Zoning Board of Adjustment — January 27, 2026

What the record shows

Present: Chairman John Kulak, James Weideli, Pushpavati Amin, James Franco, Andrew Fresco, Johanna Wiseman, Claudio Vescio, John Colucci and Anthony Mignella; John Gayeski and Christine Henderson-Rose were absent.

Resolutions

The designation of 2026 electronic news sources and the appointment of a traffic engineer were each adopted 9-0 (ayes Weideli, Amin, Franco, Fresco, Wiseman, Vescio, Colucci, Mignella and Chairman Kulak).

Bridgewater Self Storage, Routes 22 and 28 (third hearing)

App. #24-027-ZB, Bridgewater Self Storage, LLC, Block 400 Lots 1 & 2, 351 Route 28 and 322 Route 22: preliminary and final site plan with bulk variance and D(1) use variance for a self-storage facility. The minutes attach the transcript.

• Attorney Matthew Capizzi said the application had been before the Board on March 25 and July 8, 2025, and that an October 17, 2025 submittal updated the plans. The project would merge the two lots, remove the existing buildings and build a self-storage facility with parking.
• The site is in the C-3 zone, which does not permit self-storage, so a D-1 use variance is needed; the building exceeds the allowed floor area, so a D-4 variance is needed. Bulk relief: a front setback on Route 22 of 100 feet where 200 is required, two loading spaces where four are required, and a sign 5 feet from the property line where 30 is required.
• Changes since 2025, as Mr. Capizzi listed them: drive-up units, front-yard parking and the long drive aisle off Route 22 removed; about 15,000 square feet taken out; the building lowered about 10 feet, to about 31 feet from average grade (36 feet originally) and 43 feet seen from the Bogart Drive and Route 28 intersection; about 300 linear feet of evergreens along Route 28 to be replaced with new plantings; no access on Route 28.
• Architect William G. McGeever, Jr. said the building went from 120,570 to 106,650 square feet, with every storage unit reached from inside. Engineer Matthew Kunsman and Paul B. Going, P.E., also testified.
• John Kaplan, an attorney representing Arthur’s Self Storage, which he said is in Branchburg about three miles away, cross-examined Mr. Kunsman; Mr. Oller questioned whether the business had standing but let the questions proceed.
• Three residents questioned the witnesses: Carolyn Gioia of 1402 Palley Court, Inderpreet Banga of 376 Route 28 and James Brady of 351 Route 28. Mr. Banga said he represented Bridgewater Residents United, “a constituency of over 150 members in the Bogart community”; he confirmed to the Chairman that it is not a legal entity and that he was not acting as an attorney.
• Carried to April 28, 2026 without further notice.

See the self-storage application.

1200 Route 22 warehouse

App. #23-011-ZB, 1200 Route 22 Land Investors and 1200 Route 22 LLC Holding, Block 221 Lots 1.02, 1.03, 1.04, 2 and 2.01, 1210 and 1220 Route 22: preliminary and final site plan with D and bulk variances for a warehouse. The agenda listed it for announcement only, and Mr. Oller announced at the start that it would not be heard and was adjourned to April 28 at 7 p.m. with no further notice; the minutes record it as “heard and … adjourned to April 28.” See data centers for the litigation over this site.

Public comment

The minutes record that the Chairman opened and closed the public portion for items not on the agenda; they name no speaker.

Records

• Minutes (township document page; adopted February 24, 2026, with the Bridgewater Self Storage transcript attached)
• Agenda (township document page)
• Video on the township’s YouTube channel (3:05:31). This page follows the Board’s minutes and the attached transcript.