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Bricks 4 Kidz owner urges West Milford to streamline small-business openings after Ringwood experience
Summary
Bricks 4 Kidz owner Brandy Sharrock-Miller told the West Milford Economic Development Commission that a checklist and a "change in tenancy" pathway in neighboring Ringwood allowed her to secure inspections and a certificate of occupancy in about three weeks; the commission asked staff to research streamlining options and Mayor Michele Dale agreed to share the township's change-in-tenancy application list for outreach.
Brandy Sharrock-Miller, owner of Bricks 4 Kidz, told the West Milford Economic Development Commission on Dec. 9 that a neighboring town’s streamlined processes made it easy and fast for her to open a new location.
"Timing and understanding processes is something they do well," Sharrock-Miller said, adding that when she opened in Ringwood the change-in-tenancy pathway, a provided checklist and a coordinated fire inspection allowed her to complete the process in about three weeks and move toward a certificate of occupancy.
Her account was introduced by Commissioner Stu Feldman and heard by the commission and Mayor Michele Dale. Sharrock-Miller said she had originally intended to open in West Milford but that the Ringwood process proved more navigable. She described the Ringwood steps as clear from the beginning and said the checklist helped applicants understand required actions from start to finish.
Commissioners followed with detailed questions about timing and specific administrative steps; the minutes record that follow-up research will be done to determine how West Milford Township can streamline its own processes. Mayor Michele Dale agreed to share West Milford’s Change in Tenancy application list with the Economic Development Commission and the Chamber of Commerce so staff and volunteer representatives can reach out to recent applicants for feedback.
Why it matters: Faster, clearer permitting and tenancy-change procedures can reduce time-to-opening for small businesses and may increase the likelihood that entrepreneurs choose West Milford for relocation or expansion. The commission’s next steps, per the minutes, are to collect specific application examples and evaluate whether checklist-driven guidance or a formal change-in-tenancy pathway would be feasible here.
The commission did not adopt any new policy at the Dec. 9 meeting; the presentation closed with an agreement to pursue additional information and outreach to recent applicants.
