The Hoboken Planning Board performed a site plan review for a Whole Foods proposed for 101-105 Washington St. near City Hall during a quick special meeting on Zoom this afternoon.
By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View
“The existing bank building is going to remain. There’s minor changes that are going to be made to the exterior of the building,” Thomas Garlick, the attorney for 101-105 Washington St. LLC, explained.
“It’s not really a full blown supermarket. It’s what Whole Foods is calling a ‘Daily Shop’ … The modifications are going to be to the interior of the store,” he noted. “It’s a fit out of the interior of the store.”
Planning Board Chair Frank Magaletta noted there were paperwork errors in their planning board application that delayed their site plan review.
“All those documents were resubmitted on or about December 10th with the corrections,” interjected Hoboken Planner George Wheatle Williams.
“We tried to get it in as quick as we could based on the review letter,” Garlick added.
“The customer service area is 4,381 square feet. Is that correct?” he asked.
“Yes, I believe so,” Architect John Nastasi said.
“The grocery store is a conditional use, correct?” Commissioner Tom Jacobson asked.
“Correct,” Garlick said.
“The grocery store includes a component of onsite cooking, which would be done in the basement, correct?” Jacobson asked, to which Nastasi replied he didn’t believe there would be onsite cooking.
“It’s more of organizing the products to bringing it upstairs, right off a ballot and a box,” Garlick argued.
“So, it’s more of like packaging and breaking it down?” Jacobson asked, to which Garlick said was correct.
“If there were onsite food preparation or cooking, would there be any additional conditional use requirements? And if so had those been considered and accounted for? But that appears to be a moot question,” Jacobson noted.
The Planning Board approved the completeness review unanimously (3-0).
Board Secretary Patricia Carcone said they would have to deal with other matters, such as 914-930 Monroe St., before they could schedule a full planning board hearing for the Whole Foods project.
“Make sure you have strong and very complete operational testimony,” Magaletta stated.
He added people would be curious at the meeting about services, the hours of the store, and delivery details.
To that end, Garlick said there would be a Whole Foods representative there to answer questions.
