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Yahoo
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
New car wash may be coming to Middlesex County
SOUTH BRUNSWICK - A car wash may be coming to a vacant gas station and convenience store site on Route 1. Spark Car Wash, which leases the property at 3703 Route 1, is seeking township approval to build an approximately 4,841-square-foot automated car wash with a drive through lane, 22 vacuum parking spaces, four employee parking spaces and signage at the site. The approximately 1.47-acre property has driveway access to both Route 1 and Finnegans Lane. According to its website, Spark has multiple locations in New Jersey, with only one in Central Jersey in Woodbridge. However, the company has plans to open in Piscataway, Flemington, North Brunswick and Linden. Spark Car Wash, founded in 2018, "provides an energizing car wash experience that is both effective and efficient," according to a company press release. More: South Brunswick Police Department announces 2025 award recipients In 2023, Spark raised $30 million in private equity for expansion. The public hearing on the proposal is scheduled for the 7:30 p.m. July 17 Zoning Board meeting at the municipal building. Variances are required for minimum lot size, setbacks from Route 1 and Finnegans Lane, landscaping setback and signs. Email: sloyer@ Susan Loyer covers Middlesex County and more for To get unlimited access to her work, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. This article originally appeared on Spark Car Wash proposed for Route 1, South Brunswick
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Message board on top of a 56-foot pole may be looking down on Route 1
WOODBRIDGE - A message board on top of a pole about the height of a four-story building may be coming to northbound Route 1 in the Fords section. Outfront Media, one of the nation's leading outdoor advertising firms and listed on the New York Stock Exchange, is seeking the township's Zoning Board of Adjustment's approval for the project proposed for 80 Route 1 north in the R1R Route 1 Redevelopment Zone. A public hearing on the proposal is scheduled for the board's July 10 meeting. Outfront Media is looking to remove a 14-foot by 48-foot sign and replace it with a 14-foot by 47-foot double-faced message board on single pole. In all, the new sign and pole will 56 feet. Woodbridge fireworks: What to know A use variance is required because multimessage off-premise advertising signs are prohibited in the R1R Zone. In addition, variances are being sought for maximum building height because 45 feet is the maximum permitted and 56 feet is proposed. Variances also are being sought for side yard setback. The project is proposed for a section of Route 1 north near Lafayette Road and across the highway from The Original Pancake House and Margaritas Mexican Restaurant. Email: srussell@ Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. This article originally appeared on Message board on top of a 56-foot pole may be looking down on Route 1
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Homeowners file lawsuit against approval of Fairview Temple construction
FAIRVIEW, Texas () — Homeowners in the town of Fairview filed a lawsuit against Fairview Town Council after the council provided permits to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to build a temple in the town. The construction of the Fairview temple has been a hot topic of debate in the town for the past year. After and a new design for the temple was proposed, the town council approved the temple for construction on with a 5-2 vote. However, this lawsuit is alleging that due to Texas law, the council did not have enough votes to approve the permits. Because residents voiced their protests against the construction, the council needed to have a supermajority (75%) of votes to approve the variance, the lawsuit said. TIMELINE: The year-long debate surrounding the now-approved Fairview Texas Temple According to the lawsuit filing obtained by three homeowners are named in the suit against the town. They allege that 'out of an abundance of caution,' they appealed the council's decision with Fairview's Zoning Board of Adjustments. Though the Zoning Board has not ruled on their appeal, the lawsuit alleges that in a recent town council meeting, representatives for the town questioned whether the Zoning Board had the authority to overturn the town council's decisions. The lawsuit states that the homeowners believe that the Zoning Board does have the authority, but they have filed the suit in the case that the Zoning Board is found not to have the authority, or if the Zoning board agrees with the council. According to the suit, when a certain number of property owners who will be affected by the permit file a written protest, the permit can only be approved by a supermajority of the governing body, in this case, the Fairview Town Council. Per Texas Local Government Code § 211.006(d), the protest must be signed by 20% of the owners of the 'immediately adjoining the area covered by the proposed change and extending 200 feet from that area.' PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 'Serious inaccuracies': Texas town mayor responds to LDS Church letter in ongoing temple dispute The lawsuit is alleging that the people who signed the protest against the temple construction permits own 20% of the land extending 200 feet from the area where the temple will be built, or the 'protest zone.' However, the issue is that the land the temple is set to be built on adjoins the neighboring city of Allen, Texas, and part of the protest zone could include land in Allen. The lawsuit is arguing that any land in Allen should not be included in the protest zone, because people who own property outside of Fairview cannot file protests with the Town of Fairview, because they are not included on Fairview's tax rolls. If you exclude any land outside of Fairview, then the protest was signed by 20% of the property owners within the protest zone, according to the homeowners, and then the town council's approval would not be valid because they did not have a supermajority. Fairview Mayor Dr. John Hubbard issued a statement in response to the lawsuit filed against the town council. 