Cranford Planning Board approves Cranford Performance Institute with parking lease, variances

The Cranford Planning Board on Wednesday approved a site-plan application to convert 140 Bryant Avenue into the Cranford Performance Institute, a recreational and sports training facility, after the applicant secured an off-site parking lease and agreed to several conditions.

The board granted variances for parking, impervious coverage and other design exceptions, and approved the application on a roll-call vote with seven members voting yes.

The approval follows testimony from the applicant and the project’s engineer and planner that revised plans addressed the board’s June 4 concerns, added an ADA-accessible entrance and EV-ready stall, reduced driveway width, improved parking stall dimensions and committed to landscape and lighting upgrades. Applicant co-owner and operations manager Judy Woffsey said the business will focus on one-on-one instruction and small events and that staff will assist with managing overflow parking so patrons can access the facility.

John Dunley, the project engineer and planner from the Neglia Group, told the board the application originally proposed 11 on-site parking spaces and sought to lease 60 spaces at 129 Dermody Street; that combination yields a total of 71 available spaces compared with a 70-space requirement stated in the application. Dunley described…