WESTWOOD—Mayor Ray Arroyo says the Planning Board and governing body are partnering to update the permitted uses in the Shopping Center (SC) Zone, locally known as Kmart Plaza. The location along Broadway is the only SC Zone in the borough.
On Facebook last week he said, “In recognition of the growing demand for commercial services the governing body introduced an ordinance on Jan. 16 to expand the current allowable uses for the zone. This was the first step in a multi-step process.”
He said the introduced ordinance declares “The purpose of the SC District is to acknowledge the site’s developed character as a shopping center with a mix of retail, service and commercial and restaurant uses. The underlying intent is to serve the local market area with consumer goods and services with the intent to complement and not conflict with the purposes of the surrounding zones specifically the Central Business District (CBD) and the Central Business District/Special Pedestrian Environment (CBD/SPE) [downtown].”
Arroyo said “This ordinance will allow for new uses within the SC District, including commercial, indoor recreation, including instructional sports training facilities, courts for tennis, squash, handball, and racquetball; skating rinks, including roller and/or ice skating, bowling alleys, golf driving range, gymnastics facility and similar recreational uses provided that their activities are carried on entirely within the enclosed building.”
He said “These uses generate intensive parking needs which are met by the number of parking stalls in the shopping center lot.”
According to Arroyo, as part of the ordinance process, letters have been sent to all resident within 200 feet of the boundary of the SC Zone to notify them of the proposed change.
He said, “On Jan. 25 the Planning Board will review the ordinance to determine if it conforms with the Borough’s Master Plan for the zone. A public hearing on the ordinance, or a second reading, will be held at the Feb. 6 Mayor and Council meeting at which time the governing body will have the opportunity to vote on the ordinance.”
The plaza Kmart closed recently and in 2025, New Jersey will enter the fourth round of affordable housing obligations under the Mount Laurel Doctrine. Towns’ obligations will be reassessed based on New Jersey’s growing and changing population to meet the needs of New Jersey residents.
Landlord Hekemian says on the property website, “Westwood Plaza’s ease of access, prime location and strong demographics result in one of the most successful neighborhood centers in Bergen County. Commercial retail space is now available on highly-traveled Broadway in Westwood, New Jersey. The center offers abundant parking and a unique mix of retailers TJ Maxx, European Wax Center, Mattress Firm, GNC, The UPS Store, and more.”