The application will be heard at the June 17 meeting of the planning board at 8 p.m.

Gary Viccaro, who owns Bagel Bistro on River Road several doors down from the proposed farmer’s market, questioned the validity of a notice sent to residents advertising a hearing on the application. The notice called the project a "Farmers Market," but Viccaro believes the project has more in common with a grocery store. "That letter should be re-sent so the people of this neighborhood know what they’re getting," said Viccaro.

Planning board attorney Charles Sarlo said he would speak with the attorney for the developer to decide if the type of use was wrongly classified in the letter and if this means the developer would need to send a second notice.

In a March 27 letter to developer Huseyin Coput, Sarlo raised a concern about what a farmer’s market entails. "While classified as a farmer’s market, the proposed floor plans illustrate a food preparation and dining area and the engineering drawings refer to a portion of the use being wholesale storage."

While Coput will own the property, he will not run the store and could not answer whether farmer’s market or grocery store would be the more accurate definition. He described Best Market as a gourmet market mixed with a farmer’s market. The store will carry international foods and fresh produce. Coput described the store as "somewhat upscale, but also cost conscious."

The managers of the Best Market also run stores in Oakland, Englewood and Manhattan, added Coput.

Currently, the property has a one-story masonry building, which will become the Best Market. Next door sits a small retail strip with Lucky 7 groceries and liquors, a Sovereign Bank and a vacant storefront with a sign for a chiropractor’s office. Dost Group will also redevelop this property and redesign the storefronts with a "nice facade," according to Coput.

The project warrants two variances: one for the amount of parking and a second for the size of proposed signage. The plans propose 63 parking spots where 71 spots are required. The plans also propose a 60-foot wall sign where a 30-foot sign is permitted and a 65 square foot, 15-foot high freestanding sign where a 15 square foot, 7-foot high sign is permitted.

A traffic study on the property revealed traffic would continue to increase on River Road, but the placement of the Best Market would have little effect on existing conditions, according to the report by South River-based Paragon Associates.

The front of the store will have a deli with seating, bagels and coffee. Viccaro believes his store, Bagel Bistro, will face tough competition from the store. He feels the planning board should not grant the variance for the farmer’s market, which Viccaro calls a grocery store. His store had enough parking on site so he did not need a variance from the planning board. "There’s plenty of parking for the three stores I have built here. I don’t need a variance. Why should they need a variance?" said Viccaro.