Land owner can’t build two houses

Weehawken’s Zoning Board of Adjustment voted unanimously on Tuesday to deny an application to build a pair of two family-homes on the Palisade hills near Hackensack Plank Road in Weehawken.
After many back-and-forth meetings, land owner and hopeful builder Rogelio De Oca of Hoboken was denied site plan approval and nine variances. The project would have included parking for two vehicles.

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“It’s like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.” – Tom Lawton
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“He’s obviously very disappointed in the outcome for his request for variances for the development of the townhomes in the property,” said De Oca’s attorney, Marvin Walden. “He has attempted to compromise and to provide everything that was requested of him either by the board, the board’s planning expert, or by his neighbors, who voiced some concerns about the plan.”

Residents speak out

Thomas Lawton, a resident of the Gregory Commons Condominiums for 10 years, objected to the proposed project.
“Bottom line, the owner’s one-quarter acre site is too small, resulting in pushing variances one into the other,” said Lawton at the meeting. He said he had studied the plans, had been to the four meetings, and had seen the application reduced from 26 variances to nine.
Lawton and his wife Maureen brought pictures and prepared speeches to try to convince the board to deny the application. He cited various faults. “It’s like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole,” he said. “Too much density, not enough on-site parking, too much street parking, excess building coverage, above maximum impervious coverage, not enough open space, cliff space setback infringement, and significant cutbacks in tree preservation. Last but not least, compromising the greater public good in favor of a four-unit, 10 person development.”
Also at the meeting was Chief of Police William McLellan, a Gregory Commons resident, and Mayor Richard Turner, who came to witness the hearing. Though they did not speak, McLellan said later that he hoped the application wouldn’t be approved because there were too many variances that included imposing a blocked view on some residents in the Gregory Commons area.
“I think the town had reasons for putting steep-slope ordinances in, and I’m concerned about future development in that [Palisades] area if this project goes through,” said McLellan. “I think the developer has ambitions of eventually selling the property and making money and then leaving the area. We live here in Weehawken and we’re concerned about these projects developing on a grander scale.”
McLellan continued: “I value, as many of the residents in Gregory Commons do, the Palisades, the undeveloped beauty of that, and projects like this will eventually be a detriment to that.”

Future plans

Many of the board members cited the remaining variances as the reason for the denial.
“He’s going back to the drawing board to see what we can come up with,” said Walden of his client.
However, Lawton said that if something similar is approved, neighbors might bring a lawsuit to prevent construction.
Melissa Rappaport may be reached at mrappaport@hudsonreporter.com