May 18, 2023 Regular Meeting

Mr. Barbee requested a size comparison between this application and the one on Route 22. Mr. Scott asked if there are any other examples of stores like these being designed in suburban settings. Mr. Bersch said there are comparable locations in Toms River, NJ; Cherry Hill, NJ; Ranier, MA; Media, PA. In response to this, Chairperson Neuer asked for a listing to be submitted for the next meeting. Chairperson asked if there are any locations not on highways. Mr. Bersch answered in the affirmative. Mrs. Weiss said that she appreciates a listing but only believes that this board should be looking at examples of having two drive-thru restaurants in the state of New Jersey on a small lot of one acre or less. Mr. Bersch agreed to submit. PUBLIC QUESTIONS Mr. Phil Litwinoff (Linden Avenue) asked what will this fast-food restaurant do to attract the public. In response to this, Mr. Bersch said it is beyond the scope of his testimony. Ms. Lenoire Gordan (Fundis Road) asked how many Sonic Restaurants were open pre- covid and how many still exist. Mr. Bersch said that he is not the proper person to answer. Ms. Joyce Rudin (38 Woodland Avenue) asked what the acreage of the site is- Mr. Bersch answered that the subject property including the vacant portion is 45,713 square feet (approximately 1.05 acres). Ms. Rudin asked for confirmation that Mr. Bersch designed the Popeyes located at 933 Route 22 West, Union, NJ. Mr. Bersch said that he doesn’t remember the address but does not believe that is the site he designed. Ms. Rudin asked for the acreage of the Cherry Hill location and others in the area that Mr. Bersch designed, including those that are in the backyard of residential properties. Mr. Bersch stated that he has designed projects adjacent to residential properties. Chairperson Neuer requested that Mr. Bersch submit a list of commercial properties that he has designed that abut residential properties within the lineation of the distance from the residents to the property line. Mr. Wine agreed. Ms. Rudin asked for confirmation that the drive-thru would be in the rear of the property. Mr. Bersch answered in the affirmative; he said that the ordering location would be in the rear. Ms. Rudin asked what would the distance be from the drive-thru and the closest residential property west side of Rosney Terrace. Mr. Bersch said that the ordering station would be

ould be in the rear. Ms. Rudin asked what would the distance be from the drive-thru and the closest residential property west side of Rosney Terrace. Mr. Bersch said that the ordering station would be approximately 60 feet from the residential property but clarified that he did not testify regarding buffer or landscaping yet. Andy Macleod (Fundis Road) asked questions about the Noise Study and its deficits to it. Chairperson Neuer confirmed that a Noise Study was submitted and it was confirmed by the applicant’s counsel that it will be updated. Ms. Kevin Malanga (57 Ridge Road) asked if Mr. Bersch has designed fast food restaurants directly next to residential zones. Mr. Bersch said that they are going to submit a list to incorporate the size of restaurants, lot size, and if there were residential properties next to it before their next appearance before the Board. Mr. Malanga questioned the configuration of the lot and the placement of the building and how the determination was made regarding the calculations for setbacks (front, rear, and side yard). Mr. Bersch said many factors come into play; the determination of the number of parking stalls, adequate circulation for delivery, garbage, and fire trucks, whether the site is safe and efficient, and whether driveways line up with drive aisles. He stated that typically one can see fast food restaurants of this nature in the center with all of those components on all sides. Mr. Malanga asked how the determination of where dumpsters