The application for the expansion of a residential property into graduate student housing by South Jersey Investments LLC stood out as the most pressing topic of the evening. The proposed two-and-a-half-story addition and increased parking sparked a examination by the board, which interrogated the engineer about the project’s compliance with zoning regulations and its fit with the surrounding residential context. The variances required included lot depth, side yard setback, building coverage, and floor area ratio. The applicant argued for the need for affordable graduate student housing near the campus, while board members raised concerns about parking adequacy and the potential impact on the neighborhood.

The applicant acknowledged that no formal study on the need for graduate student housing had been conducted, relying instead on anecdotal evidence. The discussion further delved into specifics such as the number of parking spaces, the width of the driveway, traffic flow, the use of rooms within the property, and ADA compliance for parking. Despite the extensive discussion, the meeting was adjourned without reaching a decision on the application.

Another major issue discussed was the proposed Popeyes restaurant, with board members expressing concerns about potential traffic congestion and considering restrictions such as making the parking area exit a right turn only. Aesthetic considerations were also part of the debate, with questions about the removal of a front porch and its impact on the visual environment of the neighborhood. Technical aspects such as emergency egress, screening of the recycling area, and compliance with affordable housing requirements were addressed. The public was invited to comment, but there were no responses. The board ultimately voted on the motion to approve the use variances requested by the applicant, but the motion failed to pass.

Further discussions included a proposed boarding house, with the board’s Engineer and applicants debating the adequacy of parking and the curb cut. The removal of the front porch was discussed for aesthetic reasons, and the board considered the assumptions made about parking needs and the enforceability of parking restrictions. Issues of handicap parking and the impact on available parking spaces were also raised, alongside the driveway space’s capacity for multiple cars to maneuver safely.

In addition to these applications, the board conducted a roll call vote on a resolution granting use and minor site plan approval to Michael and Linda Sael for a property on North Main Street. The Workshop report included discussions on applications by Green Violet LLC for marijuana cultivation and manufacturing and by Russo Corporation for student housing.