Environmental Minutes | February 7, 2024

ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES

Meeting February 7, 2024, at 7:00 PM

1. CALL TO ORDER- Chairwoman Karen Polidoro

Pledge to Flag

2. Sunshine Law- Read into the record.

3. Roll Call – (Commissioners and Associates)

_√_ Karen Polidoro (Chair), _×_ Miriam Cohen (Council Liaison)

_√_ Renee Haider, _√_ Roger Dreyling

_√_ Ken Konya, _√_ Joe Slomian

_√_ Giada Schwam (Student Liaison),

_×_ Siddhi Patil (Student Associate)

_√_ Mihir Majmundar,

_×_ John Riggs

_√_ Surabhi Agarwal

_√_ Theresa Zamorski (Secretary)

Adoption of Minutes–: A Motion to approve the January 3, 2024, minutes made by Renee Haider and seconded by Ken Konya. All in favor.

Applicant A. McDonald’s Concordia Shopping Center

Speaker: Amin Sharif, PE Bohler

Nick Groch, Katz Properties

Stan Glantz, Katz Properties

Danielle Kinback, ESQ

The commission had the following concerns:

· The applicant is requesting a waiver for the requirement to submit an Environmental Impact Statement. The MTEC approves the waiver, however.

· The MTEC is concerned that the overall site plan will adversely impact the community with respect to vehicle and pedestrian traffic safety.

· The MTEC recommends a higher than 6-inch curb along the roadway where Wells Fargo drive thru exits to the new driveway being constructed. The concern is that the traffic exiting the Wells Fargo drive through could cross the roadway and drive directly into the vehicles in the McDonald’s drive through queue.

· Stop signs should be added where the vehicles from Wells Fargo drive through enter the new driveway to make it clear to drivers that they are entering a two-way roadway.

· The MTEC is concerned that there is not enough parking on the west side of the shopping center for customers visiting the banks and stores.

· The MTEC is concerned about traffic flow in the vicinity of McDonald’s. Specifically with respect to:

o What happens if the car capacity in drive-thru is exceeded?

o Will the backup of the cars in the McDonald’s drive-thru block the road to Wells Fargo and customer parking east of the parking lot and potentially back traffic up entering off of Perrineville Road?

o Has the traffic study taken into consideration traffic in the parking lot during peak hours of Wells Fargo and McDonald’s combined?

· The MTEC is concerned about light pollution and the impact of the long operating hours where lights from McDonalds could impact wildlife, and the serenity of the open space on the east side of Perrineville Road.

· Please consider incorporating as many of the attached eco-friendly design options as possible.

· The traffic report is done on holidays which does not give a true picture of the traffic and parking lot use.

· McDonald’s traffic study does not provide data on breakfast traffic from 6:30 am to 8 am.

· The traffic report does not show any estimated McDonald’s customer number visiting restaurant during 6:30 am to 8 am traffic and customers.

· Need traffic congestion study on Perrineville Road and Prospect Plains Road from 6:30 am to 8 am time.

· Need new updated traffic report during morning peak hours, afternoon rush hour traffic and during regular days and weekend on Perrineville Road and Prospect Plains Road by a traffic engineer selected by the Township Engineer and paid by McDonald’s.

· Monroe Township Police department review on traffic is recommended.

· The MTEC recommends that all outdoor lighting be LED, dark sky, and motion sensitive, to eliminate as much light pollution as possible during the evening hours.

· All proposed plantings should be reviewed and approved by the Township arborist.

· The MTEC recommends reviewing the landscaping design to see if a rain garden could be included in the final landscaping design.

· The MTEC believes that the addition of a McDonalds, at the proposed location, would cause a significant increase in roadside litter along the Perrineville Road and Prospect Plains Roads.

· The MTEC is encouraging all applicants to schedule meetings with, and seek recommendations from, the Commission prior to seeking Zoning and / or Planning Board approval in all future application submittals.

Committee Reports:

a. High School Student Liaison- Giada Schwam-

Monroe Township Highschool Green Team

· Wrap up 2022 refillable water stations grant by installing plaques recognizing the club and grant sponsors.

Beginning stages of the 2023 $2k grant to refurbish the greenhouse in the back of the school - take inventory of flowers, plants, & other items to be purchased. A new greenhouse will be purchased due to irreparable storm damage.

· Continue preparation for new subcommittees to implement new action plans & initiatives such as the greenhouse.

ECONIGHT PREP

· The EcoNight Event Team began planning for the 5th Annual EcoNight that will be taking place at MTHS on Tuesday, April 16th @ 3:30pm this spring, which will include niche environmental exhibits, panelists, food, games, and more for all who attend.

· Members can begin to fill out the EcoNight exhibit registration form as soon as they have their exhibit idea planned.

b. Trails and Bike Paths Committee- Coordinator Karen Polidoro – Nothing to report.

c. Storm Water & Streams Committee- Coordinator Joe Slomian- Stream Clean ups for Spring are scheduled. They will be posted on our website.

d. Energy Committee – Coordinator Ken Konya-Nothing to report.

e. Open Space- Coordinator John Riggs-Nothing to report.

f. Education Committee Report- Coordinator Renee Haider – Library programs are still being organized; Flyers will be posted for each month.

g. Sustainable New Jersey – Coordinator Renee Haider- Nothing to report.

h. Green Fair Committee Report – Coordinator Mihir Majmundar- Green fair date scheduled for September 21, 2024.