Zoning Board of Adjustment Reorganization Meeting Agenda (PDF)
The Zoning Board of Adjustment elected Foster Cooper chairman, Michael Galbraith vice chairman and Frank Rica secretary and Technical Coordinating Committee representative for 2026. It appointed its professional staff and adopted meeting dates and rules of order. It granted Zheng Yuan Education USA a site plan extension to March 2027, 6–0, described as final.
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- Government
Meeting recording
The township's record
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What happened
The Zoning Board of Adjustment held its reorganization meeting on January 12, 2026. Mr. Huber, Mr. Otto and Mr. Calvo were excused. Mr. Mark Peck sat as board attorney.
Officers
Mr. Villani nominated Mr. Cooper for chairman, seconded by Mr. Galbraith; all were in favor. Mr. Cooper then took the chair.
Mr. Villani nominated Mr. Galbraith for vice chairman, seconded by Mr. Cooper; all were in favor. A nomination for secretary was made by Mr. Villani and seconded by Mr. Cooper; all were in favor. Mr. Villani nominated Mr. Rica as the board’s Technical Coordinating Committee representative, seconded by Mr. Volante; all were in favor.
Mr. Cooper introduced Dan McCarey as the Township Committee liaison for zoning in 2026. He also introduced Kevin Mulkins and Mark Volante as new members. He thanked Maryellen Vautin, who is retiring soon. He welcomed Lisa Sammartino as the new Land Use Coordinator. He stated John T. Chadwick would remain the board planner.
Staff appointments
Each appointment was moved, seconded, and approved by all in favor.
- Engineer: Christian Kastrud, moved by Mr. Villani, seconded by Mr. Galbraith.
- Attorney: Mr. Mark Peck, moved by Mr. Villani, seconded by Mr. Galbraith.
- Planner: John T. Chadwick, IV, moved by Mr. Cooper, seconded by Mr. Villani.
- Clerks: Maryellen Vautin and Lisa Sammartino, moved by Mr. Villani, seconded by Mr. Galbraith.
Meeting dates and rules
The board adopted its 2026 meeting dates on a motion by Mr. Villani, seconded by Mr. Galbraith, all in favor: February 2, March 2, April 6, May 4, June 8, July 6, August 3, October 5, November 2 and December 7, all Mondays at 7:00 p.m. at 44 Mountain Boulevard, with no September meeting because the first Monday is Labor Day. The reorganization meeting for 2027 is January 11. Mr. Cooper said a September meeting could be scheduled later, since the usual second Monday falls on Yom Kippur. The board also adopted its rules of order, all in favor.
Old Glory resolution
Resolution BA 25-07, Old Glory Properties, Block 74 Lot 6, 51 Mount Bethel Road, a variance for a second-floor apartment, was listed. The minutes state the resolution was not ready.
The board approved the December 1 minutes. The motion was made by Mr. Rica and seconded by Mr. Galbraith. The vote was 3–0, with Mr. Galbraith, Mr. Rica, and Mr. Cooper voting yes.
Zheng Yuan extension, 6–0
BA20-05, Zheng Yuan Education USA LLC, Block 71 lots 60, 60.01, 60.02, 64, 66 and 66.01 at Harmony Road and 206 Mount Horeb Road, came with a letter from attorney Jay Bohn requesting an extension of the site plan approval. Mr. Bohn said the applicant had received some County comments but was still waiting for the County Engineer’s response to a traffic plan submitted in May 2024. The current extension runs to March 7, 2026; the applicant asked for March 2027. Mr. Peck said he would prepare a resolution for the next meeting, and the minutes record that this would be the final extension.
The board granted the extension. Mr. Villani made the motion, and Mr. Galbraith seconded it. The vote was 6–0, with Villani, Galbraith, Rica, Volante, Cooper, and Mulkins voting yes.
The meeting ended at about 8:00 p.m.