Planning Board — May 12, 2026

The Planning Board’s minutes of this regular meeting, approved at its June 9 meeting, are on the Township’s Documents-On-Demand portal, linked from its Agendas/Minutes page, in the Planning Board minutes folder. Chairman Chabrak called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Present were Chairman Chabrak, Councilman Owens, Mr. Hambro, Mr. McLoughlin, Mr. Verbeke, Mr. McCartney and Mr. Russoniello; Councilwoman Columbus and Ms. Cook were absent. Also present were Township Engineer Douglas Ball, Board Planner Kendra Lelie (via Teams) and Board Attorney Steve Warner. The minutes record that no members of the public were present.

GDB International, 68 County Line Road

Case No. 2023-003P PFSP Amended II; GDB International, Inc.; Block 9.01, Lot 3.06; 68 County Line Road. The applicant was represented by Kara A. Kaczynski, Esq. She said the Board had approved a 38,688-square-foot addition to the existing manufacturing building, with parking, loading and other site improvements, in Resolution 2024-010, and an amended plan adding HVAC equipment and a cooling platform in Resolution 2024-017; the I-1 zone permits the manufacturing use. The applicant now sought a further amendment to split the project into two phases: phase one, interim improvements so the already-built scale can operate with the existing building, and phase two, the approved addition and remaining improvements. She said two temporary variances were sought for phase one, for the number of parking spaces and for a parking lot in the front yard, which would end once phase two is built, and asked that the earlier variances and design waivers remain in place.

Engineer Josh Tiner of RedCom Design & Construction said, in the minutes’ account:

• Phase one requires grading changes around the scale and temporary parking changes, with 36 parking spaces instead of 47; the other 11 would be added in phase two, and the front-yard parking would no longer count as front yard once the addition is built.
• The applicant agreed to Township Engineer Ball’s requests: a demolition and performance bond if phase two is not built by January 28, 2029, removal of the temporary pavement for the scale and parking areas, use of banked parking if the tenant needs more, grading that does not affect truck routes or turning radii, and a landscape wall along the southern edge of the property to stabilize the land under the scale.
• The bulk variance and design waiver relief and the phase one approval would expire on January 28, 2029 unless the Board extends them at the applicant’s request.
• The existing monument sign stays until phase two; the temporary sign complies but needs the building address and a working light. The applicant can meet the Fire Marshal’s comments, with the radio communications and sprinkler requirements as conditions of the Certificate of Occupancy, and has Somerset-Union Soil Conservation District approval.
• Asked by Ms. Kaczynski about Board Planner Lelie’s comment on parking, Mr. Tiner said 36 spaces is enough during phase one because there are few current employees and some carpool. To keep banked parking five feet from the building, the applicant would add spaces at the side of the building and drop two banked spaces, for 13 side spaces instead of 11 after phase two. The existing driveway location stays, so that exception is still needed, and the applicant will plant during phase one.

Chairman Chabrak opened and closed public questions, with no public present. Board Attorney Warner summarized the project and the conditions of approval. The second amended application was approved with conditions on motion of Mr. Hambro, seconded by Mr. Verbeke. Recorded vote: 7–0 (Aye: Chabrak, Owens, McLoughlin, Hambro, Verbeke, McCartney, Russoniello).

At its June 9 meeting, the Board adopted Resolution No. PB 2026-013 memorializing the approval.

Other business

The minutes of the February 10 regular meeting were approved 5–0 by the eligible members, on motion of Mr. Hambro, seconded by Mr. Verbeke. Sixteen claims totaling $4,744.00 passed 7–0 on motion of Mr. Hambro, seconded by Councilman Owens. The Board adjourned at 8:32 p.m.

See land-use applications.

Records

• Minutes and agenda: Agendas/Minutes page of the Township’s website, which links its Documents-On-Demand portal (Planning Board folder)
• Meeting video on the Township’s Granicus archive