Are Popeyes, Sonic Coming To West Orange? Zoning Board To Hear Plan

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Should a plan to bring new Popeyes and Sonic restaurants to West Orange get a thumbs-up? That’s a question that the local zoning board is expected to delve into at their meeting on Thursday.

According to the zoning board of adjustment's agenda for their April 20 meeting, its members are slated to hear an application from MPB Realty LLC regarding plans for a property at 470 Eagle Rock Avenue, which currently is home to a vacant restaurant building.

The applicant seeks C and D variances with preliminary and final site plan approval to build two restaurant buildings with accessory drive-thru components.

A planning report from December gave a hint at one of the proposed restaurants: Popeyes. The other was “undetermined,” the report said.

That question appears to have been answered in an April 17 memo from the township planner to the zoning board, which named a second restaurant: Sonic.

Here are some details about the proposal, according to the memo:

TREES – The applicant is proposing to remove all improvements on the subject property and construct two drive-through fast food restaurants: a Popeye’s and a Sonic. Thirty-three trees on the subject property are proposed to be removed. Of these, 21 are considered “viable” trees and require replacement. A total of 38 replacement trees are proposed: 17 major and 21 minor trees.

SIZE – The Popeye’s restaurant is proposed to have a floor area of 2,525 square feet and 24 seats. The Sonic restaurant is proposed to have a floor area of 1,616 square feet and a 764 square feet outdoor seating area. No indoor dining is proposed for the Sonic. A drive-through window is proposed for each restaurant, with an ordering station and menu board to the rear of each restaurant. Each drive-through lane is proposed to have queuing space for 10 vehicles.

SIGNS - Proposed signage includes two freestanding signs along the Eagle Rock Avenue frontage: a 20- foot tall, 49.43-square foot sign for Popeye’s and a 16-foot tall, 42.98-square foot sign for Sonic. Five façade signs are proposed on each building, on three sides of the Popeye’s building and four sides of the Sonic building. Site lighting includes 13 pole lights with mounting heights of 15 to 18 feet, five wall lights and 22 canopy lights.

DRIVEWAYS – Two, two-way driveways are proposed on Eagle Rock Avenue. The eastern driveway will be full movement, while the western one will only allow right turns out, with a center island proposed prohibit left turns out of it. Parking spaces are proposed in the front, side front and side yards. A total of 30 parking spaces are proposed, including two handicap spaces and three electric vehicle charging spaces. However, nine of these spaces located along the eastern property line are order locations for the Sonic restaurant. A 1,400-square foot canopy is proposed above these nine spaces. The height of the canopy is not provided.

WALKING/BIKE – A bicycle rack is proposed to the northeast of the Sonic restaurant. Two pedestrian connections are proposed from the sidewalk on Eagle Rock Avenue, one to each restaurant. A sidewalk connecting Fundus Road to Eagle Rock Avenue located in a five-foot wide sidewalk easement along the eastern property line is proposed to remain.

TRASH/LANDSCAPING – Two trash enclosures are proposed to the rear of the restaurants. The one for Popeye’s is proposed to be located 13.7 feet from the southern property line and the one for Sonic is proposed to be located 21.3 feet from the southern property line. A six-foot tall board on board fence is proposed to the south and west of the parking lot and circulation aisles. Landscaping is proposed between the fence and lot lines and elsewhere on the property. The proposed landscaping consists of nine shade trees, 29 evergreen trees, 59 evergreen shrubs, 52 deciduous shrubs, groundcover, perennials and ornamental grasses.

• See Related: Viral 'Popeyes Meme Kid' From East Orange Gets Super Bowl Ad (VIDEO)

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