Board Considers New Restaurants

The Paramus Board of Adjustment heard testimony about two new restaurants at its meeting Thursday night, an Olive Garden and a Bahama Breeze.

If approved, both restaurants would be built on the site currently occupied by the in front of the Bergen Town Center on Route 4. The Lincoln Tech building would be torn down to make room for a single-story building that would house both restaurants, which are owned by Darden Restaurants, though the Olive Garden and Bahama Breeze would not be connected inside.

According to Darden’s attorney, James DeLea, many of the requested variances for the project are for existing circumstances and the new plan would improve most of them, with the exception of lot coverage because the two restaurants would have a larger footprint than Lincoln Tech’s taller building.

Darden is also asking for variances to allow Bahama Breeze to feature live music, which would involve a single musician played at a low volume, and outdoor dining on a roofed patio.

The restaurants would be open until 11 on weekdays and Bahama Breeze would stay open until midnight on Friday and Saturday.

However, several board members expressed concern about the restaurants’ parking situation. There will only be 48 spaces in front of the building, though there will be a capacity of several hundred guests plus as many as 40 employees at each restaurant during peak hours. Engineer Daniel LaMothe said they expect patrons and employees to park in the mall’s parking garage, which is about 200 feet from the front of the building.

Board member Jerry Rickelmann said he expects people to park in spaces on the other side of the restaurant, which are much closer but across a busy road coming off Route 4.

“At some point, somebody’s going to be the human speed bump,” Rickelmann said. He suggested that the applicant plan to put a fence up to stop pedestrians from crossing the dangerous road.

The hearing will continue at the board’s meeting on Sept. 8 at 7:30 p.m. in Borough Hall.