During the meeting, a resident from D Road raised concerns about a proposed warehouse development that had come to light through a letter from the EPA and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. The resident plans for a 385,000-square-foot warehouse, which would include substantial parking facilities and elevated structures near their property. The resident expressed frustration over insufficient communication from the developers, emphasizing that no notifications were received despite their proximity to the development site. They stressed the potential impact on Cranbury’s drainage and flooding, citing past severe flooding incidents exacerbated by inadequate stormwater management systems.

The resident highlighted concerns about the functionality of proposed retention ponds, particularly one designed beneath a driveway, which they feared might not effectively prevent future flooding. The discussion prompted the board to consider contacting South Brunswick for more information and to investigate the situation further. The resident also provided documentation related to the development.

Following the public comment session, the board shifted focus to application PB 402-25 regarding modifications to the Amazon Fulfillment Center on Heightstown Cranbury Station Road. The proposal, presented by a representative from Porzio Romber and Newman, included converting associate parking into trailer parking within the industrial light impact zone. This proposal aimed to streamline operations, reduce off-site trailer traffic, and alleviate congestion on local roads.

The representative emphasized that feedback from the March meeting had been incorporated into the revised plans, developed in collaboration with the Design Review Committee and the board’s consultants. Sher Miller, the project architect, clarified parking calculations, noting that the facility’s parking capacity would remain above the required number even after modifications. The modifications included changes to traffic flow, creation of pedestrian amenity spaces, and increased landscaping to enhance site aesthetics.

The meeting also addressed safety concerns regarding pedestrian circulation and emergency exits. The board noted operational safety for trailers, stressing that pedestrian paths should be clearly defined to prevent conflicts with trailer movements. Dan Desario from Lang Engineering presented several exhibits detailing truck movement facilitation and the conversion of car parking to green space to offset new truck paths. Desario explained that consolidating trailer parking on-site would alleviate local road congestion by eliminating off-site trailer trips, a point acknowledged by the board as beneficial for the community.

Further discussions involved the need for electric vehicle parking spaces, with board members debating their necessity based on employee commuting patterns. Concerns about historical site contamination and the limitations of trenching for electric infrastructure were also discussed, highlighting long-standing site challenges.

The topic of home agriculture, specifically the regulation of chicken coops in certain zones, emerged as another key issue. While chickens are permitted in most areas of Cranbury, the board debated their inclusion in the Village Commercial and Village Hamlet Residential zones. The discussion revealed a desire for uniformity in regulations across the township, with suggestions to revise the master plan and ordinance to reflect current practices. The board agreed to recommend that the township committee consider amending the ordinance to permit home agriculture in these zones, emphasizing the importance of clear guidelines to balance agricultural flexibility with neighborhood harmony.