Plannng Board

City of Trenton Planning Board Conference and Public Hearing Thursday, March 24, 2022 Via Microsoft Teams or phone: 609-436-9298 The Conference ID is 412 046 968# Members in Attendance: Dan Fatton, Chair John McBride, Vice Chair Markus Green Jeff Halpern Joe Harrison Patricia Ni’ma-Mohammed Charles Romanow Members Not in Attendance: Randy Baum Jamie Carpenter Anthony Santora Wanda Swiggett Staff in Attendance: Stephani Register, Principal Planner Tom Hall, (Substitute) Planning Board Attorney Cherry Oakley, Planning Board Secretary PUBLIC HEARING Current Planning Board Membership (as of 3/24/22) Class Term Ending Date Board Member I (Mayor’s Representative) Mayor’s Term Markus Green II (City Employee) 12/31/22 Anthony Santora III (City Council 12/31/22 Joe Harrison Representative) IV (City Resident) 12/31/22 Patricia Ni’ma- Mohammed IV (City Resident) 12/31/23 Randy Baum IV (City Resident) 12/31/25 Jeff Halpern IV (City Resident) 12/31/23 Dan Fatton IV (City Resident) 12/31/25 Jamie Carpenter IV (City Resident) 12/31/22 John McBride ALTERNATES IV (City Resident) 12/31/23 Wanda Swiggett IV (City Resident) 12/31/22 Charles Romanow 1 A quorum was verified and the meeting was called to order at 6:00pm. Approval of the minutes from the 3/10/22 Public Hearing. Member Aye Nay Ab-stain Motioned Seconded Dan Fatton, Chair X John McBride, Vice Chair X X Markus Green X Jeff Halpern X Joe Harrison X X Patricia Ni’ma-Mohammed X Charles Romanow X Memorialize the Resolution for 457 Art Emory Ave Member Aye Nay Ab-stain Motioned Seconded Dan Fatton, Chair X John McBride, Vice Chair X Markus Green X Jeff Halpern X Joe Harrison X X Patricia Ni’ma-Mohammed X X Charles Romanow X Memorialize the Resolution for Bellevue Rutherford Redevelopment/ Re Plan Member Aye Nay Ab-stain Motioned Seconded Dan Fatton, Chair X John McBride, Vice Chair X Markus Green X Jeff Halpern X Joe Harrison X X Patricia Ni’ma-Mohammed X X Charles Romanow X Mr. Kolber announced a SAVE THE DATE for May 12, 2022 there is planned a public conversation for the Land Development Ordinance with all of the public comments received. This reportedly will be a cirit Case called at 6:10pm Item #1 21-P-236NC: 236 North Clinton Avenue- TRENTON NJ Applicant/Owner seeks preliminary and final major site plan approval, (c) bulk variance for side yard, rear yard, and maximum lot coverage, parking variance and waivers for various requirements for site plan. The applicant seeks to construct a first-floor restaurant along with a second-floor residential apartment. The Site is located in the Mixed- 2  Use Zoning District and in the North Clinton Redevelopment Planning Area with a zoning of Business B/Residential B; Location 236 North Clinton Avenue; City Tax Map: Block(s) 1602, Lot(s) 31; Applicant: Aaron Johnson, 63 Equestrian Drive, Burlington, NJ 08016. Mr. Dino Spadaccini requested that this matter be carried to the May 26, 2022 Public Hearing without any further notice as there are some submissions that were supposed to be submitted and they are still not submitted. The Board Accepted jurisdiction and carried the matter to the May 26, 2022 Public Hearing at 6pm on this platform without any further notice. Member Aye Nay Ab-stain Motioned Seconded Dan Fatton, Chair X X John McBride, Vice Chair X Markus Green X Jeff Halpern X Joe Harrison X Patricia Ni’ma-Mohammed X X Charles Romanow X Item #2 21-P-537SC: 537 South Clinton Avenue- TRENTON NJ Applicant/Owner seeks preliminary and final major site plan approval, (c) bulk variance for minimum rear yard size, and lot consolidation to enlarge an existing, vacant building and convert to a restaurant. Construction will include a 410 square foot addition at the rear, a 500 square foot second story addition, and a 270 square foot loft space in the attic. The Site is located in the Business B Zoning District and in the Roebling Gateway Redevelopment Plan Area; Location 537 South Clinton Avenue; City Tax Map: Block(s) 15801, Lot(s) 7,8, & 9; Applicant: Jorge Chacon, 55 Endicott Road, Hamilton, NJ 08690. Accept jurisdiction and carry the matter to the April 28, 2022 Public Hearing at 6pm on this platform without any further notice Member Aye Nay Ab-stain Motioned Seconded Dan Fatton, Chair X X John McBride, Vice Chair X Markus Green X Jeff Halpern X Joe Harrison X X Patricia Ni’ma-Mohammed X Charles Romanow X Item #3 21-P-418HU: 418 Hudson Street- TRENTON NJ The Applicant seeks to repurpose to bring the property to full compliance with the Zone Plan. The proposal is to develop a mix-use project inclusive to a dine-in restaurant on the first 3  floor with twenty-four (24) seats and 2 two-bedroom apartments on each of the 2nd and 3rd floors. And the applicant is seeking the same bulk variances for pre-existing conditions as were granted to the former owners, which was to propose to renovate the existing building for commercial, a play area for children on the first floor and a single residential