Edison zoning board carries Ultimate Collision request for 22 car lifts pending soils and fire-plan reviews

The Edison Township Zoning Board of Adjustment on Dec. 4 carried an application from Ultimate Collision Repair at 1115 U.S. Route 1 after board members requested a soils analysis and formal fire-plan before deciding whether to approve variances to validate 22 exterior car lifts and a taller perimeter fence.

Bernard Shire, attorney for the applicant, said the lifts were installed to cope with longer repair times and parts delays and that they are “movable” single-stack platforms designed to double parking capacity. Owner Gerald McNee told the board the average turnaround time for repairs has risen “about 24, 25 days” and that the lifts had been used to store disabled vehicles while awaiting parts or insurer authorization.

Engineer William Lane said the site currently has an approximate 12,323-square-foot building footprint, and described the rear area where 22 lifts are installed, as well as a proposed generator in the southeast corner and replacement of sheds removed years earlier. Lane said the lifts “sit on the ground” and have limited anchors into the asphalt to prevent sliding but no deep footings.

Board members repeatedly pressed the applicant on whether cantilevered, two-post lifts are appropriate on asphalt and whether the pavement and subsoils can safely bear the load. One member noted photos showing the lifts in groups and asked whether manufacturer specifications and a soils report had been submitted. "If they're movable, what's to stop moving them without permission?" a board member asked; Lane agreed to a condition that any relocation of the devices would come back to the board for approval.

Town review letters were discussed during the hearing. Chair Coleman said the police review (July 10) found the proposed plan "does not directly affect traffic flow" and met ADA parking requirements; the Division of Fire (Sept. 2) flagged missing items, including fire-truck turning radius and hydrant locations. The applicant acknowledged not having seen the fire review and agreed to submit a revised plan addressing the fire department's comments.

After hearing testimony and professional comments, the board required the applicant to provide a subsoil/soils analysis and to submit a fire-plan for the fire chief’s review, and to send revised, signed plans that reconcile the current on-site conditions with the relief requested. The board carried Case Z82024 to Tuesday, Aug. 25 at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers; the chair said parties who received notice would not receive another mailing.

What happens next: the applicant will provide the soils report and a response to the fire department’s items so board professionals can review them before the rescheduled hearing. If the board’s experts continue to have concerns, the case may require additional conditions or further delay.

Proper names mentioned in this article: Bernard Shire; Ultimate Collision Repair; Gerald McNee; Menlo Engineering; William Lane; Edison Township Division of Fire; Edison Police Department.

The board took no final vote on the variances; the item remains scheduled for Aug. 25 with required submittals due in advance.