Dollar General Deemed Complete, Tabled Until August
If approved, the general merchandise store would be built on Lacey Road in between the Forked River School and Railroad Avenue
The Planning Board deemed Dollar General technically complete but tabled the application until its August meeting due to many unanswered questions.
The general merchandise store, if approved, would be located at 120B Lacey Road where an existing and occupied house sits, bordering Railroad Avenue and the Forked River School.
The store would not be considered a dollar store as it sells a variety of generic household brands from household products and office supplies to clothing and toys ranging from $1.50 to $60.
With a 9,100 square foot building on 1.02 acres, the applicant is seeking minimum lot width, front setback, side setback and rear setback variances as well as several design waivers.
“The lot is narrow in configuration,” Harry Tuvel, the applicant’s engineer said. “There is no potential to make it larger or gain area from adjacent property owners.” He added that there is no detrimental impact to adjoining properties.
But the site is located on a wellhead protection area and only provides 38 parking spaces, which poses concerns for the Planning Board.
“A lot of issues have to be addressed,” Committeeman Gary Quinn said.
The Lacey Municipal Utilities Authority would have to give its approval prior to the Planning Board since the site could potentially impact drinking water.
“It’s the most sensitive area of the wellhead protection zone,” board member John Curtin said. “This is our drinking water.”
The applicant also has to submit a revised drainage plan separating the parking lot’s drainage from the roofs.
With such a large building located on a limited lot, the Planning Board also expressed their desire to receive comments from the Forked River Fire Company as well as the Board of Education.
Board Vice Chairman Charles Wood questioned why the applicant could not narrow the building by 5 feet.
“The parking and traffic pattern is optimal for the site,” Tuvel said. The store has a large turnover and could not fit additional parking.
Hours of operation would be from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Deliveries would be done once a week before school hours lasting approximately 45 minutes, he said.
The parking stalls are 9-by-18-feet, which is industry standard, Tuvel said.
If a large truck attempts to gain access to the site, at least nine parking spaces would be blocked, Curtin said. Quinn added that a 70-foot truck would not be able to fit in the lot.
“There are a lot of issues. We have to be able to work this issue out in some way,” Quinn said.
According to the applicant’s traffic study, in that area during peak hour activity, approximately 900 vehicles travel in one direction on Lacey Road and about 600 in the other, Transportation Planner Louis Luglio said. The applicant anticipates adding 47 vehicles during peak hours on weekdays and 70 on a Saturday.
If a project or development projects less than 100 extra vehicles generated, it is determined that the site would not significantly increase delays, he said.
The number of parking stalls is sufficient since the Dollar General in Whiting functions with 17 and another in Clifton has 21, Luglio said.
“The number of parking spaces is definitely doable. The requirement should not be that high,” he said.
Board Engineer Bruce Jacobs was concerned that such little parking would make it difficult to fill the building if Dollar General was to leave Lacey.
“It’s a catch 22…I understand your future concerns,” Luglio said, adding that those concerns should not dictate whether a currently proposed site gets approved.
The board also showed concerns over the appearance of the building, which is stucco, saying it looks like a “warehouse.” They asked the applicant to add windows, a sidewalk in front of the building and improve its aesthetics.
The attorney of the Board of Education relayed to the board that the school district would like the applicant to consider finishing all four facades as well.
“It’ll pay more taxes and look better than that mess the guy has got there now,” said Edward Sherwood, the owner of the property. “It’s a commercial building. It won’t send more kids to school and that thing that’s there now is pretty dilapidated.”
The occupants moved in with the understanding that they would have to leave once the land was sold for commercial purposes, a tenant said.
“They do what they do and that’s it,” the tenant said.
School Board President Jack Martenak said he is aware of the plans for Dollar General but could not comment at this time. Administration will first be examining the plans to determine if there are any impacts to the Forked River School, he said. The Planning Board extended the timeline for the School Board to provide comments.
“I personally feel like it won’t have an impact on me,” said Pam Depasquale, owner of Land of Oz, which would be located directly across the street from Dollar General. “Lacey is pretty busy right now. The traffic would be my only concern.”
The applicant plans to reappear before the Planning Board at August 13 meeting.
blondie
5:07 pm on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
whattt?! another unnecessary business in town - great.
The Governor
5:15 pm on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Ugh. Another white-castle level business. We don't need low-grade places like this in town. Lacey is going downhill...
Uncle Moe
5:27 pm on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Oh no. What is the planning board thinking?? First white castle, then THIS? I'd rather have another BANK over this. We've already got Dollar Tree for that sort of thing. Please, give it a rest already!
mike
5:59 pm on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
what's wrong with putting a Target in there?
sleepy
6:05 pm on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Ok I'm going to the next meeting. Why can't they use the old rite aide? I'm all for businesses coming into town, but can we please fill the empty buildings first before cutting down more trees. With white castle great idea, but why cut down trees and stuff when there empty spots across the street by home depot. Same goes for the Dewey dogs spot there a strip mall all ready plan with the only tenant being retro fitness let finish what already started before adding more. Make me wonder what happen to smart growth.
lacey voter
6:46 pm on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
I think the sad thing is another dollar store that sells everything for $2,00 plus. The only real dollar store is at shop rite plaza
Susan
7:29 pm on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Boy, has this town changed...it gets more and more urban like with these junky stores...why not use the old Rite Aid? This committee and planning board are just ruining this beautiful town...
