Planning board approves Jerusalem Pizza site plan with conditions, design waivers

The Highland Park Planning Board on Feb. 13 approved a minor site plan and several design waivers for Jerusalem Pizza, a restaurant in the borough's downtown at 229'—231 Raritan Avenue, concluding that the project's renovations do not exacerbate preexisting nonconforming conditions.

The approval lets the applicant, identified in the record as SYC Realty LLC, construct a small rear kitchen addition and complete accessibility upgrades required after an internal fire. Board testimony said the work is intended to enlarge kitchen space so the restaurant can meet Americans with Disabilities Act restroom requirements; the board amended the application to record a combined maximum seating capacity of 80 across the two contiguous restaurant spaces on the property.

The board's planner, whose February 4 memorandum recommended granting required waivers and deeming the application complete, told members that the packet contained sufficient information for the board to act. The board first voted to deem the application complete and then heard testimony from the applicant's owner and engineering witness before taking a final vote to approve subject to conditions.

Shalom Cohen, who testified that he owns and operates Jerusalem Pizza and that the business and building were purchased about 10 years ago, described the renovation as prompted by a fire and the need to reconfigure the floor plan to accommodate an accessible restroom. Cohen said the renovation reduced seating in the front restaurant; during the hearing he said the restaurant currently fits about 30 seats, though…