April 15, 2021 Regular Meeting

-Mr. Daniel Reeves, Civil Engineer was sworn under oath by Ms. Alice Beirne and accepted as an expert in his field. Mr. Reeves provided a project overview with an aerial photograph marked as Exhibit A-1. The lot is approximately 31,500 square feet or .72 acres. It is located on the northbound site of Meeker St, also within the RT-2 family Residential zone abutting the East Branch of the Rahway River, also known as the Township dividing line between West Orange and the City of Orange. -The witness then referred to a colorized version of the site plan which is the latest site plan that was submitted to the Board with the date of April 5, 2021. The only change to the plan was to add some color (Ms. Beirne noted that this colorized plan is Exhibit A-2.) and that the property is currently developed by three buildings of mixed uses; a multi-family residential/office building as well as a. vacant storage building and a one-story garage located along the East Branch of the Rahway River. In addition, there is a driveway that provides access to the rear of the property for the additional garages. Additionally, there are two public sanitary sewer mains that traverse the property from North to South and a 15 foot sanitary easement which contains a 30 inch sanitary sewer. There is an additional 18 inch sanitary sewer main that is located just outside of the easement and also has a manhole on the property. - The location of the property is adjacent to the East Branch of the Rahway River and there is an FHA flood, fringe based on review and communications with the NJDEP. A submission to the New Jersey Department Environmental Protection for an FHA verification and individual permit for the proposed improvements was submitted in March of 2021. At the time of this meeting no responses have been received by the Applicant regarding completeness or technical review by NJDEP. -Mr. Reeves continued with an overview of the existing conditions by referring to the colorized site plan marked as Exhibit A-2 The applicant is seeking to renovate existing Building #2 to construct an approximately 2,200 square foot addition to help move most of the activities inside the building to reduce noise, to clean up the site and to achieve compliance with the current flood hazard rules by raising the floor to be | foot above the design flood elevation. There is an existing driveway adjacent to

noise, to clean up the site and to achieve compliance with the current flood hazard rules by raising the floor to be | foot above the design flood elevation. There is an existing driveway adjacent to lot 51 which the applicant is proposing to be utilized solely by the residential tenants with additional screening along Lot 51. -Mr. Reeves explained that the applicant is providing eighteen parking stalls so that a variance for parking is required. The applicant will testify that there is ample parking for this use and for the number of employees for the business (the majority of whom utilize public transportation). -Mr. Reeves opined that in his professional opinion there is sufficient parking for this type of use and provided a turning template as requested by the West Orange Fire Department. This turning template demonstrates that the West Orange fire apparatus can access the site via the existing driveway, perform a turning movement, and then exit the site without having to back out. - Mr. Reeves explained the applicants are providing landscaping screening to the residential properties along the eastern property line and are proposing a buffer along the Western property line - Mr. Reeves testified that the applicant has agreed to upgrade the existing lighting; he referred to drawing C701. (Sheet 4 of the 8 sheet set dated April 5th, 2021 and previously submitted to the board) and will comply with the letter from the Board Engineer, John Hess, in regard to lighting.