Shopping center gains board's OK
BY DAVE BENJAMIN
Staff Writer

JACKSON - Planning Board members have approved an application for Brookside Point, an eight-store retail center to be built on Route 537 near the Six Flags Great Adventure theme park.

Board member Blanche Krubner abstained from the 8-0 vote, saying she wanted to see more detailed information than what was presented.

Representatives of Brookside Point agreed to eliminate four proposed parking spaces and move a driveway to accommodate a request made by a neighbor.

Attorney Harvey York, representing the applicant, said the 16,000-square-foot retail center (eight 2,000-square-foot units) will be built on a commercially zoned property. He said the project will represent a development of about $2 million when it is finished.

Allan Saffner, an engineer with Design Tech Planning, representing the applicant, described the development parcel as a 2.64-acre site bordered by Millstone Town-ship and Great Adventure in Jackson.

Saffner said there is 430 feet of frontage on Route 537 and there will be a separate entrance and exit on the county highway. There will be 83 parking spaces. A township ordinance requires 80 spaces.

The application did not require any major variances.

Saffner said the plan was revised after discussion with a neighbor.

"After talking with the neighbor we decided to move the entrance drive 20 feet," he said. "In doing so we were able to increase the buffer and as part of the revised plan we were able to include a double row of evergreens along the property line."

With the driveway moved, the buffer along the entrance driveway was also increased. A 6-foot-high stockade or board on board fence will be built.

Addressing the topic of drainage, Saffner said there is a small area in front of the site that drains to the north and then to the west onto the adjoining property, but most drainage is to the south and a large green area in the rear, which indicates a proposed detention basin.

There will be less impact to the adjoining property because some of the water will be diverted away, he said.

Saffner said the developer will place a fence around the detention basin if the board requires one.

Saffner said sidewalks will be installed along Route 537.

"A tree save plan has been submitted. The site requires us to remove most of the trees. The applicant will meet with the township during construction in order to save as many trees as possible," he said.

A preliminary traffic study has been completed regarding access and lane requirements on Route 537. He said there have been no complications or difficulties in providing access to the site and no adverse impact on adjoining roads.

The development site contains no wetlands, no hazard areas and no wetlands buffers.

Board members asked if bus service would be allowed at the shopping center.

Saffner said a sign could be posted which would indicate that buses are not allowed at the shopping center.