Residents Turn Out En Masse for Zoning Board Meeting

Nearly 70 residents attended the Washington Township Zoning Board meeting Tuesday, which was entirely focused on the variance application by Sky Trading. The company is proposing a .

Residents have expressed their concerned with the idea of the convenience store being requested by the applicant, as well as the new canopy that will go over the gas pumps.

Board Chairman William Johnson called the meeting to order, reminding the standing room only crowd that this was a continuation of the previous meeting.

Representing Sky Trading, attorney Bruce Whitaker once again took up the questioning of Brian Shortino, the engineering expert. Since the last meeting when the application was discussed, minor alterations in the plans were made to accommodate changes as per the Bergen County Planning Board, and their as-yet unspecified plans for the intersection.

The brief period of questions expected for Shortino continued longer than the board or Whitaker had hoped, as questions were once more raised by both concerned residents and board members. Most of these were about the traffic flow and potential back-ups it might cause on the two streets. Board Vice Chairman Richard Miras was discouraged when his comment of “I’ve never seen it backed up now,” in the process of requesting data on the current site’s flow was met by much angry grumbling from the assembled citizens.

Shortino emphasized how the curbing that their plan would be adding to the lot would do a much better job of forcing a flow of traffic than that which was nominally present currently.

Addressing the concerns expressed, Chairman Johnson requested that the applicant produce an additional plan that shows more of a worst-case scenario for traffic flow than had been presented thus far.

Following a brief recess, Professional Planner Roger DeNiscia, a witness for the applicant, was brought forward. After establishing his credentials, Whitaker went on to question him about the application with regard to the township’s Master Plan, current zoning and the municipal land use law.

DeNiscia explained how the current building on the site, a repair shop not allowed in similar zoned spaces, sits almost in the center, interrupting flow. The proposed convenience store would stand toward the back end. He said the current fuel stations are too close the roadway, and will be even closer given the potential county plans for roadway improvements. The plan will move these, as well as allow for better underground containment, he said. He also emphasized how the addition of a canopy would allow for channeling of rainwater into underground tanks.

The existing station already is a non-conforming use of the space, given the local residential zoning, but is among several non-conforming businesses at that intersection. Citing municipal land use law, DeNiscia argued that the application meets the criteria outlined in several paragraphs of the law. He also contended that it also met the requirements of the "negative criteria" also stated in the land use law.

Chairman Johnson made comments about the request for both a D1 and D2 variance, stating that thus far the arguments laid out seemed to be all about the D2 for the fuel station, and not about the D1 for the retail store. He asked, following questions of Township Engineer Paul Azzolina, if they were breaking the two requests out separately or lumping them together. Whitaker said they would be addressing them separately.

Given the late hour, and necessary research on the part of DeNiscia in order to continue and conclude his testimony, the meeting was adjourned at 10:45 p.m. Those residents who had remained expressed disappointment and frustration over the ongoing testimony, and their being unable to ask questions again until the next meeting of the board.

The next meeting of the Washington Township Zoning Board is scheduled for June 21.