Parking Dispute Turns Tense At Cranford Planning Board Meeting

CRANFORD, NJ — A discussion over overflow parking for a local sports training facility escalated into a tense Planning Board meeting, ending with the business owner walking out after a heated exchange with officials.

The Cranford Performance Institute, an indoor sports training facility on Bryant Avenue offering baseball, softball, soccer and golf instruction, appeared before the board seeking approval to use off-site parking for larger events after a prior arrangement with a neighboring property owner fell through.

Owner Greg Wofsy proposed using parking spaces at Calvary Church on Myrtle Street to meet a requirement for additional parking during peak activity. However, the discussion quickly expanded beyond parking logistics and into broader concerns about safety and whether all conditions tied to the facility’s earlier approval had been completed.

Board members raised concerns about how people would travel between the church and the facility, noting that portions of Bryant Avenue do not have sidewalks.

“These are going to be people walking with gear, potentially in the dark,” Board Member Steven Jandoli said during the meeting.

Tension increased when board professionals said several required site improvements had not yet been completed and that the facility’s temporary certificate of occupancy had expired earlier this year. Officials also referenced a notice requiring the business to address outstanding conditions tied to its prior approval while the application remains under review.

Wofsy said he believed he could not move forward with updated plans until the parking issue was resolved. “I have to wait until I get approval from you guys to let me park cars at the church down the road so I can amend my drawings,” he said.

Board Attorney Jonathan Drill pushed back during a back-and-forth exchange over the approval process, which quickly became more contentious.

“You’re saying things that you don’t have to go through, and you’re not doing the things that you do have to go through,” Drill said.

The exchange escalated further, and Wofsy said he felt the comments were disrespectful before leaving the meeting. Board Chairman Juan Carlos Nordelo then called for order and briefly recessed the session as tensions rose.

Wofsy and his attorney said the off-site parking would be used mainly for occasional community events rather than regular daily operations.

The board did not take a final vote and directed the applicant to return in June with additional information, including traffic details and a clearer explanation of the walking route between the church parking area and the facility.