FREEHOLD — Mellon Farms will take over the space that was formerly occupied by Silvert’s Furniture on South Street in the borough.
The borough Land Use Board granted preliminary and final site plan approval to the Mellon Farms application at its meeting on July 13.
Board members Garry Jackson, George Schnurr, Adam Reich, William Barricelli and Kevin Lewis voted to grant site plan approval.
Board member Robert Oaks voted no on the motion.
With the approval, Bryon Kim, the owner of Mellon Farms, will move his supermarket operation from its present location on South Street to the building that was the longtime home of Silvert’s Furniture, also on South Street.
Kim said he is excited about the new project and anxious to start work on it.
An existing residence on the Silvert’s property will be demolished to create parking spaces for the new Mellon Farms supermarket.
The issue of parking was discussed during the application process. Based on the size of the Silvert’s building, 29,325 square feet, Kim was required to provide 293 parking spaces for his supermarket.
The Mellon Farms application proposed 31 parking spaces and sought a waiver which the board ultimately granted.
Kim said most of the customers at his current location walk to the store. He conducted a study at his present location which supported that contention.
Kim has said that having additional space in the Silvert’s building will permit him to offer additional products to his customers.