Oradell Council Unanimously Approves Amended Land Use Ordinance

After a three-year long writing period and a public hearing, the Oradell Mayor and Council unanimously approved an updated Land Use Ordinance for the borough on Tuesday night. The amended Ordinance #240 includes the right for residents to appeal a granted "D" variance by the Zoning Board of Adjustment to the governing body.

"I would like to thank all the people who worked the past three years on this," Mayor-elect Joseph Murray said. "The Mayor [Dianne Didio], Mr. Pizzuto, Mr. Raffo, Mr. Land, Mr. Polyniak, Mr. Oddo, Mr. Giblin, Mr. Pfleging and Mr. Depken. This was a huge undertaking and some of us are alumni for those three years."

The ability by residents to appeal to the governing body was from the amended ordinance but later following an outcry by residents.

The Ordinance states that any interested party could "appeal any decision of the Zoning Board of Adjustment of Adjustment granting a use variance pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40:55D-70d may be taken to the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Oradell, provided that such appeal shall be made within 10 days of the date of publication of such final decision of the Zoning Board of Adjustment of Adjustment."

In addition to the right for an appeal, the ordinance also allows for backup or standby generators to be located in the rear or side yard of the main building or structure only due to the numerous storms that knocked out power to the borough.