Zoning Board Rings In New Year

The Parsippany-Troy Hills Zoning Board of Adjustment marked the new year by electing its leaders for 2012 during its annual reorganization meeting. The gathering took place Wednesday night at .

After the board voted to accept member Loretta Gragnani as temporary chair, she presided over a series of roll call votes to elect the year's leaders.

Robert Iracane won unanimous approval to continue as board chair. George Kimmey was elected to replace Michele Jennrich as vice chair. The board voted to continue to employ the professional services of attorney George W. Johnson, planner John T. Chadwick IV, secretary Harriet Jacobs and engineer Gordon Meth.

Johnson administered the oaths of office for Iracane and Kimmey, who both thanked the board for its support.

The reorganization also introduced to serve on the zoning board. Kimmey and Brian Kelley were re-appointed for respective four-year terms. Amil Shah was sworn in as a brand new alternate board member to fill the remaining two years of an unexpired term.

In other business, the ZBA heard one case involving Danny Realty, LLC, which owns and operates a rehabilitated Shell gas station and 7-Eleven at 25 Route 46 East at New Road.

Attorney Louis Rago, representing Danny Realty, reminded the board that it gave preliminary approval to the project's plan to improve "a pitiful piece of property" a  year ago. In the interim, Rago said construction was completed and the site was fully operational, but "minor modifications" were made to the preliminary plan.

"We are back in front of you for an amended preliminary plan and final site plan approval," Rago said.

Testimony came from John Palus of Dynamic Engineering in Lake Como, who said the changes made included the re-positioning of a canopy to provide more circulation on the east side of the building, the removal of a sign and the installation of a masonry trash enclosure.

Questioned regarding the station's propane gas delivery system, Palus explained that customers would drop off empty tanks and pick up full ones.

"There is no transfer of gas or refilling on site," he said, reassuring the ZBA of the process' safety.

Chairman Iracane put the matter to a vote, and the board unanimously approved Danny Realty's plan.

The next zoning board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 8:30 p.m. at Town Hall.