Paramus meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Paramus Board of Adjustment cancels Aug. 13 meeting; hearings rescheduled to Aug. 27

The Paramus Board of Adjustment cancelled its Aug. 13 meeting, carrying all public hearings to Aug. 27. The Mayor and Council met Aug. 19 with a wide-ranging agenda, but minutes have not yet been published, so no decisions from that meeting are confirmed.

Board of Adjustment: meeting cancelled, hearings rescheduled

The Board of Adjustment meeting scheduled for Aug. 13 was cancelled. Two public hearings were carried to Aug. 27:

• **Docket No. 7273** – A residential application for 528 Salem Street (Block 6614, Lot 12) to erect a 6-foot-high fence within the 35-foot front yard setback. The fence is proposed on the property line along Broadway Boulevard with no setback.
• **Docket No. 7269** – A commercial application for additional and updated signage at 762, 770-776 Route 17 North.

Both hearings had been carried from earlier dates (June 25 and July 23).

Mayor and Council: Aug. 19 agenda

The Mayor and Council held a public meeting Aug. 19 with a full agenda, though minutes are not yet available. The agenda included:

• **Ordinance 2026-28** – First reading of a zoning map amendment to rezone Block 6301, Lot 1 from HCC-2 to HCC.
• **Ordinance 2026-24** – Repeal and replace the Fire Department's "Additional Allowance" section.
• **Ordinance 2026-26** – Add a new chapter on invasive plants.
• **Ordinance 2026-29** – Establish a certificate of appropriateness for historic properties.
• **Resolution 26-08-504** – Award a $23,225 fall tree bid to Barbato Nursery Corp.
• **Resolution 26-08-506** – Approve a $466,100 change order for the Valley Hospital sewer pump station.
• **Resolution 26-08-511** – New liquor license for Level99 at a shopping mall.
• **Resolution 26-06-545** – Planning Board investigation of 120 Route 17 North for redevelopment.

The consent agenda also included more than 50 resolutions covering vehicle purchases, road resurfacing, tax refunds, and personnel actions. A closed session was scheduled for contract negotiations and personnel matters.

Because minutes are not yet published, no votes or final outcomes from the Aug. 19 meeting are available.

Coming up

• **Board of Adjustment** – Aug. 27, 2026: Public hearings on the fence variance at 528 Salem Street and signage at 762, 770-776 Route 17 North. Both hearings were carried from earlier dates.

Paramus roundup: Council set to act on 2026 budget, road payment, and sewer rules; Board of Adjustment hears Route 17 cases

Council to consider 2026 budget, cap bank, and $322,700 in payments

The Mayor and Council met July 22, 2026, with the 2026 municipal budget at the center of the agenda. The body was scheduled to conduct a public hearing and vote on the 2026 budget and related amendments. Also on the agenda was Ordinance 2026-23, which would exceed municipal budget appropriation limits and establish a cap bank.

Two spending resolutions were listed: $221,872.71 for golf course commercial grounds maintenance equipment (Resolution 26-07-438) and $100,833.69 to AJM Contractors, Inc. for roads on Cumberland Court (Resolution 26-07-437).

Minutes for the July 22 meeting have not yet been published, so it is not yet confirmed which items were adopted. The agenda indicates what the Council planned to consider.

New ordinances: sewer grease rules, invasive plants, liquor license

The Council agenda included Ordinance 2026-22, which would establish regulations for fats, oils, and grease (FOG) in the sanitary sewer system. Ordinance 2026-26 would add a new chapter to the borough code regarding invasive plants.

A resolution was also listed to transfer liquor license No. 0246-44-016-004 to Paramus Spirits, LLC.

Board of Adjustment: patio variance and Route 17 commercial cases

The Board of Adjustment met July 23, 2026. The agenda included a residential application for a 17' x 18' rear patio variance at 331 Harrison Street.

Commercial items included 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 a parking reduction.

Minutes for the July 23 meeting have not yet been published.

Coming up

• **Environmental Commission — Aug. 5, 2026 (virtual):** Votes scheduled on the end-of-year report, commission budget, and bylaws. Resolutions listed include a recommendation for a data center ordinance and a Bee City USA affiliate application. New business includes a fall clean-up event and light pollution ordinance alignment.
• **Board of Adjustment — Aug. 13, 2026:** This meeting was cancelled. All public hearings, including an application for 528 Salem Street (Block 6614, Lot 12) to erect a 6-foot-high fence within the 35-foot front yard setback, are carried to Aug. 27, 2026.

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.