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BLOOMINGDALE - Rezoning proposed for portions of Main Street
(by Deborah Walsh - Staff Writer - June 08, 2008)
BLOOMINGDALE - The Borough Council plugged some zoning gaps on Main Street by adopting an ordinance that rezones portions of Main Street that were zoned residentially.
Though these segments of Main Street/Hamburg Turnpike were zoned residentially, in reality businesses are located in these zones. The ordinance more adequately reflects what already predominately exists.
At the May 27 hearing on the ordinance, Borough Attorney Joseph MacMahon said, "We were reviewing Main Street, Union Avenue and various areas of the borough. The council is trying to find responsible commercial areas to develop."
MacMahon said he and Daniel Hagberg, the borough’s zoning officer, under the direction of the council, looked at Main Street and found instances where commercial uses existed yet the locations were zoned residentially. MacMahon said it made sense to take these residentially zoned parcels where businesses existed and formally rezone the lots to B-1 (business) zones. This will enable anyone who purchases the properties to operate businesses at the locations without seeking use variances, he said.
Councilman Thomas Marinaro said in addition to adopting this ordinance, which rezones small portions of Main Street/Hamburg Turnpike, the council should consider revising its ordinance, which establishes what types of businesses are permitted in a B-1 Zone. Many of the uses listed are outdated and some newer types of uses are not included, he said.
At the public hearing on the ordinance, Ron Caputo of Bogue Drive warned the council to name the locations specifically as Main Street or Hamburg Turnpike. Although many consider it the same street, the locations are officially recognized as either Main Street or Hamburg Turnpike. At one time Caputo had a liquor license, which he had to post a legal advertisement for and he had to re-advertise because he listed a location as Hamburg Turnpike, while postal authorities officially recognized the site as Main Street.
The north side of Hamburg Turnpike from Vreeland to Bailey avenues is zoned residentially, yet businesses are located on both sides of the stretch. Several businesses, including a used car lot, are located in this segment.
The ordinance rezones the north side of Hamburg Turnpike from Vreeland to Bailey avenues as a business zone with the exception of Block 25, Lot 36, which is a deep lot that runs behind homes on Catherine Street. The borough did not want businesses to encroach on the back yards of these homes, said MacMahon.
The ordinance also rezones the property where the Bloomingdale Post Office and Rite-Aid are located. The ordinance changes the zoning from residential to a B-1 Zone.
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