Vanick Properties Wants to put Convenience Store in Place of Chevrolet of Westwood Building

Representatives of Vanick Properties in Westwood came to the Planning Board meeting last week to discuss possible changes to a limited business zone in the borough.

Nicholas Aynilian told board members that Vanick Properties has a contract on lots on the north and south sides of Kinderkamack Road where the Chevrolet of Westwood building stands, which is in the LB-3 zone. He said he was attending the meeting because board members are discussing the Master Plan and possible recommendations for changes to various zones.

Aynilian said his organization is hoping to put a strip of stores onto the property, including a national convenience chain that would be approximately 2,500 to 3,000 square feet.

“We think that would be really useful for people coming and going up and down Kinderkamack Road. It’s such a heavily traveled road, people being able to stop and get a cup of coffee or soda on a regular basis would be very helpful I think,” Aynilian said. “And I don’t think it affects our downtown in any adverse way.”

He said he would like the board to consider convenience as a use for the zone as well as a laundry service, either a Laundromat or cleaners.

For the southbound lane, Aynilian said Vanick Properties would most likely want to put a restaurant or a medical professional building. He said he expects to submit an application in 45 days for both sides of the road.

Councilwoman Cynthia Waneck, who serves as the council liaison for the Planning Board, pointed out that even if members of the board suggest changes to permitted use now, they would not be in effect when Vanick Properties submits an application. She said it would be a “good eight month process.”

Convenience stores are not currently permitted in the LB-3 zone of Westwood, which is along Kinderkamack Road from Old Hook Road to the Emerson border.

Borough Planner Ed Snieckus said when board members discussed the LB-3 zone at the end of 2010, they were concerned with the impact to the downtown area should a convenience store be allowed there. He also said traffic was a concern.

Others were worried about the possibility that a national convenience chain might want to be open 24/7, which board members said they didn’t want.

Waneck said she thought a laundry use “would be all right.”

Board alternate Keith Doell said he believed the borough already had a lot of laundry-type facilities.

Discussion of the borough Master Plan is expected to continue at the next Westwood Planning Board meeting, scheduled for March 24.