Montclair Planning Board to CVS: Fix Your Parking Lot

During their recent public meeting on Monday, the Montclair Planning Board gave the Valley Road CVS store a message: fix your parking lot or code violations may be coming your way.

Representatives for the nationwide pharmaceutical chain appeared at the meeting to discuss plans to make upgrades to the store’s current handicapped parking situation, which include the addition of a new spot and renovations to the existing spaces to bring the lot into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Instead, they found themselves facing several questions from Planning Board members about the state of the parking lot at their Valley Road location.

The board’s concerns were outlined in a memo sent by Planning Director Janice Talley:

• A need to repave the entire lot, which has multiple potholes
• A need for improved lighting
• A need for improved garbage disposal practices

CVS construction director Jay Montero told board members that their current application before the Planning Board only deals with the ADA aspect of the lot. While Montero said that the company’s budget provides for basic repairs such as fixing potholes and seal-coating the surface, he added that there were no plans for full-scale renovations.

Montero told board members that CVS would be willing to correct any potential violations of township code.

CVS representatives were asked to present a plan to fix any existing “nonconformities” in the lot at the board’s June 8 meeting.

In the meanwhile, Talley stated that Montclair Code Enforcement planned to send inspectors to the property to seek out potential violations.

Watch a video of the full Planning Board meeting here.

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