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( Wantage, NJ ) The special July 8 Wantage Land Use Board meeting that could impact the future operation of the Sussex Airport will be carried over to August 12, giving the board more time to consider a use variance to a property owner who has been operating an illegal self-storage center next to the airport.

At issue is whether William Gennaro, through his company – When Pigs Fly LLC – will be permitted to continue his decades-long operation of a self-storage facility by using 56 airplane hangar units that were meant to house aircraft, not furniture, motorcycles, snowmobiles, and personal effects.

Opposing the zoning change is Alan Antaki, the managing member of Sussex Aviation LLC, which owns the Sussex Airport .

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Antaki has maintained for the past 10 years that he has owned the airport, and that Mr. Gennaro’s operation violates Gennaro’s agreement when he bought the 18 acres adjacent to the airport more than 20 years ago

Antaki’s attorney Matt Dolan says Mr. Gennaro bought land from the airport’s previous owner under an option agreement that states, in part, that there is to be “cooperation (among) the parties intend(ed) to mutually benefit from the development of the (WPF) tract by Gennaro to construct hangars and similar airport support facilities for use in conjunction with Sussex’s airport facility.” 

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Antaki said Gennaro’s refusal to comply with that agreement, the Wantage Township Zoning Code and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements makes it difficult for the airport to receive federal grants that would be used to improve the facility.

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During the July 8 Land Use Board hearing, Gennaro said his airplane hangars were built to meet federal specifications to house airplanes. However, those units are now home to snowmobiles, antique and classic cars, motorcycles, household furniture, personal items, bicycles, and RVs.  Antaki maintains that Gennaro’s illegal operation is not only a financial blow to the operation of the airport, but also poses a danger for flyers and people renting space from Gennaro.  Antaki says Gennaro’s renters routinely gain access to the airport on foot or in a vehicle,  unaware that they are on an active runway.

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Antaki says he is frustrated that the township has failed – for over 20 years -  to force Gennaro to cease his illegal operations. The town, he says,  and has done nothing to stop Gennaro from “gaming the system” by periodically applying for a zoning change and then postponing his zoning variance application and not returning to the Land Use Board for years.

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“Mr. Gennaro realizes that he is making much more money by operating an illegal storage facility next to the airport than he could make by leasing hangar space to aircraft owners and the town does nothing meaningful to dissuade him from the illegal use of his property,” says Antaki.

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At the Land Use Board meeting, Gennaro agreed under questioning that the gross income from his operation is approximately $500,000 a year. 

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With that sizable income, Gennaro can afford to ignore the periodic fines levied against his company by the Wantage Township Municipal Court, says Dolan.

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“Mr. Gennaro has admitted a number of times in the past that he remains in violation of the town’s zoning code,” said Dolan.

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Antaki says that besides one, somewhat substantial fine, the town has failed to act appropriately; thereby rendering any penalties against Gennaro financially meaningless. “The town has failed to do its job of enforcing its own zoning ordinances. Mr. Gennaro has been laughing all the way to the bank for over 25 years” says Antaki.

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“Unlike every other property owner in Wantage, Mr. Gennaro seems to operate under a special set of rules governing the use of his property,” said Antaki.

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“Nevertheless, I am very hopeful that this current board is taking Mr. Gennaro’s abuse of the town’s zoning code seriously and will make a decision that is best for the town and the future operation of the airport, which is an important asset to Sussex County,” added Antaki.        

 

The Land Use Board will reconvene its special meeting at 7 p.m. on August 12.