Planning Board Rezones Portion of Route 17, Paves Way for Commercial Development

The Ridgewood Planning Board chose to act decisively in granting a long-time land-holder the go-ahead to develop his highway property nearly three decades after initial attempts.

, Malvern Burroughs' unique five-acre property on Route 17 South with a small section on Paramus Avenue was granted a use variance change along with a small office building nearby on the corner of Route 17 and Linwood Avenue, the planning board voted unanimously Tuesday night.

The Burroughs property while the office had been granted a variance in the 1980s. This change, however, focuses both properties as an amendment to the Master Plan.

Village Planner Blais Brancheau had outlined five possible options in the village's . The five options ranged from making no moves to lumping in a swampy Paramus Road parcel replete with environmental remediation along with several other buildings nearby.

Initially, things appeared to be headed in the same direction they had in past meetings–nowhere. The board requested more time to review tapes of background information (after not having received them by Tuesday night) to help it assess whether it was worthwhile to change the zoning and if so, with which other properties.

Another property owner along the stretch too lobbied for the board to take its time and lump in the Burroughs property into a greater consolidated zoning plan involving the whole corridor.

But when the decades-old dust settled, the board elected not to wait.

"The process has been somewhat arduous so far," said Vice Chairman Albert Pucciarelli in support of moving to rezone. "We should have dealt with it long ago," he said, telling his colleagues that one size does not fit all and the application was strong on its own merits.

"I agree," Mayor Keith Killion said. "This parcel is unique and as Mr. Pucciarelli said, one size does not fit all. Hearing about the last hearing on this, I'm afraid if you open it all up that everyone is going to come out with their own basic concerns. Should this person be held up in the system?"

Member Richard Joel minced no words in his support of the zoning change, effectively allowing for development. "I think the owner has a right to develop it, and as part of Route 17, I think it would be the right way to go," he said.

Member Nancy Bigos said the board will still be addressing this area "very shortly," but first thing's first, she remarked.

"I think that we need to address the situation at hand and be able to expand on where we are with our Master Plan moving forward, study that and then come back to these individual properties," she said.

Although the board moved to allow for rezoning, a public hearing will still be had on the actual site plan. Burroughs has plans to develop either an office or retail complex with public egress only to Route 17.

"I think we had some good progress," applicant attorney Tom Wells said at the conclusion of the meeting.

Brancheau is likely to have the Master Plan amendments drafted for passage on August 16; and notice to neighbors will be provided for the site hearing.