LAWRENCE: Proposals for Mrs. G’s site outlined for board

By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
   Representatives of TD Bank, McDonald’s and Mrs. G’s TV & Appliances outlined proposals for their respective portions of a 16-acre parcel — slated for redevelopment and currently occupied by the appliance store — on the corner of Brunswick Pike and Bakers Basin Road last week at a public hearing before the township Zoning Board of Adjustment.
   The Sept. 19 meeting was the fourth in a series of public hearings before the zoning board. Applicant 2012 Lawrenceville Associates LLC wants to demolish the existing buildings and replace them with two retail buildings and a TD Bank, McDonald’s and a Wawa with gas pumps.
   The proposed redevelopment of the site requires a conditional use variance because combined convenience stores and service stations are not a permitted use in the Highway Commercial zone. Wawa’s proposal calls for 16 gas pumps.
   Engineer David Wisotsky, who represents TD Bank, told the board the bank would like to build a 2,900-square-foot building with four drive-through lanes. The drive-through lanes would be open from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays, and 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Saturday. The lanes would be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Lobby hours would be shorter.
   Architect Mark Cahill said the building would have a red brick and synthetic stucco façade, with large windows to illuminate the interior. Solar panels installed on the drive-through roof would generate about 15 to 20 percent of the bank’s electrical needs. Bicycle racks would be provided outside for patrons who ride their bikes to the bank, he said.
   Melissa Svem, an operations business consultant for the McDonald’s Corp., outlined her client’s proposal for a 3,900-square-foot restaurant. The restaurant would employ 12 to 15 people during the peak hours and 10 to 12 people during off-peak hours. About 60 to 70 percent of the business is conducted at the drive-through windows, she said.
   Engineer Michael Jeitner told the board the drive-through windows have been designed to be efficient. About 12 or 13 cars are “stacked” — waiting for their turn to pass through the drive-through window — during the peak hours, but it is being developed so that as many as 17 cars could be stacked, he said.
   And finally, Debbie Schaeffer, who owns Mrs. G’s TV & Appliances, told the board the appliance store would occupy one of the two retail buildings on the property. The store currently occupies one of the existing buildings on the property that is proposed to be demolished.
   The store’s hours would be weekdays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The store would be open Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The showroom is staffed by about 20 employees during the week, and by 11 on the weekend, Ms. Schaeffer said.
   The next public hearing is set for Oct. 10. The focus of the meeting is expected to be traffic issues.