Somerset, subject to conditions including a limit of disturbance as shown on the plan, compliance with tree and stormwater ordinances at building permit stage, and adherence to TRC report terms. Chairman Orsini noted that the applicant's proposed disturbance area is conservative and any expansion would require return to the committee.
  • Redevelopment Study Update: Director of Planning Mark Healey presented a study area along Hamilton Street (including Franklin Boulevard, Lewis Street, and Martin Street) identified by the Township Council for potential designation as an area in need of redevelopment. The goal is to include the site in Franklin's upcoming affordable housing plan, due June 30, 2025. The board will review a consultant report and hold a public hearing before making a recommendation to the Council. Healey noted the state-mandated affordable housing obligation is 714 units, but that number is expected to decrease after site review. He also highlighted options such as bonus credits (up to 25% of obligation) and extension of existing affordable housing controls.
  • Affordable Housing Subcommittee: The board appointed a subcommittee to address the township's affordable housing obligations. Members: Chairman Michael Orsini, Maher Rafik, Theodore Chase, and Robert LaCourt. Additional alternates may be added later. The subcommittee will coordinate with the Council's parallel subcommittee.

Key Outcomes

  • Reorganization: Chairman Michael Orsini was re-elected (unanimous). Charles Brown was elected Vice Chair (unanimous). Clarkin & Vignolo were reappointed as Board Attorney (unanimous).
  • Hearings Carried:
    • Hamilton Street Management, LLC (PLN-24-00002) – preliminary and final major site plan for a 4,605 sq. ft. mixed-use building at 681-685 Hamilton Street – continued to February 19, 2025, with no further notification required.
    • HSU Property Holdings, LLC (PLN-23-00014) – preliminary and final major site plan for a 64,515 sq. ft. warehouse addition at 400 Cottontail Lane – continued to April 2, 2025, with no further notification required.
  • Next Meeting: The board's next regular meeting is scheduled for January 15, 2025, at the Franklin Board of Education (location confirmed pending applicant readiness for an Onyx application).

No public comments were received, as no members of the public were present.

Meeting Transcript

Planning board meeting for January 8th, 2024, and in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act, appeal 1975, Chapter 231. Adequate notice of this regular meeting of the planning board of the township of Franklin has been provided. And if everyone could please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. For which it stands one, under God, indivisible with the Liberty Justice Raw. Okay, so Pete has already administered the oath of office uh when people were coming in. So he did that already. Uh so everybody can, you know, is here. Uh for the reorganization, I guess we can start with that before we start roll call. Is that right, Pete, or no? Well, you can do roll call first. Do roll call first? Yeah. Okay. So now this system I have to hit something every single time I talk, so sorry about that. Okay. Well, you don't hit me. Well, no, I'm not going to. Okay. So Theodore Chase. Here. Bob Lecourt. Here. Shaw Keller. Here. Maheer Rafik. Charles Brown. Here. Mark Dancy. Chairman Rossini. Here. And for the record, uh Councilman and Barrison, Jennifer Ragnow, Robert Thomas, and Rebecca Hilbert all asked to be excused this evening. And Shaw Keller is the newest member to our planning board. Yeah, and I wanted to say welcome to welcome to Shaw, and I I think you'll you'll have uh a fun time here. We have uh some interesting stuff in the year ahead, which we'll get to today. Um so reorganization, um nomination selection of chairperson. So theoretically I shouldn't be necessarily talking, but um we'll uh open the floor for nominations. Oh second. Are there any other nominations? Hearing none, the nominations are closed. And Christine, can you uh call the roll? Theodore Chase. Bob LaCourt? Yes. Shaw Keller? Yes. Mahir Rafik? Yes. Charles Brown? Yes, for Mike. Mark Dancy?

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com