Franklin Township Board of Adjustment Meeting - February 19, 2026

The meeting, starting at approximately 12:45 PM, primarily conducted a public hearing on the amended preliminary and final site plan plus relief of conditions for Tawheed Dawah Center (ZBA-24-00017), a proposed 19,350-square-foot place of worship. The board also approved prior meeting minutes and a resolution.

Consent Calendar

• Meeting Minutes (November 20, 2025): Approved. Members Cheryl Battia and Michael Dougherty did not vote. Motion carried 5-0.
• Resolution Ramkumar Venkataraman / ZBA-25-00023: Approved. Members Cheryl Battia, Alan Rich, and Kunal Lakhia did not vote. Motion carried 4-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Charles Hamilton (48 South Middlebush Road): Questioned the size of the prayer area and suggested that the building could accommodate more worshippers than stated, but was directed to architectural testimony.
• Dr. Ananth V. Joshi (49 People's Line Road): Attempted to ask about emergency vehicle access and loudspeakers but was ruled out of scope for the current witness.
• Chintendo Parier (13 Sawmill Drive): Questioned the architectural assumption of reusing an approved footprint designed for a different religious use, suggesting the design should fit the applicant's stated needs.
• Shampavitaji (15 Hasbrook Drive): Asked about foundation design for potential future expansion, and questioned the proposed sign size (67.5 sq ft vs. the 25 sq ft limit) and its LED lighting, receiving clarification that the sign was previously approved and uses landscape lighting, not internal LED.
• Basathkari (78 People's Line Road): Raised concerns about enforceability of occupancy limits (150 at a time, 458 daily) and questioned the focus on enforcement when other public places face similar issues. The board and Mr. Healy acknowledged enforcement challenges but noted applicant credibility and public reporting as mechanisms.
• Steve Callahan (Butler Road): Claimed the applicant previously stated a maximum of 35 attendees per session, which contradicts the current 80-150 range. Mr. Schwartz objected, stating the exhibit A1 (Statement of Proposed Use) has been consistent from the start.
• Harvey Sarota (Benjamin Griggs Drive): Clarified that there is no kitchen facility and asked if the classrooms constitute a school. The board attorney indicated religious education classrooms are customary accessory uses.
• Shauna K Mamawala (Cardior Drive): Asked whether the addition of classrooms changes the use compared to the prior approval and confirmed that the imam will reside in the existing on-site single-family home.

Discussion Items

• Tawheed Dawah Center / ZBA-24-00017
  • Applicant’s Opening (Brian Schwartz): The application seeks final site plan approval and relief from two conditions: hours/days of operation and parking requirements. The property was purchased from a religious organization that secured preliminary approval. The applicant commits to a different worship schedule (five short daily services averaging 30 minutes) with up to 80 people on regular days, 150 during Ramadan, and a daily maximum of 458. The applicant stated they would comply strictly with use limits.
  • Mitchell Ardman (Civil Engineer) Testimony:
    • The site plan largely complies with prior resolution conditions, including landscaping buffers, driveway relocation (over 300 ft from South Middlebush), a deer fence, limited 15-ft LED lighting on timers, and an underground utility requirement.
    • Changes include adding a light in the driveway curve (modifying condition #11) and increasing the worship area, which changes the parking variance needed.
    • Proposed parking: 157 spaces (37 primary, 120 overflow). This is far below the 532 spaces required by code (1 per 15 sq ft of worship area). The applicant argues the lower number matches the proposed occupancy.
    • Stormwater management meets DRCC requirements (exhibit A3), which the board received during the meeting. Existing building footprint is slightly smaller than prior approval, reducing impervious coverage from 18.47% to 18.08%.
  • Cross-Examination by Martina Bailey (representing Snyder Farm neighbors): Questioned whether stormwater design relies on outdated 2004 regulations, the septic capacity (under 2,000 gallons), and whether the parking demand is understated. The chair limited questions to Mr. Ardman’s direct testimony.
  • Yogesh Mystery (Architect) Testimony:
    • Building is 19,350 sq ft (first floor) with a 2,890-sq-ft basement for storage/utilities. The worship area is 7,981 sq ft with no fixed seating; capacity is shown as 458 using 3x3-ft grid markings.
    • Exterior: Earth-tone colors (beige/tan), stone and stucco, 32.75 ft roof height (below 35-ft limit), with 49-ft spires. No illumination of spires or upper decorative elements. Cool TPO roof. ADA-compliant, sprinklered.
    • Sign: 67.5 sq ft (previously approved with lighting from ground fixtures, not LED).
    • Two classrooms for religious education, not used simultaneously with large services.
  • Board and Public Questions: Concerns centered on the mismatch between the architectural capacity (458) and the promised peak occupancy (150). Mr. Healy stated enforcement would rely on conditions and public complaints, calling it a “unique” situation. The meeting was recessed before the traffic engineer (Betsy Doland) could testify.

Key Outcomes

• Carried Over: The hearing was continued to April 16, 2026, at 7:30 PM at 475 DeMott Lane. No further public notice is required.
• Extension Granted: The applicant consented to extending the board’s decision timeline.
• Direction: The board requested that the applicant’s representative (the facility operator) be present at the next meeting to answer usage and operational questions. The applicant was encouraged to provide copies of Exhibit A1 (Statement of Proposed Use) to the public to reduce confusion.