'The Town of Fairview maintains that the area of the 'protest zone' was calculated correctly,' he said. 'The Town Council acted based on the information available at the time and in what was believed to be in the best interest of Fairview. Every resident has the right to pursue any legal remedy if they believe the Council did not follow proper procedures in approving the Conditional Use Permit (CUP).' He also stated that the issue is not opposing the construction of the temple. The issue, he said, 'has always been about the size of the building and the height of the steeple.' 'While the LDS Church has graciously reduced the steeple height to 120 feet, many residents believe that a structure of that scale is incompatible with a district zoned for a 35-foot height limit,' he continued, PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Texas town mayor responds to LDS Church letter in ongoing temple dispute He concluded by sharing that he believes a path to compromise is possible without getting the courts involved. 'I believe litigation could be avoided if both the LDS Church and the appellants are willing to compromise further on the height,' he said. 'A lower steeple would allow the town to avoid costly legal proceedings, the church to build the temple it needs, and the community to preserve the small-town character that makes Fairview unique. This is a path where everyone can win.' If the court rules in favor of the homeowners, the Fairview Town Council will have to vote on the temple's construction permit again, and a supermajority of council members must vote in favor in order to approve the permit. The homeowners requested that the court wait to hear their case until the Zoning Board has ruled on their appeal. They are also requesting that the court pay their attorneys' fees. In April, the to approve the construction of a temple for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 'This has been an extraordinarily difficult decision, how to deal with this… None of us are pleased with this, but it is what we think we need to do,' a councilmember said. Other council members also voiced their displeasure with the decision, but they still voted to approve the construction of the temple — with provisions. The Fairview Texas Temple is not allowed to exceed a height of 44 feet and 7 inches from the ground up to the roof, and the spire will not be allowed to exceed 120 feet from the ground. The building itself will be limited to roughly 30,700 square feet, and the town council also placed restrictions on the exterior lighting of the building. The original plan for the temple was for a 44,000-square-foot building with a reported 174-foot spire. Current plans are for a 30,000-square-foot building with a 120-foot-tall spire on 8.61 acres in Fairview. Utah Alzheimer's Disease advocates visit Washington, D.C. Homeowners file lawsuit against approval of Fairview Temple construction Kouri Richins: New trial date set for Kamas mom accused of killing her husband Fire burning on Navajo Mountain in San Juan County Hazy sunshine expected through the weekend Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Johnson College's diesel programs might move to off-campus site in Scranton
SCRANTON — Johnson College's diesel programs might relocate to a site on North Keyser Avenue in Scranton, the college president said. Marelli Realty LLC seeks a variance from the city Zoning Board to construct a 100-foot-by-70-foot building at 1646 N. Keyser Ave. for use by Johnson College's diesel program. The board will hear the application Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Scranton City Hall, according a public notice of the board's agenda published in The Times-Tribune on May 2 and Wednesday. College President and CEO Katie Pittelli, Ed.D., said the plan calls for Marelli Reality to construct the building on a vacant lot on North Keyser Avenue and lease the structure to Johnson College. 1646 N Keyser Ave. in Scranton on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) The college currently teaches a two-year Diesel Truck Technology Associate Degree program and one-year Diesel Preventative Maintenance Technician certificate program at the main campus at 3427 N. Main Ave. in Scranton, Pittelli said in an email. If a new building on North Keyser Avenue gets zoning approval, the college would move the diesel programs from the main campus to the North Keyser Avenue site, freeing up space for other programs at the main campus, she said. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 3% growth in the diesel industry until 2033 with demand widespread and needed in construction, large transportation fleets and agriculture, Pittelli said. 'This field is growing due to the overall increased demand for commercial transportation and due to the ever-changing, complex technology,' Pittelli said. 