Page 10 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • December 21, 2011 Mahwah Planning board approves doctor’s office, nail salon by Frank J. McMahon The Mahwah Planning Board has approved tenant applications for a nail and spa salon and a physician at the Gateway strip shopping mall on Franklin Turnpike at the border of Mahwah and the Village of Suffern, New York. The Very Nail Spa will occupy 1,581 square feet on the first floor next to the 7-Eleven. Services include spa manicures, spa pedicures, hair styling, waxing, and massage. The location will include a utility room, a bathroom, and two storage rooms. The business will have an entrance at the front of the building and one at the rear of the building, both leading to parking areas. The application was originally denied by Gary Montroy, the township’s planning/ zoning officer, because the township’s code does not permit massage businesses, but John Anton, the property owner’s attorney, explained to Montroy that the massages proposed by this business are not full body massages but rather open chair massages of the upper body and feet. Montroy explained to the board that the planning board has approved nail salon businesses in the past with this type of massage. Board member Ward Donigian voiced concern that a business providing massages often start out as upper body massages but then become objectionable. Board member Ellen Stein advised that she is aware of nail salons that do provide nail massages and even full body massages, but she has never seen it in a special room. Planning Board Attorney Peter Scandariato advised the board that it could stipulate that there would be no full body massages on the premises and they will not be provided in a closed room. Board member Todd Scherer then moved to approve the tenant application with those restrictions, and the approval was seconded by Donigian and approved by the full board. Anton also presented a tenant application for a physician to occupy a 690 square foot space on the second floor of the building, which would include the doctor’s office and an audiology room even though the board’s original approval of this site prohibited medical offices on the second floor. Anton explained, however, that the doctor who wants to occupy this space specializes in pediatrics and has a referral connection with the Mahwah Medical practice located across the street. He said the doctor’s practice would have restricted hours and there is enough parking at the site to accommodate her practice. Anton told the board the doctor would see patients after most of the tenants occupying the second floor of the building have closed for the day and there are 30 to 40 parking spaces at the rear of the building that are available. The board approved the tenant application for the doctor with the conditions that the space will not be expanded, there will only be one doctor at this location, and any new doctor who wants to occupy the space will have to come to the planning board for approval. The location of this shopping mall is at the terminus of Route 202 where it intersects with Franklin Turnpike. For 70 years, it was the location of the Short Line Bus System, which had a garage facility that was previously used to service school buses. There were also various offices located in the building. The building fell into disrepair, however, and was demolished. It was sold in 1998 and, prior to the shopping center mall being approved by the planning board in May 2007, it was described “The Gateway to Mahwah” by the township’s professional planner. That description led to the shopping center being named the Gateway Center. Construction began in 2008 and the building now contains the convenience store, a dry cleaning store, and two restaurants. The offices above the stores are called the Gateway Office Suites. Formal greeting Mahwah Regional Chamber of Commerce welcomes recently elected Mayor Bill Laforet. Pictured: Tom Grissom, Mayor Bill Laforet, Susan Lord, Andy Sulzer, and Sharon Rounds.