Plan for apartments, Starbucks, storage draws sharp criticism in North Haledon

NORTH HALEDON — A Bergen County developer wants to bring a multi-use project to the largest vacant lot in the borough, but critics continue to poke holes in its plan.

The 4.7-acre property at 987 Belmont Ave. is perched atop a ridge near the state-owned nature preserve, commanding a sweeping view of the Manhattan skyline to the east.

Apartment dwellers there will catch nightly glimpses of the city lights if the Planning Board looks favorably on the application proposed by Tulfra Real Estate of Rochelle Park.

The board has not set a date for a formal public hearing.

David Hewitt of Vine Street is among the residents who would be affected by the development. He told the board at a meeting last week that he would lose the spectacular view, which he now enjoys from a rear window of his split-level home.

“I’m a realist,” Hewitt said Thursday night. “I understand things are going to happen. I just want what’s best for the people on Vine Street.”

The proposal calls for 90 apartments, a retail building and a self-storage facility. Sixteen units would be for low-income households.

The retail building of 4,379 square feet would be situated closest to the county road. It would have two tenants, including a possible Starbucks restaurant, with a drive-thru lane.

At the meeting, the board conducted an informal review of the project. The plan has undergone one notable revision since officials were introduced to it in July.

The self-storage facility was supposed to be four stories, but after listening to feedback, Tulfra shrank it to three.

The developer heard more concerns last week as Hewitt and his neighbors raised issues about stormwater runoff, traffic congestion and even the level of noise that may travel from the drive-thru speaker.

Daniel Cabrera of Overlook Avenue said the plan jeopardized public safety because it lacked emergency access to the apartments.

The residential building would be in the rear of the property, which is proposed to have one entrance and exit — a boulevard-style driveway, with a landscaped median, on Belmont Avenue.

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Should there be a serious fire at the self-storage facility, Cabrera said, the driveway would be blocked, and no vehicle could get to the apartments if a second emergency occurred there at the same time.

“This could become a major catastrophe,” said Cabrera, the fire director in Prospect Park.

Sonny Jumani, the president of Tulfra, said Monday that the plan is undergoing further changes.

Tulfra, which is under contract to buy the property, built the 180-unit Molly Brook on Belmont on the opposite side of the road. Its latest venture is The Delford at Village Center, a residential complex at the site of a former AT&T data center on West Passaic Street in Rochelle Park.

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Renters moved in there this month.

Mayor Randy George, who sits on the board, said the Tulfra application in North Haledon is part of a vision by the borough to have a promenade-like development similar to that on Route 208 west in Fair Lawn.

“Some of you may not like it, and some of you may embrace it,” George said at the meeting. “But that’s why we were elected — to look about the future of this town.”

The vision is spelled out in a 34-page redevelopment plan first adopted by officials nine years ago.

It considers acceptable uses for each lot along the Belmont Avenue corridor, and it lists criteria that must be followed by developers doing work in the zone.

George said the goal is to expand the promenade by redeveloping the site to the immediate south, now owned by North Jersey Trailer & Truck Service Inc. However, it is not for sale.

Some faulted the long-range vision for distracting their attention from the application in front of them. Board Chairman Frank Coscia called it a “dream concept.”

“We don’t know what’s going to go next door,” Coscia said. “But we’re getting pretty close to being bigger on Belmont Avenue than what’s on State Highway 208.”

Philip DeVencentis is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: devencentis@northjersey.com

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Critics pan proposal for 90 units, Starbucks and more in North Haledon