Gas Station, Food Mart Approved For Finderne Avenue In Bridgewater
BRIDGEWATER, NJ — An improved gas station with a new food mart is coming to Bridgewater off Finderne Avenue.The Bridgewater Township Zoning Board of Adjustment approved the application by Gurmukh Oil, LLC at its July 22 meeting for the property at 24 Finderne Ave.At previous hearings, concerns over traffic, safety, and screening from neighbors were raised. The applicant addressed those concerns at last week's meeting. Read More: Safety Concerns Raised Over Finderne Avenue Gas Station Expansion ProposalThe plan is to add 12 evergreens on the north side for additional screening, along with the addition of five shade trees to the site and 38 shrubs.Zoning Board Chairman Jeffrey Foose asked that all existing live trees and the vegetative buffer be maintained."We like trees. You like trees. You made your whole career on trees. Save a tree," said Foose to the applicant's landscape architect.Architect William Byrne also presented to the Board drawings of the food mart that include a stone veneer and hardy plank siding with a center cupola."Some of what we tried to do with this design was to try to create something that we felt was a bit more consistent with the neighborhood," said Byrne. "The building and the site exist surrounded by residences to the back and to the sides. Our feeling was to try and soften the very strict commercial look and try to tone it down a bit and try to use materials that were a little bit more consistent and hopefully blend a little nicer with the neighborhood."Traffic and safety concerns were once again raised at the meeting.Jeannette Jardine, who lives off Second Street, requested a traffic study be performed for this application."Without a traffic study, there are risk variables that we haven’t put forth. We have kids in the area. As you know, before we have lost a child in our neighborhood, and these are variables that we’d like to be proactive in addressing instead of reactive in addressing because we want to keep our children safe," said Jardine.In 2020, a woman crossing Finderne Avenue was fatally hit by two vehicles. In 2022, a 11-year-old Bridgewater girl was fatally hit by a pickup truck while riding her bike in the area.The applicant ultimately agreed to prohibit WB62 and WB67 trucks from the property."The only reason we have spent so much time here is because a child did die in that neighborhood, and we’re very sensitive, and we want to make sure we do this right," said Foose. "We’ve really taken our time on this case."The application was passed by the Board with Jeff Sicat voting against it."My personal feeling is this site is too small for this type of store. There is not enough parking," said Sicat."Voting no and shutting this property down is going to make things worse," said Foose. "Mr. Byrne designed a very, very nice building. I think it will be a massive improvement."Have a news tip? Email [email protected] article Gas Station, Food Mart Approved For Finderne Avenue In Bridgewater appeared first on Bridgewater, NJ Patch.
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