July 19, 2023 Regular Meeting Minutes

APPLICATIONS PB-21-01/West Orange Plaza Block: 152.01; Lots: 1445 & 1445.05; Zone: P-C/R-5 235 Prospect Avenue Improvements to West Orange Plaza Shopping Center with addition of new buildings. PRESENTATION Mr. Meese, attorney for the applicant, entered on the record. Mr. Meese stated that the new renovations on the West Orange Plaza will bring a lot of benefits to the West Orange Community such as aesthetic improvements. Mr. Meese also included that there will be new signage, the landscaping is going to be substantially enhanced there will be enhanced pedestrian connectivity throughout the center and enhanced lighting. The Mavis building will be eliminated to either transform it into a restaurant or a medical or retail space. In addition to all of the retail space, restaurant space and service space they will allow the residents of West Orange greater shopping opportunities as well as additional employment opportunities and opportunities for the local entrepreneurs. The applicant is also proposing to add many different size spaces to accommodate different uses in the center. Mr. Delaney, professional engineer, entered on the record and was sworn under oath; his credentials were accepted by the board. Mr. Delaney mentioned that the subject property itself is actually split zoned; the front portion of the shopping center, which contains the building itself and all of the parking lots, are within the PC or the planned commercial zone. The rear of the property is within the R6 zone. The subject property itself contains a total of 32.67 acres. The subject property contains 3 separate levels; the upper level contains the existing Whole Foods and the former Kmart space. As we go to the north of the building, there is another level down that is considered the mid level of the main building and this is where the former retro fitness space was. Continuing down another level will be considered the lower level, in which a small series of retail stores exist. In the northeast corner of the property is the existing Mavis building; it has a front yard setback of 31.3 feet and a side yard setback of 10.1 feet going down to the southeast corner of the property. There is an existing Verizon store, which is tucked in near the corner of Prospect Avenue, that has a side yard setback of 113.8 feet from Prospect Avenue and a 43.4-foot setback as existing from Eagle Rock

is an existing Verizon store, which is tucked in near the corner of Prospect Avenue, that has a side yard setback of 113.8 feet from Prospect Avenue and a 43.4-foot setback as existing from Eagle Rock Ave. The parking lot itself occupies the eastern portion of the property and is generally located in front of the main building that stretches all the way to the north and around the back of the building to provide parking throughout this entire parking lot. There are 1476 existing spaces in which the majority are mostly unused. This site has three primary entrances and exits to the site. The first one is the signalized intersection coming off of Eagle Rock Avenue this is a signalized intersection that allows for both right and the left hand turns into the shopping center and has a dedicated left turn into the center. Exiting the shopping center there is a dedicated right turn lane and a second lane that provides straight through and left turn movements out of the shopping center. At Prospect Avenue, they have two existing entrances to the site. On the