West Orange Board of Education Raises Concerns about Essex House Plans

Testimony and concerns continued Thursday night over the Essex House application to construct a strip mall and day care center on the restaurant's current 14,435-square-foot Northfield Avenue property.

The hearing concluded testimony by the project's engineer, Michael Lanzafama, of Casey & Keller, in Millburn.

The biggest concern with the project so far, though, isn't with the development itself, but with the traffic it will cause around the St. Cloud Elementary School on Sheridan Avenue.

"We're worried about the exit on to Sheridan and how close to the school it's going to be," said Megan Brill, West Orange Board of Education president. "You're going to have eight stores and with that many cars trying to exit onto Sheridan (Avenue) ... how is the construction going to be managed right by the school if this plan passes?"

Brill, as well as Adam Geher, St. Cloud's principal, members of the school's Parent-Teacher Association and the school board's attorney were present at Thursday's hearing to interject in the application. As were a number of advocates of the plan.

"I want to listen from the report of the builder and I still stand that safety is our primary concern with the exit lined up across the street from my school," said Geher. "I want to avoid any type of possible accident to my students or staff members or family members."

Robert C. Williams, the applicant's attorney, said his client, MBP Incorporated, listed under James Markouris, is aware the board of education has some concern regarding the traffic study.

"We will provide a full and complete report through our traffic engineer ... who's very familiar with the traffic on the site, having already done some traffic studies for the town in relation to the St. Cloud school," he said. "So, we think he will be able to address all of their concerns that the traffic proposed by the applicant works."

Madelyn McClamy, who has a five-year-old in kindergarten at St. Cloud Elementary School and attended Thursday's hearing after discussing the issue with the school's Parent-Teacher Association, said her concern is the increase of traffic that could put her child in danger.

"Whatever we can do to optimize their safety, we should do," she said.

Orsoula Markouris, a proponent of the plan and relative of the applicant, said the strip mall and day care will benefit the West Orange community.

"I feel we're doing something really, really nice in the town right now," she said.

Williams said the applicant's expert will be able to address all the concerns of the public, including the school.

"If the plan has to be adjusted, we will do so," he said. "But, we feel (the current plan) works ... I think the lack of information is as dangerous as misinformation. Let us have an opportunity to provide our expert on traffic."