Government

Demolition, New Construction Planned at Brick Shopping Center

by
Daniel Nee
September 8, 2020

The Brick Commons (Kohl’s/Shop-Rite) shopping center. (Credit: Google Maps)

Urban Edge Properties, owner of the Brick Commons shopping center (better known as the Shop-Rite and Kohl’s plaza) is proposing several modifications to the property, records filed with the township show.

The township’s Board of Adjustment will hear UE’s application for demolition and new construction at the shopping center at its Sept. 16 meeting. Specifically, UE is proposing the demolition of the existing 2,850 square foot Santander bank building and construction of a 7,130 square foot building with two tenant spaces for a restaurant use with outdoor seating in it place. The changes will also add six building-mounted signs, modification to two existing pylon signs to provide aesthetic enhancements and tenant identification sign panels, plus construction of 24 previously approved “greenbank parking spaces.” Finally, there will be curbing, striping, and “associated site improvements,” the filing said.

The application is inclusive of one proposed change that was previously approved by the board but has not yet been made: a 3,757 square foot addition to the “endcap” unit adjacent to the existing Old Navy retail store within the existing shopping center. Approval for that construction was gained in 2016.

The project requires the zoning board to approve several variances, including a use variance – which itself requires a supermajority of board members voting in approval – before construction can take place. The restaurant use is already permitted in the zone in which Brick Commons in located. The majority of the variances required are routine “bulk” variances for issues such as lot coverage and signage. Additionally, 1,180 parking spaces are required while and 1,061 parking spaces are proposed.

The board is scheduled to hear the case at its Sept. 16 meeting, which will be held via Zoom at 7 p.m.