Hearings Set on Master Plan, ShopRite, BBQ Shop

The long-discussed ShopRite proposal, Bourbon BBQ's rebuilding plans and revisions to the township's Master Plan will be discussed Wednesday night, with action possible.

The Planning Board will hold a work session at 7 p.m., with a business meeting to follow at 7:30 p.m. that is expected to be attended by Township Committee members as the board heads to a vote on revisions to the Master Plan, which exists to guide development and land use in the township.

Planning Board Chairman Rich Bonsignore said he doesn't necessarily expect a full presentation on the revisions, prepared by planning consultants Kauker & Kauker, a Wyckoff-based firm.

However, he said he would address some of the public comments made at a meeting last month that urged the firm to include such goals as historic preservation, tree preservation and the creation of a more unified Central Business District in the document. All of those elements have indeed been included in the draft that will be voted on Wednesday night.

The Master Plan, which is reviewed every six years, largely addresses growth, the promotion of the business district and the maintenance of Wyckoff's small-town feel among its goals. The plan also includes an open space and recreational component, which offers specific suggestions on improving recreational facilities, protecting open space and considering the environmental impact of development.

The suggestions included in the plan largely exist to act as a guide for the township, without the force of law. Action would be needed by the Township Committee should members decide to consider historic preservation, for example.

The Planning Board also will begin hearings on Inserra Supermarkets' plan to construct a 62,174-square-foot ShopRite at the site of the former A&P on Greenwood Avenue. The existing building and strip mall would be demolished to make way for the supermarket.

Attorney James Jaworski is expected to present the corporation's case for site plan and variance approval after months of hearings at the Design Review and Shade Tree levels. Both of those volunteer boards vetted the ShopRite application, compiling reports on its aesthetics and landscaping plans, respectively.

Additionally, Bonsignore said the board likely will hear an application from representatives of Bourbon BBQ, which has been closed since a fire in March. 

While the building on Goffle Road still stands, a kitchen fire and smoke damage largely devastated the interior of the restaurant. The owners had said that the shop could be closed through the end of the year. They seek amended site plan approval for their rebuilding plans.

The work and business sessions are open to the public.