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Wayne Auto Spa

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Kids' Garden Blooms at Wayne Auto Spa

Students from Temple Beth Tikvah's Religious School plant vegetables they grew from seeds in Rob Burke's community garden.

Some of Wayne's younger residents worked out their green thumbs at Rob Burke's community garden Tuesday. The garden is located at Burke's business, Wayne Auto Spa. Students from Temple Beth Tikvah's Religious School put tomato plants they grew from seeds in the garden. Burke helped students plant the seeds in trays earlier this year. Burke will sell the tomatoes harvested from the plants. Proceeds will be donated to local charities.

Rob Burke

2:21 pm on Wednesday, May 8, 2013

We all had great fun. Lots more to follow...   more ›

Sunday, March 31, 2013

Garden Owner Teams Up with Religious School for Garden Project

Rob Burke, who installed a community garden on his car wash's property last year, recently helped students at Temple Beth Tikvah's Religious School learn about gardening and sustainability.

Students at Temple Beth Tikvah's Religious School are learning about sustainability thanks to a special project being run with Rob Burke. Burke dropped by the school recently and helped students plant seeds in trays. Students will water and care for the seeds. When the plants grow big enough, the students will bring them to Burke's community garden.  "We're showing the kids that it doesn't take much to help others," said Ellen Golden, principal of the school. "I'm always trying to find ways of engaging the studetns and having them learn in a very hands-on way." Burke, who opened the garden at his business, Wayne Auto Spa, last year, will sell the vegetables from the plants. Burke donates money to charity. He also has more than a dozen …

Rob Burke

12:22 pm on Monday, April 1, 2013

Thanks everyone. Its a lot of fun. I just installed two packages of bees into their new homes this morning. No harvest this year -- leaving all the honey for the girls to eat over the winter. Next fall we should be able to take about 100 pounds of honey for us humans, if all goes well.   more ›

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Turbine Applicant to Receive $220K From Settlement

Rob Burke, owner of Wayne Auto Spa, expects to install wind turbine in the spring.

Rob Burke will receive $220,000 as part of a settlement agreement with the township to construct a wind turbine at his business, Wayne Auto Spa. Federal District Court Judge Joseph Dixon unsealed the terms of the settlement Friday. “The litigation was resolved to my satisfaction,” Burke said. Burke applied to construct a turbine on the property in 2007. The Planning Board denied the application in 2008 citing a lack of expert testimony and safety and noise concerns. The matter dragged on in court for years. State Superior Court Judge Donald Volkert overturned the Planning Board’s denial in July 2010. Volkert stated in his decision that the board improperly denied the application. The town approved the settlement agreement in July. The $220…

jay nygard

9:01 am on Sunday, October 28, 2012

I just wanted to add how sad it is that the people running our cities have very little idea what zoning codes are for and how to apply them equally to all.   more ›

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Turbine Applicant Wants To Move On

Rob Burke wants he and the township to 'put the litigation behind us.' Town approved a settlement agreement with Burke recently but it is unknown if Burke has agreed to the terms of the agreement.

Rob Burke hopes that the ongoing litigation between himself and the township is done. Burke applied to install a wind turbine at his business, Wayne Auto Spa, in 2007, but the township denied the application. The matter has been tied up in litigation for years. “I hope we’re able to put the litigation behind us,” Burke recently said. He would not discuss the terms of the agreement. He declined further comment. The council approved a settlement with Burke recently, but it is unknown if Burke has accepted the terms of the settlement or not. The Planning Board denied Burke’s application in 2008, citing a lack of expert testimony and noise concerns. State Superior Court Judge Donald Volkert overturned the board’s denial in 2010.  The Planning …

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Rob Burke

4:08 pm on Monday, July 30, 2012

LOL! Thanks for answering Rex, Dan. I'm glad that's the only thing Rex had follow up comments to from my post about businesses being ratables. Rex obviously doesn't deny his posts under the alias 'Simple.' I've saved quite a few of them. There were some doozies. I would think that as the circulation manager for The Record, Rex would have been more responsible with his public commentary.   more ›

Monday, June 18, 2012

Auto Spa Owner Opens Garden

Vegetables have already spring up in their own small plots inside fenced-off area at the Wayne Auto Spa. More than a dozen chickens walk around a coop next to the garden.

