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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Franklin Township Board of Adjustment Meeting - September 4, 2025

Zoning Board of Adjustment — Thursday, September 4, 2025

BodyFranklin Township, New Jersey

SessionZoning Board of Adjustment

DateThursday, September 4, 2025

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 22:03

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0:00

Public meetings act PL 19.

0:04

It's off my phone, 70, whatever it is.

0:07

Chapter 231, adequate notice of this regular meeting of the Board of Adjustment.

0:11

The task of a Franklin's been provided.

0:14

Board members, applicant, professionals, and members of the public.

0:22

Please speak directly into microphones so that our recording secretary can properly process minutes.

0:29

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

0:36

Thank you, and please call the role.

0:44

Okay, Cheryl Bethia, Richard Prokanick, Vasim Verdas, Shapendu Singh, all asked to be excused this evening.

0:52

Alan Rich.

0:53

Yes.

0:54

Gary Rosenthal.

0:55

Robert Shepard.

0:58

Here.

0:59

Faraz Khan.

1:02

Michael Doherty.

1:03

Here.

1:04

Kunalakia.

1:05

Here.

1:06

Chairman Thomas.

1:07

Here.

1:10

Minutes, regular meeting, July 10th.

1:14

Robert Shepard, Michael Daugherty, Kunalakia cannot vote.

1:18

I'll move.

1:24

Somebody has a second.

1:26

Alan Ridge.

1:28

Yes.

1:29

Gary Rosenthal.

1:30

Yes.

1:32

Chairman Thomas.

1:33

Yes.

1:35

Okay, hearings.

1:36

LLC ZBA 2400020.

1:40

Use variants, preliminary final site plan with variances in which the applicant is proposing construction of a 30,000 917 square foot addition to the existing building at 655 Howard Avenue Somerset.

1:57

Block 528.04, lots 16103, 162, 163.01, and the B1 zone is carried to November 20th, 2025.

2:09

No further notification needed.

2:11

So any of you are here for that, it's not being heard tonight.01 in the uh R 10 zone.

2:55

That's going to be carried to October 9th, 2025.

3:00

Again, uh not again.

3:02

Notification, renotification is necessary.

3:08

And let's see.

3:22

Somerset Bible Baptist Church, ZBA 25004, C and D variances in which the applicants asking permission to build a one-story 35-foot tall 8,640 square feet gymnasium at 42 Cedar Grove Lane, Somerset Block 424.02, lot 12.02 in the general.

3:56

If you're in here for that, that's going to be heard.

4:00

Uh October 16th.

4:03

Everybody will be re-notified.

4:07

The one hearing we will have FISAQAL ZBA 2500017.02, lot 3302, again in the R 40 zone.

4:31

And go ahead.

4:34

Good evening, Mr.

4:35

Chairman, board members.

4:36

My name is John DeLuca from the law firm Savo Shock.

4:38

I'm here tonight representing the applicants.

4:47

At 228 Bennett's Lane, which uh as the chairman indicated is block 88.02, lot 33.02.

4:56

Uh this property is located in the R40 zone.

5:00

It is developed as a single family home.

5:02

It's a flag lot, so it's a regularly shaped.

5:04

The only frontage it has on Bennett's Lane is its driveway.

5:07

It has a very long skinny driveway that goes back to the main part of the property where the single family home exists.

5:13

Um this is in the R40 zone where single family homes are permitted as well as their accessory uses.

5:21

Um either side of this property there are also single family homes, and then in front of the flag lot there is also a single family home.

5:29

And then behind the property is the BI zone, so it has industrial uses uh to its rear.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Zoning Regulations█████████████████████████████████████████████80%

Public Engagement█████9%

Procedural████7%

Environmental Protection██4%

Summary of Proceedings

Franklin Township Board of Adjustment Meeting - September 4, 2025

The Board of Adjustment met on September 4, 2025, to approve minutes, carry several hearings to future dates, and consider a single variance application for a pool, patio, and sheds at 228 Bennetts Lane. The meeting was called to order with roll call and approval of prior meeting minutes.

Consent Calendar

Minutes of July 10, 2025: Approved by roll call vote (Alan Rich – Yes, Gary Rosenthal – Yes, Chairman Thomas – Yes).

Public Comments & Testimony

Greg Starr, 5 Darby Road, Somerset, expressed support for the Iqbal application, asked about visibility of the pool and fence type, and stated the proposal seemed reasonable.

Discussion Items

Application ZBA-25-00017 – Faisal Iqbal: The applicant, represented by Attorney John DeLuca, proposed construction of a 20x40 ft in-ground pool (800 sq ft), a 992 sq ft patio, two 10x18 ft sheds (180 sq ft each), and a six-foot fence. The property is a flag lot in the R-40 zone. Existing impervious coverage is 20.8%, which already exceeds the 20% maximum. The proposed improvements would increase coverage to 22.3% (a 2.3% deviation). Applicant Faisal Iqbal testified that the pool is for children’s recreation, swimming lessons, and his own exercise (laps), and that two sheds are needed to separate pool chemicals from toys and furniture. He noted that one neighbor attended in support. The board discussed Technical Review Committee (TRC) comments regarding stormwater management; the applicant’s engineer, Mitch Armin of the Reynolds Group, indicated the concerns could be addressed through the permitting process. Board members commented that the request was reasonable given the minor increase in impervious coverage and the lot’s unique shape (long driveway).

Key Outcomes

Motion to Grant Variances: Moved by Alan Rich, seconded by Bob Thomas, to grant the requested variances for impervious coverage to allow construction of the pool, patio, and two sheds. Vote: Alan Rich – Yes, Gary Rosenthal – Yes, Robert Shepard – Yes, Michael Doherty – Yes, Kunalakia (or Joy) – Yes. Motion carried. The approval is contingent on compliance with stormwater management requirements through the permitting process; if issues arise, the applicant must return to the board.
Adjournment: Motion to adjourn carried unanimously.

Other applications listed on the agenda (655MIZ, LLC; Manjit Singh & Ravinder Kaur; Somerset Bible Baptist Church) were carried to future dates with no action taken at this meeting.

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