QuickChek Hearing Draws Boos, Cheers: Patch's Full Recap

There was cheering, booing, applause and screaming during Bridgewater’s Zoning Board meeting last night as residents’ emotions ran high over the discussion of a proposed QuickChek on Route 22 East.

This was the second public hearing on the project, which calls for a 24-hour, 5,700-square-foot convenience market on Route 22 East at the site of the vacant 5.47-acre Tectonic property. There will also be 16 gas pumps and two deisel pumps.

The first hearing in June drew more than 300 residents at the municipal complex, which exceeded the building’s capacity.

In anticipation of the public attendance, the second hearing was held Nov. 17 at Bridgewater-Raritan High School’s auditorium, where more than 400 people showed up.

Lasting three hours, the meeting mainly consisted of public outrage and questions about the project.

The meeting started with Keith Cahill of Bohler Engineering presenting the modified design of the project.

Originally, the plan called for entryways from Route 22 and 28. Due to public backlash, the plan has been modified to eliminate the Route 28 entryway.

The company also announced that it will keep Melick’s farm stand and the residence along Route 28 intact, as well as the dense woodlands along the road so that the one-story market will not be readily visible from Route 28.

Many residents were still not happy and lined the aisles of the auditorium for a chance to ask questions of Cahill about the project. Main concerns revolved around the visibility of the building from Route 28, the lighting the building will emit at night, smell of gas fumes and safety.

“If you can see the canopy from Route 28, what will stop it from illuminating at night?” asked Alan Fross, zoning board member. A loud applause and cheers roared through the room in support of Fross’ question.

Cahill noted evergreen trees would be planted along the Route 28 side and a 6-foot-fence to help conceal the property.

Shara Enny, who lives on Route 28 across the street from the proposed project, was also concerned with the glow from the lights.

Cahill pointed to flush lighting that would help reduce the glow and the grade of the land to buffer the property.

At times the crowd got out of hand causing Zoning Chairman Donald Sweeney to interject and calm everyone down.

The meeting had to be stopped at one point for a short recess as the meeting reporter had trouble hearing the public’s comments over applause and cheering in the crowd. Bill Robertson, attorney on behalf of QuickChek, also stepped in at times to object as residents began yelling out of turn.

Heather Suarez, an attorney from Walder Hayden Attorneys at Law, was present to represent a non-profit group called Bridgewater Residents United (BWRU.org or NoQCinBridgewater on Facebook). The group, consisting of four members, was established in 2015 and is in opposition to the QuickChek plan.

Members of the group include Inderpreet Banga, Ketan Thakher, Prakash Bsht and Divyakant Patel. The group did not have a chance to speak before the three-hour limit was met.

Sweeney immediately adjourned the meeting while many residents continued to yell in opposition.

Not everyone in the crowd was opposed to the plan, a group of about 20 students from Raritan Valley Community College sported “I love QuickChek” shirts.

None of the students chose to speak over fear of backlash from the hostile crowd. Speaking anonymously, the students mentioned they wanted QuickChek to come because they “love coffee and sandwiches.”

No decision was made by the zoning board and the next meeting will be held Dec. 1 at the Somerset County Vocational & Technical Schools auditorium at 14 Vogt Drive.

For more information on the proposed project visit quickchek-bridgewater.com.

(Photos by Alexis Tarrazi)

What do you think about the QuickChek project? Send me your comments alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.