Essex House Proposal Irks Neighbors, Puts Pressure on Township

The Essex House isn't sitting right with neighbors. It's not the food, but the owner's plan to redevelop the 14,435 square foot property into a day care and strip mall. 

"I know the people of St. Cloud and many of them don't want to see that happen," said Hannah Nehrbauer, 35, of West Orange, who lives in the St. Cloud area directly behind the proposed redevelopment zone.

The controversial plan involving the vacant restaurant and its property at 525 Northfield Ave., was scheduled to be on Thursday's planning/zoning board agenda, but was moved to August, according to Susan Borg, West Orange planning director.

She said the reason for the move was to allow the applicants more time to review their plan to make sure it is in compliance with a new ordinance passed by township council.

"I find it very disconcerting that all of a sudden we're getting a lot of attention and people are enthused and galvanized about this and at the 11th hour, it's moved," said Nehrbauer.

The ordinance is a steep slope ordinance, according to Borg, that does not allow for construction on a slope greater than 25 percent. Borg said the slope behind the Essex House exceeds this limit.

Borg said initial plans for the property, which currently has five pages of incomplete items, included demolishing the existing restaurant and constructing a strip mall. She did not know the total cost of the proposed project. She said the township convinced the owners to keep the Essex House because of its historical value.

James Markouris, one of two owners listed on plans for Essex House, which is filed under MBP Incorporated, did not return calls seeking comment. A woman who answered the phone Tuesday at the Essex House number listed on their website, said, "Everyone is on vacation." Other calls to reach Markouris went unanswered. A Patch reporter said the Essex House was locked up and no one answered the door Tuesday. Calls made to the restaurant Wednesday also went unanswered. Calls to Markouris' attorney listed on the project were not returned.

The official plan on record with the township states Markouris is "seeking preliminary and final plan approval with variances to change the use of the Essex House restaurant to a day care facility," while also constructing an adjacent addition for retail space for seven stores.

Thomas C. Lehman Jr., of Lehman Architectural Partnership in West Caldwell, confirmed his firm is working on the project.

"Right now we're working with the planning board, so it's not yet ready for construction," he said. "We have the existing building there that the town likes very much and we're planning to add 10,000 square feet with some alteration to the Essex House."

The Essex House, according to the plans, will become a day care center, though, no name is listed for a possible tenant.

Christine Bosco, of West Orange, said she's gravely concerned about the possible construction and the foundation of her house.

"I'm located on the north slope of the Essex House and that's the slope they're thinking of cutting into and taking out the trees," she said. "My house is no more than 25 feet from (there)."

She said the proposal is too large for the space.

"What he's proposing is way too big of a development for the amount of space he has down there," she said. "He has to accommodate for more parking and he's trying to do an over-development on the lots he has."

Nehrbauer said the people of St. Cloud don't want this construction.

"They have seen plans on file by the town," she said. "It involved pushing the parking lot way back and changing traffic patterns, as well as cutting into the existing hillside, removing trees and drastically changing the landscape."

Some residents, though, said a strip mall could bring in revenue for the township.

"While there are certainly concerns that need to be addressed and questions that need to be answered, this project could be incredibly positive for the St. Cloud neighborhood and should be further explored," said Mark Hall, 33, of West Orange, who lives in the St. Cloud area. "It would generate tax dollars and help to revitalize the area, potentially increasing property values."

Hall said, though, he does have some questions before the plan is finalized.

"Obviously, safety issues for the residents and the school are paramount, however, with the addition of the mini golf, the zoo improvements and the arena, this is becoming a more desirable destination for north (New Jersey) residents," he said. "I would be hopeful that all of these local improvements and additions would bring in buyers for the other empty properties along Northfield Avenue."

Nehrbauer said she was never notified of the plans.

"The owner (was) requesting variances Thursday for a parking lot expansion and a retaining wall," she said. "I pulled whatever their opinion may be and put it out on Facebook."

Bosco also said the plan's retaining walls are too high. The plan calls for an 18 ft. retaining wall and a second 12 ft. retaining wall.

"There's still a drop down to the retaining walls," she said. "There are no level parts; it's all slopes and I'm concerned as a homeowner that, structurally, what will this do to my foundation that's only 20 to 25 feet away?"

Bosco said she is gathering a group of St. Cloud residents and considering finding a lawyer to help them fight the proposal.

"There's a lot of concerns esthetically and safety concerns, such as ... traffic will exit on Sheridan (Avenue) across from an elementary school," she said. "We don't need that extra congestion."

The school, St. Cloud Elementary School, is located on Sheridan Avenue, directly across from the proposed construction site.

Adam Geher, the school's principal, said his main concerns are traffic and the exit of the proposed stores.

"The exit was moved further away from Northfield Avenue and closer to where our buses line up at the end of the day," he said.

Geher said he met Tuesday with a traffic consultant allegedly hired by the Essex House owners who said the exit won't affect safety.

Borg said the township has not hired anyone yet to study traffic patterns for that area.

Dr. Anthony Cavanna, superintendent of West Orange Public Schools, said the proposal was brought to his attention and the concerns are being discussed.

"I'm OK with the construction," he said. "But the driveway may or may not be an issue as we're in support of the project, as long as it doesn't pose a safety hazard to our students, parents or teachers."

Bev Reilly, 66, of West Orange, who lives in the St. Cloud area, said her concerns are with the slope.

"My concerns are primarily about the disturbing of the steep slope, since we live up on the ridge, and about digging into that slope for express purposes of expanding that property," she said. "The increased traffic is another concern with the school having a day care center there in the morning and the road is not meant to be a heavily trafficked road."

Chris DarConte, 34, of West Orange, said the proposal for a strip mall won't work.

"When you talk about revitalizing the area and putting in a nice shopping mall, I think of all the additions to the arena and all the money put into the zoo and it hasn't revitalized it," he said. "I mean, we can't keep businesses open. If that hasn't revitalized the area, what makes them think a shopping mall is going to?"