Planning Board — May 5, 2026
The Board extended Aucta Pharmaceuticals' deadline for a permanent certificate of occupancy to January 16, 2027, with an as-built survey required, 9-0. The second hearing on Ridge Oak's 29-unit affordable senior building (PB26-001) covered operations, traffic and a redesigned lighting plan, with four residents questioning witnesses; it was carried to May 19.
- Housing
- Development
Meeting recording
Recording plays on the township archive
This meeting does not play on this page. The township's recording is complete and plays in full on the township's own channel.
What happened
What the record shows
Attendance
Present: Agarwal, Bannan, Crane, Eorio, Manduke, Mastrangelo, Seville (arrived 9:05 p.m.), Smith, Subervi and Tompkins. Absent: Schaefer (excused). Also present: Board Attorney Jonathan E. Drill, Esq., Board Planner Allison Fahey, Board Engineer Aaron Schrager, Township Planner David Schley and Board Secretary Joanne Slaman.
Applications
- PB23-001A, Aucta Pharmaceuticals Inc., Block 2401 Lot 4, 170 Mt. Airy Road. Attorney Luke S. Pontier (Day Pitney) said the applicant holds a temporary certificate of occupancy and the work is complete; contractor John Macdonald (RI Workplace, Inc.) said materials delays kept the work from finishing on time and asked for 18 months. Crane, who visited the site in February 2024 and April 2026, listed differences from the original design, and the Board required an as-built survey before final inspection. On motion Crane, second Tompkins, the Board directed a resolution amending Condition #7 to extend the permanent certificate of occupancy deadline to January 16, 2027, with an as-built survey, 9-0 (ayes Agarwal, Bannan, Crane, Eorio, Manduke, Mastrangelo, Smith, Subervi, Tompkins).
- PB26-001, Ridge Oak Management, Inc., 95 and 150 Manchester Drive, second hearing (Crane recused). New exhibits
A-7 to A-11: revised architectural sheets dated Apr. 24, 2026 and existing and revised lighting exhibits. Pontier noted
the design exceptions no longer requested.
- Bonnie Kelly (Ridge Oak) described the organization’s history, the rental process, resident statistics, funding and the timeline; refuse and recycling; parking, with some spaces assigned and staff not using this building’s spaces; an elevator on generator backup; mail and deliveries; and security (cameras, speed detection, license plate readers, a locked double-door vestibule and key fobs).
- Traffic engineer Gary W. Dean, PE (Dolan & Dean; report of Jan. 13, 2026) said the project would have minimal traffic impact; the applicant will hold a pre-construction meeting on work hours and material movement. The Chairwoman said Board committees will cover landscaping, lighting and construction routing.
- Moschello described the redesigned lighting, with lower intensity and a more uniform pattern, and motion-sensor wall lights at the rear; the Basking Ridge Fire Chief had asked for a hydrant inside the property. The applicant asked for two years instead of one to complete construction after permits.
- Carried to May 19 with no further notice; the Board reduced its 21-day submission rule to 10 days.
See Fourth Round housing and land use applications.
Minutes and other business
April 7 minutes adopted, 7-0. The meeting adjourned at 10:42 p.m.
Public participation
Four members of the public questioned witnesses on PB26-001: Libby West (35 Prospect Ave), Todd Edelstein (172 Riverside Drive), Ray Steitz (34 Prospect Ave) and Ed Gerdts (60 Manchester Drive) questioned Kelly’s testimony; West and Gerdts also questioned Dean and Moschello. The minutes do not list each person’s questions. No one spoke on the Aucta request.
Records
- Minutes (township document page)
- Agenda (township document page)
- Video on the township’s YouTube channel. This page follows the Board’s minutes.