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Record of Proceedings

Franklin Township Council Special Meeting - July 6, 2022

Township Council — Wednesday, July 6, 2022
BodyFranklin Township, New Jersey
SessionTownship Council
DateWednesday, July 6, 2022
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:01

For recording.

0:05

Yes, sir.

0:05

We are recording.

0:10

This special meeting of WebEx meeting of the township council is called to order.

0:16

Madam Clerk.

0:17

In accordance with the open public meeting act of the state of New Jersey.

0:21

Adequate notice of the special meeting of the Franklin Township Council.

0:29

Mailed electronically transmitted to the official.

0:32

Okay, I think I am indicating that the special meeting would take place via web Wednesday, July 6th, 2022 at 7 p.m.

0:43

We will now have the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:53

One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

1:08

Mayor Kramer.

1:10

Here.

1:11

Councilman Oni Jaka?

1:13

Yeah.

1:14

Councilmember Patazna.

1:16

Present.

1:18

Deputy Mayor Pruitt.

1:20

Here.

1:21

Councilwoman Eugene.

1:24

Here.

1:25

Councilman Vassanella.

1:27

Here.

1:28

Councilman Wright.

1:33

Okay.

1:34

Um it is now time for um public discussion to have a motions open to the public.

1:46

So moved.

1:48

Second.

1:49

Moved and seconded.

1:50

And all in favor of opening to the public say aye.

1:53

Aye.

1:58

Opposed.

2:00

Say nay.

2:02

Motion is carried.

2:04

We are now open to the public at special meetings.

2:07

The limit is two minutes a person.

2:10

Please state your name and address.

2:13

No yielding of time.

2:15

You may only speak once.

2:16

Mr.

2:17

McQueen.

2:18

Thank you, Mr.

2:19

Mayor.

2:19

Anybody from the public wishing to speak at the time?

2:21

We have to use the chat function, raise hand feature, or start three from your telephone.

2:26

Again, any member from the public wishing to speak, we ask that you use the chat function, raise hand feature, or start three from your telephone.

2:35

And Mr.

2:36

Mayor, we have um number seven three two five eight four.

2:40

You are unmuted.

2:54

Caller whose phone number is seven three two and starts with 584.

2:58

You are unmuted.

2:59

You can talk.

3:01

Yes, I want to thank the council for for moving up this for calling this meeting so they can move up the time at which this resolution will be debated from September 23rd to July 19th.

3:20

Thank you.

3:22

You're welcome.

3:23

We worked hard on it.

3:24

Anyone else wishing to speak?

3:26

Yes.

3:34

Yes, so it's Charles Lingulterra.

3:36

I'm not related to Hitler.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Warehouse Development█████████████████████████████████████████████53%
Procedural████████████████████24%
Land Development█████████████15%
Economic Development███████8%
Summary of Proceedings

Franklin Township Council Special Meeting - July 6, 2022

The Franklin Township Council held a special virtual meeting on July 6, 2022, at 7:00 PM via WebEx to amend the council meeting schedule and change the public hearing date for a zoning ordinance related to warehouse development. The council took public comments and passed two related resolutions.

Consent Calendar

  • Resolution #22-256: Approved to add a special in-person council meeting on July 19, 2022.
  • Resolution #22-257: Approved to change the public hearing date (second reading) for Ordinance No. 4371-22 from September 23 to July 19, 2022. The ordinance proposes to change zoning rules for warehouses, making them conditional uses.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Unidentified speaker: Thanked the council for moving up the debate on the ordinance from September 23 to July 19.
  • Charles Lingulterra: Asked about the timeline for a warehouse application at the planning board and what role the council plays. Mayor Kramer explained that the council has not approved it; the application goes to state agencies (e.g., DEP) first and then to the planning board for hearings.
  • Kiki Anastasikas (Canal Walk Retirement Community): Expressed support for moving up the ordinance date to limit warehouse sprawl, emphasized balancing residential and economic development. Asked if the ordinance could be retroactive; Mayor Kramer and others stated that New Jersey law (Municipal Land Use Law) prohibits retroactive rezoning.
  • Jan Brandt (22 Bryant Court): Noted that the B9 Schoolhouse warehouse application is not yet complete (per Mark Healy). Asked if the new 500-foot setback would apply if the application is not complete before the ordinance takes effect. Mayor Kramer replied that it depends on whether the applicant completes the application before the ordinance becomes effective (20 days after July 19).
  • Debie Stewart: Attempted to speak but had no microphone or communication device; could not be heard.

Key Outcomes

  • Resolutions passed unanimously (all present members voted yes; Councilman Oni Jaka had weak internet but did not respond, but the clerk recorded all others yes). The two resolutions were approved together on a consent agenda.
  • The special meeting on July 19 will be in person and will include the public hearing on Ordinance No. 4371-22.
  • The council expressed urgency to prevent developers from rushing applications after introduction of the ordinance; the ordinance will take effect 20 days after July 19.

Meeting Transcript

For recording. Yes, sir. We are recording. This special meeting of WebEx meeting of the township council is called to order. Madam Clerk. In accordance with the open public meeting act of the state of New Jersey. Adequate notice of the special meeting of the Franklin Township Council. Mailed electronically transmitted to the official. Okay, I think I am indicating that the special meeting would take place via web Wednesday, July 6th, 2022 at 7 p.m. We will now have the Pledge of Allegiance. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Mayor Kramer. Here. Councilman Oni Jaka? Yeah. Councilmember Patazna. Present. Deputy Mayor Pruitt. Here. Councilwoman Eugene. Here. Councilman Vassanella. Here. Councilman Wright. Okay. Um it is now time for um public discussion to have a motions open to the public. So moved. Second. Moved and seconded. And all in favor of opening to the public say aye. Aye. Opposed. Say nay. Motion is carried. We are now open to the public at special meetings. The limit is two minutes a person. Please state your name and address. No yielding of time. You may only speak once. Mr. McQueen. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Anybody from the public wishing to speak at the time? We have to use the chat function, raise hand feature, or start three from your telephone. Again, any member from the public wishing to speak, we ask that you use the chat function, raise hand feature, or start three from your telephone. And Mr. Mayor, we have um number seven three two five eight four. You are unmuted. Caller whose phone number is seven three two and starts with 584.

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