No Vote on Quick Chek

Bridgewater, NJ -- After another long three-hour meeting, the Bridgewater Township Zoning Board concluded its fifth public hearing on Tuesday on the controversial Quick Chek project with no vote.

The proposed Quick Chek project 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.

Real estate appraiser Robert F. Heffernan and licensed planner Christine Nazzaro Cofone both fielded questions from the public and board members on their testimony at the Dec. 15 meeting.

Board President Donald Sweeney questioned Cofone on her testimony pushing for the zoning board to allow the Quick Chek project to go through even though it is not allowed in that part of the Township.

Cofone stated at the Dec. 15 meeting that the board pass the use variance to allow the project to go through because there are no other service stations for a three mile stretch on Route 22 from the stations in Somerville to Branchburg on Route 22.

“I have to confess I am having a hard time getting my head around this one,” Sweeney said. “Your logic is that when applying for this use variance your one reason for us to grant the use variance is that there are no other such uses nearby. Isn’t that because the law doesn’t allow the use?”

Cofone argued that the Quick Chek doesn’t really fit in with the township’s definition of a service station, since the project will not service cars. She also noted that the community would benefit by having the project with refueling options and food.

Board member Michael Kirsch also questioned the need for another gas station.

“Clearly a gap of service of many many miles is a problem, cars break down, run low on fuel... in a three mile period to me is not a horribly large distance,” Kirsch said.

Bridgewater Resident United’s attorney Heather Suarez had her own planner, Peter Steck, speak. He showed the board what is stated in the Township’s Proposed Land Use Plan:

“After consideration, the Board concluded that gasoline service stations were found in the westbound lane and east bound lane of Route 22. Some of the stations are in Somerville and some are in Bridgewater. The board concluded that this use is adequatley represented and the Master Plan Amanedment endorses the exsisiting ordinance and does not recommend additional service stations as a permitted use in other zones.”

Sweeney also questioned Cofone’s logic on how the surrounding community would be better off if the board granted the use variance if “hundreds of neighbors clearly don’t see the good in this.”

“The sheer volume or number or neighbors should really have no bearing on your decision...” Cofone said.

“If the project is supposed to enhance the general welfare then how can no one see that?” Sweeney asked, motioning to the hundreds of residents in the crowd.

Cofone noted that “supporters don’t come out.”

Township Planner Scarlett Doyle also testified on the project.

The meeting ran out of time before Suarez could have Steck complete his testimony. It will continue at the next meeting on Feb. 23 at 7:30 p.m. in the Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School, 128 Merriwood Drive.

The board is hoping that there will be enough time at the next meeting for the public to voice their opinions on the project before a vote will be taken.

“Remember when you prepare your comments that after three minutes, I will cut you off,” Sweeney said. “So keep them short. Short and sweet.”

(Photos by Alexis Tarrazi. Photo 1: Bridgewater Resident United’s attorney Heather Suarez had her own planner, Peter Steck. Photo 2: Bridgewater Zoning Board.)