The pharmacy, which would be at the former Ben Franklin store off Cherry Lane, was the subject of debate over drive-through pickup lanes and truck entrances at a recent Planning Board meeting.
By: Brooke Olster and Linda Seida
LAMBERTVILLE A routine subdivision and site plan review of a proposed CVS Pharmacy has resulted in a debate over drive-through pickup lanes and truck entrances.
Local residents interested in the plans came out in the dozens for the Planning Board meeting Aug. 6.
CVS wants to move into the 12,000-square-foot former IGA supermarket, and most recently, Ben Franklin building, located in a small shopping center off Route 29 on Cherry Lane.
"CVS wants to create the right environment for business," said Lawrence Wohl, attorney for CVS.
CVS engineer Chad Goulrapp of Pennoni Associates Inc. of Haddon Heights said, in response to board members’ criticism for the plan, that most new CVS’ have drive-throughs. Board members were quick to interject their disapproval for the drive-through, saying it would contradict the historic nature of the town. Mr. Goulrapp said he doesn’t consider the site to be "downtown," and thus, a drive-through would be appropriate.
In fact, the site does not fall within the city’s historic district, according to the board’s administrative officer, Christopher Colt.
"It’s not an issue," he said Monday.
But in June, the city started to take a look at expanding the historic district to include the gateways of routes 29 and 518. Currently, the historic district encompasses only the central business district.
Truck traffic could be controlled by having CVS send just one per week to Lambertville. The truck would come from the CVS facility, not from outside vendors, Mr. Wohl said, and could be timed to come before the store opens in the morning.
"We can control what time they come, exactly to the minute," Mr. Wohl said.
By doing so, the trucks should not be a problem for customers driving in the lot, who would not be there at the same time as the truck.
Parking, often a problem in many parts of the city, also should not be a problem in the shopping center. More than 90 spaces would be available for parking, while the regulations governing the number of parking spaces call for only 17, according to Mr. Colt.
Mr. Wohl discussed several costs for improvements the owner has offered to incur in the site plan review discussion. Drainage improvements, landscaping, expanding parking are among those changes.
Mr. Wohl said Monday he doesn’t think residents should be upset with CVS’ plans to move in or with the planned drive-through. The site is already approved for drugstore use, he said, and there is already a drive-through located at a bank "not 50 feet away."
The CVS plan is "an approved use in an empty building in a shopping center that is dilapidated," he said.
It makes more sense to use the building for something that will benefit the city’s population, rather than adding another antique store or something the city has no need of, he said. The drugstore will carry some groceries and staples such as milk, bread and eggs, according to Mr. Wohl.
The city currently has no grocery store, forcing residents to buy supplies out of town or even out of state, by going across the bridge to New Hope.
CVS is "a quality tenant," Mr. Wohl said.
He added, "If you check with any municipality, you’ll find the company is a good corporate neighbor."
CVS is leasing the building from Allied Village Square LLC of Bala Cynwyd, Pa.
The board will vote on each part of the application after Mr. Wohl finishes making his presentation, and the board and public are given a chance to ask questions. The sign review, a potentially controversial matter with the public, seeking to preserve the historic design of the town, will be heard by the board at a later meeting.