Business Facing Shutdown Order Gets Parking Approval In Cranford

CRANFORD, NJ — A parking plan tied to the Cranford Performance Institute (CPI) was approved by the Cranford Planning Board, giving the sports training facility a path forward after months of uncertainty tied to parking requirements and earlier compliance questions.

The approval centers on CPI’s effort to secure overflow parking for larger events at its Bryant Avenue facility. Township rules require 71 parking spaces, while the property currently has 11 on-site spaces and one EV space.

CPI returned to the board with a revised proposal to use parking at Calvary Tabernacle Church on Myrtle Street for occasional special events, including tournaments and larger community gatherings.

A major part of the conversation focused on how people would get between the church lot and the facility. The walking route includes sections of roadway without sidewalks, which raised concerns about groups walking along Bryant Avenue, especially with sports equipment and during lower-light conditions.

Planning Board Chair Juan Carlos Nordelo said the board’s responsibility comes down to making sure larger groups can move safely through the area. “The board’s main concern here is what happens when you have groups walking along Bryant Avenue,” he said. “That’s what we’re trying to account for.”

Nordelo also noted that the proposal had been reviewed by public safety officials. “Just to be transparent, it was circulated to the Department of Traffic and Safety, and they indicated there were no negative impacts apparent from their review,” he said.

Traffic engineer Elizabeth Dolan, speaking on behalf of CPI, said the plan would work based on how the parking is used. “The route functions safely based on traffic patterns in the area and the limited, event-based nature of the parking plan,” she said. “Pedestrian movement like this already happens along similar streets, and I don’t see it as a safety issue.”

Board members questioned whether it made sense for the township to effectively rely on a walking route along streets without sidewalks as part of an approved parking setup, especially when events bring larger crowds into the area.

The discussion also focused on how often the church lot would be used. CPI said it would only be used for occasional larger events, not day-to-day operations, with scheduling intended to avoid later evening travel when possible.

The proposal followed an earlier Planning Board meeting where parking requirements and compliance issues led to a heated exchange that caused the owner of CPI to leave the meeting and not return.

Despite that, the Planning Board voted to approve the amended parking plan. Conditions include limiting Sunday use of the church lot and requiring a formal agreement between CPI and the church.

With the approval in place, CPI can move ahead with its updated overflow parking plan as it continues hosting training programs, seasonal camps, and community events in Cranford.