Zoning Board of Adjustment — November 20, 2025

What was decided

Seven members were present: Richard Procanik, Vaseem Firdaus, Alan Rich, Gary Rosenthal, Vice Chair Robert Shepherd, Kunal Lakhia and Chairman Thomas. Cheryl Bethea, Faraz Khan, Michael Dougherty and Shubhendu Singh were absent. The draft minutes record:

• Tawheed Dahwah Center, ZBA-24-00017: testimony began; the hearing was carried to February 19, 2026, with no further notice required.
• 655 MIZ, LLC, ZBA-24-00020: a D(2) use variance and C variances for a 30,917 sq ft addition at 655 Howard Avenue (B-I zone), approved 7-0 on condition that no truck larger than a WB50 enters or leaves the site (motion Shepherd, second Procanik; for: Procanik, Firdaus, Rich, Rosenthal, Shepherd, Lakhia and Thomas).
• JC IOS Acquisitions, LLC, ZBA-25-00020 (outdoor storage, 945 Route 27): carried to January 8, 2026.
• Hawthorne Management, LLC: extension of time to November 2026, approved 7-0.
• By-laws amended (all in favor). Planning Director Mark Healey said the two substantive changes set when a carried hearing must be re-noticed, and require applicants with professionals to show their exhibits on the chamber screens.

The Tawheed Dahwah Center application

What is sought. The application is for amended preliminary and final site plan approval plus relief of conditions, for a 19,350 sq ft place of worship at 630 South Middlebush Road (Block 37.02, Lot 46.03, Agricultural zone). The draft minutes record that the applicant’s attorney, Mr. Brian Schwartz, said the original approval for the site was a conditional use from hearings in 2019 through 2021, that the relief was from two conditions in that resolution, and that it related mainly to parking.

Objectors. Ms. Martina Bailey, of Mueller & Bailey, appeared for Ray and John Snyder, who own and operate the Snyder Farm next to the site on the northeast. She said her clients helped shape the earlier conditions, wanted them preserved, and would seek further conditions because the application significantly intensified the use of the property. Her letter of November 19, 2025 raised traffic chiefly; she said the traffic report did not account for two neighboring uses that also hold public events, including another house of worship approved across the street. She reserved the right to present witnesses.

Testimony on use and parking. Mr. Anjum Razi, a trustee, testified to the “Statement of Proposed Use of Property” (Exhibit A-1). The draft minutes record that he said:

• services would be held five times a day, about 30 minutes each, typically for 25 to 30 people, with about 75 on Fridays;
• there would be no outdoor activities, no rental of the space and no school, and any large event would need a special event permit and off-duty police officers;
• the existing house would remain as a residence.

The applicant agreed that, under the septic system design, no more than 458 people could be on the site in any 24-hour period. Mr. Healey said the earlier approval provided 157 parking spaces; Mr. Schwartz said the applicant would build 127 and bank 30. Mr. Lakhia said the expected attendance did not square with the parking the ordinance requires. Chairman Thomas said the earlier applicant had testified to use five times a month for 75 to 100 people, while this applicant proposed use five times a day.

Witnesses to come. Mr. Schwartz said he would call the architect, Mr. Mistry; the site engineer, Mr. Ardman; a traffic engineer, Elizabeth Dolan, on parking and driveway safety; and a planner, Mr. Kevin O’Brien, on the negative criteria for the two parking variances, or relief from the parking conditions.

The standard, as stated. Asked why the earlier approval was being amended rather than a new application heard, Mr. Procanik said the Board could still deny the amendments, in which case the original approval would stand. The Board Attorney, Mr. Hak, said the application seeks relief from conditions of the previous approval, so there was no need to reopen it from scratch.

Public questions. Mr. Shaak Mamawala of Franklin Park said South Middlebush Road was already a high-traffic area and asked how many people were really expected, given the parking proposed. Mr. Steve Callahan asked why a 19,000 sq ft building was needed. Mr. Rajesh Sangui asked whether traffic would be local; Mr. Razi said it would. Ms. Shampa Shampachi asked how an attendance limit would be enforced. Mr. Hak explained the difference between a fire-code violation and a zoning violation of a resolution, and Mr. Healey said the 458 figure is also a septic approval condition under County Health Department jurisdiction. Ms. Mega Sangui asked how the trips from several daily services would affect South Middlebush Road.

Board requests. Vice Chair Shepherd said information on the applicant’s website differed from what was proposed and asked that the witness be ready to address it at the next hearing. Chairman Thomas asked that the traffic testimony include a statement from the County on any improvements it would require at the new driveway.

Records

• Agenda · Draft minutes (approved February 19, 2026) · Packet
• Video on Granicus (2:40). Granicus publishes no captions for Franklin meetings; this page follows the board’s draft minutes.