Franklin Township Board of Adjustment Meeting – November 6, 2025

The Franklin Township Board of Adjustment met on November 6, 2025, at 7:00 PM at the Franklin Township Board of Education Campus. The meeting covered the approval of previous minutes, a procedural discussion on standing, and public hearings on three applications involving the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and a proposed warehouse development. The board carried all three hearings to January 22, 2026, without further notice.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes: The regular meeting minutes of September 18, 2025, and October 9, 2025, were approved unanimously (7-0, with three members not voting on each).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Multiple members of the Ukrainian community expressed strong opposition to the proposed sale of church property, questioning the authority of the church leadership to sell and the lack of transparency. Speakers included Igor Kraptic, Yuri Wedmond, Victor Baronanko, Valeria Balakirevan, Mark Bukachevsky, and others. They argued that parishioners had funded the properties and that the church board did not represent them. Some requested the board to delay a vote and to provide documents such as bylaws, resolutions, and deeds.
• The board's attorney clarified that the board would not determine ownership or standing, but that the applicant had agreed to provide resolutions and a deed to the board secretary for public record.

Discussion Items

• Standing and Procedural Issues: Attorney Peter McArthur, representing objectors, raised concerns about whether the applicant (the church) had proper authorization to sell the property. The board's attorney, Mr. Bernstein, ruled that the board would not litigate standing but would accept relevant documents into the record. The applicant agreed to provide resolutions from May 2024 and October 2025, as well as the deed and title search.
• Testimony of David Lansky (Attorney for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church): Mr. Lansky provided a detailed history of the church's property acquisitions, sales, and construction projects, explaining that the sale of the cultural center/warehouse parcel was necessary to fund completion of a new museum and education building, and to repair other facilities. He stated that the church's board of trustees and clergy had unanimously approved the sale.
• Testimony of Daniel Miola (Engineer): Mr. Miola presented site plans for the church's retained parcel (15 acres) and the proposed warehouse parcel (17.7 acres). For the church parcel, he described a parking lot expansion (82 spaces), landscaping, stormwater management, and a gate to restrict access from Easton Avenue. For the warehouse parcel, he described a 258,150-square-foot speculative warehouse with 151 parking spaces, 35 loading docks, and 19 trailer spaces. He noted that the project required a use variance and three C variances, but that most bulk standards were met. The project also required a stream corridor waiver and had received permits from NJDEP and D&R Canal Commission. Mr. Miola agreed to comply with all comments from board professionals.

Key Outcomes

• Carried to January 22, 2026: All three hearings (ZBA-25-00008 – minor subdivision, ZBA-25-00007 – site plan for church improvements, ZBA-25-00009 – warehouse site plan) were continued to Thursday, January 22, 2026, at 7:00 PM at the same location, without further notice. The board granted an extension of time for decision.
• Documents to be Provided: The applicant agreed to provide the board with the resolution authorizing the sale (May 2024), the ratification resolution (October 2025), and the deed and title search. These will be placed on the board website.
• No Vote Taken: The board did not take any decisions on the applications; the proceedings are ongoing.