unit on each of the second and third floors. This use was approved by the Zoning Board Adjustments dated November 16, 2016. The current Applicant is seeking a bulk/ parking variance and waiver of site plan. The Site is in the Business B Zoning District; Location 418 Hudson Street; City Tax Map: Block(s) 15501, Lot(s) 23; Applicant: 418 Hudson St., LLC 9contact person) Rober Rubiano, PO Box 495 Englishtown, NJ 07726 represented by Jeffrey Hall Esq./Szaferman, & Lakind law Offices, 101 Grovers Mill Road, suite 200, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648. Accept jurisdiction and carry the matter to the April 28, 2022 Public Hearing at 6pm on this platform without any further notice Member Aye Nay Ab-stain Motioned Seconded Dan Fatton, Chair X X John McBride, Vice Chair X Markus Green X Jeff Halpern X Joe Harrison X X Patricia Ni’ma-Mohammed X Charles Romanow X Case called at 6:17pm Item #4 21-P-1002H: 1002 Hamilton Avenue – TRENTON NJ The Applicant seeks preliminary and final site plan and bulk variance approvals in connection with the comer property having frontage on Hamilton Avenue, Ardmore Avenue, and Cunningham Alley, commonly known as 1002 Hamilton Avenue. The Applicant is proposing to build a two-story mixed-use building consisting of two open space commercial units on the ground floor with three apartments on the second floor, as well as associated improvements including parking (5 spaces), landscaping, etc. The two commercial units will consist of one 1,478 SF unit and one 1,325 SF unit. The three residential units will consist of a one-bedroom 745 SF unit, a two-bedroom 780 SF unit, and a two-bedroom 850 SQ unit. The site is located in a Business B zoning district, Location is 1002 Hamilton Avenue; City Tax Map: Block(s) 29410, Lot(s) 7; Applicant: A & X Creative Solutions, LLC Mr. Dino Spadaccini confirmed the introduction of the project and indicated that the Applicant takes no issues with the memos. Mr. Douglas C. Pelikan was sworn in and presented his credentials. He was accepted as an expert before this Board. He noted that there is nothing on the lot currently except grass and the existing sidewalks will be left as is. There will be new entrances installed where needed. The parking stall that is ADA compliant will need to be enlarged to accommodate a van. There will be an underground stormwater control facility. A bicycle parking pad will 4 be placed on the site and there are two options for its location. This may increase the impervious coverage and push it up to as much as 75% at a maximum. The preliminary design of the stormwater management maintains the 2year, 10 year, and 100-year storm plan. The shrubs will start out to be 24” and can be maintained and pruned. There will be shade trees. Mr. Jim Kyle presented his credentials and was accepted as an expert in Planning before this Board. Referencing an aerial photo with aerial photography from Bing Maps he described the area and the other properties in the vicinity of the planned project. He described the setbacks that are required and which ones are not and why The building will be aligned with the building to the east and the setback. To address the staff memos a request to increase the impervious coverage to 76% Because one of the landscape bed will be eliminated to allow the cars more maneuverability. The parking adjustment was made as per the Board’s professionals’, Taylor Design Group, recommendation in their memo. This is an increase of about 5% in impervious coverage. There is one setback that is an existing condition but a setback is still requested. One less parking stall is being provided than is required. There is a setback where none is required to the East that does not impact the adjacent property which is a benefit. Referencing a decision made in a matter in Paterson, NJ regarding when a Board is considering C variances Mr. Kyle described the overall benefits for the neighborhood and the City rather than the individual benefits of each variance sought. He noted that they do not anticipate a significant impact for the stormwater run-off given the small size of the lot. He described the The Hamilton Avenue traffic is mostly foot and bicycle and with this project it is not anticipated to create additional parking stress to the on-street parking supply. Residents living there are unlikely to have 2 and 3 cars requiring parking. Specific to the architectural plans Mr. Kyle referenced a floor plan and described the layout of the units, how they would be oriented to the various streets that surround the property., and what will be placed on the roof to shield the equipment and prevent view of that equipment from the ground floor. He noted that the basement will be for the commercial tenants and tenant storage. There will be a parapet on the roof deck will be at 1’4” and will be the proper distance away from the parapet wall. Once there is additional information gathered on the design of the units then the design of the sprinkler system will be sent to the Trenton Water Works and any required The elevations presented tonight were Exhibits and not submitted for posting two days prior to the hearing presentation as per noticing requirements. Thus, the public has not had a chance to review them. There is no signage proposed because no tenants are secured currently, but the intent is to comply with the standards in the ordinance once there are tenants. 