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Politics & Government

Planning Board OKs Plan For Multi-Business Property Near Middle School

The motion to grant a parking variance for the Shehadi Building passes, despite residents' predictions that "it's just a matter of time before something happens."

The Chatham Borough Planning Board voted Wednesday night to grant a C Variance for the Shehadi Building at 400 Main St.—allowing the former carpet business location to accommodate several new businesses—over vehement protestations from nearby residents.

The building was formerly occupied by owner John Shehadi's carpet business, which used it as a retail facility and showroom. After relocating the business last year, Shehadi made internal modifications to the building to accommodate four separate businesses.

He had three tenants arranged, but withdrew the most controversial, a dry cleaning business, after intense opposition from the community at the planning board's last meeting, on Aug. 5.

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Residents of the neighborhood in attendance said it was a commendable move, but not enough to guarantee the safety of residents and the students of Chatham Middle School around the corner.

Jude Taresca of 12 Van Doren Ave. said that he moved from Jersey City to Chatham in part to escape city-like street parking, and now faces the same problems in Chatham.

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"Residents have to absorb the office parking problem," Taresca said. "It's cut-throat' and it's just a matter of time before something happens."

This sentiment of "it's just a matter of time" was echoed by several of Taresca's neighbors. Colm Hogan said that granting the variance without knowing what the other businesses in the buildings will be or how many parking spaces they might need was a mistake, calling the current parking situation on Dunbar Street "absolutely ridiculous."

Vicky Vielguth and her husband Craig of 5 Dunbar St. both spoke, saying that their home and a neighbor's had been broken into, and that Vicky and a neighbor have had car accidents trying to get in and out of their driveways.

David Richards of 7 Martin Place commended Shehadi for removing the dry cleaning business from the plan, but said that even then the application "doesn't address the real issue, it just kicks the can down the street." And with only 14 parking spaces proposed for a commercial building normally requiring 25, he asked, "What's the point of having an ordinance?"

Craig Vielguth told the board, "Cars get fixed. TVs and jewelry can be replaced," but "please keep in mind that children don't get fixed as easily as cars do, and they're certainly not replaceable. It's just a matter of time before something much more precious than property value gets taken away from someone."

In spite of this opposition, the planning board voted 7-1 in favor of granting Shehadi his parking variance. Residents could be heard crying out "No" as Board Member Joseph Mikulewicz cast the fifth yea vote.

Shehadi, who met with residents after the vote in the hallway outside of the meeting room to discuss their concerns, said that he was pleased with the outcome and agreed to try "to do the right thing for the neighborhood."

Craig Vielguth stated after the vote, "With 19 young children in these two blocks our primary emphasis to the board was that of safety.  We're disappointed, of course, that the safety concern wasn't enough to sway the board's vote.  On the other hand, John Shehadi has been a good neighbor for decades.  We're hopeful that approach will continue through his new tenants."

The planning board also approved updates to the Borough's Open Space and Recreation Plan and to the Environmental Resource Inventory.

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