Route 37 AAA Tire Storage Area Application Continues

Planners last month wanted to hear more testimony before giving approval

Variances are needed if a tire storage area at the Route 37 AAA service center will move forward.  The storage area proposed at the 1199 Route 37 East AAA first came before the Toms River Planning Board's scrutiny last month. At the time, members requested that health and aesthetic concerns be addressed by the applicant before they made a decision on the plan.  Board members at their Wednesday night meeting expressed concerns that the steel container proposed to house tires is considered a temporary structure — allowing it to be used as a permanent storage area could set a precedent for future applications.  "In the past, the only applications for these types of things have been temporary," said board member Jack Reuther, adding that …

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Feb. 6 Planning Board Meeting Agenda

The Toms River Planning Board will meet 6 p.m. at town hall

Tire Storage Proposal at AAA Site Comes Under Scrutiny

Planning board members want more information before giving the OK to Route 37 business

Planners want to learn more about a proposed tire storage area at a Route 37 automotive service center before they grant their approval.  The storage area proposed at the 1199 Route 37 East AAA would have a 20 by 8 foot section to temporarily house new tires, and a 16 by 10 foot area where used tires would be stored until removal. Toms River Planning Board members last week raised health and aesthetic concerns and requested more information before making a decision.  A concern raised by the board was that, exposed to the elements, the used tire area may become a "breeding ground" for mosquitoes. Applicant attorney Michael York said that used tires are not expected to be in the outside area for long, but couldn't say how often they would be…

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Hooper Ave. Retail Space Approved for Subdivisions

Chipotle and Jersey Mikes among businesses planned for the space

Toms River planners have approved a plan to subdivide a Hooper Avenue retail space, provided the applicant construct no more than three units in the building.  The plan by applicant Toms River Equities for a use variance to divide the former home of Coconuts Music and Movies at 1258 Hooper Ave. first came before the township's Planning Board in early December. At the time, board members expressed concern that the single space across from the Ocean County Mall could become a strip mall.  "I just don't see this building working divided into two or three units, or five units," board Chairman Bill Suchodolski said at the time.  The applicant returned in mid-December and proposed that no more than four tenants will occupy the space. A counter …

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Jan. 16 Planning Board Meeting Agenda

Board will meet at 6 p.m. in town hall

Parking Lot Improvements Planned for Route 37 Liquor Store

Monaghan's Liquors parking lot and building will see "substantial" improvements

The unmarked "sea of asphalt" that is the Monaghan's Liquors parking lot was approved for upgrades including delineated spaces and curbing by Toms River's Planning Board last week.  Currently, the parking lot has no curbing, enabling uncontrolled vehicle access to the 1258 Route 37 property from the state highway and River Drive. The new plan is to restrict Route 37 access to an entrance only and have traffic exit on River, which will also have another entrance. Once on River, traffic will be able to connect with Route 37. "The free for all at Monaghan's is about to come to an end," said attorney Harvey York, representing applicant 120 Exchange, LLC. "You kind of just pulled in and pulled out however you want. This plan represents a …

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Planners Question Proposal to Split Hooper Ave. Retail Space

Decision on subdividing former Coconuts store into multiple retail spaces put on hold

A proposal to split a Hooper Avenue building — once home to a video store — into multiple retail spaces was met with resistance by Planning Board members, leading the applicant to reconsider the plan until next meeting.  The applicant, Toms River Equities, needs a use variance to divide the former home of Coconuts Music and Movies at 1258 Hooper Ave. into at least three spaces, two of which would house a Jersey Mike's Subs and a Chipotle Mexican Grill. But board members had concerns Monday evening that the plan may turn what was meant to be a single business site across from the Ocean County Mall into a strip mall. "I just don't see this building working divided into two or three units, or five units," said board Chairman Bill Suchodolski…

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Agenda: Dec. 5 Planning Board Meeting

Toms River's Planning Board will meet at 6 p.m. in Town Hall

Business Briefs

Normandy Beach Eatery Approved for Outdoor Dining

Planning board gives approval

The Toms River Planning Board approved a small outside dining area for the Crabby Ricks Shore Shack on Route 35 in the Normandy Beach section of the township. The applicant’s engineer Ray Carpenter said the business is located on the beach and has no inside seating. He estimated 85-percent of the business is take out, but that some customers like to eat on site and the owner was seeking to put up three tables to accommodate those customers. The applicant needed to come before the board because much of the lot is non-conforming in its existing layout, however as the applicant is a tenant on the property he was seeking a waiver from making many of the improvements the code would require. Carpenter noted that since taking possession of the …

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Business Briefs

Verizon on Walnut and Hooper to be Converted to Rented Offices

Planning board approved plans for medical, office space

With the departure of Verizon from the building on the southwest corner of Hooper Avenue and Walnut Street, an application to convert the space into medical and professional offices is moving forward. The Toms River Planning Board approved a change of use for the building into a designation as medical office and professional office. Prevously, the building housed some office operations for Verizon, and was the site of a strike during a work stoppage of landline workers last year. Shortly thereafter, Verizon left the building, which has now been vacant for several months. At the May Planning Board meeting, the applicant was looking to remake the site as an office complex with 9,841 square feet of medical office use and 17,824 square feet of…

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