The Westwood Zoning Board is considering an application for the development of a self-storage mixed-use project on a former car lot in Westwood, N.J. Madison Realty LLC and 11 Madison Realty LLC have submitted an application to subdivide the former Valley Ford of Westwood car dealership on Madison Avenue into a mixed-use project that will include self-storage, residential housing and retail space.
The zoning board reviewed the application for the first time during a July 7 hearing and will consider the proposal again during a special meeting on July 21, according to Bill Martin, board chairman. Mixed-use and self-storage are currently not permitted in Westwood's Central Business District, requiring the board to extend a D variance. Additional variances for building height and bulk would also need to be granted, according to the source.
The proposal calls for demolishing the existing 51,306-square-foot auto dealership and subdividing the property into two lots, one for the mixed-used development of residential and commercial space, and the other for self-storage, according to the source. The lot is near Irvington Street, Washington Avenue and the NJ Transit Pascack Valley line rail tracks.
The developers have proposed to build one three-story building with 2,685 square feet of retail space on the ground floor, with two levels of 16 residential units above. The building would include storage in the basement and 28 parking spaces. Access to the property would be from Madison Avenue.
On the other lot, the self-storage facility would have three floors encompassing 99,885 square feet of storage space. It would be on the north/northwest side of the site and include 13 parking spots and four loading spaces. Ingress and egress to the building would be from either Madison Avenue or Irvington Street.
Previous plans to redevelop the site have been unsuccessful. The Westwood Planning Board denied an application in 2006 from Wachovia Bank, which proposed a 15,000-square-foot bank with two drive-through lanes. After several legal disputes, including an appeal, Wachovia withdrew its proposal.
Sources:
- North Jersey.com: Application Filed to Develop Former Valley Ford Lot in Westwood
