Opposition to Wendy’s plan anticipated at Sept. meeting

Concerns deal with
traffic, noise, other issues at Ryders Lane location

By Sandi carpello
Staff Writer

Opposition to Wendy’s plan anticipated at Sept. meeting

Concerns deal with

traffic, noise, other issues at Ryders Lane location

By Sandi carpello

Staff Writer

MILLTOWN — A recent proposal to use the site of the Ryders Lane Farmers Market for a Wendy’s fast-food restaurant has generated opposition among some area residents.

The proposed site, which is located next to Rita’s Italian ices at Ryders Lane and Blueberry Drive, is located less than 200 feet from a residential area.

According to an application before the borough Planning Board, Wendy’s would demolish the existing fruits and vegetables market and construct a 3,140-square-foot, 90-seat restaurant that would include a drive-through window and a 38-space paved parking area. The applicant would locate an entrance and exit on Ryders Lane.

"Ryders Lane is becoming a Route 18," said Blueberry Drive resident Kevin Kelly, who said he has obtained nearly 300 signatures in a petition to oppose the Wendy’s project, and that he expects to obtain more names.

According to Kelly, building a Wendy’s will have a negative impact on the neighborhood’s quality of life and will produce heightened traffic and safety problems in the vicinity, he said.

Several years ago, the neighborhood had concerns about overflow parking when Rita’s opened next door to the market, according to Milltown Environmental Commission Chairman Alan Godber. Due to a limited amount of parking at Rita’s, many patrons had no choice but to park on the street, something that was opposed by neighborhood property owners. In an effort to settle the matter, the Farmers Market accommodated Rita’s by allowing its own parking lot to be used as an overflow lot for Rita’s.

Without those accommodations, patrons will once again have to park their cars on the street, causing congestion, Kelly said.

Residents also said they fear that noise from the site, such as the sound of sanitation vehicles, will also be problematic. Residents are also concerned that the restaurant will remain open until 1 a.m., and that it could produce a rodent problem in the area. In addition, Kelly said the Wendy’s garbage receptacles will be located as close as 60 feet to some residential properties.

"In our review of the plans," residents wrote in a letter to Mayor Gloria Bradford, "we noticed that the garbage (bin) is located in the rear of the property (near the corner of Blueberry Court and Hye Court), facing the residential area. This is unacceptable, not only because of the odor, but for the noise when garbage pickup is done."

In the letter, residents also raised questions as to how safe it would be to have an entrance and exit on a high-volume road such as Ryders Lane.

According to Kelly, residents currently have a difficult time turning left onto Ryders Lane from Blueberry Drive.

Residents asked in their letter if the access point on Ryders Lane could be eliminated and that access be considered through the adjacent Taco Bell property.

If the Wendy’s access point on Ryders Lane is to remain, then the residents suggested a variety of options for consideration, including making Blueberry Drive a one-way street from Hye Court out to Ryders Lane, thereby alleviating traffic on Blueberry Drive and eliminating illegal U-turns in the neighborhood.

Kelly said the residents are not opposed to the redevelopment of the site, and he noted that they would welcome the construction of a bank or office buildings on the site.

Joe Broxmeyer, owner of the Ryders Lane Farmers Market, said that he is eager to sell the property to Wendy’s. With the proper approvals, he said Wendy’s could begin construction in Milltown as early as September.

The farmers market has been in operation on the property for about 50 years, Broxmeyer said.

In a letter to area residents, Godber, of the environmental commission, urged residents to express their concerns at a Planning Board meeting, which initially had been scheduled for July and was later changed to Aug. 6. However, due to the applicant’s failure to contact all property owners within 200 feet of the proposed site, the meeting has once again been rescheduled, this time for Sept. 3 at 8 p.m.