RAMSEY-Cleanup of the former Kuri sports store site on route 17 has begun, but permits are still pending before construction can begin on the proposed Wawa store and gas station for the site approved by the courts nearly two years ago.

Hearings on the controversial 966 Route 17 north plan began in 2013 and lasted nearly four years of contentious meetings. Objections to the 24/7 operation came mostly from residents of the nearby Bear Bay senior condominium complex East of the site.

The city’s planning Board rejected the proposal in December 2016. However, in November 2017, a state Supreme court judge overturned the planners ‘ decision.  

Mayor Deirdre Dillon declined to comment on the matter. Wawa attorney Antimo “Andy” Del Vecchio did not return calls to comment on the timing and timing of a possible opening date for the facility.

DOT spokesman Steven Shapiro said permission to access the project is “still under review.”

District Construction Official Ralph Venturini confirmed Wednesday that only a demolition permit has been issued.

“To date, we have not received any plans or applications from the construction Department for new construction of any type,” Venturini said.

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The project was first proposed in August 2013 for a 1.77 acre lot, between vitamin Shoppe in the North and Hilton Inn Express in the South. The plan called for a 5,000-square-foot store, an eight-pump shed, 16-nozzle gas stations, and 46 Parking spaces.

Three of the 27 Bear Bay buildings face the rear of the Kyri site, where pumps have been proposed.

Because of the rectangular shape of the object, engineers questioned whether there was an adequate turning radius for semi-tractor-trailer vehicles to maneuver. 

Owners of nearby gas stations also objected to the project and argued that the store and station on the same site required dispersion, which could only be provided by the zoning Board. However, Council planning lawyer Bruce Whitaker ruled that the Council had the power to rule on applications with two uses.

A proposal for a similar-sized store on Plaza Road in Oakland was withdrawn without explanation last August after two years of hearings.

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