Patrick Ralph La Frieda, the well-known New York City meat purveyor, will be moving his headquarters to North Bergen.
A developer’s agreement signed by the township, the Planning Board, and La Frieda was approved at the North Bergen Commissioners meeting on April 22.
The site of the new two-story warehouse/commercial space will be 3701 Tonnelle Ave., which was originally an auto body shop.
“This is quality,” said Town Administrator Christopher Pianese of the company’s products. “These people supply steaks to the biggest top restaurants in New York City, Las Vegas, Atlantic City – five-star stuff that is off the charts.”
Pianese said the company chose North Bergen because it gives them a central hub close to New York City. They will also benefit from North Bergen’s Urban Enterprise Zone, a state initiative that provides certain tax advantages for businesses and customers in urban areas.
“This is a great company to bring [into North Bergen].” – Christopher Pianese.
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“This is a great company to bring [into North Bergen],” said Pianese.
Hotel gets more rooms
An additional floor for the Best Western Hotel under construction at Paterson Plank Road and 36th Street, previously approved by the Planning Board, was approved by the commissioners.
Pianese said the developer went back to the Planning Board with an amendment to their developer’s agreement and was granted an additional level of rooms.
The approval increases the hotel’s original 88 rooms to 105.
Volcanic rocks in NB
During the public portion of the meeting, North Bergen resident Herbert Shaw asked why the township wasn’t extending its environmental impact study of a proposed commercial development at the Palisades Cliffs to the entire township.
The township originally commissioned the study to find out the potential impact of a proposal for a Walgreens, Starbucks and Bank of America on River Road.
But Shaw thinks it’s worth looking at the rocks citywide when development projects come up.
Shaw said that geographically, North Bergen has many different types of rock, and that old test borings and blue prints should be looked at to pinpoint weak areas. Shaw said North Bergen sits on a geological fault near the border of Edgewater that could receive a 3.0 earthquake on the Richter scale.
Town Attorney Herbert Klitzner said that a 3.0 earthquake would feel the same as a large truck driving past.
Pianese explained such a study would not be economically feasible, but that the township checks for geographic safety when each new development is presented.
Shaw complained that a different development already on the cliffs could eventually fall due to its location.
Mayor Nicholas Sacco wasn’t moved.
“California is going to disappear, so maybe in Nevada we can get some beachfront property right now,” he said.
Shaw said the area where the three buildings are proposed should be turned into a park, and that he wouldn’t object if it was called “Sacco Park.”
“I’ve never named anything after myself,” said Sacco.
Car wash pays for traffic study
Big Daddy Car Wash, at 8930 Kennedy Blvd., has paid $2,600 to the township so the municipal engineering consultants Dolan & Dean can do a traffic study of the area.
Pianese said the car wash owner wants to improve the “circulation” of traffic. Patrons often make illegal right hand turns into his property, even though the entrance is around the corner, he said.
“I use that car wash, and I can tell you personally that making a right into that car wash is pretty hazardous because cars are coming out,” said Pianese.
Pianese said the owner of the property paid for the traffic study because he was “obviously looking to increase his flow of traffic into his facility.”
$264K refund
The commissioners approved a tax refund of $264,472 for Frutarom Meer Corp., a flavor and fragrance company at 9436 Railroad Ave., mandated by the New Jersey Tax Court, as follows: $55,572 for 2006, $81,943 for 2007, and $126,956 for 2008.
Many businesses are trying to get tax refunds for their property in tough economic times where the assessed value may have declined.
Contract for tree removal
A 24-month contract to Tree-Tech Inc., of Mt. Freedom, N.J. was approved by the commissioners. The contract was for an estimated $30,000 and will cost $65 an hour for tree removal.
The other bids ranged from $98 to $100 per hour.
Tricia Tirella may be reached at TriciaT@hudsonreporter.com.