By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
Lawrence Toyota’s proposed expansion and renovation plans were given a green light Monday night by the Lawrence Township Planning Board.
The Muller Automotive Group Inc., which owns the new- and used-car dealership on Brunswick Pike, received preliminary and final site plan approval after a public hearing before the Planning Board.
Thomas Muller, vice president of Muller Automotive Group, said after the meeting that construction is tentatively planned to begin in the fall, and that the project should be completed in 2013.
The expansion plans were triggered by the acquisition of the former Capitol Lighting property, next door to Lawrence Toyota, and the pending acquisition of the former Princeton Oriental Rugs building to the south of the Capitol Lighting property.
Attorney Gary Forshner, who represented Muller Automotive Group and Lawrence Toyota, told the Planning Board the plan will “clean up” that section of Brunswick Pike. Acquisition of the two adjoining parcels creates a 20-acre site. The nearest homes to the site are 350 to 400 feet away.
Engineer Russell Smith said the proposal calls for combining four existing lots into two new lots one lot for the new-car sales and service facility and another lot for the used-car sales and auto body shop facility.
The existing body shop office building would be demolished, as well as the former Capitol Lighting building. The driveway entrances to the former Capitol Lighting and Princeton Oriental Rugs buildings would be closed, Mr. Smith said.
The plans also call for a 27,171-square-foot addition to the existing 42,721-square-foot new car sales and service building. The combined used-car and body shop building would have a 1,300-square-foot addition to the 24,973-square-foot building.
Customers would enter the Lawrence Toyota dealership by using the two existing entrance/exit driveways toward the middle of the property. An entrance/exit driveway at the northern boundary would be converted into an exit-only driveway, Mr. Smith said.
Traffic engineer Karl Pehnke said “this is really about taking a site that has developed over the years and re-ordering and re-thinking it and eliminating unnecessary points of conflict.”
Getting rid of the entrance portion of the entrance/exit driveway on the northern boundary and making it an exit-only driveway would be safer, for example, he said.
When the meeting was opened for public comment, Stonicker Drive resident Harry Tomlinson expressed concern about flooding because of the expansion as well as the impact of lighting from the buildings. Stonicker Drive backs up to the dealership, but it is separated from the property by a wooded area and Five Mile Run/Little Shabakunk Creek.
Mr. Smith assured Mr. Tomlinson, who has lived on Stonicker Drive since 1969, that steps have been taken to reduce the likelihood of flooding, and that the lighting levels would be reduced at the rear of the property. He seemed to be satisfied with the engineer’s response.
”I’m impressed (with the plan). I bought a Toyota (from Lawrence Toyota) four years ago,” Mr. Tomlinson said.
”I’m glad you are a customer,” Mr. Muller replied, to some light laughter from the audience.

