MANALAPAN — A plan to add three buildings to an existing office condominium complex on Union Hill Road has come before the Planning Board for approval.
Located on a 2.52-acre parcel, Peoplemovers Inc. has applied for site plan approval and bulk variance relief.
Attorney Kenneth Pape said his client, Michael Volonik, has secured an easement to use the existing traffic circulation system at the complex. It was also reported that the condominium owners have approved a corporate resolution allowing the Peoplemovers parcel to join their condominium.
Pape said there were four types of neighbors which were contacted so that the proposed application could be discussed. These included the office condominium community on the south side of the property; a temple on the east side; the owners of single-family homes, located in Marlboro, to the north; and the owners of single-family homes to the west.
Pape said he met with the environmental commission and the shade tree committee. He said he had walked the site with Gary Lovallo, the town’s forester-arborist, to find the trees that are worth saving.
It was noted that many trees on the property were damaged by a tornado that struck the area in May. Pape said it was determined that the plan could be revised so that the building would be located where the damaged trees stood and the parking lot would be located where the buildings had been placed in the original plan.
Project planner Alan Saffner reviewed the application with the board.
"The buildings were shifted away from the center of the property, leaving a courtyard-type of appearance with existing trees and existing grading to remain," Saffner said.
The buildings will be served with public water and public sewers. A detention basin will be provided for runoff. A total of 93 parking spaces will be provided.
The applicant is seeking approval for 9- by-20-foot parking spaces where 10-by-20-foot spaces are required. Saffner said approximately six parking spaces would be lost if the size of the parking spaces is 10 by 20 feet.
It was also explained that the owner was contacted by the operators of an existing child care center and there is a possibility that a second child care facility, for a different age group, could be located in the new building. There is no lease agreement in place at this time.
Board members suggested that larger parking spaces be made for the area nearest the possible child care center.
During the public portion of the meeting, Dave Dalik, a resident of Hawkins Road, which borders the development site, said he was satisfied with the plans and had no problem with them.
The public hearing for this application will continue on Feb. 14.
In other board business, Mayor Rebecca Aaronson will take the seat on the board previously held by Deputy Mayor William Scherer, who will not be able to attend board meetings due to other obligations.