Mahwah February 3, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 7 Valero owner appeals Pilot plan in Superior Court by Frank J. McMahon Kevin Moore, the attorney for Paks Fast Service, Inc, which owns the Valero service station on Route 17 north of the Pilot Corporation’s site, has filed an appeal of the Mahwah Zoning Board’s approval of the Pilot application in Superior Court. Moore did not appeal to the township council, an action that is permitted under the New Jersey Municipal Land Use Law and the township code. In November, Pilot received the board’s approval to renovate and expand its truck stop property on Route 17 into a dual service station serving trucks and cars. Ira Wiener, the attorney representing Parents for Safety LLC, a group of parents opposed to the Pilot plan, confirmed that his clients would not appeal the board’s decision to the council, but declined to say whether his clients would file in Superior Court. The deadline for appeals in Superior Court is March 2, which is 45 days from the newspaper publication date of the zoning board’s memorializing resolution of approval. Pilot’s attorney James Lott had not yet been served with the appeal when contacted, but he made the following comment, “We believe the board acted appropriately and we believe the action filed by the objectors is meritless.” The application includes a cleanup of any soil contamination on the Pilot site, the demolition of the site and its reconstruction into a fueling service station with a six-station truck diesel fueling area and a 12-station car fueling area (each with overhead canopies), and the construction of a new 4,282 square foot convenience store. The plan eliminates 90 percent of the existing truck spaces on the property and all overnight truck parking and permits the local police department to enforce the state’s law restricting the idling of trucks. The board’s approval will, if not overturned on appeal, permit Pilot to change the use of its site from a truck stop to a service station even though a township ordinance, which was adopted just prior to submission of the Pilot application to the zoning board, does not permit service stations within 500 feet of a school property. The high school athletic field is located within that distance across Ridge Road from the Pilot site. Six of the seven members of the board agreed that the proposed use would still be appropriate for the site even though it is within 500 feet of school property in violation of the ordinance. They also agreed that the site can accommodate any problems such as air quality, noise, and traffic associated with the use; that it did not pose any substantial detriment to the public good; and that the character of the neighborhood would not be substantively impacted by the use. The Pilot plan includes the closure of the Ridge Road access to the site and the installation of an eight-foot high pool size chain link fence with landscaping along the Ridge Road side of the Pilot property in order to separate the Pilot site from the school property. Opponents of the Pilot plan claim the expansion of the site into a service station serving trucks and cars will create an unsafe condition on the site due to the addition of the cars, which might come in contact with the trucks. They also claim the expanded site will create more noise and air pollution in the area and that the large convenience store will be an attractive nuisance for the students who attend the schools on Ridge Road. Opponents also point out that the plan violates the ordinance that prohibits service stations within 500 feet of a school property. Pilot claims the zoning board’s approval of its plan will permit the company to upgrade and renovate its rundown truck stop and permanently separate the site from the schools. Pilot also claims it will prohibit any trailer tractor trucks which refuel at the Pilot site from using its Ridge Road access. According to Pilot, the approval will allow the cleanup of fuel contamination on the site, installation of state-of-the-art storm drainage, reduction of truck parking, and the renovation of the property into a modern service station. Pinnacle Learning Center At the Ramapo Reformed Church 109 West Ramapo Ave., Mahwah Conveniently located just off Route 17 7 AM - 6:30 PM M-F Yr. Round Flexible Hrs. Half and Full Day Pre-School - 2½ - 6 Years Crafts, Music, Spanish, Computers, Science AM & PM Academics. NEW Mommy & Me Program Owner/Director/Teacher Maria Cancelosi NJ State License CPR Trained Affordable - Sibling Discount drawingroomllc.com Follow us on Facebook by joining the group. Drawing Room Fine Art & Sculpture Studio Register for Semester 2 Classes Now at ������������������ ��������������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������������� ��������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������������ ���������������������������������������������������������������� �������������������������������������������������������������� Register for September 2010 201-512-3313 27 Central Ave • 2nd Floor • Midland Park 201•447•7272 �������������������� Ridgewood YMCA Day Camp Family FREE For All for future campers ages 3-12 & parents Saturday, February 13th 6:00pm Pizza • Camper Games • Arts & Crafts Ice Cream • Mad Science • Prizes After Hours Family Swim Respond by Wednesday, Feb. 10th to reserve your family’s space cwolfstirn@ridgewoodym.org or jduke@ridgewoodym.org ® www.ridgewoodymca.org 112 Oak Street, Ridgewood, NJ 201-444-5600 x339 or x337 Ridgewood YMCA