PENNINGTON PLANNING UPDATE
By Marianne Hooker
At its Jan. 12 meeting, the Pennington Planning Board elected officers and reappointed its professional staff.
The board heard testimony concerning a change in plans for the proposed Emily’s Café.
Members also received an update on plans for the Shoppes at Pennington development, which will be located along Route 31 between West Franklin Avenue and Broemel Place.
Win Thompson was re-elected chairman. Maureen Hassett was elected vice-chairwoman. The board reappointed Mary Mistretta as secretary, Edwin Schmierer as attorney, and Cindy Coppola as planner. Members agreed to continue using Don Fetzer, borough engineer, who advises the board on engineering matters.
Emily’s Café Richard Kriegner, the owner of 9 and 11 N. Main St., discussed Emily’s Café. He said there had been a change of plan for the ductwork leading from the kitchen stove to the rooftop exhaust fan. It was originally proposed to put the ductwork along the outside of the building. However, they found that by going through an unused closet upstairs, it would be possible to route the ductwork so that it’s completely indoors.
Mr. Kriegner said the new plan would improve the appearance of the building. There would be no change to the rooftop exhaust installation, or to the intake for the ductwork. Mr. Schmierer said this change would not necessitate resubmitting the application for Emily’s Café, since it would just be a matter of removing a proposed installation along the side of the building.
Mr. Kriegner said the latest plan for the restaurant’s grease trap calls for it to be located under the sidewalk in front of the building. This proposal will come before the Borough Council at its February meeting.
Board member Susan Porcella, who lives very close to the proposed café, asked what plans had been made for trash pickup. John Flemming, the zoning officer, said the applicants will make suitable provision for collection of trash, and he will put the terms of their agreement in writing.
The Shoppes at Pennington Attorney Daniel Haggerty reported on the proposed Shoppes at Pennington retail and office complex. Eugene Lorenzetti was also present, on behalf of Wen-Hamilton LLC, the developer of the proposed complex. Mr. Haggerty said the sewer connection for the project has been approved, and they also have DOT approval for the entrance from Route 31.
There was considerable discussion concerning signs for the proposed complex. The applicant proposes a principal sign along Route 31 that would give equal billing to the complex and the neighboring Straube Center, with smaller panels to identify each of four tenants. The letters on the sign would be illuminated internally, but the background would have no illumination.
The applicant proposes to install two additional signs at the entrances from Broemel and West Franklin. The borough’s sign ordinance would not permit these secondary signs to have the names of the individual tenants. Thus, the applicant would need to obtain a variance if he wished to include their names on the signs at all three entrances.
Mr. Haggerty said the applicant has an opportunity to lease one of the retail spaces to a Dunkin’ Donuts, which describes itself as a bakery. He wondered if the board would look with favor upon a tenant of this type.
Ms. Coppola read aloud the applicable section of the zoning ordinance for the Office Business district, which restricts the sale of foods to full-service, sit-down restaurants. Ms. Hassett said that this particular zoning district was intended as a buffer between the highway business district and an area where the land use is residential. The permitted uses were selected with a view to minimizing in-and-out traffic.
Most board members appeared to be on the opinion that a Dunkin’ Donuts would not be compatible with the goals of the office retail district. However, one member commented that it would be nice for the residents of Pennington Point to have a place to walk to get a cup of coffee. Since a Dunkin’ Donuts is not within the permitted uses for the OB district, it would not be allowed there without a variance.
Other business The board discussed a few changes to the draft Master Plan. A public hearing on the Master Plan could come at the end of February. Ms. Coppola recommended that the Streetscape plan be incorporated into the Master Plan itself.
There also was some discussion concerning the review procedures for zoning applications, and the follow-up procedures once an application is approved. Mr. Flemming had some suggestions for improving the quality and completeness of applications before they are submitted to the board. The Board decided to revive the former Application Review Committee, which will consist of Ms. Hassett, long-term board member Jeanne Donlon, and Mr. Flemming.

