Bernards Zoning Board Grapples with Traffic Impact of Proposed Development

In a recent meeting, the Bernards Zoning Board of Adjustment addressed significant revisions to a proposed development project by Signature Acquisitions LLC, which spurred extensive discussion and public concern, particularly regarding traffic impact, the design of the site to accommodate truck traffic, and the project’s adherence to zoning regulations.

The central issue that emerged was the proposed development’s potential traffic impact, with particular emphasis on truck traffic. Detailed discussions were held on the number of truck trips associated with the new plan, the impact of building size reduction on these trips, and the potential influence of school traffic on the roadways. The board and public scrutinized the methodology used by the traffic engineer to estimate truck trips, raising questions about the reliability of the data and its implications for local traffic patterns. Concerns were voiced over the effectiveness of measures designed to prevent trucks from making unauthorized left turns and the likelihood of truck drivers adhering to designated routes.

The applicant’s representative and various experts faced rigorous questioning regarding the project revisions, especially the reduction in building size from the originally proposed plans. The reduction led to a decrease in the number of loading spaces and raised questions about the need for variances, such as setback variances, disturbing steep slopes, retaining wall height, and construction within a buffer area. The board probed into the decision not to use the reduced building size to create more parking spaces, and the impact of the changes on truck trips and tree removal.

Public testimony and board inquiries further delved into the implications of the reduced building size, questioning the engineer about the suitability of the land for the proposed use and the reasoning behind requesting variances. The engineer emphasized that he focused on the exterior design of the site, and that the activities inside the building were not within his purview.

The conversation also touched on the number of loading spaces and the floor area ratio requirement, with the site originally having 24 loading spaces reduced to 16. Concerns were raised about the site’s design in relation to the rate of truck movement, the turning radius for tractor trailers, and the accommodation of standing trucks. The public and the board also debated the consideration of industry standards in the site’s design and the potential impact on neighboring residential areas.

Another point of contention was the calculation of anticipated truck trips, with the traffic engineer explaining the use of an average rate formula and defending the methodology as adhering to industry standards. Residents and board members alike expressed concerns about the accuracy of these calculations and the potential maximum number of trips, leading to a discussion about the authority to change parking space requirements and whether the township’s ordinance might be outdated.

As the meeting neared its end, the chair reminded attendees to focus their questions on the new testimony and revisions to the application. Despite the discussions, the board managed to finalize scheduling concerns, including the possibility of a special meeting on June 13th and the cancellation of a meeting on July 3rd.

Note: This meeting summary was generated by AI, which can occasionally misspell names, misattribute actions, and state inaccuracies. This summary is intended to be a starting point and you should review the meeting record linked above before acting on anything you read. If we got something wrong, let us know. We’re working every day to improve our process in pursuit of universal local government transparency.
Mayor:
Jennifer Asay
Zoning Board Officials:
Jeanmarie Genirs, David Tancredi, Beth Pochtar, Lisamarie Baumann, Carl Cambria, Karl Kraus, Joe Pavlosky, Francis Helverson, Jaime B. Herrera (Alternate #2), Steven K. Warner (Board Attorney), Thomas J. Quinn PE, CME (Board Engineer), David L. Schley, AICP/PP (Board Planner), Cyndi Kiefer (Board Secretary)

Receive debriefs about local meetings in your inbox weekly:

Trending meetings
across the country:

Meeting Date
Filter by bodytypes
Agricultural Advisory Committee
Airport Advisory Board
Art and Culture Board
Beach Committee
Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
Board of Elections
Board of Health
Borough Council
Building Committee
Cannabis Control Board
Cemetery Commission
Charter Revision Commission
Child and Family Services Board
City Council
City Identity Committee
Code Enforcement Board
College Board of Trustees
Community Appearance Board
Community Preservation Committee
Community Redevelopment Agency
County Council
Disability Advisory Committee
Economic Development Board
Elderly Affairs Board
Electric Advisory Board
Environmental Commission
Financial Oversight Board
Historic Preservation Commission
Housing Authority
Human Relations Committee
Human Resources Committee
Insurance Fund
Land Use Board
Library Board
Licensing Board
Mental Health Commission
Municipal Alliance
Open Space Commission
Oversight and Review Committee
Parent Advisory Board
Parking Authority
Parks and Gardens Commission
Parks Commission
Pension Board
Planning Board
Police Review Board
Port Authority
Property Assessment Board
Public Safety Committee
Recreation Commission
Redevelopment Agency
Rent Control Board
Rent Leveling Board
School Board
Sewerage Authority
Shade Tree Commission
Special Magistrate
Taxation & Revenue Advisory Committee
Tourism Board
Trails Committee
Transportation Board
Utility Board
Value Adjustment Board
Veterans Committee
Water Control Board
Women's Advisory Committee
Youth Advisory Committee
Zoning Board
Filter by County
FL
Bay County
Bradford County
Brevard County
Broward County
Clay County
Duval County
Escambia County
Gulf County
Hendry County
Highlands County
Hillsborough County
Indian River County
Lake County
Lee County
Leon County
Levy County
Liberty County
Manatee County
Marion County
Martin County
Miami-Dade County
Monroe County
Okaloosa County
Orange County
Osceola County
Palm Beach County
Pasco County
Pinellas County
Polk County
Putnam County
Santa Rosa County
Sarasota County
Seminole County
St. Johns County
Taylor County
Volusia County
Walton County
MA
Barnstable County
Berkshire County
Bristol County
Essex County
Franklin County
Hampden County
Hampshire County
Middlesex County
Norfolk County
Plymouth County
Suffolk County
Worcester County
MN
Anoka County
Becker County
Beltrami County
Benton County
Blue Earth County
Brown County
Carver County
Cass County
Chippewa County
Chisago County
Clay County
Cook County
Crow Wing County
Dakota County
Freeborn County
Goodhue County
Grant County
Hennepin County
Isanti County
Itasca County
Kanabec County
Kandiyohi County
Koochiching County
Lac Qui Parle County
Lyon County
Mcleod County
Morrison County
Mower County
Nicollet County
Olmsted County
Pipestone County
Polk County
Ramsey County
Rice County
Scott County
Sherburne County
Sibley County
St Louis County
Stearns County
Steele County
Waseca County
Washington County
Wright County
NJ
Atlantic County
Bergen County
Burlington County
Camden County
Cape May County
Cumberland County
Essex County
Gloucester County
Hudson County
Hunterdon County
Mercer County
Middlesex County
Monmouth County
Morris County
Ocean County
Passaic County
Somerset County
Sussex County
Union County
Warren County
NY
Bronx County
Kings County
New York County
Queens County
Richmond County
TN
Shelby County
Filter by sourcetypes
Minutes
Recording