Preview: ShopRite Application Hearing Tonight

Inserra Supermarkets Inc. is expected to introduce new testimony tonight on site plans and environmental concerns associated with its ShopRite application.

The Planning Board will hold the first of several special meetings at 7 p.m. at Town Hall to focus solely on Inserra, which seeks subdivision, site plan and variance approvals to build a 62,174-square-foot supermarket at the site of the old A&P on Greenwood Avenue.

Representatives expect to respond to follow-up site plan questions from the board tonight, as Inserra recently to reflect the request for a major subdivision rather than a minor subdivision of the Greenwood lot. 

Additionally, Inserra attorney James Jaworski expects to introduce William Parry, an environmental engineer from a Parsippany-based firm, H2M Group, to provide testimony on the site's environmental considerations and remediation efforts.

Over several months of hearings, the board has heard  and testimony from Inserra witnesses Thomas Ashbahian and Andrew Missey of Lapatka Associates, respectively. Both witnesses were cross-examined by attorney Gail Price, who represents the neighboring Stop & Shop and property owner Munico Associates, which has to the proceedings.

Price has had an impact, as her on how the square footage of non-architectural space was calculated as well as her examination of Missey on lot dimensions largely led to the filing of the recent revised plans.  

The attorney is expected to continue her cross-examination of Inserra witnesses and has said she may seek to introduce her own witness testimony. The Planning Board also will seek the testimony of its own witnesses before being able to vote on the application.

Tonight's hearing will start at 7 p.m. in the Municipal Courtroom at Town Hall, 340 Franklin Ave. The meeting is open to the public, and residents may question witnesses on testimony offered to the board.