Kinderkamack Retail Hearing to Continue This Week

Editor's note: The applicant has requested this hearing be carried to the August 6 meeting.

An applicant who has proposed to build two strip malls at the site of ther former Chevrolet dealership on Kinderkamack Road is scheduled to continue giving testimony to the Westwood Zoning Board at their meeting this week.

Vanick Properties developer Nicholas Aynilian planned for the two five-unit retail spaces across the street from each other at the site, which has been empty since the Chevy dealership closed. At their May meeting, the zoning board a "general retail use" variance for the first side, citing a conflict with the borough's Master Plan. The site is only zoned for some specific retail uses, including car dealerships and large appliance stores.

Aynilian previously said he believed the site would be "economically unviable" without looser zoning restrictions. He had already been in talks for a 7-Eleven and a hair salon to occupy space in the first space.

The first space would have been built using much of the existing structure at the dealership. The plan scheduled to be heard this week calls for a new 5,862-square-foot five-unit retail space to be built in the empty parking lot across the street, which was also part of the dealership.

Board members said they would have consider approving the first plan if the requested use variance was more specific.

"I think the general retail request was a little bit too undefined," board member Eric Oakes said at the meeting.

The applicant has also requested a use variance for the second space. Board attorney David Rutherford said they could also re-apply with a request for a more specific variance for the first space.

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