New office building also approved.
By: Lea Kahn
A proposal to construct a two-story office building and a one-story bank with a drive-through window at 134 Franklin Corner Road gained the township Planning Board’s approval Monday night.
The Planning Board approved Cameron C. Troilo Inc.’s application for preliminary and final site-plan approval for the office building and bank building. Tenants have not been signed up for the two buildings.
The two new buildings would be constructed in front of an existing 25,000-square-foot office building on the 5-acre parcel. The parking lot contains 185 parking spaces. It would be restriped to provide 201 parking spaces.
The 15,480-square-foot two-story office building would be located west of the driveway entrance to the property and the 3,000-square-foot bank building would be built east of the driveway entrance. The bank building would include three drive-through lanes.
Architect Terrill McLean told the Planning Board that the two new buildings would be constructed of brick, to "harmonize" with the existing brick office building.
When the meeting was opened for public comment on the application, Eagles Chase Drive resident Kathleen Davis questioned the need for another bank building. Eagles Chase is located off Kings Road, near the proposed development.
Ms. Davis said there are three banks within a quarter-mile radius of the site two banks on the corner of Franklin Corner Road and Princeton Pike and a third bank on the corner of Princeton Pike and Princess Road.
Attorney Daniel Haggerty, who represents the applicant, acknowledged that there are a few banks in the area, but people appear to want them. He added that the amount of development that is being proposed on the site is permitted.

