Board Seeks Quorum After Two Members Recuse Themselves

Two members of the Planning Board recused themselves from the hearing Thursday due to conflicts raised by Robert Inglima, Jr., attorney for three homeowners whose properties abut 770 Route 17 north.

The recusal of board members Ken Hook and Peter Caminiti meant the board lacked a quorum to hear the application, delaying the meeting, while an absent board member was called to appear so that the hearing could proceed.

The application is for Second Paramus Associates, LLC, whose principal is Nicholas Laganella of Laganella Properties. The proposed development is located at 770 Route 17 north where the applicant wishes to demolish an existing structure and construct two new buildings in its place.

Plans for the smaller 4500 sq. ft. building includes an unnamed fast-casual restaurant with a drive through, while the larger, 15,000 square foot building will serve as retail space.

Laganella also plans to remove the driveway at 770 Route 17 in favor of having all traffic enter through the driveway in front of Equinox.

Laganella had received approval from the Planning Board in October for building an Equinox Fitness Center at 776 Route 17 north, and the Council had agreed to sell him a piece of Sunflower Avenue that would complete the property, but he and the Borough couldn't agree to a sale price.

Laganella said the Borough refused to come down from a price of $660,000 for a third of an acre of Sunflower Avenue, a cul-de-sac off Route 17. Instead, Laganella bought the lot at 770 Route 17 northbound.

The Council granted him permission to proceed with construction on the gym while he presents an application to develop the new property. 

Testifying on behalf of the applicant was architect Daniel Holdefehr, who detailed the proposed design of the two new buildings, and landscape architect Scott Koenig who reviewed the proposed landscape development of the property.

Residents, concerned that the shade tree commission granted the applicant approval to remove trees from the property, said that there is no landscape screen buffer between their properties and the proposed development.

Stephen Sinisi, attorney for the applicant, agreed to have the landscape architect go on site to review the residents concerns and design an appropriate buffer that will address their needs.

The hearing will continue on August 2, 7pm, at which time the board will discuss adding a special hearing to move the application along.