June 1, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 15 Ho-Ho-Kus Restaurant limitation ordinance on hold until June by Jennifer Crusco Several interested parties attended last week’s Ho-HoKus Council session, anticipating a public hearing and possible adoption of Ordinance 987, a proposal to keep restaurants away from residential zones. However, those in attendance learned that the public hearing has been postponed until June 28 to allow the planning board to finish its review of the proposal. Ho-Ho-Kus Chamber of Commerce President Andrew Ripps addressed the council last week, saying he complimented the council on the well-intended way the ordinance had been written. He noted that everyone benefits from a vibrant downtown, and the ordinance seeks to protect residents who live near business zones. When Ripps said this was his last opportunity to discuss the ordinance, Mayor Thomas Randall responded. “We may not act tonight,” Randall advised Ripps. “The planning board did not finish its review.” “I’ll be sure to repeat myself in a month,” Ripps said with a smile. Ripps commented on the recently-established parking review group, adding that he believes the committee has a lot of work to do. The committee, which was assembled to study local parking inconsistencies, includes Councilman Kevin Crossley, Ho-Ho-Kus Police Chief John Wanamaker, and Borough Administrator Don Cirulli. The committee will review parking regulations, meet with the Ho-Ho-Kus Chamber of Commerce, and attempt to make the regulations consistent. Ripps then expressed the Chamber’s request that the committee be given a chance to work before the council moves ahead with Ordinance 987. “We’re requesting that the vote be held until the committee can make a determination,” Ripps said. Mayor Randall said the council would discuss the action it wanted to take. “We’re not rushing. We saw this as a potential need.” He added, “We don’t want to be stuck with a problem in town that’s a detriment to the residents.” Last month, Ripps and Chamber Vice President Steven Sager expressed concerns that the borough was moving quickly on the ordinance, and Sager raised the issue of a possible conflict of interests since the borough owns the Ho-Ho-Kus Inn, and leases that building to restaurateurs. At that time, the mayor told the Chamber representatives that the borough does not own the restaurant, but is effectively a landlord. He said any regulations pertaining to restaurants would require all local restaurant owners to be in compliance. Randall also said that, as long as the borough is a landlord, any decision the governing body makes regarding the downtown could be perceived as a conflict of interests. Ordinance 987 proposes two amendments to Chapter 85 of the borough’s zoning code. One change would delete restaurants as permitted uses in the GB general business district. The ordinance would also amend the requirements pertaining to permitted conditional uses. In the case of restaurants, the following conditional uses would apply: “A restaurant shall not be located on a lot that is contiguous or adjacent to a single family residential zone. “A restaurant shall be located on a minimum lot area of not less than 10,000 square feet and shall be computed within 110 feet of the front street lot line. “A restaurant shall be located on a lot that contains the minimum amount of off-street parking space required by borough requirements.” The ordinance was drafted by planner Ed Sneickus of Burgis Associates, and was recommended by the borough’s planning board. At a prior discussion of the ordinance, Mayor Randall pointed out that parking is at a premium in the downtown area. He added that the ordinance would prohibit restaurants where a business zone abuts a residential zone. The goal, he said, is to keep the traffic, outdoor noise, and activity associated with restaurants away from local homes. Randall has also said that, if a prospective restaurateur could meet the borough’s bulk conditions, that person could potentially receive an approval from the planning board. He said that one of those conditions is providing a designated number of parking spaces related to the square footage of the business. That formula, he said, would not be changed by Ordinance 987. The public hearing on this ordinance will be part of the June 28 council meeting. Sessions are held in borough hall and begin at 8 p.m., unless otherwise noted. Council approves ordinance (continued from page 11) acquisition radio communications equipment, a fire hose, and turnout gear for the borough’s volunteer fire department. Of that total, $3,100 would be covered by a down payment, and the balance would be funded by bonds and notes. The ordinance includes $55,000 for the renovation of the police desk/lobby and acquisition of an upgraded telephone system for borough hall. This project includes a down payment of $2,700, with the balance funded by bonds and notes. Plans also call for the purchase of a mobile digital video system for the borough’s police cars. The equipment cost of $40,000 will be funded by a $2,000 down payment and $38,000 in bonds. This ordinance calls for an aggregate appropriation of $500,000, with $475,000 to be funded by bonds.