HOWELL — On the heels of a decision to drop a movie theater from their development plans for the Consumer Square shopping center at Locust Avenue and Route 9, representatives of the Benderson Group heard more suggestions for fine-tuning the project from Planning Board members at a recent meeting.
The proposed shopping center — minus a 16-screen movie theater — is still being planned as a 10- to 15-store facility on a 35-acre site on the south side of Locust Avenue off northbound Route 9.
The current plan that calls for at least two access points into the shopping center from Locust Avenue and one access point from Route 9 has been an issue of concern to nearby residents.
To address those traffic concerns, the Township Council has petitioned the state Department of Transportation to reconsider the access issue and allow two road cuts on Route 9 and only one on Locust Avenue.
Planning Board engineer Greg Valesi informed the applicant and board members there were "open-ended issues with drainage" and said he wanted to see additional studies related to drainage from the site. He said he will be working with the applicant’s engineer on this matter.
Attorney James Gorman, representing the Benderson Group, reminded board members that in the interests of meeting all environmental concerns his client has already spent $10,000 on hydrological studies of the land.
Another concern of the board is a proposed 40-foot retaining wall at the rear of the property, plus water runoff from the shopping center property that could impact Echo Lake downstream from the site.
Board member Stanley Marciniak cautioned that plans should reflect that all drainage has to go back to Polypod Brook.
Project Engineer Kevin Haney explained that perforated basin piping will be used for the basins as suggested by Howell Environmental Committee members Al Sauer and Ed Runyon. Haney said the finished drainage design will meet pre- and post-storm conditions.
Valesi said there are other "practical problems" with the project, including a drainage swale that is too close to the proposed structures.
Township Planner Tom Sheehan has informed representatives of the Benderson Group that the plans need to reflect additional rear landscaping, calling for the addition of 300 deciduous plantings that should include 8- to 10-foot tall evergreens in a 90-foot buffer that is to be located between the shopping center’s "drive aisle" and the nearest residence.
Gorman said his client will also install a board-on-board fence instead of the minimal fencing required by ordinance.
Board chairwoman Ilse Whisener commended the applicant’s fencing proposal and asked that some thought also be given to the residents on Barre Drive who will be directly across from the planned points of entrance and exit, asking that those access points be redesigned with the idea of deflecting headlight reflection and other like traffic disturbances.
Haney said a headlight berm could be considered.
Board member Maria Portilla noted that a final determination needs to be received from the DOT as to where the road cuts will be located before any redesigns are made. She noted that some attention should be given to the possibility of lights from the shopping center shining into neighboring homes.

