By John Burton
SHREWSBURY — The protracted development application to construct a convenience store and gas station on Shrewsbury Avenue continues to be opposed by a business competitor and is scheduled to return to the borough Zoning Board of Adjustment on Nov. 30.
The application, presented by Shore Investment Realty, is seeking the board’s approval to construct a 5,496 square-foot QuickChek retail convenience store that will have on-site food consumption and outdoor seating for customers. The project also calls for the installation of a gas station with a 10-vehicle canopied fueling station.
The project is proposed for a 6.35-acre property at 575 Shrewsbury Ave., near Apple Street, the former location of a Verizon telecommunications facility. Should the application be eventually approved, a portion of the site would continue to serve as a Verizon location for warehousing of materials, garage, staging yard and offices, according to the application’s public notice.
The project would require the zoning board to grant a use “D” variance for use not permitted in the zone, as well as a number of other variances and design waivers.
This application was the subject of eight previous hearings before the zoning board, beginning on Jan. 6, with the most recent occurring on Aug. 29. During those hearings the attorney representing Shore Investment has faced off against the lawyer representing the application’s primary objector, Lukoil America, a competing gasoline and fuel distributor. Lukoil operates a gas station located almost directly across from the property on Shrewsbury Avenue.
The board had scheduled a special meeting on Nov. 2 to review this application. The board’s public notice published in an area newspaper was suspected of being insufficient under the state Open Public Meetings Act, requiring the meeting’s date change.
The zoning board meeting starts at 7 p.m. in the borough council/municipal court chambers, 419 Sycamore Ave.
