Costco’s application was represented by Jennifer Maway from the law firm K&L Gates, who outlined the proposed project’s details. Eric Bran, Costco’s director of real estate development, emphasized that the addition would not increase employee numbers or alter operations, but would replace the outdated refrigerant system with an environmentally friendly glycol system. Despite the green initiative, the application requested a parking variance due to the existing site only providing 859 parking spaces, a significant shortfall from the 1,618 required by the ordinance.

The board’s discussion on the application was multifaceted, with concerns about the parking discrepancy highlighted in the engineer’s report. Ed Wils, Costco’s licensed professional engineer, clarified the exact number of parking spaces, confirming the number to be 859. The board also reviewed testimony from architect Claudio Breo, who provided architectural details of the proposed addition.

Further examination of the site’s existing conditions was provided by a board member, Nathan, who discussed the location, surrounding areas, and structural details. He presented a colored rendering of the proposed site plan, highlighting the expansion’s size and the introduction of maintenance stairs and dark sky compliant LED lighting. Despite existing non-conformances regarding landscape buffer and impervious coverage, the board was reassured that there would be no increase in impervious coverage and no additional traffic from the proposed addition.

Public input was a notable feature of the meeting, with resident Adam Bushman voicing concerns about ongoing flooding issues in the area since the construction of the Costco warehouse in 2000. Bushman urged the board to compel Costco’s engineers to address the stormwater management problem. In response, board member Weinberg recognized the validity of the concerns and committed to facilitating communication between Bushman and Costco to explore possible solutions.

The board’s approval of the application was not without conditions, stipulating that approvals from outside agencies were necessary. Additionally, two memorializations for previous applications were also approved during the meeting. These actions showed the board’s diligence in ensuring compliance with regulations while also considering the environmental impact and community concerns associated with the development.

The meeting began with the board members paying respects to the recently deceased father of Mayor Stephen Dalina. Following this, the board elected new officers, with Mark Gaffrey appointed as chairman, David Rothman as vice chairman, and Laura Zalewski as planning board secretary. Jerome Convery, Mark Rasimowicz, and Robert Russo were nominated and approved as planning board attorney, board engineer, and board planner, respectively. The board also formalized the adoption of the Monroe Township Planning Board rules and regulations and approved the meeting dates.