Residents, community leaders, and town officials formally opened Burke's garden at Burke's business, Wayne Auto Spa, this weekend. Rob Burke, who owns Wayne Auto Spa, created the garden not just as a project for himself, but as something the entire community can benefit from. There are also 16 chickens, which have their own living space next to the garden, on the property. "There's not a negative in this, there's not an endgame," Burke said. "This is an ongoing, forever kind of thing and I'm getting a tremendous amount of satisfaction doing this." Burke has been involved in an ongoing litigation with the township regarding the fate of him wanting to build a wind turbine to generate clean energy for his Hamburg Turnpike car wash.  The …

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Rob Burke

1:32 pm on Thursday, June 21, 2012

@WR -- No worries! I agree that Hamburg Tpk is a mess. The road is simply too narrow to accommodate the kinds of vehicles permitted to drive on it. Eighteen wheelers don't fit in these lanes. Period. The first thing that needs to happen is to get them off this road by changing the law. Look at what happened by Wayne Hills Diner. The barrier that was constructed in conjunction with the u-turn has …   more ›

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Parties Could Be Back In Court Over Wind Turbine

Rob Burke has been trying to install a wind turbine to generate power for his business, Wayne Auto Spa, since 2007. The matter has dragged on in litigation for years.

Representatives for Robert Burke and the township could be back in court over the matter of Burke wanting to install a wind turbine at his place of business. Robert Fettweis, the attorney representing Burke, has asked the presiding judge in the case that the matter be brought back to court because the parties have failed to reach a settlement agreement regarding Burke placing a wind turbine at his business, Wayne Auto Spa. “At this point, the plaintiffs have despaired of reaching an agreement with parties that give every appearance of being uninterested in participating in the settlement process,” Fettweis stated in a letter dated May 9 to Federal District Court Judge Joseph Dickson. “Too much time has elapsed. Under the circumstances, we …

Rob Burke

5:37 am on Saturday, May 19, 2012

My pleasure, Cathy! As far as victor goes, I am dumbfounded that the municipal judge didn't rule from the bench. I am equally curious that they made victor wait to be the very last case in an otherwise empty court room. There isn't any room for interpretation here. The ordinance regulates the keeping of hens ONLY if the purpose is PRINCIPALLY FOR THE SALE TO OTHERS. Town Planner John szabo …   more ›

Friday, May 11, 2012

Auto Spa Owner Buys 16 Chickens, Creates Garden

Rob Burke gets some help from gardening expert Victor Alfieri. Garden has multiple plots for flowers, vegetables, and spices.

Rob Burke has created a large garden and is raising chicken hens at his place of business on Hamburg Turnpike, Wayne Auto Spa. Burke began planting vegetables and herbs in the garden on Thursday. He also purchased 16 hens from a farmer in Sussex County and will raise them on the property in a coop and fenced-off area next to the garden. The garden is divided into small plots. A different item will be planted in each plot. “I intend to use this as a resource for people to learn about helping the environment and each other,” Burke said. “This is fun; it’s rewarding and it’s interesting being able to take control of your own food supply.” The garden and hens are the latest in a series of environmentally friendly measures Burke has taken at …

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Rob Burke

8:42 pm on Friday, May 18, 2012

Sadly, Scondo, it appears your hopes may be disappointed...   more ›

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Wayne Auto Spa Owner Has 'No Intention' Of Stopping Turbine Fight

Owner Rob Burke due back in federal court with town on April 18.

The Planning Board memorialized an agreement between the board and Rob Burke Monday night that sets the parameters by which Burke can install a wind turbine at his business, Wayne Auto Spa. The board initially approved the agreement in November. The memoralization is an action taken after the board approves an application. The pole and turbine may only be illuminated by lights approved by the Federal Aviation Administration. The pole must be painted gray or white. Approving the application is only one step in Burke finally being able to install the turbine. The council must also approve a written settlement agreement between the township and Burke. Representatives for the parties are due back in federal court over the matter on April 18. …

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Rob Burke

12:36 pm on Friday, April 27, 2012

Well, anyone who checks back here should know two things. First, Mr. Troncone has blown me off. That I've submitted a permit application for the chicken coop & fence is irrelevant to him. Second, Mr. Troncone said he'd be glad to answer questions. Well, though he briefly engaged me via email on this topic, he hasn't had the courage to admit he made a mistake nor has he taken action to correct his…   more ›

Friday, April 6, 2012

Wayne Auto Spa Owner, Township Back In Court Over Wind Turbine

Matter continues to be dragged on despite the Planning Board approving application.

Representatives for Wayne Auto Spa and the township are due back in federal court on April 18 regarding owner Rob Burke’s application to construct a wind turbine at his business. The Planning Board is scheduled to vote Monday on a resolution amending Burke’s application. The matter has dragged on for years after Burke applied to construct a turbine with 6-foot long blades on it in 2007. The turbine would generate power for Wayne Auto Spa. Several solar panels are operating on the property The Planning Board denied Burke’s application in October of 2008 citing a lack of expert testimony and concerns about safety and noise. State Superior Court Judge Donald Volkert overturned the denial in July 2010. In his decision, Volkert said that the …

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Rob Burke

4:51 pm on Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Liz -- That's awesome! The sound you hear is me giving you a standing ovation. The other sound is that we are slowly gaining momentum and critical mass, as more folks like you stand up and speak out and sign their names. You all really can make a difference, and you already have. Now the challenge is to see if you can convince one more person to jump into the fray. Your comment reminded me of a …   more ›

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