Planning Commission tables Boat Town Liquor expansion over parking and variance needs

The Harrison Township Planning Commission on Oct. 16, 2025, voted to table a site-plan review for Boat Town Liquor after the township planner identified key deficiencies in the applicant’s submission.

Township Planner Adam Young told commissioners the proposal would combine two adjacent buildings into a single 6,400-square-foot retail operation with additional parking, a loading area, a screened dumpster, landscaping and lighting, but that "his biggest concern is the number of parking spaces shown; they are deficient by 8." Young also said the sanitary sewer needs to be illustrated on the plans.

Fire Marshal Larry Shackett told the commission that the elements shown on the site plan meet fire code. Consultant Anas Kesto, representing the applicant, said the team will seek a variance for the front parking and, if the variance is not granted, would need to restructure the floor plan to reduce sales and operation area. Owner Bashar Elias attended to discuss the project.

Commissioner Larry Tomenello moved to table Case #23-25-S to give the applicant time to appear before the Zoning Board of Appeals for required variances and to update plans to address engineers’ and the planner’s comments; Mark Bacha seconded the motion and it carried. The planner asked that revised plan pages carry consistent dates.

The applicant is expected to pursue variances at the ZBA and return with revised plans that show required sanitary sewer information and correct parking calculations. No formal vote tally was recorded in the minutes.