Paramus meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Paramus Pool Commission approves $10,000 vacuum; Valley Hospital presents multi-block site plan to Planning Board

The Paramus Pool Commission approved a $10,000 vacuum purchase at its July 9 meeting, the largest dollar decision among recent borough meetings. The same night, the Planning Board heard a conceptual presentation from The Valley Hospital for a multi-block site plan on From Road, though no decisions were made on that item.

Pool Commission

The commission unanimously approved pending bills and authorized a $10,000 purchase of a new vacuum. Members also agreed to offer Margaret Lunquist a third chair-service slot for $25 as a compromise.

The commission approved an Emergency Appreciation Day, allowing free entry for emergency personnel and a $5 fee for additional family members.

Planning Board

On July 16, the Planning Board heard a conceptual site plan presentation from The Valley Hospital covering Blocks 6107, 6108, 6109, 6301, 6105, and 5006 on From Road and other locations. This was a presentation only; no minutes have been published.

The board's agenda also included several applications scheduled for decision or public hearing:

• **Hashemi Group, LLC – 625 From Road:** Preliminary and final site plan with a parking variance.
• **Haza Bell of Northeast, LLC – 565 Route 17:** Site plan, signage, and major soil moving permit.
• **Hackensack Meridian Health, Inc. – 630-650 From Road:** Preliminary and final major site plan with bulk variances and a soil moving permit.
• Four major soil moving permit applications scheduled for public hearing, including one at 830 Koman Drive.

A resolution was listed for the Hashemi Group site plan with a parking variance.

Board of Adjustment

The Board of Adjustment met July 9 to hear three applications. The most substantial was Docket 7257, requesting a use variance to construct a three-family dwelling at 34 Farview Terrace in the HCC-2 zone, along with dimensional variances for coverage, side yard, access driveway, and lot dimensions.

Two residential applications sought variances for patio and driveway work:

• **Docket 7268 (Sayegh):** A 17'x18' rear patio at 331 Harrison Street, requiring a rear yard setback variance.
• **Docket 7270 (Ohannessian):** Driveway, curb-cut, and rear patio at 73 Colorado Road, with variances for driveway paving and rear setback.

The board was also scheduled to adopt a resolution for Docket 7267 (Androulakis) carried from May 14. Minutes have not yet been published.

Environmental Commission

The Environmental Commission met July 9 to review a draft ordinance that would ban data centers in Paramus. The agenda included a vote on a resolution of support for the ban and a public comment period. Minutes have not yet been published.

Coming Up

July 22 – Mayor & Council: The council will vote on several ordinances, including Ordinance 2026-23 to exceed municipal budget appropriation limits and establish a cap bank, and Ordinance 2026-22 establishing regulations for fats, oils, and grease in the sanitary sewer system. Also on the agenda: Resolution 26-07-438 for $221,872.71 in golf course maintenance equipment, Resolution 26-07-437 for a $100,833.69 payment to AJM Contractors, Inc. for roads on Cumberland Court, and Ordinance 2026-26 adding a borough code chapter on invasive plants.

July 23 – Board of Adjustment: The board will hear a residential patio variance at 331 Harrison Street, commercial signage updates at 762 and 770-776 Route 17 North, and an amended site plan review for Home Depot U.S.A., Inc. at 520 Route 17 North, including proposed outdoor storage and parking reduction.

Paramus Boards Tackle Data Center Ban, Housing Variances; Valley Hospital Project on Deck

Paramus officials have turned their attention this month to a proposed ban on data centers and several land-use applications, though no meeting minutes have been published yet for the recent sessions, so outcomes are not yet confirmed.

Environmental Commission Weighs Data Center Ban

The Environmental Commission met twice in the past two weeks, on July 1 and July 9, with both sessions listed as agenda-only — minutes have not yet been published.

The July 1 agenda included a draft review of an ordinance that would define data centers and prohibit them as a use in all zones, citing concerns over water and energy use. Other items listed for discussion were the Environmental Commission budget, a Saddle River Restoration Grant application, a Retailer Plastic Reduction Initiative, and proposals for a Bee City USA Ordinance and a Light Pollution Ordinance.

The July 9 agenda called for the commission to hear public comments and potentially vote on a resolution of support for the draft data center ban ordinance. Because minutes are not yet available, it is not confirmed whether a vote took place or what the result was.

Board of Adjustment Hears Three-Family Dwelling Variance

The Board of Adjustment met July 9, also with minutes not yet published. The agenda listed three public-hearing applications and one carried resolution.

The most substantial item was Docket 7257, requesting a use variance to construct a three-family dwelling at 34 Farview Terrace in the HCC-2 zone, along with dimensional variances for coverage, side yard, access driveway, and lot dimensions.

Two additional residential applications were scheduled:

• Docket 7268 (Sayegh): Install a 17' x 18' rear patio at 331 Harrison Street, requiring a rear yard setback variance.
• Docket 7270 (Ohannessian): Driveway, curb-cut, and rear patio at 73 Colorado Road, with variances for driveway paving and rear setback.

The board was also scheduled to adopt a resolution for Docket 7267 (Androulakis) carried from May 14. No vote tallies or outcomes are available yet.

Coming Up

Planning Board — Thursday, July 16: The Valley Hospital will present a conceptual site plan covering Blocks 6107, 6108, 6109, 6301, 6105, and 5006 on From Road and other locations. The board will also consider preliminary and final site plans for Hashemi Group, LLC at 625 From Road (with a parking variance), Haza Bell of Northeast, LLC at 565 Route 17 (site plan, signage, and major soil moving permit), and Hackensack Meridian Health, Inc. at 630-650 From Road (preliminary and final major site plan with bulk variances and soil moving permit). Four major soil moving permit applications are scheduled for public hearing, including 830 Koman Drive.

Board of Adjustment — Thursday, July 23: Scheduled items include a residential rear patio variance at 331 Harrison Street, commercial signage updates at 762 and 770-776 Route 17 North, and an amended site plan review for Home Depot U.S.A., Inc. at 520 Route 17 North, including proposed outdoor storage and parking reduction.

Residents seeking confirmed outcomes from the July 1 and July 9 meetings should watch for published minutes from the Environmental Commission and Board of Adjustment.