Should a 7-Eleven Replace the Old Westwood Chevy Dealership?
A developer has proposed to build a strip mall at the site of the defunct Chevrolet of Westwood on Kinderkamack Road.
Photos
A formal objector has come forward against a plan to build a strip mall at the former site of the Chevrolet of Westwood, and several residents who live near the site have also expressed concern about the plan.
The plan, which is currently before the Westwood Zoning Board, calls for a 8,051-square-foot, five-unit strip mall to be built on the site of the showroom for the defunct car dealership on Kinderkamack Road.
Local property owner Bruce Meisel has objected to the plan because of a requested convenience store use variance to allow a 7-Eleven to occupy a portion of the strip mall. Mesiel noted that the borough recently changed its Master Plan and did not add the use.
The developer, Nicholas Aynilian, and the property owner, Norman Dorf, have both said they do not believe the site could ever successfully be home to a car dealership again or one of the other permitted uses, such as large appliance stores.
Several residents who live near the site have also shared concerns about traffic, noise and light that the new strip mall may cause.
What do you think about the strip mall plan? Vote in the poll and share your thoughts in the comments below.
Rob Rager
10:14 am on Monday, January 14, 2013
While I don't mind a strip mall...There already IS a convenience store just up the road, in Emerson.
Terry
2:22 pm on Monday, January 14, 2013
We, the neighbors on Crest St., object to a 7-Eleven. We already have a steady stream of foot traffic on the street 24-7 with people cutting over to the apartments on Old Hook talking and singing at the top of their voices to their Ipods, dropping food garbage and waking people up at all hours. 7-Elevens sell beer. We would have more noise plus beer cans and bottles all over the street and lawns. We property owners object to the traffic, lights, noise and loss of property value in a suffering economy. Surely there are more appropriate uses for this property.
Pauline
2:22 pm on Monday, January 14, 2013
Agree with the previous comment, there's no need for a convenience store on that spot, would welcome some other retail store/business.
Westwood Mom
1:03 pm on Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Unfortunately, we can't keep the retail locations rented out in the center of town...
21st century concerned citizen
9:54 am on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
@ Terry Agree with many of your comments, but the 7 Eleven would only sell beer if they received a liquor license which is very doubtful. I drove through Market Street in Saddle Brook last night with their proliferation of strip malls. Total eyesore which I am sure would drive our home values down and increase both traffic accidents and crime. There are better uses for this property and the owner of the property will have to wait until a proposal that complies with our zoning laws comes to fruition. This is what makes all investments risky and as an investor we should not sell out to something that will be detrimental to the community that we do not even live in. (its called being a good neighbor)