Zoning Board Meeting Tops the Week Ahead

Tuesday dominates the week with a regular meeting of the Zoning Board of Adjustment at 7:30 pm in the council chambers of . On the agenda is the continuation of the hearings for Sanzari's New Bridge Inn, Gospel Fellowship Church, resolution for Fresh & Fancy Farms and the development of the United Water property. 

the restaurant by approximately 600 square feet and knock down two residential houses in order to construct additional parking spaces. Residents from both New Milford and Teaneck have attended borough zoning board meetings to voice concerns over the expansion and the demolition of the residential houses to create additional parking.

, Elliot Urdang, attorney for Gospel Fellowship Church, said that after reviewing all the relevant materials pertaining to the hearing before the planning board, he has determined that the planning board lacked jurisdiction to hear the Church's site plan application. 

Urdang argued that the church is now seeking D variances because a house of worship is a conditional use, not a permitted or existing use, and only the zoning board has jurisdiction over D variances. Urdang said that a church is an "inherently beneficial use" and should be granted the variances it needs. Under land use law, an inherently beneficial use is a use that promotes the general welfare of the community and is considered to be needed by the community. Schools, hospitals, low-income housing and churches fall under this beneficial use category.

At the last meeting of the zoning board, members agreed to a resolution approving those that are not restricted in the Farm deed:

• Relocation of an existing greenhouse 
• Construction of a new greenhouse 
• Construction of a 36' x 60' barn with a greenhouse and 12 foot overhang

The resolution will be read and voted on at Tuesday's meeting.

Also on Tuesday's agenda is the continuation of the hearing regarding development of the United Water property. The June 21 special meeting ended with Hekemian's attorney,  on the proposed development of the 13-acre United Water property development due to a conflict of interest. 

This came as a result of Binetti's questioning of the , about the negative impact that the large scale development will have on residential homes not only located directly across from the proposed development, but also on houses located near the Hackensack River.

Binetti, an area realtor who told Sussman that he knows about property values in New Milford because he has sold many houses in town, said that he has been approached by seven New Milford residents who live in close proximity to the United Water property who feel that their property values will be negatively impacted by the large scale mixed-use development. 

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Also on Tuesday, the county is hosting at Bergen Community College. The Meadowlands Regional Chamber (MRC) is teaming up with the Bergen County Executive’s Office and the Bergen County Office of Emergency Management to help local businesses develop a business continuity plan in the case of an emergency. This conference is a call to action for all small and medium sized businesses who have not thought about how to protect and sustain their companies in times of severe weather emergencies.

The event will be held Tuesday at Bergen Community College Technology Education Center at the Paramus Campus from 8:00am to 2:00pm. Bergen County Office of Emergency Management will be showcasing emergency vehicles in the parking lot in front of the Technology Education Center.

County and municipal officials will highlight resources available to businesses and provide the best methods to develop a business continuity plan in case operations are impacted or interrupted due to a disaster. 

Highlights include how to operate business if severe weather prevents employees from getting to work, how to sustain business without power for days, and assessing if the business has adequate insurance coverage in case of a disaster.   

For more information regarding the event, contact: Joseph Garavente at JGaravente@meadowlands.org or call 201-939-0707. 

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The Board of Education will be meeting Monday, 7 pm, in the media center of

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