Day Care Center Project, Once Denied, Wins ZBA OK

It took more than three years and a lot of compromising, but Pavillion Properties LLC's Children of America day care center moved a step closer to reality. After arduous negotiations, tough questions and even a judge's order, the project finally won the approval of Parsippany's Zoning Board of Adjustment at its Wednesday night meeting at Town Hall.

Continuing his presentation from the board's Oct. 19 session, attorney Savino J. Russoniello Jr. showed the body that the site owner took the Zoning Board's stated conditions seriously.

Board members had said they would not reconsider the project unless the property owner made changes to the site plan, including providing the ZBA with a copy of its evacuation plan, adding a handicapped parking space and reconfiguring the ingress and egress to the center's parking lot.

Russioniello presented the board with an evacuation plan that was also submitted to Parsippany Office of Emergency Management Coordinator Eric Hubner. Under the plan, the evacuation site would be moved from flood-prone Rockaway Meadow School to the  at 650 Edwards Road, which sits on higher ground. The board accepted the plan.

Engineer Frank Matarazzo testified that per the board's demands, the developers reconfigured the site plan, adding a 6-foot sidewalk on the northern side of the parking lots, employee parking opposite the front of the building and an additional handicapped parking space. He added that at the board's request, the planned dumpster's location was moved from the parking lot's northern end to a position east of the lot. 

Planner John McDonough testified that he found the project "consistent with good planning."

After asking questions regarding signage and going into and out of conference to share their opinions on the project, the board members voted unanimously to approve.

In the past 3 1/2 years, Pavillion Properties brought its day care project plan before the board several times. The ZBA, at one point, flat-out denied the developers' request for building variances, citing their concerns about the safety of the flood-prone Rockaway River-area site at 70 Old Bloomfield Ave. It took a Superior Court judge's order to get the matter back before the board.

When the 7-0 vote to approve the plan was done, property owner Michael Puschak seemed exhausted.

"Essentially, it's the same plan we had three years ago," Puschak said, shaking his head. "But it's done. As soon as possible we'll get the permits and get moving to get the center running."

In other business, the board approved the installation of a new ornamental identification sign for tenants of Arya Village, a commercial complex at 1571 Route 46. The ZBA also postponed consideration of Iskcon of N.J.'s plan to construct a new house of worship at 170-180 Troy Road.

The Zoning Board next meets for a special meeting at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 16 at Town Hall. The session will be devoted to continued consideration of a townhouse development at 700 Mountain Way.