LIVE COVERAGE: Brick Zoning Board Route 70 Wawa Hearing

BRICK, NJ -- The Brick Township Board of Adjustment is hearing public questions and comment on the proposal by Brick 70 Developers and Paramount Realty Group to build a Wawa and quick-service restaurant at the corner of Route 70 and Duquesne Boulevard.

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7:05 Patricia Young, who spoke previously, was called back to speak. She told the board she was accosted by one of the sisters of Vincent Sanzone about her testimony after she spoke at the last meeting.

7:10 Marilyn Lago, North Lake Shore Drive: Asked about what assurances there are for pedestrian safety at the site between the Wawa and the quick-serve restaurant. She also asked what hours the quick-serve would operate. John Jackson, the attorney for the developer, said the hours of operation would depend on what the restaurant becomes. She concluded with comments that when you consider all the potential impacts -- odors, traffic, litter, and noise as just a start -- the Wawa would have a negative impact on the neighborhood she and many others love.

7:21 Bob Auriemma, lives just under a mile from the site, is speaking. He asked about the light timing changes, which were mentioned by traffic engineer John Rea. Rea said there are no guarantees that the timing of the lights on 70 will be changed because it's up to the DOT. Auriemma noted there are people who use residential streets to avoid traffic lights and is concerned commercial traffic will do that.

7:35 Adele Greenberger, Wisteria Drive. She questions the idea that Wawa will accept a quick-serve restaurant because it would be in direct competition with it. She is concerned something else will be brought in "that we really don't want."

7:40 Anthony Zurica, Aurora Drive: He says "We just don't need this." He is concerned it will bring more crime to the area with "undesirables" because of the 24/7 operations. He's also concerned about trucks speeding down Duquesne.

7:43 H. Brannick, Baltic Drive. Wants to see empty storefronts filled. "I was born and raised here. What are we doing to our town?"

7:45 Vicente, lives in Birchwood Park. Says traffic has been bad. Brick is growing. I don't see a problem with the Wawa. I understand people not wanting their homes impacted.

7:48 Madeline Iannarone, Hudson Drive. Asked if traffic study or traffic analysis. And when? Rea said it was an impact study. Noted it was done during school year and after the Route 70-Parkway changes. "I've been a traffic engineer in Ocean County for 35 years." She asks whether the left turn lane to turn into Lake Riviera from 70 westbound is long enough for the traffic that will come with Wawa; Rea said that would be part of the requirements of DOT to get approval. She asked if a study of home values were done. Board attorney says that's not something the board can do or consider. "All I ask is that you thinkof us residents." Says the Wawa will just "give all the crazies an excuse to come here." She said residents of Lake Riviera have been forced to give up a lot -- parking on the street because of issues in the area near the proposed site.

8:00 Sam Foster, Teakwood Drive. Lived in Brick since 1970. Severe overdevelopment has hurt the town a lot. He's concerned this will put pedestrians in danger especially children.

8:05 Alice Osmers, Sloping Hill Terrace. Master plan writers wanted to protect the character of Lake Riviera, she said. She feels the setback variances, especially on the buffer, is just too much. "I don't want a truck stop here." She believes the contention that the propsal would ease traffic is "an alternative fact." "Please respect our buffer."

8:12 Jim Stoever, Duquesne Boulevard. Points out the council passed the ordinance to ban parking. Makes the point that traffic has not decreased in 15 years. Says there was an office building application 15 years ago that was amended because of traffic concerns. Board attorney John Miller says because there is no way to verify what was said or done so the past application is not relevant. "Living three houses in from (the intersection), I have to wait for several minutes to get out of my driveway. I don't see this as making this any better," Stoever said.

8:20 Maureen Thompson, Tennessee Drive. Concerned about litter issues, litter blowing into the yards of residents. She sees that happen at the Wawa on Brick Boulevard. Jeremy Lang, planner, says trash control is part of the responsibility. Also concerned about people getting hit by cars on site because of way people drive.

8:28 Courtney Brickel. Lives across town. Supports the Wawa.

8:30 Debbie Rykaczewski, Norh Lake Shore Drive. Says the third lane on 70 is great but does nothing for Duquesne traffic. Also says noise is an issue now. "We can hear guys cleaning the parking lot at Costco in the middle of the night."

8:35 Barry Greenberger, Wisteria Drive. He believes the "no right on red" decree will be violated regardless of police enforcement. Says enforcement will require constant police presence. Suggested spikes to prevent people from making illegal turns out of the sites. Lang says he believes the traffic will deter people from making the illegal turns. He's also asking about the signs; four signs are for the quick serve restaurant. Seeking signs on all sides of building. Tara Paxton, with the township, says ordinance allows three sides. Variance is for signs on fourth sides of both Wawa and the quick serve restaurant. He is urging the board to require a device that prevents illegal exits.

8:55 Taking a break.

9:00 Resuming the hearing.

9:00 Edwin Trainor, Winding Way. Asking about how they come up with parking space requirement. Site proposes 109 plus 13 green-banked. Bryan Boccanfuso says it's based on square footage of retail space. Lang said Wawa usually provides more parking than required. He contends businesses do not spend more money than they need, so he believes it will be more busy than the developer is letting on. Boccanfusco says his experience is that Wawa proposes extra spaces to make it more convenient for customers. Trainor says there will be a lot more activity at the site, including gas customers. He believes the entrance into the site and the access it provides to the shopping center will be an added burden on the area. "The third lane is not a panacea," he said. He believes the North Lake Shore entrance is a tremendous problem.

