Dentist Office and Apartment Approved at 358 Clinton Avenue ¶
The board memorialized its approval for 128 River LLC to demolish the existing building at 358 Clinton Avenue and construct a new two-story structure with a dentist's office on the first floor and an apartment above.[6]
Cedar Hill Retail Building Carried to May ¶
An application by Regency Center (UB Wyckoff1, LLC) to build a 3,720-square-foot retail building with three tenant spaces — one reserved for a possible restaurant — at 525 Cedar Hill Avenue was carried to the board's May 13 meeting at the applicant's request.[6]
Front-Yard Fence Application Carried After Split Vote ¶
A request tied to 441 Ellis Place to allow a six-foot solid fence in a front yard was carried to May 13 as a final adjournment, approved on a split 5-2 vote with the chairman recused and the mayor abstaining.[7]
Board Approves March 11 Minutes With a Correction ¶
The board approved the minutes of its March 11 work session and public business meeting, with Michael Todé abstaining on both. The public business meeting minutes were approved with amendments after Chairman Robert Fortunato requested a correction to page 10.[8]
Community
Cuban Restaurant Approved for Vacant Wyckoff Avenue Red Barn
The Planning Board granted Taste of Cuba parking and signage variances to convert the long-vacant timber-frame building at 674 Wyckoff Avenue into a two-story restaurant called Sabrosito.
A timber-frame building on Wyckoff Avenue that has sat vacant for years is set to become a Cuban restaurant. At its April 8 meeting, the Wyckoff Planning Board voted 8-0 to approve an application by Taste of Cuba to renovate the property at 674 Wyckoff Avenue — long known as the Red Barn — into a two-story restaurant to be called Sabrosito.[1][5]
The applicant's attorney, Harold Cook, told the board the building would be converted into a Cuban-style restaurant, with the first floor open for lunch service and both floors used for dinner.[2] Engineer Robert J. Weissman testified that the building's footprint would remain unchanged, with site work including reconstruction of the front parking area, drainage improvements such as seepage pits and inlets, a grease trap connected to the sanitary system, a screened dumpster enclosure, updated lighting, and a covered walkway between the restaurant and the adjacent cleaners.[2]
Architect William G. Brown testified that the timber-frame structure would largely be preserved, with the main exterior additions a canopy over the entrance and the covered connection to the neighboring building. He said the restaurant would seat roughly 100 patrons indoors and 18 outdoors.[4]
The application's central relief is for parking. Planner Kathryn Gregory testified that 47 spaces are required for the restaurant and the adjacent cleaners together, while 26 are provided on site.[4] The 47-space figure was itself a reduction from 63, after revised seating calculations during the hearing.[5] She said demand falls to about 31 spaces at lunch, when only the first floor operates, that the cleaners closes during peak evening hours, and that on-street parking is available along Main Street. Gregory characterized the site's limited parking as a hardship that may have contributed to the building's long vacancy, and said the plan advances the township's Master Plan goals of shared parking and a stronger commercial district.[4]
Signage and the canopy drew the most discussion. The applicant proposed multiple facade signs and a freestanding sign along Wyckoff Avenue; after board discussion, the applicant agreed the freestanding sign would conform to township code, returning to the board only if a larger sign is later sought.[3][5] Vice Chairman Sarah Caprio raised concern about the proposed bright red color of the entrance canopy[4] and suggested its final design and color be reviewed by the Historic Design Committee.[5]
Mayor Roger Lane moved to approve the application, seconded by Frank Sedita, and it passed 8-0, with Chairman Robert Fortunato recused.[5] Conditions include replacing the existing paver sidewalk along Wyckoff Avenue with concrete, removing snow off site, submitting an Internal Block Parking Agreement, and providing drainage and irrigation details.[3][5]
Every claim in this article is drawn from public Wyckoff records. To dispute a fact, request a fact-check, or ask that personal information be removed, contact the ombudsman.