PB-18-09/Kessler Foundation, Inc.

ll. 12. 14. The property is owned by Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, Inc. and the Applicant is Kessler Foundation, Inc. which is a tenant on the property. The existing facility has a maximum height of 47.04’ and one driveway from Pleasant Valley Way. The facility has three entrances and six parking lots labeled A through F with a total of 718 spaces. It is serviced by public sewer and water. The proposed addition will have two floors with the bottom floor being buried 6.5” under existing grade due to the slope of the lot. Thirty-six (36) new parking spaces will be added onto the South side of Parking Lot F. All new lighting fixtures will match the existing. Applicant will remove 11 trees but will add 9 trees in and around the expanded parking Lot F. Applicant confirmed they will comply with the comments in the review letter from Bowman dated September 28, 2018. In response to Board questions Mr. Petry testified that the reason for proposing 754 parking spaces when only 690 are required was to accommodate overflow from large events at the conference center. There is no on-street parking available on Pleasant Valley Way which is the only public street adjacent to the property. For large events Applicant utilizes valet parking service. Lot F was being expanded rather than Lot E even though Lot E is closer to the proposed addition because in order to enlarge Lot E it would require steep slope disturbance due to the significant change in grade immediately behind Lot E. Applicant called Walter Kneis, AIA who was sworn and qualified as an expert in architecture. Mr. Kneis testified that Applicant proposes to add two floors each having 5,651 sq. ft. The new space would have offices, storage and dry labs. He reviewed the architectural plans and showed samples of the proposed metal exterior cladding. The existing generator is more than five feet from the proposed building and the windows in this area are inoperable. Responding to Board questions he testified that Applicant would comply with the review letter from the West Orange Fire Department dated September 11, 2018 except for Paragraph 4(c). Mr. Petry was recalled to give planning testimony. He testified that Applicant requires four bulk (4) variances: