March 12, 2025 Planning Board Regular Meeting Minutes

Cardoza (Alt.2): --- Smeraldo: Guarino: Y Wilkes: Kapferer: —— Klein: Y Mayor McCartney: Y PB-25-01 West Orange Community House 250-252 Main Street Block:114 Lot: 78 The applicant, Paul Cito - West Orange Community House proposes to construct an exterior stairway on the southern side of the existing two-story building. The applicant does not propose to change the exterior of the building nor to impact impervious coverage or any other element of the property, as part of this application PRESENTATION The attorney, Greg Mascera, on behalf of the applicant, states the property is in the downtown redevelopment zone. They are seeking to add an exterior staircase on the left-hand side towards the rear of the property. The staircase has been depicted in the plans. They are seeking no variances; this is simply a site plan approval. Paul Cito entered on the record, and he was sworn under oath. He testified to the following: Paul Cito is the executive director of the Community House and they run a preschool program at 242 Main Street, after school programs in 5 elementary schools, a summer camp at Edison Middle School, and own the gym at 250-252 Main Street. They purchased the building in 2009. They have renovated throughout the years and opened it as a gym in 2017. It is solely used as a gym at this time. The building is 40 feet high. Mr. Cito has entered into negotiations with the West Orange Board of Education for use of the building. They are planning on putting 6 classrooms on the existing first floor. Mr. Cito has in mind a proposal to add a mezzanine. The height from the floor of the gym to the proposed mezzanine is 13 feet. Mr. Cito has presented preliminary plans to the township of West Orange and has been reviewed by anyone of a number of departments. Mr. Cito presented plans that called for a mechanical room on the new mezzanine that is still under the existing roof that exists. Mr. Cito was told that he could not put a mechanical room on the mezzanine because they needed egresses. There is no egress because there is no second floor. The proposed staircase will serve to satisfy an egress to the mechanical room. Mr. Cito was told by someone from the fire department that stairs would be absolutely necessary.