Fort Lee agendas include $1.86M bond ordinance, pet store ban, and 24-unit development
Over the past two weeks, Fort Lee's Mayor and Council, Planning Board, and Zoning Board held meetings, but no minutes have been published, so no final decisions are recorded. The most significant items on the agendas include a $1,858,600 bond ordinance for capital improvements, a proposed ordinance to ban retail pet stores from selling dogs and cats, and a 24-unit residential development on Third Street.
Mayor & Council (Aug. 13)
The council held a work session and a regular session on the same day. The work session included a closed session to discuss personnel, legal matters, and a tax appeal settlement for 271 Elsmere Place. In the public portion, the council discussed a person-to-person transfer of liquor license No. 0219-44-038-044 from K & S Drug & Surgical Inc. to Pharmacy Junction Corp., an agreement with Englewood Hospital and Medical Center for ambulance services, a contract with Boswell for engineering services for Constitution Park, and a special emergency funding ordinance for tax maps.
The regular session featured public hearings on several ordinances:
- A bond ordinance appropriating $1,858,600 for capital improvements, with $1,765,670 in bonds to be issued.
- An ordinance to acquire property at 467 Stillwell Avenue.
- An ordinance to adopt a redevelopment plan for Area 14, 453-459 Main Street.
The council also introduced an ordinance to prohibit retail pet stores from selling dogs and cats, with a public hearing scheduled for September 17, 2026. Another introduced ordinance would adopt a redevelopment plan for Area 11, "The Presidential" (Block 2252). The consent agenda included a contract award to Boswell Engineering for Constitution Park, not to exceed $162,100, plus routine items such as claims payment and a liquor license renewal.
Planning Board (Aug. 10)
The Planning Board's agenda was routine. The board was set to memorialize two previously approved applications: a minor site plan for signage at 1430 Route 46 East (Block 2751, Lot 2) and a minor subdivision at 100 Park Avenue/1 Park Avenue (Block 4851.04, Lot 4). It also reviewed minutes from the July 13 meeting. No new business was listed.
Zoning Board (Aug. 11)
The Zoning Board of Adjustment held public hearings on three applications:
- Docket #16-26, JZM Real Estate Holdings, LLC: preliminary and final major site plan for a 24-unit residential development at 2409, 2413 & 2417 Third Street.
- Docket #10-26, Jessica Abergel Nor, Ariel Realty, LLC & 1567 Aston Terrace, LLC: minor subdivision and three two-unit dwellings at 1557, 1563 & 1567 Aston Terrace (continued from July 14).
- Docket #18-26, Scott Ellentuck: deck addition to a single-family dwelling at 79 Virginia Avenue.
The board also memorialized Docket #29-25, Tom Hunter Builders, LLC, a 14-unit townhome development at 234-236 Whiteman Street & 225 Tom Hunter Road, and accepted for completeness Docket #19-26, Chiawei Chuang & Michelle Wang, a minor subdivision and two two-unit dwellings at 222 & 236 Tom Hunter Road.
Coming up
- **Zoning Board of Adjustment** – Aug. 25, 7:30 PM, Municipal Building Council Chambers. Hearings on a minor subdivision and two two-unit dwellings at 422 & 424 Myrtle Avenue (W&R Home Builders, LLC), a two-family dwelling at 820 Fairview Lane (820 Fairview, LLC), and the continued 24-unit development at 2409-2417 Third Street (JZM Real Estate Holdings, LLC). The board will also memorialize the Tom Hunter Builders townhome project and the Aston Terrace subdivision.