The Union City Zoning Board heard applications for a 12-unit apartment building and for two new businesses at their meeting on July 14. They voted to approve a day care center for 18 kids and a local spa, and will continue hearing the application for the apartments on Sept. 8.
Whenever a homeowner or business seeks approval to expand or convert an existing property to a business or housing unit, they must appear in front of the board for approval. Union City’s board has seven volunteer members, and five were present for the meeting. That was enough for a quorum, or a legal vote.
Twelve apartments
Palisade Heights LLC proposed a 12-unit apartment building with 19 parking spaces to be constructed at 1908 New York Ave. The four-level building will use the top three levels as housing units, and there will be a lower parking area. Depending on the housing market, the units will be either rental units or condos.
‘The building will be built with green materials and green methods’— Manual Pereiras
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The units will all have two bedrooms and the entrance to the building will not open to busy New York Avenue, to prevent traffic congestion. The building will be built with green materials and green methods, he said.
The majority of the construction workers will be local people, he said. The project may come up for a vote on Sept. 8.
Spa
The board approved Ana Velazco’s proposed Healing Massage and Wellness Spa at 101 48th St. Velazco has been a businesswoman for many years and for the last three years has practiced therapeutic treatment at a local spa, she said. She also teaches music and art to kids at the Art Studio in North Bergen.
She studied at the Medical Institute in Union City with her husband, who is also a business partner in this venture.
She said her goals are to focus on the community’s health problems, which include the elderly in need of treatment, young business professionals who live high stressed lives, anybody else in need of massages, and nutritional consulting. She is seeking to employ about six people at the spa.
The spa business will be open 10 to 12 hours per day, she said.
The business will be located at 101 48th St. and will include two parking spots.
The location will have one massage table and a separate room for nutritional consulting.
Day care
The board also approved Alba Tavarez’s application to open a child care center in a two-family home.
She would convert the lower level of the home at 717 Sixth St. into the day care, she said. The front of the house will be remodeled to allow separate entrances for the day care and housing unit.
The center will hold 18 kids in three classes from Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The child care center will employ Tavarez and three more employees.
Tavarez said she has been licensed for three years to care for children from the ages of 1 to 13, and has also been a caretaker of senior citizens for the past few years. She will have various creative thinking activities for the kids to grow intellectually, she said.
Santo Sanabria may be reached at SSanabria@hudsonreporter.com.