6 YEARS IN MARLBORO
10 YEARS IN ABERDEEN
ABERDEEN TOWNSQUARE
MARLBORO PLAZA MIDDLETOWN MARKETPLACE
160 ROUTE 9N & 520 1151 Route 35 CENTER 1077 ROUTE 34 MIDDLETOWN ABERDEEN (Behind Taco Bell) MARLBORO (Next to Kohl's) 732.275.1144 732.566.2500 848.444.9600
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COLTS NECK • ENGLISHTOWN • FREEHOLD BOROUGH • FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP • MANALAPAN • MARLBORO
NEWS TRANSCRIPT
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2020
thenewstranscript.com
Discussion about proposed Taco Bell expected to resume By MARK ROSMAN Managing Editor
R
COURTESY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Human and canine staff members at the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office will be wearing pink in October during Breast Cancer Awarness Month.
County sheriff’s office goes pink for breast cancer awareness
T
he Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office is supporting the fight against breast cancer by going pink during October to recognize and draw attention to Breast Cancer Awareness Month. “It’s vital that we show our support to such a serious illness and continue to bring awareness to this important cause,” Sheriff Shaun Golden said in a press release. “Many people are either indirectly or directly affected by this devastating disease and we are dedicated to reinforcing the message of supporting the fight against
breast cancer,” he said. To symbolize hope, the agency is flying its Breast Cancer Awareness flag outside of the office in Freehold. Police cruisers have been marked in pink and sport a pink magnetic ribbon. Each Friday in October, staff will wear pink in a show of support and pink face coverings have been made available this year to spread awareness, according to the press release. (Continued on page 15)
epresentatives of an applicant that is proposing to construct a Taco Bell restaurant at the corner of Route 9 south and Taylors Mills Road are expected back before the Manalapan Zoning Board of Adjustment on Oct. 15. Yum & Chill TB Holdings, LLC, is proposing to demolish a Shell gas and service station at the corner and to construct a Taco Bell. The applicant is represented by attorney Peter G. Licata, of the firm Sonnenblick, Parker and Selvers, Freehold Township. Initial testimony regarding the Taco Bell was presented during the board’s July 16 meeting. Testimony resumed on Aug. 20 before the application was carried once more. Yum & Chill TB Holdings is seeking preliminary and final major site plan approval with bulk variances and use variance relief to permit the demolition of the Shell station and the construction of a 2,578-square-foot Taco Bell. The Taco Bell is proposed to have dinein and drive-up service. The 0.8-acre property is owned by PMG New Jersey, LLC, and is in the Office Park 3 zone. The construction of a fast food restaurant and drive-up is not permitted in the OP-3 zone, according to a legal notice published by Licata. Access to the restaurant would be provided from one driveway on Taylors Mills Road and one driveway on Route 9 south. During the Aug. 20 meeting, traffic consultant Jay Troutman presented information regarding the number of vehicles that could be in line at the drive-up window at any given time. He said he observed vehicles at a Taco Bell on Route 9 south in Howell for 135
minutes (noon to 2:15 p.m. on a Wednesday in July). Troutman said that for 75 of the 135 minutes he observed the restaurant, there were zero and three vehicles on line. For 52 minutes, there were between four and six vehicles on line. For eight minutes, there were between seven and 10 vehicles on line, he said. “Once the line reaches a certain point, people will choose other options. People will not join a line where the wait is going to be too long,” he said. Troutman said the peak times at the Taco Bell would be weekday lunch and weekday dinner. The lowest use would be on Sunday, he said. Planner John Chadwick testified on behalf of the applicant and sought to make the case that the granting of the use variance would be a benefit to Manalapan. He said, among other aspects of the plan, that the applicant is proposing to reduce the impervious coverage at the site from 90% to 70% (65% impervious coverage is permitted). At present, there are two driveways at the site on Taylors Mills Road and two driveways at the site on Route 9. The applicant is proposing to close one driveway on Taylors Mills Road and one driveway on Route 9. Chadwick called that aspect of the plan an advancement of public safety. “The proposed development is a good fit for the Route 9 corridor,” Chadwick said. Jennifer Beahm, the board’s planner, did not take issue with the proposed reduction in lot coverage or the closing of the driveways, but did question certain aspects of Chadwick’s testimony regarding the advancement of the municipality’s zoning. Previous testimony offered by project
(Continued on page 6)