Cranford zoning hearing on nursing-home expansion focuses on height, setbacks, health-code waivers

The Cranford Zoning Board of Adjustment on May 12 continued a public hearing on a proposed expansion of the Cranford Hall nursing facility at Lincoln Park East, where the applicant seeks a new wing to add 20 beds and extensive support space while keeping the original 1920s mansion for administrative use.

Architect Joan DeGrazia, testifying as the applicant’s expert, said the project would add a three‑story wing (counting the below‑grade “walkout” level as a story under the town definition), two elevators and a basement‑level kitchen, dining and therapy spaces. DeGrazia said the original facility is licensed for 100 beds but that many existing rooms and corridors “do not meet the Department of Health requirements,” and that the new construction would create 68 beds in the new wing and 52 beds in the existing 1970s wing for a total of 120 licensed beds (100 existing plus 20 new). DeGrazia said the project team revised roof pitch and lowered the building ridge from the originally submitted 41.6 feet to 35 feet to avoid seeking a D variance and instead pursue a C variance; “we now have a building height of 35 feet,” she told the board.

The architect and board professionals spent substantial time on life‑safety and operational requirements the New Jersey…