FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP – The Planning Board has approved an applicant’s proposal to renovate the facade of the Freehold Mall shopping center on Route 9 north and to replace the former Freehold Music Center with an Aldi supermarket at that location.
However, it is uncertain if or when those improvements may occur.
On July 6, board members memorialized the approval they granted the application on June 15 over the objection of attorney Chad Warnken, who represented the applicant/owner Freehold Shopping LLC.
During the June 15 meeting, Warnken asked the board not to take action on the application. No testimony was heard that evening; testimony was heard during previous meetings. Warnken requested that the application be carried.
The application had already been carried from the board’s Feb. 2, Feb. 16 and April 6 meetings.
Board Chairman Richard Gatto said he would not carry the application and he said the board was prepared to take action that evening.
Warnken again asked the board not to act and said, “We are no longer able to move forward with the plan that has been submitted.”
He asked that a revised plan be considered. He said the essential elements had remained the same, but that “aesthetic items” have changed. Warnken asked for permission to amend the plan and to return before the board’s Technical Review Committee.
“We are past arguing the point of carrying the application or allowing an amendment,” Gatto said.
Warnken said he would withdraw the application, but Gatto declined to permit him to do that. A motion was made to approve the Freehold Shopping LLC application with certain conditions and the motion was approved in an 8-0 vote of the board members.
The resolution approving the project at the shopping center states that “the board finds that in several respects, the current condition of site facilities is deficient and inimical to safe and efficient operation of the shopping center and the general welfare of Freehold Township.
“These conditions include but are not limited to the lack of trash and recycling enclosures, cracked sidewalks, parking lot potholes, unchanneled traffic flow, signs without permits and a degraded visual environment,” according to the resolution.
In order for the applicant to move forward with the project that includes the Aldi supermarket, the property owner must satisfy the following conditions set forth by the board:
• The owner must make facade improvements on two buildings at the property consistent. No improvement is required to the Burlington Coat Factory building;
• The owner must construct trash and recycling enclosures for all tenants, including future tenants;
• Potholes, cracks and degraded conditions in the parking lot must be repaired;
• Cracked and disturbed concrete curb and sidewalks must be repaired or replaced;
• To improve traffic circulation and pedestrian safety, landscaped islands must be installed in the parking lot.
