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Pompton Lakes planning board tells motorcycle nonprofit a downtown garage likely needs zoning relief
Summary
At a July 16 conceptual review, the Fountain Lakes Planning Board told a motorcycle-club nonprofit seeking to use one bay at 7 Ivy Street that the downtown redevelopment/commercial zone likely treats social clubs as a prohibited or restricted use and advised the applicant to seek guidance from the zoning board or governing body.
A nonprofit motorcycle club seeking to operate from one bay of a garage at 7 Ivy Street in Pompton Lakes heard from the Fountain Lakes Planning Board on Tuesday that its proposed use is unlikely to be permitted outright in the downtown redevelopment/commercial zone.
Miss Piercy, who identified the group’s charter name as The Untouchables and described monthly meetings and fundraising events, told the board the club recently "held a benefit at the Oakland Elks and we raised $2,000 for a family that was dealing with cancer and needed assistance." She said the group had architect-drawn plans to make the space ADA-accessible and asked whether the business needed to be "open to the public." She estimated typical meetings draw 15 members and larger events might bring 30–40 attendees.
Board counsel, the building official ("Sal") and members replied that the planning board’s conceptual review is informational only and that uses described as private or members-only are treated differently than retail or publicly open businesses in the redevelopment zone. Counsel noted some redevelopment plans restrict the types of variances the board may grant; if a use is prohibited by the redevelopment zoning, the applicant may need either (a) a change by the governing body, or (b) a use variance from the zoning/board of adjustment in a bifurcated process.
Members suggested the applicant seek nonbinding input at the zoning-board meeting scheduled the following week to better assess the risk of pursuing the site, and to consider asking the landlord for rent relief while the approvals process proceeds. The board emphasized that because this was a conceptual hearing, there was no approval or denial recorded; the board offered guidance and said staff would help place the matter on the zoning board agenda if the applicant wished.
The applicant said she had invested money in basic interior work and was concerned about carrying rent during a multi-month approval process. Board members encouraged her to get zoning-board feedback quickly and to work with staff and the building department to clarify next steps. The board did not take formal action on the concept.
