Planning Board

1 MINUTES BOROUGH OF MADISON PLANNING BOARD Regular (Virtual Zoom) Meeting, March 18, 2025, at 7:30 P.M., Hartley Dodge Memorial Building, 50 Kings Road, Madison, New Jersey. 1. CALL TO ORDER BY CHAIRWOMAN ASTRI BAILLIE at 7:35 pm 2. ANNOUNCEMENT OF NOTICE (STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE) Let the minutes reflect that adequate notice of this meeting has been provided in the following manner: At the Reorganization Meeting of the Board held on January 14, 2025, the Board by Resolution adopted a schedule of meetings. On January 15, 2025, a copy of the schedule of meetings was posted at the bulletin board at the main entrance of the Hartley Dodge Memorial Building, was sent to the Madison Eagle and the Daily Record and filed with the Borough Clerk, all in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act. Beginning in April 2020, in response to public safety considerations and legal authorization, the Planning Board began conducting its monthly meetings on the previously noticed dates remotely using the Zoom platform, and subsequently separate notices have been published each month advising of this change and indicating that the procedures and requirements for monitoring such meetings and for making public comment, along with an explanation of the audio muting function of the electronic communications platform being utilized, is provided with detailed information on “How to Use Zoom and Participate” found on the Rosenet Webpage Communications / Virtual Meetings at HTTP://www.rosenet.org/1273/Virtual-Meetings. 3. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Mrs. Baillie, Mr. Fleming, Mr. Morris, Ms. Huber, Mr. Limbach, Ms. Coyle, Mr. Range EXCUSED: Mrs. Vitale, Mayor Conley ALSO PRESENT: Vince Loughlin Board Attorney Susan Favate, Board Planner Dennis Harrington, Board Engineer Bonnie Mulcahy, Board Secretary 4. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 5. MINUTES FOR APPROVAL – None 6. Public Comment: None 7. RESOLUTIONS FOR MEMORIALIZATION – None PB Regular Meeting 03-18-2025  2 8. OLD BUSINESS – CASE NO. P24-005 Preliminary and Final Site Plan Approval and Waiver Ramnarayan Management LLC 3-5 Community Place Block: 1502, Lot 3 Mr. Azzolini, attorney for the applicant, presented an overview and background on the application. He stated that the applicant is seeking to open a liquor store on the property. He stated the variances they were seeking. Darshan Parikh, architect, for the applicant was sworn and presented testimony. Exhibit A1 – Drawings of alternate elevation option dated 03/13/25 introduced. Testimony included the following points:  Former Use: Auto repair garage split into two functional bays  Apartments on the second floor will remain.  Structure: Primarily concrete exterior walls, with a few concrete dividing (demising) walls  Basement: Mostly empty, used for utilities.  Attic: Contains partial flooring and loft space. o To be finished and used as an accessory office for the liquor store. o A new staircase will be installed for ADA-compliant access.  Main entrance of new liquor store centralized between two apartment doors.  Left side: Retail gondolas, shelving, walk-in cooler, and shelving along left wall.  Right side: ADA ramp to adjust for elevation change, Walk-in cooler, mop sink, janitor’s closet  Staircase to basement that will be used for storage.  ADA-compliant restroom  Emergency exit added for egress compliance  Existing garage doors proposed to be infilled with windows.  Doors to be retained and painted to match new materials  Barn door proposed to be removed.  Windows enlarged with top lights.  Use gooseneck lighting, more traditional and acceptable for historic compatibility.  Façade: Mix of stucco/plaster and brick. Will be restored, repainted, and maintained.  Ornamental Columns: Structurally load-bearing—will remain.  Roofing: Sloped roof with brown asphalt shingles—to be retained and repaired.  HVAC: Rooftop units relocated to rear of roof  Roof to be solar-ready  Air-source heat pumps to be used.  Energy-efficient doors/windows  Water-conserving fixtures  Engineer confirmed sufficient structural support for all planned uses Mrs. Favate, Planner for the Board, remarked that the signage is much improved, but would like to see the front railings painted. Mr. Harrington, Engineer for the Board, stated that the HVAC units may need to be screened. Mrs. Baillie asked if a structural analysis of the building had been done. Mr. Parikh stated one had been completed. All Board members questioned the use of the accessory structure and why it had to remain. The addition of windows on the right side of the building was addressed. PB Regular Meeting 03-18-2025  3 Mr. Kevin Furao, Civil Engineer for the applicant, was sworn and presented testimony. Mr. Furao addressed the following points:  Parking – 6 spots proposed with 1 handicapped spot  Small sidewalk in front and will stops will be installed  The site will be repaved  Presented landscaping plan o Exhibit A2 – Landscaping Plan dated 03/18/25  Access Easement  Stormwater management Mr. Limbach asked about the landscaping plan and the irrigation system. Mrs. Favate asked about the length of the parking spaces. Mr. Range questioned the access easement. Mr. Harrington questioned the storm water management. Mr. Flemimg asked where the remaining environmental tank was on the property. Ms. Huber questioned the plan for the accessory building. Mr. Gary Dean, Traffic Engineer for the applicant, was sworn and testified. The following exhibits were introduced: Exhibit A-3 – Picture from Google Street View dated 2/20/2020 Exhibit A-4 and A-5 – Aerial map of area using a drone Exhibit A-6 Spreadsheet of parking count summary Mr. Dean states in his opinion that this application does not present a traffic issue. He provided an extensive traffic study. The accessory structure removal would not provide more spaces, and the client has expressed the desire to keep the building. Mrs. Favate asked the operating hours for the establishment. Board members questioned the parking issue and the accessory structure use. Mr. Harrington asked about deliveries. No Public comments recorded. Ten-minute break taken at 9:52 pm. After the break Mr. Azzolini stated that his client would like to carry the application until the next meeting. The application will be carried until the next meeting with no further noticing required. 11. CORRESPONDENCE – None 12. ADJOURNMENT - The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 pm with a motion made by Mr. Range and seconded by Mr. Morris . Respectfully submitted, Bonnie J Mulcahy Board Secretary PB Regular Meeting 03-18-2025  4 PB Regular Meeting 03-18-2025