50-Year Shed Business On Route 22 Approved For Site Upgrades In Bridgewater

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — The long-running Garden Oaks shed business off Route 22 will soon be seeing an upgrade.

The Bridgewater Township Zoning Board of Adjustment approved Garden Oaks's application to construct a new two-story building for offices and a showroom, a new garage, a new breakroom, stormwater management, site lighting, a new well, a new septic system, walkway and a parking area.

The use will be offices, retail sales, and indoor/outdoor display of sheds, playsets and yard accessories.

For 50 years, Garden Oaks has carried a full line of Amish-made outdoor structures, playsets, furniture, and décor at 1921 Route 22 West.

The property is just under three acres.

Garden Oaks is a pre-existing non-conforming use and they sought a D2 variance tied to the expansion of that use.

Applicant representatives told the board the project was aimed at improving the property rather than changing the basic use.

A planner for the applicant, Kevin O'Brien of Shamrock Enterprises in Rahway, testified that a number of existing structures would be removed and said, "This application is going to significantly beautify this property."

O'Brien also said, "The use and the owner have been on site since prior to the zoning change in 1976," and argued the business was compatible with the township master plan and zoning purposes.

He said the application could be granted "without substantial detriment to the public good and without substantial impairment of the zone plan and the zoning ordinance."

During the board discussion, members raised questions about the U-Haul trucks seen at the property.

It was clarified that Garden Oaks is a neighborhood U-Haul dealer.

As the discussion continued, the board and applicant addressed whether the truck rentals were a separate use and where the trucks were being parked.

"The U-Haul is, I believe, an accessory to the garden center shed sales," said O'Brien.

The board's attorney then outlined a condition prohibiting parking along the private right of way between lots 16 and 17, meaning the U-Hauls would need to be parked on lot 16.

The approval also included conditions to modify the storm water drainage plan to the township engineer's satisfaction, require dark-sky compliant site lighting angled downward, add a chart showing total coverage areas for existing and proposed conditions, and remove all encroachments from adjacent lots.

" I think Route 22 is a perfect location, really, I think for a unique business. There's not many of these businesses around town, except if you go to Home Depot and buy one of those," said Board member Claudio Vescio. "Certainly, it's good to have small business in our community. Something unique like this."

Board member Anthony Mignella said he had been driving by the Garden Oaks property since "I was a kid, which is probably 50-something years at this point. But to not see the sheds there and in the past, I know there's been swing sets and a pirate ship or something. It would be a shame to see something else there. I'm glad that you have the foresight to improve your property."

The zoning board ultimately voted to approve the application with conditions. The motion carried unanimously.

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