Monroe Township Planning Board approves final site plan for two-building trade/office project on Mount Mills Road

The Monroe Township Planning Board on a motion approved Thor Investment LLC’s final major site plan for a two-building trade/office development at 381 Mount Mills Road.

The application, presented by attorney Ryan O'Sullivan of Fox Rothschild, sought final site-plan approval following an earlier preliminary approval that included a use variance and bulk variances. O'Sullivan said the project — identified on the township tax map as Block 39, Lot 4 — is intended for light-industrial and trade-industry tenants and remains in the NC (Neighborhood Commercial) zone.

The board’s civil-design witness, Sharif Ali of Ameritech Engineering, testified to changes since preliminary approval, including a shallow stormwater facility behind the building and the provision of curb and sidewalks requested by Middlesex County. Ali described the two buildings as about 9,300 and 4,050 square feet and said parking counts remain unchanged. "We added the stormwater facility behind the building. It's not a large detention. It's very, very shallow stormwater facility," Ali said.

Board planner Chris (first name only in the record) and the board engineer reviewed the submitted materials. Chris’s report said the applicant appears to have complied with preliminary conditions except that the 12-by-50 loading area had not been added to the plan; the applicant agreed to show that dimension and to update circulation details. The board engineer indicated he had met with the applicant and was satisfied the loading area could be accommodated, noting it would be required on the compliance plans.

No members of the public spoke on the application during the public portion. The board voted to approve the application "subject to approval of the conditions by both the engineer and the planner," and the secretary conducted a roll call with affirmative responses recorded.

The approval is conditional on the applicant submitting revised compliance plans reflecting the loading-area dimension and satisfying outstanding engineering comments. The board’s minutes will note the conditions enumerated by staff and professionals.

Board action: the motion to approve carried on roll call; the approval was recorded as subject to the engineer’s and planner’s final review and compliance.