Plannng Board

City of Trenton Planning Board Conference and Public Hearing Thursday, May 25, 2023 Via Microsoft Teams or phone: 609-436-9298 The Conference ID is 412 046 968# Members in Attendance: Charles Romanow, Chair Randy Baum, Vice Chair Jonathan Conner Jeff Halpern Joseph Harrison Patricia Ni’ma-Mohammed Members Not in Attendance: Markus Green Anthony Santora Wanda Swiggett Staff in Attendance: Michael Kolber, Senior Planner George McGill, Planning Board Attorney Cherry Oakley, Planning Board Secretary PUBLIC HEARING Current Planning Board Membership (as of 5/25/23) Class Term Ending Date Board Member I (Mayor’s Representative) Mayor’s Term Markus Green II (City Employee) 12/31/23 Anthony Santora III (City Council 12/31/23 Joseph Harrison Representative) IV (City Resident) 12/31/26 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 VACANT IV (City Resident) 12/31/25 Jonathan Connor IV (City Resident) 12/31/26 Charles Romanow ALTERNATES IV (City Resident) 12/31/23 Wanda Swiggett IV (City Resident) 12/31/24 VACANT 1 The meeting was called to order at 6:20pm by Mr. Romanow. He read the Open Public Meetings Act and a quorum was verified. All of the Public Comments received on the Land Development Ordinance will be reviewed at the July 13th Public Hearing. The first in-person meeting of the Planning Board will be the first meeting in August. Item #1 23-P-148ES: 148 East State Street - TRENTON NJ Applicant/Owner seeks preliminary and final major site plan approval, (c) Variances, and parking and open space waivers to demolish an existing vacant building and replace it with a six-story mixed-use building. The new building would include ground floor commercial space and ten residential units, including five 1-bedroom and five 2-bedroom units. The (c) variances applied for are for minimum lot area (4000 SF required, 2762 SF proposed). minimum lot width (40’ required, 21’ proposed), and lot coverage (60% maximum, 78% proposed). Waivers include vehicle parking (13 required, 0 provided) and open space (1228 SF required, 530 SF proposed). The site is zoned Downtown (DT); The site is in the Canal Banks redevelopment area with a zoning of Business A (BA); Location 148 East State Street; City Tax Map: Block(s) 504, Lot(s) 3; Applicant: 148 East State LLC, 80 Hamilton Avenue, Suite 101, Trenton NJ. Mr. Adam Faiella, Esquire, introduced the project. This project is not a historic property or in a historic district. Mr. Daniel Brenna, Principal of the LLC, was sworn in and presented his history of developing properties in Trenton. He described the location of parking lots and when those large lots are vacant that can accommodate the parking needs of this residential property. He noted that this site has a high walk score from www.walkscore.com, which many developers and consumers use to make a determination of where to live based on how much access to things people need is within walking distance of a property. The current state of the property is unsafe, with a collapsed roof and extensive water damage. The Number ‘148’ will be put above the door instead of using large signage. Trash collection will occur on the City of Trenton’s trash collection schedule and the Applicant will contract with a private hauler if necessary. Mr. Brenna indicated that the footprint of the old Gandhi Garden will be recreated as open space and have landscaping in the rear of the Bell Building. There will be an art walk from East State Street feeding people into the Gandhi Garden. Mr. Christian Roche, was sworn in and presented his credentials as a Civil Engineer. He was accepted as an expert before this Board in Engineering. Referencing Exhibit A2 Plan Rendering he described the utilities coming into the building from the street and outlined the 530 sf lawn. The Applicant has agreed to add trees and a picnic table. 2 5 variances for existing conditions are being sought for lot coverage, lot area, and lot width, parking, and the provision of open space. They offered a contribution to the City’s Open Space Fund to make up the difference from what is required versus what is provided. When the sidewalk is replaced the current geometric pattern that is present will be replicated. The Applicant is open to allowing street trees if utilities allow. Mr. Brenna described what he guessed would be the types of businesses that might rent the space. The Board’s traffic consultant was not concerned that it would have a negative impact on trip generation for this area. He described the reality of the availability of parking in the area of this project and the movement of traffic in the area. For the lot coverage, the Applicant requested 81% for the waiver. The applicant agreed to get any required permits or approvals for the encroachment into the right of way. Mr. JP Donahue, was sworn in and presented his credentials and was accepted as an expert before this Board in the area of Architecture. He described the project from the perspective of architecture. He noted that the ceiling heights will be 9-foot ceilings. He described the bedroom units that will be on each floor. Mr. Keenan Hughes was sworn in and presented his credentials and was accepted as an expert in the field of Planning. He reviewed the principal focus for development in downtown Trenton and how this project is consistent with the stated intent of the Master Plan. The variances are all needed because it’s an undersized property and the physical characteristics make it impossible to conform to the bulk requirements. Mr. Hughes reviewed the benefits to the community that substantially outweigh any concerns about not being able to meet the bulk requirements such as the blighted conditions. Purpose A, Purpose G, Purpose E, Purpose I are met. The planned rent ranges will be market rate for the downtown area, the first in approximately 100 years. The small retail/business space may generate some job opportunities. The Applicant is seeing a waiver from being required to provide the total amount of open space and a waiver from having to provide an open space plan. The building is completely ADA accessible in all units. Mr. Romanow asked if there was anyone from the public who wanted to speak for or against the project. Hearing none the following vote was set forth: Approve preliminary and final major site plan approval with conditions as testified and noted bulk (c) Variances and design waivers for lot coverage, lot area, and lot width and a waiver from parking and open space. 3 Member Aye Nay Ab- Motioned Seconded stain Charles Romanow, Chair X Randy Baum, Vice Chair X X Jonathan Conner X Jeff Halpern X Joseph Harrison X X Patricia Ni’ma-Mohammed X Meeting Adjourned at 7:46pm Respectfully submitted Cherry Oakley, Planning Board Secretary 4