Documents & OPRAs

The paper trail.

Every record received from a public agency in connection with this case. Click any item to view the source file on request — the full archive lives in the case package and is shared with counsel, journalists, and investigators as appropriate.

Zoning rulings

The 2008 ZBA variance that defines what this site is legally allowed to do — the document this case turns on.

Variance ruling

Z-08-06 — Zoning Board of Adjustment variance (2008)

Defines and limits the permitted use of 1000 Jefferson Ave. Conditions on hours of operation, use intensity, and adjacency to the surrounding residential block.

Agency: City of Elizabeth Zoning Board of Adjustment
Status: On file — full analysis maintained in case package

City of Elizabeth — OPRA responses

Open Public Records Act requests filed with the City of Elizabeth and their official responses.

OPRA response

OPRA-01560 — Nuisance records

Records of nuisance complaints filed against 1000 Jefferson Ave.

Agency: City of Elizabeth
Files: 9
Status: Received
OPRA response

OPRA-01582 — Planning & Zoning

Planning and zoning records pertaining to 1000 Jefferson Ave.

Agency: City of Elizabeth — Planning/Zoning
Files: 3
Status: Received
OPRA response

OPRA-01593 — Construction records (April 22)

Construction-permit records for 1000 Jefferson Ave.

Agency: City of Elizabeth — Construction Office
Files: 2
Status: Received
OPRA response

OPRA-01613 — Police CAD records

Police computer-aided-dispatch records for calls to 1000 Jefferson Ave.

Agency: Elizabeth Police Department
Files: 3
Status: Received
OPRA response

OPRA-2026-04-22 — Planning & Board of Adjustments

Planning & Board of Adjustments response file.

Agency: City of Elizabeth — Planning/BoA
Files: 1
Status: Received

New Jersey — NJDEP

Records from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

OPRA response — full delivery

NJDEP OPRA #397260

Site remediation history for the former Sears Logistics property at 1000 Jefferson Ave. Records of groundwater investigation and remediation actions.

Agency: NJ Department of Environmental Protection
Files: 19 (5 CDs (~1,000 pages of PDF))
Status: Delivered May 12, 2026

Union County

County-level records, including CEHA environmental enforcement.

OPRA request

Union County OPRA — pending

Records request submitted to Union County (CEHA environmental health program).

Agency: Union County
Status: Pending — signed form submitted

Police records

Documented police responses to 1000 Jefferson Ave.

Police case

EPD Case #26-085029 (Officer Nick Turner)

Elizabeth Police Department incident — Enterprise rental truck towed off sidewalk in front of 1000 Jefferson Ave.

Agency: Elizabeth Police Department
Status: Documented
Police response

June 2, 2025 — Multi-clip police response

Police response to multiple-truck roadway obstruction at 1000 Jefferson Ave. Officer directed trucks to move.

Agency: Elizabeth Police Department
Status: Documented (3 clips on file)
Police response

April 12, 2026 — Police response to pre-7AM idling

Police response to trucks idling before legal hours at 1000 Jefferson Ave.

Agency: Elizabeth Police Department
Status: Documented

Evidence preservation

Certified-mail receipts and chain-of-custody for evidence preservation.

Chain of custody

Certified Mail — Evidence Preservation Receipts

Certified-mail evidence-preservation receipts on file.

Agency: USPS Certified Mail
Files: 2
Status: On file