Cranford Planning Board approves Wonder Group site plan with conditions

The Cranford Planning Board on April 29 approved an amended preliminary and final site plan for Wonder Group, allowing a 30x60 refuse enclosure, three permanent cold‑storage trailers, two Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) gas tanks on a fenced pad with 11 bollards, and an increase in approved employees from 89 to 230, subject to conditions the board imposed.

The approval, on a unanimous roll call vote, came after board members pressed the applicant for stronger community notification and operational safeguards. Chair Juan Carlos Nordelo opened the special meeting at 7:38 p.m. and, after testimony and deliberation, moved the motion that the board carried that evening.

Board Attorney Jonathan Drill summarized the application and the list of conditions the board required before final memorialization, including a public hotline and door‑hanger notices to properties within 500 feet, written policies on cannabis, alcohol and cigarettes, a police‑visit response procedure, a parking‑lot security plan, and an action protocol tied to decibel‑meter exceedances. "If the application complies with all ordinance provisions, the Board must grant approval," Drill said, while noting the board could impose conditions.

Stephen Hehl, Esq., counsel for Wonder Group, told the board the applicant agreed to Drill's conditions and had provided the requested policies and notices. "We used a subpoena service to put all the notices on the properties," Hehl said, describing outreach to addresses in the 500‑foot radius.

Trevor Endler, Esq., described the notice timeline and said door hangers were placed April 14–15 in both Cranford and neighboring Linden.

Jason Bottcher, representing Wonder Group, described operational controls the company has in place and how the hotline and complaint procedures will function. "The hotline number goes directly to Security," Bottcher said, and he stated that emails tied to complaints are actively monitored and that new employees are required to sign the company's policies. Bottcher also said the company’s cameras currently retain footage for 30 days.

Board members, however, reported a test call to the hotline produced no answer. Planning Board members requested 24/7 monitoring of the hotline, a written standard operating procedure for email complaint intake and follow‑up (to be reviewed by Board Planner Nick Dickerson), an oversight reporting system to zoning staff, exterior no‑smoking signage and extended video retention of 90 days, with one‑year retention for footage tied to violations or complaints. Mr. Drill noted any approval would not be memorialized until the hotline was operational.

During deliberations board members reiterated the project scope — the refuse enclosure, cold trailers, MAP gas tanks and the proposed employee increase — and emphasized accountability and community communication. The board thanked neighbors for attending and urged the applicant to comply fully with the conditions.

A motion to grant Amended Preliminary and Final Site Plan approval (Application PB 24‑002) was made by Chair Juan Carlos Nordelo, seconded by Mr. Jandoli, and passed on roll call: Nordelo, Commissioner Black, Mr. Callahan, Ms. Didzbalis, Mr. Geier, Mr. Jandoli, Mr. Leber and Mr. Dunn voted in the affirmative; there were no opposing votes. The board scheduled its next meeting for May 6 at 7:30 p.m. The board adjourned at 9:19 p.m.