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Planning board approves expanded topsoil stockpile for S & G Paving with conditions
Summary
The Monroe Township Planning Board approved an amended preliminary/final application allowing S & G Paving to expand on‑site topsoil stockpiling and contractor‑yard operations, with conditions including silt fencing, delineated property fencing, environmental commission review for an EIS waiver, and annual stormwater maintenance logs.
The Monroe Township Planning Board voted to approve S & G Paving’s amended site‑plan application to expand a contractor’s yard stockpile area for topsoil, finding the expansion to be a limited extension of an existing use and imposing specific environmental and engineering conditions.
Attorney Peter Klauser told the board the application seeks to expand the existing contractor’s yard and outdoor storage area that had prior approvals in 2014–2015. Witness Sharif Ali described the planned western stockpile area behind the existing barn, said the material will be topsoil for the applicant’s own projects (not public sales), and that no new impervious coverage or tree removals are proposed.
Why it matters: The proposal formalizes additional material storage at an existing contractor yard in a zone that previously received use‑variance relief. The planner testified that the site and circumstances satisfy the municipal lands law criteria for special reasons and site suitability, and professional staff recommended standard engineering and environmental conditions to limit runoff and property‑line encroachment.
Planner and engineering findings: Planner Mark Remsa cited municipal lands law (NJSA 40:55B‑2) and concluded the requested expansion meets the positive criteria for a use variance and does not produce substantial negative impacts to surrounding properties, noting the site’s buffering and its fit with master‑plan goals promoting appropriate industrial/commercial development in specific locations. The board engineer recommended adding silt fencing, delineating the property line with fencing to prevent stockpile encroachment, cleaning and maintaining the existing stormwater basin, and providing annual inspection/maintenance logs to the township stormwater coordinator. The applicant agreed to the recommended silt fencing, tracking pads for truck egress, and property‑line fencing shown on the site plan.
Public input, motions and vote: No members of the public spoke. After professional testimony and conditions were discussed, the board moved to approve the amended application with conditions requiring (at minimum) silt fencing around the stockpile, property‑line fencing or other delineation, environmental commission review for the EIS waiver, and submission of stormwater inspection/maintenance records. The motion carried on roll call with recorded affirmative votes from the members present.
Next steps: Approval is subject to resolution compliance and to any additional requirements identified by the environmental commission or the Freehold Soil Conservation District; the applicant must provide required documentation (topsoil certification, maintenance logs, and compliance with silt‑control measures) before final sign‑off.
