With Mayor Thomas Vahalla saying that Metuchen was moving in “the right direction,” the Borough Council at its Aug. 17 meeting approved a change in the ordinance that can make it easier – and less expensive – for a new business to open in town.

“This ordinance will help to streamline our zoning [process] so that changing from one use to another use in our business area would [be] easier, with less red tape, and with less cost to prospective businesses,” Mayor Vahalla said at the meeting. “In fact, even though it is being adopted today, there is one business for which it really came through by using some of this.”

Vahalla was referring to printing business Print Tech at 567 Middlesex Avenue that had earlier this summer received approval from the borough to become the Mona Lisa Café, which Vahalla described as an “Italian family type” restaurant. The restaurant is the second location of the established Brooklyn bakery, confirmed an employee of the main Brooklyn location.

Revising the ordinance in this fashion was originally championed by councilman Justin Manley in his bid last fall for election to the Borough Council. As part of his campaign, he had advocated streamlining the borough’s procedures by revising the change of use criteria. Read the full story

Where can you get a massage in the local area?
Metuchen Massage at 577 Middlesex Ave in Metuchen 848-260-0406
Aqua Pearl Day Spa at 54 Pearl Street, Metuchen NJ
Body Mechanics Massage Therapy on Woodbridge Avenue in Edison NJ

At a June 1, 2009 Metuchen borough council meeting, councilman William Waldron raised the issue of whether it was possible to provide the general public with more information on the specifics of applications that appear before the Planning Board.

As an example, he mentioned the increasing number of massage parlors that appeared to be opening up in the borough.

“I have noticed recently, and while I applaud business, tax revenues, and the growth of Metuchen, we seem to have become a Mecca for massage parlors,” Waldron said at the meeting. “While that may be a beneficial business, and one that works well within our healthcare system, I think a lot of residents would like to know if they could find out before these matters go before the Planning Board and if we could publicize what the precise application is.”

“Very frequently when someone looks at a Planning Board agenda, it is just ABC Corp. applying for a use variance or what-have-you,” he said. “It is only after we get the minutes that you find out after the fact that they are looking to convert from an insurance company to a massage parlor. I don’t mean to be singling out massage parlors, but I have seen at least two pop up recently. These are legitimate business, but a lot of people are raising eyebrows.”

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