Postponed: 7-Eleven Public Hearing to Take Place April 9

The New Providence Planning Board will hold a public hearing on the construction of a 7-Eleven at 65 South Street, the location of the Provident Bank Parking lot on April 9(the meeting has been postponed).

The plan calls for a 2,940 square foot 7-Eleven to be built adjacent to Barth’s Market, according to an article in the Independent Press.

The proposed 7-Eleven has led to comments from residents who both support and oppose the construction of a 7-Eleven downtown.

Are you in favor of a 7-Eleven on South Street? Tell us why or why not in the comments!

Resident Jim Madden submitted a blog post to Patch in mid-February about his reasons for opposing the store’s presence on South Street.

“I look at this application and can’t help but conclude that it’s just not a good idea as I don’t believe that the 7 Eleven plans fit within our current downtown,” Madden said. “Or more specifically within the Master Plan for the Borough of New Providence.”

One commenter on the post said 7-Eleven should take some of the existing real estate available in the borough instead of building.

Another commenter suggested if the parking and traffic issues were addressed, the 7-Eleven could be a good addition.

“To be a convenience store, it needs to be easily accessible, he said. “Locating it in the Village Shopping center will not achieve that.”

Sefo Hawi Realty, LLC will be presenting to the planning board a Central Commercial District Preliminary and final major site plan and minor subdivision and a variance and design waiver/exception, according the Borough’s agenda.

The public hearing on 7-Eleven has been postponed, according to the borough's website.