MANALAPAN — For those individuals who like to indulge in such things, buying doughnuts in Manalapan will get easier.
On Oct. 27, members of the Manalapan Planning Board voted unanimously to approve an application filed by the owner of Dunkin’ Donuts, Route 9 north, that proposed the construction of a drive-up window at the existing doughnut shop.
Testimony regarding the application was provided by planner and engineer Robert Sive and traffic engineer Scott Kennel. Attorney William Mehr represented the applicant, Anthony Maragos, who also provided information to the board.
No members of the public commented on the application when given the opportunity to do so.
The existing Dunkin’ Donuts sits on a piece of property that is 0.6 acres in size. The 3,600-square-foot building has 28 parking spaces and there is access to the site from Route 9 north and from Franklin Lane, according to Sive.
The applicant sought and received permission to add a vestibule to the building and a drive-up window on the side of the building that is closest to Route 9. The lane leading around the back of the building to the drive-up window will be striped, but there will not be a curb. Menu boards will display the products that are available, according to Sive.
The applicant will create several rain garden areas that will capture roof run-off and surface run-off and reduce the amount of water leaving the site, according to the testimony. Some existing pavement will be replaced with landscaping and the impervious surface coverage of the lot will be reduced from 97 percent to 92 percent, Sive said .
A new access point (driveway cut) will be added on Franklin Lane in the area where the drive-up lane brings vehicles around to the back of the building. Motorists who enter the drive-up lane and change their mind will be able to exit the lane and leave the site by using the new driveway cut.
Several design waivers that were technical in nature were requested by the applicant and approved by the board. Several pre-existing variances will be permitted to remain in place.
Sive said a drive-up window is a permitted use in the C-3 zone.
Board member Stephen Pine said he visits the site on a regular basis and questioned Sive’s assertion that parking at the location works well now.
In his testimony, Kennel noted that while there will be more vehicles using the site during peak hours (weekdays, 9-10 a.m., and Saturday, 9:15-10:15 a.m.), there will be sufficient parking available because people who currently park and enter the store will have the option to use the drive-up window, which he said will free up spaces in the parking lot.
Kennel said he believes the number of parking spaces (28) is adequate. The driveup lane will accommodate 10 vehicles and it is estimated that seven or eight vehicles will be waiting in the line at peak hours, he said .
Drivers entering the site from Route 9 will drive through the existing parking field and enter the drive-up lane. They will circulate around the building, stop to place their order and pick up their order at the drive-up window before making a right turn to get back to the exit that will bring them onto Route 9 north, Kennel testified.
It was noted that the building’s exterior walls will be repainted and repaired as part of the improvement project.
Pine made a motion to approve the Dunkin’ Donuts application and voted yes on the motion along with board Chairman John McNaboe and board members Richard Cohen, Herb Lazar, Richard Hogan, Susan Cohen, Kathryn Kwaak, Deputy Mayor Ryan Green and Township Committeeman Don Holland