Wyckoff Planning Board Approves Move for Aldo's Restaurant, Pane e Vino

The Wyckoff Planning Board gave the green light Wednesday night to restauranteur Aldo Cascio's application to relocate his restaurant and wine bar.

Cascio's application to move Aldo's Italian Restaurant and Pane e Vino had sparked a prolonged battle between the business owner and former state senator Henry McNamara, who owns the Franklin Avenue buildings housing both businesses.

"I think the board did the right thing," Cascio said.

The application, initially heard before the planning board in September of 2011, sought a variance for 38 parking spots at the site of the former Wyckoff Bakery.

Several residents and property owners spoke against the plan at the Planning Board meeting Wednesday. John Ringer, who owns the Wyckoff Shopping Center at 637 Wyckoff Avenue and the Henry Green Building at 385 Clinton Avenue, said he was worried Aldo's customers would park in his lots.

"I should not have to monitor or police my property for people parking but not doing business in the Wyckoff Shopping Center," Ringer said.

The board approved the application on the condition that Cascio inform his customers they cannot park on private property without the written consent of the owners.

Wednesday night's approval means Cascio would combine and move his restaurant and his wine bar about a tenth of a mile up Wyckoff Avenue.

Cascio had said that  following approval from the planning board. He told Patch Wednesday that he expects to be out of his current location in June, but wished the McNamaras well.

Board members said they believed the application would be beneficial for the township. Board Chairman Richard Bonsignore said he doubted anyone else would want to move a business into the site of the former bakery.

"We are certainly looking at potentially improving an existing condition," Bonsignore said to applause from Cascio's supporters, who wore red "We Love Aldo's" t-shirts.

John Dorsey, the attorney who objected on behalf of McNamara, disagreed, saying the restaurant use is not permitted without sufficient parking.

"This is not a popularity contest," Dorsey said. "This is a contest of peoples' right under the land use ordinance."

Throughout the hearings, planning board members including Kevin Rooney, Chris DePhillips, Doug Christie and Robert Kane voluntarily recused themselves from the application because they had held political fundraising events at , which is also owned by Aldo Cascio. Drita McNamara also recused herself from the hearing the application because of a prior marriage to McNamara's son.

Cascio's restaurant Aldo's recently won a Patch Readers' Choice poll for best local Italian restaurant.