Page 8 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • February 13, 2013 Wyckoff Superior Court judge sustains board’s decision by John Koster An appeal of the Wyckoff Planning Board decision in the Aldo’s Italian Restaurant case has been rebuffed by Superior Court, which rejected the attempt by Henry J. McNamara and Joan McNamara and the Wyckoff Shopping Center to have the approval of the restaurant’s plans overturned. “The court rules that the plaintiffs have not presented adequate reasons to overturn the board’s decision to grant the applicant’s site plan, including parking and sign variances,” Judge Joseph S. Conte said late last month. “Based on the submissions of the parties and the review of the record before the board, this court finds that the board did not act arbitrarily, capriciously, or unreasonably.” Restaurateur Aldo Cascio had applied to establish a restaurant within an existing building including a bar area for consumption of wine and liquor and the retail sale of wine and liquor, four dining areas, and a vestibule. Plans called for a complete renovation with a new facade, and the B-1 zone permits restaurants. Cascio, however, requested a bulk variance seeking relief from parking requirements, a variance to permit a second ground floor sign, a variance to permit a fence, and variance relief if the board were to require parking spaces to be of a certain size. The McNamaras and witnesses for their opposition case testified that there were insufficient grounds to grant the variances and that the expansion would contribute to traffic problems. Some residents at the meetings from November 2011 to March 2012 wore T-shirts that said “We Love Aldo’s.” Others said they were concerned about traffic and especially about parking. The court found that the Wyckoff Planning Board had provided enough information with their approval to sustain the granting of the variances. Early in 2012, the Wyckoff Planning Board approved the relocation of Aldo’s from 393 Franklin Avenue to the former Wyckoff Bakery building at 640 Wyckoff Avenue. Henry McNamara, a former state senator, owns the site where Aldo’s was previously located and a neighboring property. McNamara had objected to Casio’s plans, and McNamara’s attorney, John Dorsey, previously asserted that the application should have been heard by the board of adjustment, because township code permits only one use per building, while the restaurant and retails sales would constitute two uses. Bruce Whitaker, the attorney for Aldo’s, contended that the liquor sales constitute an ancillary use to the wine bar and, as such, would not require a variance. The Wyckoff Police Department arrested a 60-yearold Franklin Lakes man on a number of charges after he reportedly almost struck pedestrians on the sidewalk near Walgreen’s at the Cedar Hill Shopping Center. On Jan. 30 at 1:10 p.m., Patrolman Kyle Ferreira saw a car exit Route 208 at Cedar Hill Avenue, drive off the roadway, and strike a stop sign. Patrolman Ferreira approached the car, and the driver backed away from the impacted stop sign and continued driving on Cedar Hill Avenue. The driver turned into the shopping center by driving over the curb and center island at the entrance. The car mounted the curb in front of Walgreen’s and drove part way onto the sidewalk, reportedly almost striking pedestrians. The driver finally stopped in the parking lot. The driver was originally charged with DWI, but breath tests showed no presence of alcohol. After an investigation by a drug recognition officer, the driver was charged with driving while impaired by narcotics, reckless driving, leaving the scene of a motor vehicle crash, and failure to maintain his lane of traffic. He was released to his wife and is scheduled to appear in municipal court. The incident at Cedar Hill was just one of several recent motor vehicle incidents. On Jan. 31 at 2:55 a.m., the Wyckoff Police Department Township police arrest man whose vehicle almost struck pedestrians received a report from a citizen regarding a drunk driver traveling on Route 208 northbound. The driver, a 43-yearold North Haledon man, was arrested for driving while intoxicated. Cans of partially consumed beer were found in his car, and he tested at 0.29 percent blood alcohol, almost four times the legal limit for alcohol. He was charged with DWI, reckless driving, failure to maintain his lane of traffic, consuming alcohol while driving, and possession of open containers. He was released to a friend and faces a court appearance. At 2:10 a.m. on Jan. 27, Patrolman Michael DeMaio had stopped a vehicle on Sicomac Avenue that was observed swerving into the opposite lane of traffic. A 62-year-old Franklin Lakes man was arrested for DWI, refusal to submit to a breath test, failure to maintain his lane in traffic, and failure to exhibit a registration card or insurance card. He is scheduled for an appearance in municipal court. The day before, Patrolman Ferreira had stopped a vehicle on Franklin Avenue for an obstructed license plate. A search of the vehicle led to the arrest of the driver, a 23year-old Wyckoff woman, for possession of marijuana. She was charged with possession and released on her own recognizance. The Christian Health Care Center in Wyckoff will hold a Community Blood Drive on Feb. 13. Community Blood Services’ blood mobile will be in the Commons parking lot from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. that day. All potential donors Community Blood Drive is this week will receive a glucose and cholesterol screening. To prevent long wait times, schedule an appointment by calling CHCC Employee Health Nurse Barbara Lucia, RN, BSN at (201) 848-5872.