SOUTH BRUNSWICK – The Zoning Board approved a tile distribution company’s application to construct a 64,000- square-foot warehouse and showroom on Route 130 north near Fresh Ponds Road on Nov. 1.
Garden State Tile Distributors was making its case in front of the board for the fourth time. Previous hearings had been set back because of concerns of the residents over all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) on the property and the location of the Dumpster.
Thomas Quinn, the engineer for the project, went over the changes in the site plan since the last meeting.
“The basin will be enclosed from outside or unwanted intrusion,” Quinn said. “We’ve enclosed the detention basin with a 4-foot-high chain-link fence.”
The fence was built where residents told the company heavy ATV activity would take place.
Quinn also said that the company would move its Dumpster away from nearby residents since neighbors were concerned that garbage would end up on their properties.
“We met with the residents after the last meeting and discussed what we’re going to do,” said Andre Gruber, who represented the tile company.
Fresh Ponds Road resident Nicolette Thorn, who previously expressed her concerns, was happy with what happened.
“It’s great,” Thorn said. “They’ve been good neighbors and really made an improvement on the property.”
The board unanimously approved the deal and was pleased that the company was willing to work with the residents of the town.
“The ATV issue is key to the neighbors,” said board member Bharat Patel. “The applicant has really tried hard.”
“It’s good to see a lot of dialogue between the property owner and the residents,” said board member Harvey Levine.
Board President Martin Hammer was not sure that the problems with the ATVs would be completely solved, but believed they would be deterred enough.
The construction of the warehouse is pending approval by the state Department of Environmental Protection.