Hawthorne officials have shut down activity for a second time at the former Pan Chemical property at 1 Washington Avenue, a contaminated 1.47-acre site next to the borough's NJ Transit station, after finding work underway without required permits or approvals. Borough leaders raised the issue at their October 21 council meeting, where Borough Attorney Michael Pasquale said the property owner still had not sought basic authorization for site work.
According to TAPinto Hawthorne, Hawthorne Borough issued a second stop-work order at the property after activity was spotted without the necessary sign-offs. Pasquale told the council the owner had options but hadn't used them. “They can come to the town for a clearing permit, but they didn't, so they're stopped,” he said, per the outlet's report.
The property is at 1 Washington Avenue next to a commuter station and was formerly the Pan Chemical site, according to a Borough of Hawthorne public hearing notice. The same document describes it as contaminated with chemicals tied to paints and lacquers, along with volatile organic compounds and heavy metals.
Trees Removed, Rocks Moved Before Sign-Off
Pasquale also raised concerns about trees being removed and rocks being moved before any approvals were granted, the same TAPinto report states. Councilwoman Rayna Laiosa, who expressed frustration over what she described as repeated violations at the site, pointed out that this marked the second time the borough has had to halt activity there. Bruce Bennett helped bring attention to the latest activity at the property, the report notes.
Officials also questioned whether any activity had occurred on neighboring NJ Transit property, though that was not confirmed during the meeting, the station's report indicates. The borough's attorney said the property will remain shut down while the owner works through the required approval process, and he told residents that the developer must get permits and approvals first before any further work can proceed.
What the Redevelopment Plan Actually Requires
Hawthorne's Borough Council adopted a redevelopment plan for the site earlier this year. The designated developer must secure Planning Board site-plan approval before construction can proceed, according to the borough's public hearing notice.
The plan permits residential multifamily housing not to exceed 69 units, with at least 14 units — 20 percent of the total — required to be affordable, according to the same notice. Environmental cleanup at the site must meet residential standards under the supervision of a licensed site remediation professional.
Planning Board Pumps the Brakes Until December
A related property application came before the borough's Planning Board on October 20, but officials said it had been placed on the agenda prematurely, according to the TAPinto report. The board continued the application, with a hearing now expected on December 1. Pasquale encouraged residents to attend future Planning Board hearings and ask questions before any decisions are finalized.
Concerns about the site's condition aren't new. Back in April, NorthJersey.com reported on debris mounds piling up at the construction site and the borough's push for a faster cleanup of the former paint factory property. For now, the borough says the owner needs to secure both Planning Board approvals and Borough Building Department permits before any additional work can resume at the long-stalled redevelopment site.
