By Amber Cox, Special Writer
BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIP Love’s Travel Stops presented a plan Monday to the township Planning Board to add a tire shop on its existing property.
The tire shop would be used strictly for tire repairs and other minor repairs to trucks, such as replacing blinkers. The plan would not allow for any major repairs.
Eric Goldberg, of Stark and Stark, representing Love’s, said the company is willing to work with the board to come up with something that works for everyone. The building would be approximately 2,600 square feet composed of a material called nichiha, a fiber cement material.
Love’s representative Mark Mathews said the tire shop would be another added convenience to the services already provided to truck drivers.
”We’re really trying to serve our current customers,” Mr. Mathews said.
The building would be a one-bay structure that would allow for one truck to be repaired at the time. Mr. Mathews said the space available on the lot would not allow for a two-bay building.
Brad LeBlanc, general manager of the Bordentown location, said the rest stop is continually busy because Love’s does not charge for overnight parking.
”This would allow drivers to get the extra service they might need,” he said.
When questioned by the board about the potential accidents that could occur because of the additions Mr. LeBlanc said he is not aware of any past accidents taking place in the lot. He said most of the trucks back into spaces, allowing them full view of what’s taking place.
He added that if a truck had to back into the tire shop for repairs, the employees would be capable of directing the truck out of the building to prevent any accident from occurring.
The building also would include a tire storage area of about 200 square feet. Right now, plans are to have it outside of the building. There also is the possibility of adding a concrete slab to make a place for temporary storage area outside of the building.
Mayor Karl Feltes said he would like the tire area to be enclosed as well as the area for the concrete slab.
”It’s been indicated that the concrete slab can be eliminated, but if it’s something that you are going to need for storage, and if it’s something that’s going to include or preclude you from storing items on the lot in view, that wouldn’t be aesthetically pleasing,” the mayor said. “We would prefer, probably, to have the facility expanded and that enclosed.”
The board asked Love’s to come back at its next meeting with a complete rendering of what the proposed building would look like, including signage details, and other components involving the construction of the building before it makes a decision.
The next meeting of the Planning Board is scheduled for June 14.

