Middletown Township's Zoning Hearing Board took action on one significant project and delayed consideration of three others at the request of applicants on May 10.
The board voted unanimously to approve a special exception and some variances for a new 26,428-square-foot warehouse and office building for Pereira Concrete on Big Oak Road. The company still needs land development approval from the township supervisors to proceed with the project.
The ZHB continued until the June 28 meeting consideration of variances for three other projects: A proposal from Healthcare Building Solutions Realty LLC to convert an existing building into a four-unit apartment building on Hulmeville Road; a proposal by Silver Oak Village and Anatoliy Klimenko for a 13-lot subdivision with 12 single-family homes on Village Road; and variances for a drive-through and other zoning relief for Manhattan Bagel, which is vying to move into the space formerly occupied by Einstein Bros. Bagels at the Summit Square Shopping Center.
Pereira, a third-generation concrete contractor that's been around for 50 years and on Big Oak Road for about 30, will also get 71 parking spaces and a sizable area for outdoor storage of equipment and materials as part of the relief granted. The new building and related amenities, if they receive land development approval, will be built right across Big Oak Road from the company's current base of operations.
Eventually, all operations would be transitioned over to the new location, said company Vice-President Michael Pereira, who added the the firm would then look to rent out its current facility but continue to own it.
The new project will go on a 14.95-acre tract that is almost entirely wooded, said the engineer representing Pereira. Among the variances granted is one that allows a greater than normally allowed disturbance of woodlands. However, construction will not be disturbing any wetlands on the parcel, he added.
Another variance allows Pereira to plant fewer than the 411 replacement trees that would normally be required. Michael Pereira and Ed Murphy, the local attorney representing the company on the project, said Pereira will plant as many replacement trees as possible on the property and will work with Middletown on planting others at other township locations and/or paying a fee in lieu of planting replacement trees.
Attorney Michael Meginniss of Begley, Carlin & Mandio appeared at the May 10 meeting to tell residents that he was representing the applicants on both the Hulmeville Road four-unit apartment building proposal and the Village Road 13-lot subdivision and that any residents with concerns should contact him. He added the apartment proposal actually involves five apartments in all because there is an existing apartment on the property.
Meginniss said he can arrange meetings with residents to discuss and, hopefully, work out concerns. Zoning board member William Cosen reminded Meginniss there are conference rooms available in the township municipal center for such meetings.
The township supervisors are opposing the variances requested for the Manhattan Bagel proposal after Solicitor Jim Esposito informed them that he and Building and Zoning Director Jim Ennis feel granting the variances might cause parking and traffic flow problems at the location.
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