Jackson Township board approves site-plan extension and multiple residential variances

Jackson Township’s Board of Adjustment voted unanimously or by recorded roll call to approve a set of variances, a memorializing resolution and a time extension at its recent meeting.

The board memorialized Resolution 2026-14, which grants two one-year extensions to the previously approved preliminary and final site-plan approval (with use variance) for the retail center and existing gas station at 330 Whitesville Road. Chair Cipriani presented the resolution as a memorialization of a prior board decision; the motion passed on the board’s roll call (recorded yes votes in the minutes).

Separately, the board granted a time extension for site-plan approval 2022-18 for property on East Veterans Road after the applicant said county road realignment work at the East Veterans/Cross Street intersection remains unsettled. Ryan Murphy, the project engineer for the applicant, told the board the firm is awaiting final county decisions on intersection alignment and turning lanes, delaying final county sign-off: “We believe we’re very close to matching what their final product is going to be, but it’s all dependent on their final product.” The board approved the extension to avoid repeated return appearances while county engineering is finalized.

On residential matters the board approved multiple variances after applicants and board professionals discussed drainage, septic impacts and conditions of approval:

- Raymond Torres Jr., 8 Dante Court, received a variance to build a 30-by-80-by-12 pole barn for storage. Torres said the structure is intended for household storage and a home gym now in his basement. The board and the engineer discussed wetlands, potential DEP freshwater-wetland permits and required plot plans; the approval includes standard conditions that the structure be for storage only and that the applicant submit a plot plan and comply with tree‑removal and any DEP requirements.

- Matthew and Elizabeth Flanigan, 616 Ally Burke Road, were granted a variance for a single-car garage addition and a small room behind it. The board noted the lot is irregular and discussed septic setbacks (standard vs. alternative treatment systems) and the need for a plot plan; the approval is conditioned on compliance with septic/setback rules and submission of required permits.

- David Corniola, 2 Chopin Place, received approval for a 14-by-30 storage shed with overhead doors. Corniola said the shed is for pool toys and equipment. The board required gutters directing runoff to Ross Lane and a gravel or otherwise permanent pad to avoid drainage impacts; the applicant agreed to relocate an existing fence to the property line as previously permitted.

- Mary and Anthony Gazzaniga were approved to build a detached garage (architectural concept and dimensions discussed at the meeting, approximately 45 by 42 feet and up to 25 feet high) with conditions: no plumbing or running water, electric only; gutters and a dry well to manage roof runoff; and a permanent access surface (gravel or similar) shown on the plot plan. The board emphasized the application must include architectural interior plans and a plot plan for engineering review before permits are issued.

Across approvals the board repeatedly required applicants to submit plot plans to the township engineer, install gutters and manage roof runoff (dry well or equivalent), and to avoid residential, commercial or institutional uses inside accessory structures unless separately permitted. In several cases the board noted a need to confirm whether DEP permits are required if wetland buffers changed since earlier surveys.

The board recorded roll-call approval votes for the items; where the vote tally was read into the minutes each motion passed. Next steps for approved applicants generally are to file plot plans and obtain any required DEP or township permits before construction.