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BY JOHN SNYDER
OF PASCACK PRESS
EMERSON, N.J.—The Land Use Board is meeting for a second time, Thursday, Oct. 18 at 8 p.m., on a proposed Wendy’s eyed for the ShopRite plaza at 411 Old Hook Road.
A restaurant is a permitted use for the site, which draws cars and pedestrians. Residents just across the street, on the Westwood side, are concerned about worsened traffic, pedestrian dangers, light pollution, late-night noise, fumes, and inadequate parking.
A protest was set for the site on Saturday, Oct. 13 at 10 a.m.
Residents and officials from Westwood are expected to attend the Land Use Board meeting. The Westwood Borough Council resolved to spend up to $5,000 to pay for its attorney, planner, and engineer to review plans for the restaurant.
At the meeting of Westwood’s governing body on Sept. 4, the council said speaking up as an interested party was the right thing to do for its residents who live across the street from the project and are protesting variance requests.
“Just because you can build it doesn’t mean you should,” said Council President Chris Montana following the meeting.
The initial application called for the demolition of a vacant two-story bank building and erected a one-story Wendy’s with outdoor seating, two-lane (one window) drive thru, 2 a.m. closing, and an entrance and exits at the back of the property for access to the rest of the plaza.
A parking variance and sign variances (size, location, and quantity) also were sought.
Residents complained at the project’s Aug. 15 initial hearing at the Land Use Board, at the Aug. 21 meeting of the Westwood Borough Council, and in a protest in front of their homes Aug. 25, with the bank building across the street drawing the eye from the bustle of the plaza behind it.
The application, brought by Leon Magnes, CEO of Wenesco Emerson LLC of Englewood Cliffs, was rescheduled, LUB Chair Gary Schwinder told Pascack Press on Sept. 4, because the applicant was rethinking the proposal based on feedback dating to its first hearing.
“The only reason they could be postponing is to take a new look at their plans. I doubt they’re going to come in with the same plan, sans any change. I’m sure that whoever is making the changes is aware of the local publicity, thanks to you, regarding the application,” Schwinder said.
Pascack Press has not seen any revisions to the application. The meetings agenda had yet to be posted at press time.
On Oct, 4, the LUB was scheduled to hear an application from Chow Wow Resorts LLC at Emerson Shopping Plaza, 473 Old Hook Road, for a use variance and parking variance.