The Clark Township Planning Board voted to approve preliminary and final site plans and bulk C variances for a two‑story child care center at 211 Westfield Avenue (Block 77, Lot 10) on July 10, 2025.

The board approved the application by DISHMA Management for a new two‑story daycare facility with a fenced outdoor play area, 37 off‑street parking spaces (including two ADA spaces), four electric vehicle charging stations and a proposed occupancy the applicant’s architect listed as 198 children and about 27 staff. The approval carries conditions including County Planning Board clearance, compliance with professional review letters, environmental follow‑up from a Phase I review, payment of the nonresidential affordable‑housing fee and state licensing before opening.

The project replaces an existing, former funeral home in the downtown village (DTV) district. Applicant counsel Trevor Endler presented the plans; architect Cheryl Schweiker, site engineer Scott Loverich, traffic planner/engineer Brian Intendola and operations manager Carrie DeVoe testified at the hearing.

Schweiker, the project architect, described the building and operations. She said the proposed footprint is about 6,960 square feet with a roughly 3,000‑square‑foot rear playground, stacked first‑ and second‑floor classrooms and barrier‑free circulation including two egress stairs and an elevator. “Currently we're showing an occupancy of 198 children for both floors and approximately 27 staff members,” Schweiker said. She also testified the facility will be sprinklered, have a fire alarm and meet building‑code safety requirements and that children under about 2½ would be housed on the ground floor as required by code.

Intendola, testifying as the traffic engineer and planner, told the board his office used ITE trip‑generation methods for the two‑story, 13,000‑square‑foot total (both floors) building and estimated a morning peak of about 81 inbound and 72 outbound vehicle trips. He recommended a right‑in/right‑out driveway configuration on Westfield Avenue to reduce left‑turn conflicts during peak hours. “We are going to do a right in, right out,” Intendola said, explaining that the configuration and parking turnover should allow the site to process peak‑hour drop‑offs.

Operations witness Carrie DeVoe, regional manager for Sapling School operations, described daily routines and safety procedures. DeVoe said parents will use a secure vestibule and a coded entry system and that perimeter doors are locked from the outside; “The doors are locked at all times,” she said. She described staggered staff shifts and class/teacher ratios governed by state licensing and said playgrounds are used in defined sessions of roughly 30–45 minutes, subject to weather and licensing rules.

Site engineer Scott Loverich reviewed the civil plans, including grading, drainage and utilities. He testified the site is about 34,403 square feet (0.79 acres), that the existing building would be demolished, and that stormwater would be managed on site via catch basins and a proposed 30‑inch HDPE detention outlet to meet the township’s stormwater ordinance; he said the project is not a major development under NJDEP rules but would comply with the township standard for runoff reduction.

Board professionals and staff sought clarifications. The board engineer and police department recommended bollards or wheel stops to protect the building; the applicant agreed to revise the plan to meet agency requirements. Township traffic consultant Jay Troutman requested traffic control signage be shown on the revised plan; the applicant agreed to add signage and asked to coordinate driveway geometry with the fire department. The applicant also agreed to match the streetscape pavers and decorative LED lighting installed near the adjacent CVS property and to provide a bench consistent with that streetscape.

Environmental and regulatory items were placed among the conditions. The board noted a Phase I environmental letter from consultant Paul Sakson (dated May 1, 2025) and required the applicant to complete any testing and obtain a response action outcome as part of preconstruction conditions. The board also made clear that a certificate of occupancy alone does not permit opening: the Office of Licensing, Department of Children and Families, must issue the childcare license before operations can begin.

Public comment included a resident who urged preservation of the existing historic structure. John Grease, a Clark resident, said the building is among the town’s older structures and urged the board to consider preservation. Counsel for the applicant replied that the building is not designated historic and that the applicant found reuse impracticable; the applicant agreed to a memorial condition to install a small plaque acknowledging the site’s history, to be placed near the required bench or streetscape element.

The board’s final motion approved the application with detailed conditions: obtain County Planning Board approval; comply with review letters from the board engineer, planner, fire official and police and with Mr. O'Connor’s technical review (May 22, 2025); eliminate the proposed LED sign; add traffic control signage and driveway geometry to encourage right‑in/right‑out and to meet fire department turning requirements; remove the existing gate on the Plymouth Road side; complete Phase I follow‑up and any required response action outcome; pay the required nonresidential affordable‑housing fee; match town streetscape materials and lighting; provide the agreed bench and a plaque noting the site’s historical role; and secure the Office of Licensing child‑care license before opening. The roll call vote was unanimous in favor (Mayor Albanese; Mr. Ullrich; Mr. Koch; Mr. Triola; Mr. Altman; Mr. Steinberg; Mr. Percato; Mr. Arancio; Mr. Grubb).

The applicant said it has submitted for County review and expects construction and licensing to take roughly a year, with a hopeful opening in late 2026 pending approvals and construction.

The board approved the resolution and closed the hearing; the project will advance to required county and state reviews before building permits and licensing proceed.