Politicians come out against proposed facility at Route 130 and Meadowbrook Road.
By: Mark Moffa
WASHINGTON A plan to build an Amoco gas station at Route 130 and Meadowbrook Road has spurred bipartisan opposition against the proposal.
BP Amoco is seeking variances from the township’s zoning board to build a gas station, car wash and food mart on 5.68 acres at the intersection. According to the company’s application, which was filed in January, the 4,224-square-foot facility would have 20 pumps and 42 parking spaces.
The company is seeking about two dozen variances, including use variances. The site is zoned OC-1, which is designed for commercial entities such as office buildings, restaurants, and garden suppliers.
Last week, Democratic Township Committee candidate Bob Giangrasso and Republican Township Committee member Jack Mozloom issued statements against the plan.
"The proposal is not in the public’s interest nor the public’s good," Mr. Giangrasso wrote in a press release. He wrote the station would "create a monster problem with traffic congestion, increased crime, potential damage to adjacent wetlands, noise pollution as well as destroy the quality of life for all the residents in the area."
Many residents from a housing development near the proposed site, the Highlands at Walker Run, have expressed opposition to the plan.
Mr. Mozloom, in a letter last week to zoning board Chairwoman Cathy Goodwine, expressed his concerns about the proposed gas station.
"The proposed facility is designed not for the benefit of Washington Township residents but for the larger traveling public," he wrote. "I believe also that there is no great need in Washington Township for the kind of convenient store or car wash facility envisioned by this proposal."
This week both Mr. Mozloom and Mr. Giangrasso reiterated their positions.
"It would drive a hole right through our zoning ordinance that a truck could drive through," Mr. Giangrasso said. He said the proposed facility is twice the size of a large single-family house.
"It’s completely inconsistent with what we want to do with the township as far as long-range planning is concerned," Mr. Mozloom said. "It’s not even an attractive ratable because it could lead to us losing ratables."
The station, which he said would be the size of those seen on roads like the New Jersey Turnpike, could drive some of the nearby gas stations out of business, Mr. Mozloom said. There are four gas stations along the stretch of Route 130 between Voelbel Road and Meadowbrook Road.
"Clearly we are not underserved by the petroleum services industry," he said. "It doesn’t do us any good to attract ratables that are going to force other ratables out of town.
"It creates more problems than it is worth," he added.
Mayor Dave Fried said he was surprised to hear that Mr. Mozloom expressed an opinion on a zoning board issue.
"Typically, the Township Committee doesn’t comment on zoning board issues," the mayor said. He said the Township Committee can be called upon to resolve a dispute within the zoning board, and that a member who has commented publicly on a zoning board issue should recuse himself if that issue is brought to the committee.
Mr. Mozloom admitted it was unusual for a Township Committee member to comment on a pending zoning board application.
"(But) I think we have an unusually difficult challenge right now," he said. "We could choose to develop randomly or we could choose to develop more thoughtfully."
He said he would like to see the land used for its zoned purpose, office commercial.
The application was scheduled to be heard at a zoning board meeting Aug. 16, but BP Amoco requested an extension until next month. The next zoning board meeting is Sept. 20.