Zoning Board Chair Questions Kinderkamack Use Variance

Experts testified on behalf of developer Nicholas Aynilian's plan to build a five-store retail space at 39 Kinderkamack Road at a special meeting of the Monday night, but board Chairman William Martin said he was not sure it would be appropriate to grant a needed variance for general retail use on the site, as that use was not included in the 2011 Master Plan Reexamination that was finished by the Westwood Planning Board in December.

"The difficulty that I'm having with Ms. Petrou's testimony is in trying to reconcile this application with the Master Plan Reexamination of last month," Martin said.

Project planner Mia Petrou testified at the meeting that giving the project a general retail use variance could still work with the intent of the Master Plan because the two retail uses were similar and it was unlikely that a car dealer or appliance store would occupy the space.

The plan discussed at Monday's meeting calls for an 8,051-square-foot retail space on the site, which currently holds a defunct Chevrolet dealer. According to Petrou, the variances required for the application include a variance for general retail use. The property is currently only zoned for some specific retail uses, such as a large appliance store or antique store. Aynilian said he already has two tenants planned for the space, including a convenience store and a hair salon. The convenience store would require general retail use.

"If we don't have this kind of retail use — general retail use — you have two economically unviable properties," Aynilian said. "There's only so many hair salons and nail salons that you're going to be able to bring."

Aynilian has also planned to build a second five-store space across the street at 40 Kinderkamack Road. The board has not yet heard testimony about the second building.

The board will schedule the next hearing for the application at their regular meeting on Monday, February 6.