Franklin (Somerset County) Zoning Board Grants Religious Organization’s Zoning Extension Amid Leadership Changes.

The Franklin Zoning Board approved a one-year extension for Sai Data, a religious organization that plans to construct a house of worship. The extension was necessary due to delays related to leadership changes and engineering issues. The board also carried forward a major site plan application for a four-story apartment building to March 2025.

During the meeting, a representative for Sai Data explained that the delay in their project was partly due to leadership changes within the organization, which affected decision-making and spending. Additionally, there were complications with engineering, specifically relating to septic reports. The board granted the extension until November 2025 to accommodate these delays, giving the organization additional time to finalize their plans and begin construction.

In other matters, a hearing for a proposed four-story apartment building on East Avenue was postponed to March 2025. The property is located in the GB Zone, and the application includes requests for several variances. The board announced that there would be no need for further notification to the public about this postponement.

The meeting also featured routine administrative actions, including the reappointment of members to various positions on the board. Bob Thomas was welcomed back as chairman, and Bob Shepard was nominated as vice-chair, albeit in his absence. Eric M. Bernstein and Associates LLC was retained as the board’s legal counsel for another term.

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