POST OFFICE PLAN GETS FINAL PLANNING BOARD APPROVAL

Planning Board meeting Tuesday night

The Planning Board gave its final approval Tuesday night to the Maplewood Village post office project, with an 8-0 vote for the controversial site plan, and one member absent.

The board had given preliminary approval to the three-story, 20-apartment, five-store project on Oct. 14.

But a final vote was still required as the developers, JMF Properties, had requested changes to the facade that would place it closer to Maplewood Avenue. The location was also changed to be 10 feet closer to the Village Coffee parking lot.

See the final layout below:

The Township, which had owned the land, sold it to JMF last month for $1.3 million. The project will still have to go through building permitting and other construction approvals, while a new sewer line away from the Maplewood Avenue line requires an agreement with property owners along the block from Village Coffee to Arturo's.

JMF Chairman Joe Forgione declined to comment following the vote, while Mayor Vic Deluca declared, "this is done, another unanimous vote."

Only one person rose to speak during the public comment portion, indicating that the agenda should have noted public comment would be allowed.

But Board Chair Tom Carlson said the procedures were properly followed as they are for any such site plan review.