The meeting opened with a discussion on the implications of waiving environmental regulations for the Glengarry development, an affordable housing project. Maria Janusk, a property owner in Hillsborough Township, expressed alarm over the approved waiver that allowed the removal of over 2,000 trees without replanting requirements. This development is located in an environmentally sensitive area with freshwater wetlands and a flood hazard zone. Janusk argued that such actions posed environmental risks and questioned the township’s decision, highlighting that the waiver was granted due to the project’s status as an inclusionary affordable housing development. She voiced the broader community concern that housing policies could negatively impact local ecosystems, especially in flood-prone areas.

Board members explained that the ability to waive certain regulations for affordable housing developments is due to state legislative mandates and judicial rulings, rather than local decisions. It was clarified that court decisions have upheld that municipal ordinances must not obstruct affordable housing initiatives. A board member stressed, “It all goes back… to the legislature and prior court decisions.” This response aimed to inform Janusk of the broader legal context and suggested she contact local legislators, such as Assemblyman Fryman, for further advocacy.

In another significant matter, the board discussed an application from Dukes Parkway East LLC and Crane Farm LLC regarding a property on Dukes Parkway East. This application sought amended site plan approval with a C variance for a commercial property in the I2 light industrial zone. Moy Handling, a crane service company, and SNR Pools, a pool service business, operate on this site. One focus was on an existing site plan from 1986, which included a buffer zone that had degraded over time. The applicants proposed to restore and expand this buffer to 25 feet, although current ordinances require a 60-foot buffer due to outdoor storage adjacent to a residential area. The applicants argued that due to site constraints, meeting this requirement was not feasible.

James Mance, a licensed engineer and surveyor, presented detailed proposals to revise the 1986 site plan. The revised plan, which last underwent changes in May 2025, suggested modifications like increasing parking spaces and removing excessive impervious surfaces. However, the site had been reclassified as a development under stormwater management rules due to previous miscalculations of impervious areas. Mance acknowledged these errors and confirmed discussions with the board engineer on rectifying them to comply with stormwater management requirements.

Concerns were also raised about outdoor storage regulations, with a particular focus on noise and the visibility of storage areas. The applicant proposed expanding the buffer to 35 feet and agreed to comply with tree preservation and lighting ordinance requirements. Residents voiced concerns about noise levels, particularly from operations involving backup alarms and equipment movements. The board discussed potential sound mitigation measures, such as adding sound padding to fences, to address these issues.

The meeting also highlighted administrative changes, with the resignation of Patty Smith, the board secretary, effective January 1, 2026. Additionally, a cyber fraud warning was issued to applicants, cautioning against emails misrepresenting the township’s planning and zoning department and wrongly requesting funds.

Finally, the board deferred the discussion of the amended Sunnyme Landfill redevelopment area preliminary investigation report to the January 22, 2026, meeting due to a legal notice error. The board noted that a renotice would be necessary to ensure compliance with publication requirements.