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Local fire‑protection firm seeks extra parking at 493 Lehigh; planning board carries application to July 23
Summary
Matthew Savino told the Union Planning Board his family‑owned fire‑protection business seeks roughly ten net new employee spaces via pervious pavers; the board carried the application for engineered plans and turning templates to the July 23 meeting.
The Planning Board carried Application 2026‑04, a proposal from 493 Lehigh Avenue LLC to add employee parking at a family‑owned fire‑protection business at 493 Lehigh Avenue. Attorney Trevor Enler introduced Matthew Savino, who testified the business has operated at the site since 1997 and needs additional parking to expand staff.
Savino described a plan to replace a grass area with pervious pavers and a stone base to preserve stormwater infiltration while creating about 13 parking spaces in the side lot (a net gain of roughly 10 spaces after adjustments). The application requests three C variances related to parking setbacks from the building, from the street, and from property lines, and a design waiver to permit 18‑foot‑deep parking bays instead of the 20‑foot standard.
Town engineering staff reviewed the pervious paver approach on the record, explaining how pavers on a stone bed maintain infiltration storage and that the work should not increase impervious coverage; staff emphasized that proposed screening and plantings must remain on the applicant’s property and not encroach on the municipal right‑of‑way. Board members asked for a scaled civil plan showing turning templates, confirmation that the fire department connection (FDC) would remain protected, and demonstration of safe pedestrian circulation adjacent to the building.
Because the applicant did not present a civil engineer at the hearing, the board voted to carry the application to the July 23 meeting without further notice so the applicant can supply an engineer, scaled plans and any outstanding review materials. The board advised the applicant to coordinate a follow‑up with the engineering department before return.
