ROXBURY, NJ — A new pizza establishment, “Pizza Paradise,” could be coming to Roxbury if it receives approval from local officials. The proposed location is on Mt. Arlington Boulevard, straddling the Roxbury and Mount Arlington border, at 402 Mt. Arlington Blvd.
The site, which was previously an Asian restaurant, has been abandoned for over a decade. Illyas Sarwari, a resident of Parsippany, seeks to transform the dilapidated building into a vibrant pizza parlor. Sarwari purchased the property in 2021 from Daniel Thomas and Yvonne Stevens.
Sarwari has requested a variance from the Roxbury Zoning Board to renovate both the commercial building and a nearby residence. In his application, Sarwari argues that the current state of the property is detrimental and that his planned renovations would benefit the community without negative effects.
To proceed, Sarwari needs “hardship” relief from several zoning regulations, including front and rear yard setbacks, impervious coverage, building height, and mixed-use expansion. The zoning board has yet to hear the application due to multiple postponements. It is now scheduled for review on September 9.