Commission approves six projects across Zone A and Zone B, including nursing-home generator waiver

The Delaware & Raritan Canal Commission voted unanimously to approve six project applications on its agenda, covering three Zone A and three Zone B matters.

All three Zone A items passed on a single motion. The approved Zone A projects were: Project 4009F (204 North Union Street), a minor zoning sign for a yoga studio not visible from the D&R Canal State Park; Project 6349 (202 North Union Street), a safety railing on a second-story door at a furniture store; and Project 6336A (1165 Easton Avenue), where the applicant proposed an emergency standby generator for a nursing-home/rehabilitation facility. Commission staff recommended granting a waiver of the commissions stream-corridor regulations for the generator under the compelling-public-needs standard at NJAC 7:45-12.3.

Commissioners then approved three Zone B applications on a single motion. The Zone B approvals included Project 252097D (Hopewell Industrial Manufacturing), a proposed Route 31 warehouse that would intrude into the regulated stream corridor but would compensate on-site at slightly greater than a 1:1 ratio and dedicate a proposed 10.6-acre stream-corridor easement; Project 255794B (13 Prentice Lane, Princeton), where a homeowner seeks to add a pool and patio and proposed an on-site bioretention rain garden to address increased impervious surface; and Project 256211A (Little Brook Elementary School), an engineering/stormwater compliance submittal for planned additions that does not affect the stream corridor.

The executive director called the roll for both votes. The recorded votes show Vice Chairman Robert Bostock, Commissioner designee Robin Madden, Commissioners Philip Lubitz, Douglas Palmer, Randy Jones, Chris Shoffner and Matthew Walsh voting in the affirmative on both motions. The chair noted Commissioner Palmer joined the meeting and voted in the affirmative after the Zone A motion was introduced.

Why it matters: The approvals clear the way for minor storefront and safety upgrades, a critical generator for residents on life-sustaining equipment at a long-term care facility, local residential stormwater mitigation, and a warehouse project that includes a sizable stream-corridor easement intended to offset new intrusions into regulated areas.

Whats next: The commission will include these approvals in its permit and certificate processes as required; the commission also noted there will be further review work at future meetings as projects advance.