Cathy
7:58 pm on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
This is the stuff that follows when you allow the box stores in. Has anyone seen there taxes go down thanks to Walmart,Home depot and such? No of course not. It just shits the town up and brings the stench along with it. What do you expect once they open the door? Lacey lost its small town feel as soon as Home Depot arrived. Everyone still has to leave town for various reasons so why did we need them here? To save us the effort of driving 5 miles in any direction?(oh heaven forbid we had to do that) To help our taxes go down? Nope and Nope.....only going to continue at this rate...
Ann
12:36 am on Thursday, July 12, 2012
They tried using the rite aid but they won't sell to them. It is their competition in some ways. remember just because we don't want it is not a reason to deny it. The businesses that we may all want to see obviously are not interested in coming to Lacey.
Laceygoingdownhill
7:31 am on Thursday, July 12, 2012
Wow, does Lacey really need 3 dollar type stores? I don't understand why businesses keeping opening stores in areas that aren't original. They are not going to be in demand and make alot of income. Don't people understand that bringing something needed, wanted, and original to the area would make them the most money.
butch cassidy
12:23 pm on Thursday, July 12, 2012
maybe we can get another pawn shop
Dale Doback
8:00 am on Thursday, July 12, 2012
Stop complaining already! That property has been for sale for years. If you are such experts on what this town 'needs' or what people who live here really 'want' then shut your pie holes and buy the freakin property! Then you can open whatever kind of crazy business you twisted delusional people really 'need'
GirlBrain
1:03 pm on Thursday, July 12, 2012
AMEN brother
ed sherwood
1:24 am on Friday, July 13, 2012
a voice of reason i agree
GB Shore
8:05 am on Thursday, July 12, 2012
Some of you are missing the point. First, I am of the opinion that the shoe does not fit. Out of the gate, we have all these variances that they are asking for. The foot (store) is too big for the shoe (property). Second, it is on a Wellhead protection area. It does not fit at all. Second, I think people are confusing a company's right to come into town and try to open a business. There are obvious places that are a much better fit, including all the open space at the Home Depot Plaza, vacant Rite Aid etc. What we do not know is how much those property owners are asking for the property...whether or not it is available for purchase (i.e. it may only be a lease situation). There are a lot of factors that we don't know. the TC and Planning Board's job is to point out what needs to be done to meet the codes and standards. In this particular case, it seems to me like they would be spending a lot more money to do all the extra work that needs to be done, as opposed to building on the Home Depot Plaza.
GB Shore
8:05 am on Thursday, July 12, 2012
Whether or not we need another dollar store is not the point....if a company wants to come in here, they have every right to, as long as they meet our requirements. they have smart people who are very scientific about choosing where to build etc. I remember speaking with the head Biz Dev guy from Home Depot when that was going on. He provided me with a very detailed explanation about how they go about determining where to open new stores etc. White Castle and Dollar General are no different.
billy jones
8:11 am on Thursday, July 12, 2012
This town makes me sick. It just sold out to big business. I'm sure some people got very rich off of this mess. Who cares when you live in bamber.
GB Shore
8:48 am on Thursday, July 12, 2012
I think if you look at it, most businesses are concentrated between tow major roads in town....like the "center of town" It really is no different than any other town....things change and towns grow. there are financial reasons as well....think about what would happen here if we lost 24% of our revenue....that is what we RELY on from the State for Oyster Creek. People say it will not happen, that the money is set aside...well, that is no guarantee...the State is in s--t shape and who's to say they can't use that money for something else? the Feds have done it with Social Security etc....the State is supposedly mandated to fund the pensions for public workers but they haven't done that...my point is that I would like nothing more than the town to remain quaint and quiet as well...it's why I came here...but the reality is we need ratable but it needs to be the right kind
Uncle Moe
9:12 am on Thursday, July 12, 2012
It's awful that Lacey sold out yet again. This will not end well for all of us. We're the next Lakewood
GB Shore
9:26 am on Thursday, July 12, 2012
What does sold out mean? Some of you just don't get it.... As I said, I am not for building and blowing out this town, but taking the position that the TC and Planning Board can stop businesses from coming here is just not accurate....
Jak
9:37 am on Thursday, July 12, 2012
Come on Red Lobster, get on the band wagon....
BIG KAHUNA
11:04 am on Thursday, July 12, 2012
If you don't like the BigBox stores like Walmart then don't shop in them. But business development important for tax ratables provided they meet zoning requirements.
butch cassidy
12:24 pm on Thursday, July 12, 2012
cant we come up a level from dollar stores and pawn shops, thrift shops etc...that belongs in waretown
Forked Tongue
8:31 pm on Thursday, July 12, 2012
Jenny
Why don't you put your money where your mouth is and open a high end retail store. Maybe you can carry Coach and Michael kors products.
ed sherwood
1:23 am on Friday, July 13, 2012
Been for sale for 5+ years, school had an agreement to buy Quinn squashed that, have had several buyers scared away but the road on the rail trail dream,property is zoned c-150 first one with the 450 k in my hand gets it if the rail trail people want to save it show me the money.......................