Westwood 7-Eleven Vote May Come Monday

The Westwood Zoning Board may vote on an application for a strip mall on Kinderkamack Road during their meeting this week.

The plan calls for a new 8,051-square-foot strip mall to be built at the site of the former Chevy dealer. The applicant has requested a use variance to allow a convenience store at the site, and has previously said there are plans to include a 7-Eleven.

At the previous meeting, several residents who live near the site voiced their opposition to the plan.

Norman Dorf, who owns the property, previously said he did not believe any of the uses zoned for the site could be financially viable there.

Bruce Meisel, a local property owner, has also opposed the plan. Meisel said he planned to bring a professional planner to give testimony at the meeting.

David Lafferty, the applicant's attorney, previously questioned why Meisel waited until the hearings were almost complete to object. At the previous meeting, Lafferty said he was only willing to hold off the vote because there were only six members present. The applicant is entitled to have seven members vote and will need five affirmative votes for the plan to be approved.

The board previously rejected a nearly identical plan which had included a request for a "general retail use" variance. Board members said they were uncomfortable giving that much leeway.

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