West Milford ShopRite plans get approved

Preliminary and final site plan approval for the renovation and expansion of the existing ShopRite supermarket on Marshall Hill Road was granted to Inserra/West Milford LLC (ShopRite) by the West Milford Planning Board on Sept. 27.

PHOTO/ANN GENADER

Upgrade of the ShopRite supermarket approved by the planning board on Sept. 27 is not the only change expected in West Milford's business center. The approval includes tearing down the theater building (seen in the rear of the photo). Planning officials said McDonald's Restaurant is soon expected to be the subject of an application to the board for upgrades.

The approval is for additional retail space, construction of a new retail building in the area of the former theater, a new building facade; landscaping, lighting and improvement to the driveways and parking lot areas served by the shopping center. The application submitted to the board amended a prior site plan application approved by the planning board on Feb. 5, 2009.

The present theater building will be removed and be replaced by a slightly smaller building with available retail space. The present ShopRite building will have minor expansion in the rear with an addition in the front, explained John Wyciskala, attorney for the applicant.

Asked by AIM West Milford when Inserra will begin the construction, Wyciskala responded.

"We want to start as soon as possible," said Wyciskala. "There will be some approvals needed from the county and the Highlands Council. As soon as we have those work will get underway."

When William Hamilton, planner for Inserra, first discussed the project with the board in 2008 he estimated that it could be completed in from six to nine months. No construction time estimate was given at the latest meeting.

A necessary change in a buffer agreement with adjacent McDonald's restaurant before Inserra could expand the front part of the existing supermarket store was accomplished before the supermarket application was returned to the board agenda.

To deal with that restriction Inserra attempted to relocate the loading bay and other infrastructure. This would have necessitated closing the store during the reconstruction project and the supermarket owner did not want to do that. The way things have worked out the store will remain open during construction.

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West Milford ShopRite plans get approved