Board continues review of North Twelfth warehouse plan after residents raise traffic, noise and lighting concerns

The Kenilworth Planning Board paused a contentious site-plan hearing March 13 for a warehouse on North Twelfth Street after residents raised safety, noise and lighting concerns related to the applicant’s proposal to add multiple loading bays.

Attorney Steven Hale and site engineer James Mastronardi described the application as largely about installing new bay doors on the south side of an existing industrial building to improve loading efficiency. Mastronardi said the work would include raising and rerouting an existing storm drain near the building and grading the area to create level loading docks. "Basically, this whole project involves installing 7 new truck bays on the south side of the building," Mastronardi said during his testimony.

Planner testimony (Miss Spire and others) noted that the variances sought were largely existing, that the use is a conforming industrial use and that the proposal does not expand the building footprint. However, residents and several board members said the application left critical operational questions unanswered and raised safety and quality-of-life concerns.

Frank Stallings, a nearby resident, told the board he regularly observes trucks using Twelfth Street and said drivers often "speed," creating a safety risk for children who walk to nearby schools. Several other residents described early-morning and overnight truck activity, concerns about back-up alarms and the potential for increased truck traffic if the facility increases dock capacity. Residents also challenged whether existing site lighting spills into back-yard areas and whether existing stormwater infrastructure functions properly.

Board members and the applicant’s professionals discussed potential mitigation measures — including relocation or consolidation of dumpster areas, shielding or redesign of lighting fixtures, grading and storm-drain improvements, and possible traffic-control measures at the site egress. Several board members specifically suggested design changes to the driveway to limit right turns out of the site and to make illegal truck maneuvers harder.

After extended testimony, the board voted to continue the application to a date-certain and to request a Technical Review Committee (TRC) review before the next hearing; Planning Board member John Grimaldi made the motion to carry and Salvatore Scuderi seconded. The chair and staff instructed the applicant to meet with borough professionals and to return with revised plans addressing lighting, drainage, parking, ingress/egress and operational controls. The board’s clerk advised the public to check with borough staff before the April 10 meeting to confirm whether the application would be heard or further carried.

No final approvals were issued; the board carried the application for further technical review and public hearing.