New Gas Station Plans Raise Concerns In Mahwah

MAHWAH, NJ — A resolution to approve a proposed site plan for a gas station on the Franklin Turnpike raised concerns among the Mahwah Board of Adjustment at Wednesday's meeting, leading to discussion of an engineer review after a six-month period to see if changes need to be made.

Contractor Pike Enterprises, a provider of energy solutions, has applied to demolish an existing gas station at 149 Franklin Turnpike, Block 70.02, Lot 121, and construct a new station with a canopy and a Dunkin' drive-thru.

Board members at the meeting, however, expressed concerns over street lighting at the intersection of Stephens Lane and Franklin Turnpike; off-peak delivery times of fuel to the station; and whether snow removal and storage should be on- or off-site, as to avoid impediments to customers.

In light of the discussion, the board agreed that there should be some type of language crafted to say that, in six months, the township engineer will review the site in regard to lighting, striping, signage and landscaping and other aspects to see what might be needed.

"(Enforcement) work falls to the engineer and others in town," Board member Thomas Kearney said, who was in favor of the six-month review. "For us, it falls to this being as built, as planned and as testified. We have a limit to our authority."