Ms. DeMarzo announced that the Master Plan Subcommittee had their first meeting with Mr. Shea and CME representatives Greg Valesi, Partner and Malvika Apte, Planner. Updates on the progress of the full Master Plan review will continue to be provided.
Application for Block: 3601; Lot: 2 – Tiferes Chaim, Inc.
Mr. Klee stated this is an amended application. The original applicant was Macedonia Baptist Church. Their application was resolution compliant, but they did not complete the project. For this school application, the infrastructure, access points and parking are the same as in the original application. He asked for testimony as to drainage and updates that will need to be made to the septic system to bring it to current standards. Mr. Peters requested testimony regarding the revised architecture plans.
Donna Jennings, Esq., with Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, stated that the applicant is seeking amended preliminary and final approval for a religious high school for boys. The applicant wants to change the use from what was approved in 2021. There are no variances or changes to the site plan, just different uses for the rooms.
Tzvi Perlstein, the operator of the school, was sworn in as a fact witness. There will be 140 students attending the school and 12 staff members, including a principal, assistant principal, teachers, an onsite nurse and a janitor. Religious studies and secular studies will be offered. There are no Saturday hours. Operations will be between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, with an early dismissal at 1:00 p.m. on Friday. Approximately 90% of the students will be bused, with the remaining being driven by parents. There will be no parking of buses at the school. Students are not allowed to walk or drive themselves to and from school. A delivery van will deliver food to the warming kitchen. There will be van deliveries for supplies. No tractor trailers will be delivering to the school. Maintenance will be outsourced. Trash pickup will be as needed. There will be security cameras and all doors will be on lockdown. Outdoor activities include walking around and basketball. There will be two ping pong tables. Mr. Heller asked if there are future expansion plans. Mr. Perlstein replied no. Mr. Shea asked that the basketball courts and ping pong tables be clearly designated on revised plans. Dr. Campbell requested that the basketball area be fenced in. Mr. Tremer asked if the plans have been submitted to Fire Safety. Ms. Jennings said yes, but a response has not been received.
Patrick Ward, a professional licensed engineer in the State of New Jersey, who has been employed with InSite Engineering for 15 years was sworn in. The board accepted his credentials. He was the site engineer for the church. The area has been cleared, the church got outside approvals and posted bonds but then stopped the project. The required 50 foot perimeter buffer is provided. The rear of the property is limited because there is a stream there. The parking lot is in front of the building with 49 additional spaces landlocked plus the two required EV spaces. A generator is not proposed but there is room for one. Mr. Bressi asked if a generator can be added. Mr. Ward agreed to add the generator as a condition of approval. They will work with Mr. Klee as to drainage and stormwater management. The possibility of solar panels will be looked at, but the installation of solar panels is not a condition of approval. Mr.