Plan To Build Storage Facility Near Lake In West Orange Voted Down

WEST ORANGE, NJ — A proposal to build a storage facility near Crystal Lake in West Orange has been derailed, advocates say.

Last week, the West Orange Township Zoning Board of Adjustment voted unanimously against California-based Public Storage’s plan to construct a storage facility in West Orange overlooking historic Crystal Lake.

The building would have taken over where the Eagle Rock bowling alley stands, according to Our Green West Orange, which called the decision a “major win” for nature lovers and open space advocates.

The board held multiple hearings for the application before voting against it on April 28.

Citing two cases — Belleville v. Parrillo's, Inc. and Grundlehner v. Dangler — Zoning Board Chairman Philip Neuer argued that a self-storage facility would be extending a use that was never intended for that site.

“From the beginning, Our Green West Orange has argued that the residents of our township must be the stewards of our natural spaces,” the advocacy group stated. “With the help of public opposition from our neighbors and allies over the six hearings, we have saved one of our county's natural wonders.”

See the site plan and other related materials from the proposal here.

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