Commission moves to complete DEP planning form after inconsistencies found in Daniels Concrete Batch Plant filing; resident raises septic questions

The Salem Township Planning Commission voted unanimously Feb. 4 to complete and sign Component 4A (section C) of the DEP planning module for the Daniels Concrete Batch Plant project after the department had rejected the previously submitted Component 4A. Commissioners instructed Secretary Kelly Otto and Chair Connie Mattei to prepare an attached letter outlining inconsistencies identified by the commission, including the project timeline, missing permits (highway occupancy permit, NPDES, stormwater), and the absence of an approved land‑development plan.

Solicitor Falatovich originally completed the Component 4A form, the minutes say; the planning commission reviewed each question on the form and charged Secretary Otto to draft a letter noting inconsistencies to accompany the resubmission. The motion to complete and sign Component 4A was made by Paul Holleran, seconded by John Wright, and passed unanimously.

Separately, resident Justin Lilienthal of 846 Ada Lane raised a series of sewage and lot‑line questions tied to proposed house construction on his 12.5‑acre property and an auxiliary stable. Lilienthal said he has two percolation tests for each parcel but asked whether a Component 1 or a backup perc is required after a lot‑line revision. Township staff advised that a backup test is required only when a new buildable lot is created; otherwise existing percs may suffice. Lilienthal also raised concerns about a neighbor's driveway encroaching on his lot and asked about water‑meter issues with MAWC.

Commissioner John Wright reviewed the water‑use evidence attached to the Daniels filing and noted an inconsistency in the water bills: one bill indicates 559,000 gallons and another showed roughly 4,000 gallons for a three‑month period. "It exceeds 35 gallons per day but not by an extraordinary amount," Wright said while discussing daily sewage estimates and DEP thresholds used in the component review.

Next steps: the commission will attach a drafted letter outlining the identified inconsistencies to the Component 4A resubmission and send the completed form to DEP. Residents with sewage and lot‑line questions were advised to work with Jones Consulting and township staff to clarify permit requirements and backup testing needs.