Tenants in the South Freehold Shopping Center, Route 9, Freehold Township, are waiting for the owner to unveil a redevelopment plan for the plaza. CHRISTINE BARCIA/STAFF FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP — Patrons of the businesses in the South Freehold Shopping Center will have to continue to wait before plans for the refurbishment of the shopping center are revealed.
“The process is stalled,” said Timothy White, Freehold Township’s municipal engineer. “We are waiting on a fully engineered redevelopment plan. Once we get that, we can begin our review process.”
The South Freehold Shopping Center, which is bordered by Route 9 north, Route 79 (South Street) and the Route 33 bypass, was designated as an area in need of redevelopment by the Township Committee last year.
On Jan. 28, 2014, a resolution declaring the shopping center to be in need of redevelopment was passed by the governing body.
The shopping center, owned by Saker Enterprises, is anchored by a ShopRite supermarket and includes Dollar Tree, Sleepy’s, Pearle Vision, a UPS Store, a gas station, a barber shop, a nail salon, a jewelry store and others, in addition to several vacant spaces.
Ed Turkot, senior vice president of Saker ShopRite, said the redevelopment project is “in the development phase.” He declined to provide further details and timeframes regarding the project.
Freehold Township planning consultant Tom Thomas said the redevelopment plan is in draft form.
“There are leases on buildings that must be resolved before site plan review,” Thomas said.
He said vehicle circulation issues in the parking lot need to be resolved, in addition to issues with the loading and off-loading areas behind ShopRite.
Township Committeeman David Salkin, who owns The Jewel Case in the shopping center, said he was not able to comment on the shopping center owner’s redevelopment plans due to a conflict of interest. He said he has been precluded from all meetings regarding the project.
Thomas said the plans for ShopRite in Freehold Township will be similar to a ShopRite shopping center in Hazlet.