Route 70 Wawa Hearing Continues Tonight In Brick

BRICK, NJ — A hearing before the Brick Township Board of Adjustment on a proposal to put a Wawa at the corner of Route 70 east and Duquesne Boulevard/North Lake Shore Drive resumes Wednesday night.

The meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. at the municipal building, will be the fourth night of hearing the matter for the zoning board. The proposal, for the Wawa with a 12-pump gasoline court and a "quick-service" restaurant, first went before the board in November.

At the Feb. 22 meeting devoted solely to the project, the applicant, Brick 70 Developers, finished its testimony about the project, which requires a number of variances. The lots — five would be combined to make up the property for the project — are split-zoned office-professional and residential, and convenience stores are not a permitted use in either zone. A variance for a conditional use permitting the fueling station also is being sought because gas stations aren't a permitted use in the zone.

The project has undergone changes from the initial plan presented to the board. Primary among those is Paramount Realty Group, the company behind Brick 70 Developers, saying it will build a third lane on Route 70 eastbound in the area to address traffic issues. Experts testifying for Brick 70 Developers said they expect the state Department of Transportation would require the lane construction as a condition of granting permission to add an entrance to the property from Route 70.

A sound wall at the back edge of the property was added to try to mitigate noise traveling from the quick-serve restaurant at nearby homes. And at the Feb. 22 hearing, a plan to make the North Lake Shore access an entrance only to prevent people from using Lake Riviera as a cut-through to avoid traffic was discussed.

Tonight's meeting is expected to pick up with continued questioning from Vincent Sanzone, a tax attorney who is representing the estate of his parents, Vincent and Kathleen Sanzone, whose property adjoins the site. He is on record as opposing the proposal. At the Feb. 22 meeting, John Jackson, the attorney for the developer, accused Sanzone of having a conflict, saying Sanzone had been trying to get Paramount to buy the property where his parents' home sits for far more than its assessed value. Sanzone denied having a conflict, testifying that he was going to buy the property himself. A check of real estate records showed the property had been on the market in recent months, with an asking price of roughly $300,000, but has since been withdrawn from the market.

Residents waiting to voice their concerns about the project became restless and angry at the Feb. 22 meeting, prompting one man to storm out shouting, "This is about quality of life!"

It is unclear how much longer Sanzone's questioning will continue, but questions from the public will follow.

Read more:

• Route 70 Wawa Proposal Goes Before Brick Zoning Board Again Wednesday
• Route 70 Wawa Proposal Hearing Coming Up In Brick
• Route 70 Wawa Hearing In Brick Continued To Special Meeting
• Route 70 Wawa Hearing Continued To March In Brick

Photo by Karen Wall