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Record of Proceedings

Franklin Township Board of Adjustment Meeting – October 9, 2025

Zoning Board of Adjustment — Thursday, October 9, 2025
BodyFranklin Township, New Jersey
SessionZoning Board of Adjustment
DateThursday, October 9, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 7:37

Transcript — Verbatim
0:21

Of the zoning board of the country of a franklin has been provided.

0:25

Board members, applicants, professionals, and members of the public, please speak directly in the microphone so our recording secretary can properly process minutes.

0:35

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

0:42

Please call the roll.

0:44

Cheryl Bethia?

0:46

Here.

0:46

Richard Prokanek?

0:47

Here.

0:48

Vasine Verdas is uh asked to be excused.

0:50

Alan Rich?

0:51

Here.

0:52

Gary Rosenthal?

0:53

Here.

0:54

Robert Shepard.

0:55

Here.

0:56

Faraz Khan.

0:57

Michael Dougherty.

0:59

Canala Kia?

1:00

Here.

1:01

Uh Sebadu Singh has asked to be excused.

1:04

And Chairman Thomas.

1:05

Yes.

1:07

Minutes to the regular meeting, September 4, 2025.

1:11

I'll move.

1:14

Okay.

1:14

And then uh only Cheryl and uh Rich Percanic cannot, uh so we'll need a second.

1:20

Second.

1:24

Okay, should be one second here.

1:30

Alan Rich?

1:31

Yes.

1:32

Gary Rosenthal?

1:34

Yes.

1:35

Barbara Shepard?

1:36

Yes.

1:37

Canalakia?

1:38

Yes.

1:39

And Chairman Thomas.

1:41

Yes.

1:42

Resolution Far Sall equal.

1:44

ZBA 250017.

1:49

Oh.

1:50

Okay.

1:51

Uh Gary, okay.

1:53

Do we have a second?

1:54

I'll second.

1:59

Alan Rich.

2:04

Yes.

2:05

Gary Rosenthal?

2:07

Yes.

2:08

Robert Shepard?

2:10

Yes.

2:10

Canalakia.

2:12

Yes.

2:13

And Chairman Thomas.

2:15

Yes.

2:17

Jot 2 LLC doing business as Jersey Mike Subs.

2:22

ZBA 2500 16.

2:26

All right.

2:26

Let me read off who's who cannot vote.

2:28

Cheryl Bethia Alan Rich.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████76%
Cannabis Regulation██████████████24%
Summary of Proceedings

Franklin Township Board of Adjustment Meeting – October 9, 2025

The Franklin Township Board of Adjustment held a brief meeting on October 9, 2025, approving minutes and resolutions, and addressing three hearing applications, all of which were carried or deferred due to lack of applicant presence or insufficient voting members.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes: Approved the regular meeting minutes from September 4, 2025. Motion by Cheryl Bethia? Seconded by Richard Prokanek? Votes: Alan Rich (Yes), Gary Rosenthal (Yes), Robert Shepard (Yes), Canalakia (Yes), Chairman Thomas (Yes).
  • Resolution – Faisal Iqual (ZBA-25-00017): Approved. Motion by Gary Rosenthal? Seconded. Votes: Alan Rich (Yes), Gary Rosenthal (Yes), Robert Shepard (Yes), Canalakia (Yes), Chairman Thomas (Yes).
  • Resolution – Jat Two LLC d/b/a Jersey Mike's Subs (ZBA-25-00016): Approved. Motion and second. Votes: Richard Burkanick (Yes), Gary Rosenthal (Yes), Robert Shepard (Yes), Canalakia (Yes), Chairman Thomas (Yes). Note: Cheryl Bethia and Alan Rich were ineligible to vote on this item.

Discussion Items

  • Manjit Singh & Ravinder Kaur (ZBA-24-00011): Application for a site plan with use variance and C variances to convert an existing repair garage into a convenience store at 339 Elizabeth Avenue, Somerset (Block 493.01 Lot 1, R-10 zone). Not heard tonight; rescheduled tentatively for November 6, 2025. Renoticing will be required.
  • 41 Moonachie LLC (ZBA-25-00022): Application for a sign variance to place a building-mounted sign at 831 Hamilton Street, Somerset (Block 229 Lot 21, HBD zone). Applicant did not show. Deadline for action is November 30, 2025. Matter will need to be rescheduled with renoticing.
  • Hound Town 543, Inc. (ZBA-25-00015): Request for reconsideration of a D(1) use variance to operate a cannabis dispensary at 1695 Amwell Road, Somerset (Block 386.04 Lots 36-38, R-20 zone). The board lacked a full complement of seven voting members (only five eligible due to excusals and conflicts), so the matter was carried to October 16, 2025, same time and place, with no further notice required.

Key Outcomes

  • Approvals: Consent calendar items approved (minutes, two resolutions).
  • Carried Hearings: All three hearing applications were carried to future dates: Manjit Singh & Ravinder Kaur to November 6, 2025 (with renoticing); 41 Moonachie LLC to a future date (needs rescheduling and renoticing); Hound Town 543, Inc. to October 16, 2025 (no further notice needed).
  • Adjournment: Motion to adjourn carried (one opposed). Meeting ended.

Meeting Transcript

Of the zoning board of the country of a franklin has been provided. Board members, applicants, professionals, and members of the public, please speak directly in the microphone so our recording secretary can properly process minutes. Applicants and professionals, please fill out the sheet on the table when you've completed your testimony. Please call the roll. Cheryl Bethia? Here. Richard Prokanek? Here. Vasine Verdas is uh asked to be excused. Alan Rich? Here. Gary Rosenthal? Here. Robert Shepard. Here. Faraz Khan. Michael Dougherty. Canala Kia? Here. Uh Sebadu Singh has asked to be excused. And Chairman Thomas. Yes. Minutes to the regular meeting, September 4, 2025. I'll move. Okay. And then uh only Cheryl and uh Rich Percanic cannot, uh so we'll need a second. Second. Okay, should be one second here. Alan Rich? Yes. Gary Rosenthal? Yes. Barbara Shepard? Yes. Canalakia? Yes. And Chairman Thomas. Yes. Resolution Far Sall equal. ZBA 250017. Oh. Okay. Uh Gary, okay. Do we have a second? I'll second. Alan Rich. Yes. Gary Rosenthal? Yes. Robert Shepard?

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