2026 05 26 Planning Report and Justification of Variances_470 Eagle Rock AvenueWO_Rev6

PROPOSED MIXED COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT DR Project no.: 12210-001 470 EAGLE ROCK AVE (TAX BLOCK 153, LOT 38) Rev. April 03, 2026 TOWNSHIP OF WEST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY • Both fast food restaurants and restaurants have the same parking standard of 1 space for each 3 seats or stools. The fast-food restaurant offers 18 seats and the restaurant offers 88 seats. Per the standard a minimum of 36 parking spaces are required. The project proposes 48 parking spaces. Project complies. 10. Any lot on which is located a fast-food restaurant must comply with the front yard, side yard, and rear yard requirements for the B-1 or B-2 District in which the lot is located • The proposed fast-food restaurant complies with the front, side, and rear yard requirements for the B-2 District. Project complies. IV. VARIANCE JUSTIFICATION AND PROOFS D(3) Conditional Use Variance: The proposed project does not meet several of the conditional use requirements as outlined above. Accordingly, the project necessitates a conditional use variance pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D- 70.d(3). The Board of Adjustment has jurisdiction to grant such variance based on the proofs as established in Coventry Square vs. Westwood Zoning Board of Adjustment, 138NJ285 (1994). The New Jersey Supreme Court noted that conditional uses, even when they do not meet with all of the requisite conditions, are nonetheless compatible uses in the zone. The burden of proof is related to whether the site can accommodate the problems or impacts associated with the use even though the conditions and ordinances established to address said impacts are not satisfied. The majority of the conditions not satisfied under the proposed development are from a metric standpoint, wherein the intent of the limitation or requirement are satisfied from an operational or site circulation standpoint despite a specific numerical threshold not being met. • Regarding Condition 2, the intent of the ordinance seems to be to prevent a given corridor from being dominated by the fast-food use wherein regular curb cuts and heavier/irregular traffic flows associated with drive-thru functions may accumulate and result in collective negative impacts along

minated by the fast-food use wherein regular curb cuts and heavier/irregular traffic flows associated with drive-thru functions may accumulate and result in collective negative impacts along the corridor as a whole. While there are other restaurants that meet the Town’s definition of fast-food within 500 feet of the subject property, neither of the noted uses have a drive-thru function and both are consolidated within one larger strip-mall property that is significantly set back from the right-of-way and has multiple access driveways along multiple corridors, therefore mitigating potential traffic implications that may arise from the proposed fast-food use. The project site is located a sufficient distance (approximately 386 feet) from the existing establishments and provides driveway access from the opposite side of the Page 5 of 12