5 To manage the stormwater the Applicant wants to tap into the combined sewer overflow (CSO) line in the street as a back-up. The first overflow will be on the property. In order to have this approved, the Board requires that the City’s department that manages the sewer sign-off on this strategy. Additionally, more information on how they will connect to the sanitation services, utilities, and any other public services. There is an application to the County that will currently be required and the Applicant plans to make that application. The Applicant also indicated that if the commercial space becomes a restaurant then they will do a fit out for a commercial hood. Mr. Fatton asked if there was anyone from the community that wanted to speak for or against the proposed application. Carry this matter to the April 14, 2022 Public Hearing at 6pm on this platform with the understanding that it may need to be carried again. Member Aye Nay Ab-stain Motioned Seconded Dan Fatton, Chair X X John McBride, Vice Chair X Markus Green X Jeff Halpern X Joe Harrison X Patricia Ni’ma-Mohammed X X Charles Romanow X Meeting Adjourned at 7:15pm Cherry Oakley, Planning Board Secretary 6 Item #1 21-P-418HU: 418 Hudson Street- TRENTON NJ (To be carried) The Applicant seeks to repurpose to bring the property to full compliance with the Zone Plan. The proposal is to develop a mix-use project inclusive to a dine-in restaurant on the first floor with twenty-four (24) seats and 2 two-bedroom apartments on each of the 2nd and 3rd floors. And the applicant is seeking the same bulk variances for pre-existing conditions as were granted to the former owners, which was to propose to renovate the existing building for commercial, a play area for children on the first floor and a single residential unit on each of the second and third floors. This use was approved by the Zoning Board Adjustments dated November 16, 2016. The current Applicant is seeking a bulk/ parking variance and waiver of site plan. The Site is in the Business B Zoning District; Location 418 Hudson Street; City Tax Map: Block(s) 15501, Lot(s) 23; Applicant: 418 Hudson St., LLC 9contact person) Rober Rubiano, PO Box 495 Englishtown, NJ 07726 represented by Jeffrey Hall Esq./Szaferman, & Lakind law Offices, 101 Grovers Mill Road, suite 200, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648. Carry 21-P-418HU: 418 Hudson Street- TRENTON NJ to the 3//24/22 Hearing at 6pm on this platform Member Aye Nay Ab-stain Motioned Seconded Dan Fatton, Chair X X John McBride, Vice Chair X Randy Baum X Jamie Carpenter X Joe Harrison X Patricia Ni’ma-Mohammed X Charles Romanow X Anthony Santora X X Item #2 Presentation: Bellevue/Rutherford Redevelopment/Rehabilitation Area Plan On March 3, 2016, the Trenton City Council passed a resolution to accept the Planning Board recommendation to designate the area known as the “Bellevue Rutherford Study Area” as an area in need of Redevelopment and Rehabilitation and authorizing the development of a redevelopment and rehabilitation plan. At the Planning Board hearing dated February 10, 2022, the Planning Board selected 2 persons members as a committee to made comments and recommendations to the plan. The plans were updated to reflect said changes and a memo was produced to explain the 7 revisions. The plan was updated, producing a fourth (4) draft plan. Once Planning Board has commented and have accepted the recommendations by the Planning Board Subcommittee, a resolution will be produced and signed. The resolution will be introduced to City Council to start the process of adopting the plan. Ms. Register reviewed the purpose of this follow-up to the presentation of the Redevelopment/ Rehabilitation Area Plan. The Board asked whether there would be overlap with the cannabis space usage as identified in the public comment hearing held. Mr. Wilkerson indicated that there isn’t anything in the plan that would impede the new cannabis ordinance’s implementation. It is written that there are certain parts of the cannabis industry to that can be hosted in various parts of the City. In this specific area it is considered a conditional use. Accept the revised plan and send to City Council for adoption Member Aye Nay Ab-stain Motioned Seconded Dan Fatton, Chair X X John McBride, Vice Chair X Randy Baum X Jamie Carpenter X Joe Harrison X Patricia Ni’ma-Mohammed X X Charles Romanow X Anthony Santora X Meeting Adjourned at 6:13pm Cherry Oakley, Planning Board Secretary 8