The proposal for the new medical office on James Street was a central point of discussion. Dr. Muhammad Zuar, a medical practitioner, outlined his ambition to relocate his practice to Edison, driven by the desire to serve the community more effectively during and after the pandemic. Dr. Zuar’s testimony provided a detailed account of the building’s purpose, with particular attention to patient safety and the necessity for isolation in a post-pandemic era. The facility’s design included separate waiting areas, exam rooms for infectious diseases, and staggered appointments to minimize patient interaction. The office’s operational hours and the scheduling of patient visits were also extensively deliberated to ensure minimal congestion and maximum efficiency.

Dr. Zuar further described the medical office as including 10 exam rooms, with an unlikely scenario of all rooms being in use at once. He noted that only four employees, inclusive of himself, would be present during daytime operations. At night, the office would facilitate sleep studies managed by a sole technologist. The careful separation of exam and sleep study rooms was a direct response to infectious disease concerns, emphasizing the building’s role in improving health outcomes for patients with acute diseases.

The architectural plans for the proposed structure were presented by David Dugas. The building was designed to reflect a modern aesthetic using brick and metal panels. It would comprise a lower lobby, elevator, staircase, reception waiting room, five exam rooms on the lower floors, and sleep study rooms with monitoring stations on the third floor. Despite the need for a floor area ratio variance and a slight height variance of 2.83 feet above the permitted limit, the structure was poised to contribute to the local healthcare landscape.

The civil engineer, John Dupont, examined the current conditions of the property and its compatibility with the surrounding area, which includes JFK hospital and other medical buildings. He emphasized the mixed-use nature of the James Street Corridor and provided reassurances that the proposed signage would adhere to existing ordinances. The board’s concerns about parking space sufficiency and the need for a sign permit were addressed, with the applicant asserting that the 19 parking stalls would be ample due to the by-appointment nature of the practice.

Discussions also addressed practical considerations such as setbacks, parking layout, lighting, landscaping, and stormwater management. The applicant presented plans, including 20 parking spaces, with ADA accessibility and provision for electric vehicles. The lighting plan was designed to prevent spillage and operate on timers, and a robust landscaping plan promised a buffer between the medical facility and residential neighbors. The board deferred the planning testimony until police and fire reports were obtained and decided to continue the case until April 30th, allowing time for further review and public input.

Another case involved Shoi Construction LLC, which sought to construct a three-unit one-bedroom triplex on vacant land. The representative, Bernard Sh, discussed the necessity for variances due to the project not meeting certain master plan standards, including side yard setback and maximum floor area. The discussion revealed a shift from a prior two-story office building application to the current residential triplex proposal. The board considered the updated stormwater calculations and the need for pipeline buffering documentation. John Dupont offered insights into the property and the intended construction, emphasizing the impact on the local area. The triplex would feature individual garages and driveways for each unit, with the foundation being a slab. With no public comments or questions, the board considered the previous approval of a similar use and the relatively minor variance requests, ultimately approving the application unanimously, subject to conditions related to planning and engineering reports.