Eatontown Wawa Builder Wishes to Acquire Borough Property

The developer wishing to build a Wawa on Route 35 in Eatontown is now looking to acquire a small piece of borough property that will eliminate a variance needed in their application

The applicant's attorney, Peter Falvo, told the Eatontown Council there is a "uniquely-shaped piece of property that happens to be a borough right-of-way," on the southwest corner of the property.

"It's a sewer easement that serves the Brookwood development," Falvo said. "If we acquire it, it would eliminate our needed for a side yard setback variance."

Falvo said one of the proposed uses of the site is a Chick-fil-A restaurant which would have a drive up window. He said a drive up window requires a 30-foot setback from the side property line. That necessity would be eliminated if the borough sells the property to the applicant.

"We're looking to develop that piece of land, we just want to add landscaping to it," Falvo said.

Borough Attorney Gene Anthony said he did not have a problem with the borough selling as long as the right-of-way's use is maintained.

Anthony said the borough also has to sell the property at fair market value and that it should be appraised by the applicant.

The council decided it would investigate the matter and make a decision at a future meeting.

The developer plans to build a Wawa convenience store, gas station, Chick-fil-A and a mixed use office space that will include a bank at the site of the vacant Circle Trailer Park and the Lube It All near the corner of Route 35 and Wycoff Road. Lube It All is moving to a new location up the street, next to the Wendy's.

The developer also needs major site plan approval and a variance because the gas station would lie within 2,000 feet of the Exxon gas station across Route 35.

The application is expected to be heard by the Eatontown Zoning Board on April 1.