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Franklin Township reviews conversions, variances and infrastructure upgrades; commission backs open-space conveyance
Summary
At its March 2 meeting the Environmental Commission reviewed multiple planning applications — including a prayer-space conversion, signage and residential-cluster revisions, a substation upgrade and a house-of-worship variance — recommended buffer and environmental measures in several cases and supported a land donation of roughly 23.9 acres to county open space.
Franklin Township’s Environmental Commission on March 2 reviewed several planning and zoning proposals and discussed grant opportunities to support open-space stewardship.
Commission staff described an application by the Islamic Circle of North America to convert office space on Hamilton Street into a prayer/worship area without adding exterior square footage; reviewers recommended eco-friendly lighting and recycling options and noted an overflow parking arrangement for occasional higher attendance. (Paul)
The commission considered a Veronica Avenue business seeking larger, logo-bearing signage because of poor site visibility; staff recommended low‑VOC inks and nonilluminated materials and cautioned against creating a sign-size precedent. (Paul)
Members examined a revised submission for a 14-home Cedar Grove cluster. Commissioners flagged inconsistent tree-count figures across revisions and urged the applicant to increase on-site plantings or reduce unit density to preserve canopy; one reviewer estimated the tree-fund liability at roughly $289,500 under existing per-tree rates if planting targets are unmet. (Paul; Stan)
Public Service’s plan to replace an existing lattice transmission tower and small control house on Bennett Lane with a monopole and a slightly larger control building prompted technical review: commissioners noted proposed stormwater bio-retention, increased breaker capacity to 69 kV and several C/D variances for setback and height; staff recorded increased tree and shrub plantings in the new plan. (Paul)
A proposal to convert a residence at 680 Easton Avenue into a house of worship would repave and reconfigure an existing parking area for 23 spaces; staff recommended vegetated buffering on the Gerard Avenue side, anti‑idling signage for event days, bike parking and rooftop or canopy solar where feasible. (Paul)
Commissioners applauded a voluntary subdivision that would transfer approximately 23.9 acres of privately owned land to Somerset County open space for permanent preservation. "We applaud. We approve and we applaud," a member said as the group endorsed forwarding the recommendation. (Ted Chase)
The commission also discussed a $1,500 ANJ open-space stewardship grant due April 13 and suggested likely projects — restoring a pollinator garden at Negri Napot, a rain garden or green‑infrastructure demonstration at Williams Park and school‑partnered educational projects. Members agreed to refine proposals for the next meeting and to explore volunteer and student partnerships for maintenance.
Administrative items: the commission voted to forward a candidate resume (Kiki Anastas) to the township council to fill an Environmental Commission vacancy; staff will submit the recommendation to the council for action. The meeting closed after routine committee reports and the adjournment motion was approved.