9:15 John (last name inaudible), Winding Way. Concerned about the traffic exiting Route 70 into the site.

9:22 Steve Genco, North Lake Shore Drive. Three houses from the site. Parents built house in 1966. He and his brother wereraised there. Concerned about the impact on his father's quality of life with Wawa so close.

9:24 Ed Murray, North Lake Shore Drive. He wants them to eliminate the North Lake Shore entrance completely. And wants them to respect the buffer.

9:27 Victor Finamore, Queen Ann Road. Suggesting removal of entrance on North Lake Shore. Says it will require widening Duquesne. Suggests the building be moved forward on the site. Says Wawa and the quick serve will bring in needed jobs. Hopes money from commercial properties will help with taxes to pay for town services and schools.

9:35 Beth Fitch, Drum Point Road. She understands concerns about the trash and traffic. Believes it will be a benefit because of jobs and third lane on Route 70.

9:40 Al Clayton, Altier Drive. He is concerned about the environmental impact of the impervious coverage. The site is 44 percent impervious coverage. Clayton asks why chairman Harvey Langer asks for proximity of speakers to the site. Clayton assumed it was because those closest to the site get more priority, but Langer and Miller say that is not true and not how it works. Clayton urges the board to reject it.

9:45 Marcella Icovino, North Lake Shore Drive. It's too much. It's the wrong thing in the wrong place. Traffic is going to be crazy. Every convenience store has drug activity, even Wawa, and this one will too.

9:50 Kathy DiMatteo, Vermont Drive. "We are running out of ways to avoid the traffic." The Wawa is just not the right location. It's bad for us as residents. Says the area might need a police officer to direct traffic at the holidays like is done for the ShopRite shopping center because of the traffic.

10:05 Andrea Booker, Tennessee Drive. Says she talked to DOT about the third lane on Route 70. Says the DOT says the third lane shouldn't be used as a bargaining chip for project and that DOT would be talking to Costco. She is concerned about the safety because of increased traffic, expects kids on bikes going to Wawa who she says they will be at risk. She also expressed concerns that emergency response will be delayed because of the traffic. She also asks about the sound wall and why it's not behind Wawa. Lang said the loading at Wawa is on the side of the building away from the homes to mitigate noise from loading. She is concerned about what is being done to protect residents from gasoline; she said she had cancer and grew up across the street from a gas station and is concerned about similar exposure. She is concerned about safety of shoppers, pedestrians. Lang reiterated they will build sidewalks, pedestrian crosswalks.

10:26 Ellen Bruno, Lake Riviera. She is concerned about construction vehicles affecting traffic on Route 70 going in and out of the site.

10:34 Bob Troisi, Winding Way. Lived in Lake Riviera for 40 years. Expressed frustration with the notification process. I see this as a detriment to those who bought their homes, raised their kids. The traffic is going to bottleneck people in. It seems like you're picking on them. People are going to find out Saturday morning that they've been blocked in more.

10:38 public comment closed.

Board member Mike Jamnik asking about quick serve. Is it grandfathered in by approval? Jackson says they cannot change it to anything other than that without getting approval.

Board member Dawn Marie White asks what DOT will consider when it looks at Route 70, how far back it will go, (covering Duquense and North Lake Shore?) Rea isn't sure.

Board member Stephen Leitner asking about third land on 70, will the missing lane be an impediment when they go to DOT, or will Costco be required? Jackson and Rea said they don't know. They just decided they will build it themselves rather than try to figure it out.

10:48 Jackson giving his closing remarks. Says the board's role is broader than just the residents nearby. He says the law says they must consider the needs of the community at large. He says needs of both residents nearby and community at large are compatible. He says change is good because a community that changes thrives. He cites two cases where it balances needs of community and needs of residents. We are deficient on some setbacks, but says that's likely true along Route 70. He says they have worked hard to mitigate the impacts because of the variance needs. He says the uses are permitted in most of the property; it's the parts of it that are in the residential zone and the office professional zone that require the variances. He says Cufone's testimony says the Wawa and quick service restaurant are a use that fits with the rest of the nearby zones. The piece of the property that sits in the OP zone isnt big enough for an office building, and the resudential lot isnt suitable for a home. He said they are not fracturing a property, they are filling in a spot. There's a lot of moving parts and thats why this isnt highlighted in the master plan. He says they put most of the activity at the front of the site, away from the residential area. He says they have made a number of adjustments to its application to respond to a number of concerns.

11:09 It's time for the vote. A motion to approve is made. Miller clarifies that it is a motion to approve preliminary and final site plan approval for the Wawa, and a preliminary approval for the quick-serve restaurant. Miller also says that because of the use variance, a supermajority of five yes votes is needed.

The vote:

David Chadwick no; Mike Jamnik no; Dawn Marie White yes; Stephen Leitner yes; Louis Sorrentino no; Carl Anderson yes; Harvey Langer, yes.

Four yes votes, three no votes.

APPLICATION IS DENIED

Editor's note: This was edited to correct name spellings of board members, clarify the vote information and add the name of board attorney John Miller.