New 7-Eleven could be open by late summer
Store will be
located on
Route 9 north
The Old Bridge Planning Board has approved the final site plan for the construction of a 7-Eleven convenience store on Route 9 north.
The approval came at last week’s board meeting.
On Jan. 11, the board unanimously gave preliminary approval of the store, which is planned for a site just south of the Park and Ride where Jilly’s restaurant and a "beeper" store are currently located. At that meeting, the board suggested several changes to the original plan.
At the May 7 meeting, a report by Township Planner Sam Rizzo indicated that the changes had been made.
A planner for the applicant, John A. Palus of Bohler Engineering, a Watchung-based firm, appeared before the board to present the final site plan along with the necessary changes.
The two buildings presently on the 30,619-square-foot parcel are to be knocked down and a new one-story, 2,960-square-foot convenience store will be erected on the lot.
The lot is bordered by Old Cheesequake Road on one side, Route 9 on another and an already-developed property on the third side.
The original plans were revised to eliminate a fuel dispenser and related features identified with the original proposal of a gas station to be included on the site. Now only a 7-Eleven will occupy the site.
Eliminating the gas station reduced the size of the store by 33 square feet. The store will also provide 20 parking spaces for patrons.
The proposed lighting for the lot was revised to meet the land ordinance development requirements. The applicant had originally proposed 20-foot lights, but they have been reduced to 15 feet, the maximum allowable height.
The trash Dumpster has been relocated next to the loading zone and away from the entrance on Route 9. In addition, the applicant has proposed increased landscaping on the northern section of the lot.
At the meeting, Palus informed the board that concrete bumpers will be added along the entire frontage of the store and additional sidewalks will be added on and around the lot.
Board member Kevin Calogera asked if the additional sidewalks would affect parking; however, Palus indicated that the sidewalks would not because the nearest parking space would be 10 feet away.
Township Engineer Nelson Iglesias was pleased with the idea of additional sidewalks.
"This township has a sidewalk problem," said Iglesias during the meeting. "Every time we get a chance, we want to get sidewalks on a site."
At the Jan. 11 meeting, Mayor Barbara Cannon, who is also a board member, asked the applicant’s professionals to provide sidewalks for better pedestrian access to the site. She noted that better pedestrian access for the commuters and the nearby apartments would be desirable.
Palus indicated that the store could be completed by late August.
"We are ready to file for our building permits," he said.