Politics & Government

Proposed CVS Site Owner Explains Town's Role

James Kourgelis testified to the Washington Township Zoning Board that various town officials had proposed or rejected ideas for his property on the corner of Pascack Road and Washington Avenue.

A controversial plan to build a CVS on the corner of Washington Avenue and Pascack Road goes back nearly 10 years as property owner James Kourgelis repeatedly tried to appease various Washington Township officials, he testified Tuesday.

"Every time I talk to somebody, they say 'do this,' and I do it, and then it doesn't work out," Kourgelis said. "I need guidance. I need somebody to tell me what to do."

Kourgelis came to give his own testimony to the Washington Township Zoning Board about how he came to own a group of dilapidated houses after a hearing in May when there was a "lively exchange" between a planner and board members, his attorney, Carmine Alampi, said.

It all started in 2004 when then-Councilman Robert Schroeder suggested Kourgelis buy two empty homes across the street from his restaurant and catering hall, Seasons, Kourgelis said. The plan then was two knock down the houses and build a parking lot for commuters during the day and his customers at night.

That plan fell by the wayside when several banks expressed interest in the property and Kourgelis figured he could come up with a development which might earn some money, instead of just building "an expensive parking lot," he said.

Kourgelis continued to keep township officials in the loop, bringing then-Mayor Rudy Wenzel's requirement to the developers that any bank be built in a colonial style, he said.

After one bank ended up choosing a different location and Commerce Bank was absorbed by TD, those plans also dried up, according to Kourgelis.

Kourgelis continued to buy up Pascack Road homes between Washington Avenue and the Northgate Condominiums over the next several years. First, former township administrator Agnes Smith approached him about buying a third home because of problems with its aging resident. He agreed, finding the house filled with mold and trash, and dead deer in a backyard swimming pool.

Kourgelis has faced repeated public criticism over the condition the houses are currently in, but there were worse when he bought them, he said.

"I think it looks better than when we purchased it," Kourgelis said.

Kourgelis paid to have the pool removed and overgrown brush cleared out from all three properties. After township firefighters asked to use one of the houses for drills and broke holes in the roof and windows, he paid to have the repairs fixed after township officials cited him for violations, Kourgelis testified.

Kourgelis also ended up facing charges in municipal court over the removal of trees from the property. All the trees had been approved by township officials, he said, and the charges were later dropped.

After the banks dropped out, Kourgelis considered building condos at the site, but found the price he would need to charge for them would be too high compared to others in the township and they would have been too difficult to sell. He then considered apartments, but nixed that idea at the request of Mayor Janet Sobkowicz, he said.

After CVS expressed interest in putting a store on the property, Kourgelis purchased more of the homes to allow a large enough lot for the project and to leave some as a buffer between the neighboring condominiums. The original application, which included room for a Dunkin Donuts and liquor store, came at the behest of township officials, he claimed. The current application, which only includes the CVS, was submitted after it became clear how unpopular the original plan was, he said.

Kourgelis also explained his decision to build a retaining wall and plant a line of trees next to a stream at the rear of the properties. That was done to appease neighbors on Meisten Street, whose backyards face his property, he said.

That work has gotten him in trouble with the Department of Environmental Protection since it was discovered that the stream is a Category One waterway.

Board members asked Kourgelis why he couldn't just repair the existing houses or build new ones.

The busy intersection would likely not appeal to anyone looking for a home, especially if they have children, he said.

Kourgelis said he would whatever the town wanted with the site, and suggested putting in a park.

"Pay me back [the money I've invested] and make it a park," he said.

Kourgelis will continue his testimony and take questions from the public and an objector's attorney at the Washington Township Zoning Board's October 15 meeting.


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