The Township of Washington Planning Board approved an application by GE Builders LLC to demolish an existing single‑family house at 311 Walnut Street and construct a new two‑story single‑family residence, finding the proposal complies with zoning bulk standards and requires no variances.

Planner and engineer testimony described the property as a 10,000‑square‑foot lot (100 by 100) on the east side of Walnut Street with existing topography and several mature trees. Engineer Thomas G. Stearns testified the proposed dwelling has a 1,982‑square‑foot footprint, complies with required front, side and rear setbacks and includes a two‑car garage. The plan shows a seepage pit for rooftop recharge and stormwater calculations the board engineer reviewed and conditionally approved; the engineer also noted a potential groundwater encounter if the basement elevation is lowered and described an overflow option to an existing storm line if required.

Board engineering review and the applicant’s testimony left two main follow‑ups: a certified arborist assessment of the large trees on the site (including some front‑yard specimens near the street and others that appear dead or hazardous) and confirmation of sewer invert elevations (to determine whether an ejector pump will be needed for basement plumbing). The applicant agreed to hire a certified arborist and to submit that report to the board engineer (Paul) for review; the board made that submission a condition of final sign‑off.

Township planning staff and the board’s reviewer confirmed that standard demolition prerequisites — asbestos/lead surveys, rodent abatement and utility shutoffs — must be completed and permitted through the building department before demolition. The applicant stated the new house will be marketed for sale rather than owner‑occupied.

The board approved the application by voice/roll call with the record showing affirmative votes by the board members present. The approval includes the board engineer’s technical comments and the condition that the arborist’s report be submitted to the board engineer for review and any required mitigation measures be implemented during construction.

Why it matters: The site plan review preserves neighborhood protections by requiring an arborist report and confirming drainage and sewer connections before final permits are issued. Neighbor questions at the hearing focused on tree removal, potential impacts to adjacent trees and the required demolition‑permit safeguards.