Starbucks proposed for Route 9 location

By Kathy Baratta

MANALAPAN — A coffee war may be brewing in Manalapan.

The applicant in a Planning Board matter, RBJF L.L.C./Starbucks, wants to open a Starbucks Coffee franchise at the former Shell gas station on Route 9, just north of Taylors Mills Road.

Starbucks is a Seattle-based national chain of coffeehouses.

A Dunkin’ Donuts is adjacent to the proposed Starbucks location and that’s where the matter gets a little tricky.

The owner and manager of that Dunkin’ Donuts franchise, Nick Maragos, also owns two Dunkin’ Donuts franchises in Freehold. Maragos has attended several Planning Board meetings to listen to the testimony of the applicant’s witnesses.

Following several public hearings in the matter, Maragos said he questions much of what he has heard, particularly when it comes to the site’s parking situation. He told the News Transcript he is sure that not only is 20 parking spaces at Starbucks inadequate, but he believes the coffeehouse’s overflow of customers will likely use his parking lot when Starbucks’ lot is full.

There are 23 parking spaces in the strip mall parking lot that Maragos shares with a video store.

Parking concerns were also a focus for several Planning Board members following testimony by the applicant’s professionals at a June 22 meeting. Starbucks is asking the board to approve the provision of 20 parking places at a location where a municipal ordinance covering fast food outlets mandates there be 63 parking spots.

Attorney Kenneth Pape, representing the applicant, questioned whether Starbucks should be categorized as a purveyor of fast food, while agreeing it seemed to be the only ordinance of choice under the circumstances. He suggested township officials might want to fine-tune the existing ordinance or come up with something that is more in keeping with the use Starbucks is proposing.

Board Planner Anthony Mercantante agreed that the board should consider an amendment to the ordinance to reflect that Starbucks is a different use than the type of fast food restaurant to which it is being compared.

The location would feature a drive-up window capable of "stacking" nine cars at a time.

The applicant’s traffic engineer, John Rea, testified that 20 parking spaces is sufficient for Starbucks’ purposes. He said at some times the spaces would prove to be more than needed.

Rea projected a two-minute turnaround for patrons.

Planning Board Chairman Drew Shapiro wanted to know how many coffee machines would be used to serve patrons. He said if it was only one such as at the Freehold Township Starbucks, then a projected turnaround of two minutes was unrealistic and did not accurately project the backup of customers that would likely occur in the store and at the drive-up window.

Board member Beth Ward opined that because Starbucks’ draw is a coffeehouse atmosphere where people come to sit and talk while drinking their coffee, the applicant’s projected turnaround time was unrealistic.

Some discussion was also given to possibly limiting the seating capacity of the coffeehouse.

The matter is scheduled to be continued at the board’s July 27 meeting.