May 9, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 7 Mahwah Planners approve additional parking by Frank J. McMahon The Mahwah Planning Board has approved several setback variances and waivers to permit the owners of Roxanne’s Restaurant on Franklin Turnpike to use an adjacent lot for additional parking. The owners of the restaurant recently entered into a 25year lease of the adjacent lot, which is located south of the restaurant. According to the plans, that lot will be paved and will have parking spaces located on the northern and southern sides of a two lane drive-through area from a new entrance/ exit driveway. There will be a concrete/brick walkway along the rear of the building, stretching from the new parking area to the front entrance of the building. The entire frontage of the restaurant currently has a concrete/brick sidewalk with extensive landscaping that will remain. Testimony was provided by an expert surveyor/professional planner and an expert architect at a recent public hearing before the board. Peter Kirch, the licensed surveyor and professional planner, reminded the board that it had approved a realignment of the parking on the site in September 2009 to increase the parking at the site from 42 to 57spaces, but that construction was never started. He said his client now intends to use the adjacent lot to the south to increase parking to 90 spaces and provide access around the rear of the building, which is now a dead end. Ernest Nuzzo, the attorney for the owners of the restaurant, advised that the use of valet parking would be discon- tinued once the expanded parking is available. Architect Thomas Ashbahian explained there is not enough parking on the site now, and patrons must park off site. He pointed out that all the property surrounding his client’s property is zoned for commercial use, and the improvements would clean up the adjacent lot by taking down a small building on that lot and paving the entire area. Ashbahian described several setback variances that would be required if the board approved his client’s application and explained that his clients are also asking for a variance from the 10 by 20 foot parking space requirement to permit nine by 18 foot parking spaces on the site, which he said is not uncommon in Mahwah and surrounding communities. Ashbahian also advised that the application calls for a curb and driveway waiver to permit a 24-foot driveway opening. He said this is the current size of the existing driveway openings, both of which operate satisfactorily. The ordinance requires a 30-foot driveway opening. In response to a question from Township Engineer Michael Kelly, Ashbahian confirmed that he had applied to the Bergen County Planning Board for the approval of the driveways because the county has jurisdiction over them since Franklin Turnpike is a county road. According to Ashbahian, the proposed plan would comply with the township’s streetscape requirements, the requirements for tree replacement and lighting on the site, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. (continued on page 19) Batelli honored The 13th Annual Golf Classic was recently held at High Mountain Golf Club in Franklin Lakes. The event was presented by the Mahwah School Foundation to benefit the children of the Mahwah Public Schools. Chief Jim Batelli of Mahwah Police Department was the honoree.