Hearing on applicant’s retail plan postponed until Dec. 9

MANALAPAN – The Nov. 11 Planning Board meeting during which an applicant’s proposal to construct retail and restaurant space at the intersection of Route 33 west and Woodward Road in Manalapan was cancelled.

A notice posted on the municipal website stated that testimony regarding the Stavola Asphalt Company’s proposal is now scheduled to resume at the board’s Dec. 9 meeting.

Testimony regarding the application was initially presented by the applicant’s representatives during a meeting on Oct. 14.

The Dec. 9 meeting will be held in a virtual manner. Information on how to view the meeting will be posted on the municipal website.

The Stavola Asphalt Company is proposing to construct three buildings on a 6-2-acre lot at the corner of Route 33 west and Woodward Road. According to the application:

• The easternmost building will be approximately 7,260 square feet and will consist of two interior retail spaces, a fast-food restaurant on the eastern end and a fast-food restaurant with a drive-up window on the western end, and 62 parking spaces. The two restaurants will offer indoor and outdoor seating;

• The center building will be approximately 8,000 square feet and will consist of two interior retail spaces and two restaurants in the end spaces. The retail spaces may also be tenanted by medical/professional office uses. Each restaurant will offer indoor and outdoor seating. There will be 64 parking spaces allocated to the center building and its users;

• The building at the westernmost portion of the lot will be a 3,000-square-foot fast-food restaurant with a drive-up window, and 57 parking spaces. During the Oct. 14 meeting, the applicant’s representatives said a Burger King restaurant would occupy this building.

Two access driveways are proposed on Route 33 and one access driveway is proposed on Woodward Road.

In addition to the proposed retail and restaurant center at the corner of Route 33 and Woodward Road, the Stavola Asphalt Company is also proposing to construct a 20,250-square-foot medical office building on Woodward Road, farther north of the road’s intersection with Route 33. No testimony regarding the medical building has been presented at this time.