Conditional Variances Approved for Restaurant in Southwest Corner

Article amended.

In a 6-1 vote, the Hoboken Zoning Board of Adjustment on Tuesday night approved several variances in the process

Zoning Board Commisionner Phil Cohen was the only one voting "no" on the project.

The approval, however, doesn't mean the restaurant will be able to open immediately. The variances were approved for an amended application, according to one person with knowledge on the matter. 

Firstly, Danny Tattoli—who bought the property in 2007—will need an easement from the City Council, allowing his building to encroach four feet into the public right of way. 

The owner's lawyer addressed the Zoning Board last week and offered to amend the application to demolish the wall which extends onto the public sidewalk, according to one source. 

According to Zoning Board Attorney Dennis Galvin, the variances are contingent on multiple other conditions. 

The buiding at 61 Jackson St. was constructed without the necessary zoning documents, according to the project's file in the Zoning Office. The city council will have to grant an easement. Five votes are needed for that easement. 

The zoning board is also prohibiting the establishment from operating as a night club. While the application proposed the property as a restaurant—just like its predecessor the Downtown Pub—a DJ booth was built in the restaurant, according to city documents.

Owner of the property, Danny Tattoli, proposed a valet service that would bring cars to lot across the street. Inititally the plan proposed two on-site parking spots. The Zoning Board has stipulated that Tattoli must provide 15 parking spots. Without that guarantee, the property can't function as a restaurant.

Other than one required handicapped parking spot on the premises, no parking spots on-site will be allowed. During peak hours, at least two valet parkers must be at work. 

Another stipulation is that the building can't extend any further without permission from the Zoning Board.