'As technology continues to evolve, the industry will need the highly skilled technicians who are well-versed in maintaining and repairing these complex pieces of machinery.' The college's Diesel Truck Technology program prepares students as entry-level technicians with the latest information on diagnosis, repair procedures, preventive maintenance and necessary safety applications in diesel technology, according to the college website. The program graduates more than 20 students each year who have an immediate impact on the diesel truck industry, especially in Northeast Pennsylvania. The current diesel technology building at Johnson College in Scranton on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)The current diesel technology building at Johnson College in Scranton on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) The college currently has diesel program labs at Five Star Equipment in Dunmore and Simplex Industries in Scranton, as well as Commercial Driver License (CDL) classes at Road Runner CDL Academy in Taylor and at Johnson College at the CAN DO Training Center in Hazle Twp. The college's Aviation Technology program runs at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport. A diesel site on North Keyser Avenue would be a location for that program, and not a full campus, like the main campus on North Main Avenue in Scranton or its Hazleton campus, she said. * The current diesel technology building at Johnson College in Scranton on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * The current diesel technology building at Johnson College in Scranton on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * The current diesel technology building at Johnson College in Scranton on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * 1646 N Keyser Ave. in Scranton on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) Show Caption 1 of 4 The current diesel technology building at Johnson College in Scranton on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) Expand
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Amy Hansen and Jeff Grip win Hampton Select Board seats: Election results
HAMPTON — Amy Hansen and Jeff Grip won Tuesday's selectmen races for two open positions, while voters approved police union contracts and improvements to the town's safety pier. Hansen, the current board chair, won her second straight term and a three-year seat with 1,972 votes, defeating Regina Barnes who had 763 votes and Brian Warburton who had 671. Grip won a two-year seat in a four-way race defeating Bruce Theriault's 756 votes, Derek Beaupre's 408 votes and Matthew Flynn's 401 votes. 'I'm a little speechless,' Hansen said Tuesday after the results were posted. 'I'm very excited and relieved the campaigning process is over.' In the race for School Board, voters elected Sarah Elliott and Candice O'Neil. They defeated incumbents Ginny Bridle Russell and Leslie Shepard as well as Frank Bajowski. In other contested races, a three-way race for two three-year seats on the Budget Committee was won by Fred Diana and Michael Plouffe. For the one-year seat on the Budget Committee, Aleksandra Ring defeated Mary Blackwell, Joseph Bamforth and Patrick Sheridan. Matthew Saunders was elected to the Zoning Board while Sharon Mullen and Keith Lessard were re-elected to the town Planning Board. In the race for town clerk, Cheryl Hildreth defeated Beth Frongillo by a vote of 2,010 to 1,121. The town also voted 2,245 to 971 to approve the town's proposed $36.3 million operating budget, which was $67 less than the default budget. Sixty-seven percent of the budget consists of wages ($15.6 million) and employee benefits ($8.7 million). Other items include $2.8 million in debt payments, $2.2 million for contracts, and $1 million for repairs and maintenance. The school budget was approved by a vote of 2,229 to 1,081. Also gaining approval were two three-year employee contracts: one for Hampton police officers and another for the department's sergeants. Both contracts feature adjustments to the current salary schedule, with a 6.5% wage increase in the first year, and a 3% increase in the second and third years. Additionally, the contracts address adjustments to health insurance and an increase in private detail wages, paid by outside vendors. The new contract also introduces Juneteenth as a holiday and provides a stipend for patrolmen assigned with a police K-9. Voters also approved $300,000 from the town's unassigned fund balance to repair and upgrade the Hampton Public Safety Pier. A citizens' petition request to amend the elderly property tax exemption program to increase an applicant's net assets from $250,000 to $367,000 to qualify was rejected. Four other citizens' petitions deemed illegal by the town attorney were also rejected, including one to regulate commercial businesses in the residentially zoned district at 17/17R Barbour Road. For the first time in decades, voters rejected a citizens' petition for $52,958 to provide child benefit services for Hampton students who attend Sacred Heart School. Voters have supported providing funding under RSA 198:49 to the Catholic school each year since 1975. The state law was created to allow non-public schools the means of attaining educational resources normally provided to public schools by the state. None of the funds are used for religious purposes and are directly used to benefit the students from Hampton who attend the school. The article, which was not recommended by the School Board or Budget Committee, was defeated by a vote of 1,345 to 1,961. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Amy Hansen re-elected to Hampton Select Board: Election results
