Stop & Shop Could Require Traffic Signal on Millburn Avenue

The Essex County Planning Board's approval for Stop & Shop to use a driveway on Millburn Avenue requires a traffic signal, but that could change once traffic studies are complete.

Stop & Shop, owned by Royal Ahold, is seeking to construct a new store at the former Saks Fifth Avenue building on Millburn Avenue. The property is located in Springfield, but one of two driveways is located on Millburn Avenue in Millburn and Essex County. The use of the driveway requires both county and township approval.

The Essex County Planning Board approved the right of way on Oct. 13 and memorialized the decision on Nov. 10. The matter still needs the Board of Freeholders to ratify it. The county Planning Board also approved the site plan on Oct. 27.

Millburn officials recently were informed of the decisions, but no applications have yet to be filed with the township.

County Public Works Director Philip A. LiVecchi said the Planning Board's site plan approval includes a requirement for a traffic signal. Stop & Shop would pay the county $6,000, which would increase over time, to maintain the signal over time.

A traffic study will need to be completed by Stop & Shop planning officials, LiVecchi said, which would analyze the Millburn Avenue corridor, including the traffic signals at Short Hills Avenue and Morris Turnpike. "The report could say other measures need to be done instead of a traffic signal," he said. "We then could agree or disagree with it."

Residents and Millburn Avenue business owners have speculated for months about the pending application. Several months ago, the Short Hills business owners said how Stop & Shop coming to that area of town would help their stores.