Hasbrouck Heights board approves Dunkin drive‑thru and Jimmy Johns at Route 17 site

The Hasbrouck Heights Land Use Board on Dec. 3 approved a site plan for a co‑branded Dunkin (including a 24/7 drive‑thru) and a Jimmy Johns at 125–137 Route 17, after hearing resident concerns about traffic and pedestrian safety. Member Marlene Verrastro moved to approve the application with conditions; Member Albert Cupo seconded, and the motion passed by unanimous roll call.

The application, filed by Hasbrouck Dev, LLC and presented by Bruce Whitaker, Esq., and representative Sachin Shah, would demolish an existing one‑story building at the intersection of Route 17 and Henry Street and construct a new single building containing two brands: Dunkin with a drive‑thru and a Jimmy Johns. The applicant said the Jimmy Johns portion would include six seats and six employees and that the project includes an additional approximately 1,390 square feet of retail space.

According to the application, the site would provide 16 parking spaces (including one required ADA space) sized at 9 by 18 feet. Some parking is proposed within the front yard setbacks from Route 17 and Henry Street. The board and applicant described measures intended to improve site appearance and operations: a reduction in existing nonconformities, safer ingress and egress than currently exist, fully enclosed trash receptacles placed less than five feet from the rear property line with additional landscaping, planting of trees eight to ten feet tall, a sound‑attenuating fence, and rooftop mechanicals screened by a parapet.

During the public comment period, residents from adjacent streets told the board they worried the Dunkin drive‑thru operating 24/7 would increase congestion on Henry Street, create safety issues for pedestrians, and prompt employees to park on public streets during peak hours. The transcript does not record a formal traffic study nor a detailed mitigation plan beyond the engineered access improvements described by the applicant.

The board deemed the PB25‑10 application complete before hearing testimony from the applicant’s consultants, which included a traffic engineer and planner. After discussion, Member Marlene Verrastro moved to approve the application with conditions; Member Albert Cupo seconded. The roll call recorded ayes from Chairman Henry Dobbelaar; Mayor Ron Kistner; Councilman C. Blum; Members Marlene Verrastro, Kenneth Hampel, Vincent Risalvato, Albert Cupo and Dan Wixon; and Alternate Member Rita Perdomo, and the application was approved.

The approval is conditional as recorded in the meeting minutes; specific conditions were not transcribed in full and therefore are listed as not specified in the public record excerpt. The board adjourned following the vote.