Zoning Board Seeks to Close Sky Trading Application by December

There might be a long-awaited end in sight for the Sky Trading LLC testimony by the close of this year. 

Washington Township Zoning Board members hope to close the application by the December meeting, after hearing final testimony from the applicant and comments from the public during the upcoming meeting in November.

The application to replace the existing station at the corner of Washington Avenue and Pascack Road with an updated station and convenience store has been ongoing for several months.

Brian Shortino, a licensed architect who has been working with the applicant, came before the board Tuesday with a redesigned exhibit of what the proposed site would look like if the application were to be approved. The redesign, to make it look more aesthetically pleasing, took place after questions were raised in the previous meeting about the style of the building. 

The five-sided building would be designed to have a more colonial look to fit in with the residential area surrounding the site. The canopy over the fuel pump island would also be designed accordingly to match the colonial motif.

The applicant’s attorney, Bruce Whitaker, questioned Shortino before the board regarding any looming concerns of contaminated soil underneath the property from the motor vehicle repair shop currently located at the site. Shortino assured the board that the Department of Environmental Protection requires any contaminated soil beneath the property to be excavated and removed.

“Now it’s an opportunity to do that without causing any structural damage or potential instance where the building would be structurally inadequate so that it would be required to be done,” said Shortino.

Washington Township residents questioned the safety of testing and removing the soil, but Whitaker assured them that any contaminated soil would be removed under state guidelines. 

Roger DeNiscia, the planner working with the applicant, came before the board to review the variances being requested. DeNiscia testified that after reviewing the site in depth, he believes the benefits of granting the variances outweigh any substantial detriments. He also indicated that the site is able to accommodate the proposed use. 

“It seems to me that the site is in a location where you would want this type of use,” said DeNiscia. “In terms of the ability of the site to accommodate use, the site will be improved and up to current service station standards and there will be minimal impact on traffic in the area.” 

DeNiscia went on to say that the applicant’s proposal meets the criteria for the used variance being requested, because overall it is better than what the site is currently being used for.

“The site is already an existing service station. It’s located along two arterial roadways, and it is also part of a business grouping, that businesses are situated on three of the four corners of the intersection,” he said. 

He also explained that arterial roadways such as Washington Avenue and Pascack Road are an appropriate location for a service station, especially one with an ancillary convenience store. 

After reviewing the traffic study, DeNiscia said that circulation both on and off the site is adequate, and the site circulation would be improved to accommodate traffic more efficiently.

While members of the public appeared uneasy about the testimony, the board concluded Tuesday’s meeting without residents questioning the representatives of the applicant due to time constraints.

Questions from members of the public regarding the Sky Trading testimony will be heard immediately following two residential applications at the next meeting, to be held Nov. 15.

Chairman William Johnson said that after Zoning Board members have heard comments from the public and the board, there will be closing arguments on the application at the December meeting.