Zoning Board Grants Approval For Sanzari Expansion

Despite Teaneck's opposition, the Zoning Board granted approval for Sanzari's New Bridge Inn Tuesday to construct a parking lot where two residential dwellings are currently located and expand the restaurant by 935 square feet.

Teaneck is opposed to the plan to create more parking at Sanzari's, arguing that the expansion would increase flooding and traffic in the township. The restaurant is located near Riverview Avenue in Teaneck, an area residents say often floods in heavy rains. 

William Broughton, Township Manager for Teaneck, appeared before the Zoning Board Sept. 11 citing flooding and increased traffic as his main concerns. He told the board  that because most of the residential houses in the vicinity of the restaurant are located in Teaneck, this is primarily a Teaneck problem. 

However, the board voted in favor of granting Sanzari's the variances they were seeking while stipulating that they must provide valet parking on Friday and Saturday evenings, and during all private functions.

Other conditions include that no portion of the parking lot be paved, no customer access to the second level deck and no food service to the corner patio.

Board member Joe Loonam raised concerns that the restaurant would not comply to these conditions because they did not comply to a past condition set by the board--to have valet parking to reduce the amount of traffic parking on the residential street.

Acknowledging the fact that Sanzari's did not fully comply with the valet parking condition, nor did they completely abandon it since they used valet on busy nights, Carmine Alampi, attorney for the applicant, said that his client can only promise to comply going forward.