Butler Residents Form Group Against Quick Check Plans

While Quick Chek representatives came forward with significant changes to their original proposed plan for a 24-hour store and gas station on the corner of Route 23 between Boonton and Bartholdi Avenues, those opposed to the new store said they are still not pleased with the proposal.

Changes were unveiled during the third session of Quick Chek’s presentation to the Butler Planning Board Thursday. At the previous meeting, held Feb. 10., board members raised several concerns with engineering aspects of the proposed store. They advocated measures to soften the impact on citizens living adjacent to the store and asked to remove seating from inside and outside the store to ensure adequate parking space.

Board Engineer Paul Darmofalski and Board Member Jim Brown had specific problems with the plans that called for seating both inside and outside the store. They feared customers would stay too long and fill all available parking spots, leaving excess customers to park in undesignated and possibly unsafe locations. The revised plans presented by Quick Chek Engineer Keith Cahill did incorporate many of the changes the board members had requested, including eliminating all seating.

Other changes included the removal of one gas pump, changing the driveway on Bartholdi Avenue to "Enter Only" and increasing the size of other driveways to accomodate delivery and emergency vehicles.  

The size of the proposed store decreased from 5,190 square feet to 4,542.5, as per a request from the board, and the proposed height went from 25.8 feet to 21.8. This would allow for more space between the building and Lafayette Avenue and minimizes the viewable parts of the building from homeowners' property, Cahill said.

The gas station combined with Quick Chek would have 12 pumping stations, down from the original 14. This would allow for more space from the Route 23 entrance to the first pump, making more room for cars to queue.  Two of the 12 pumping stations would still contain only diesel fuel.

Cahill also consulted with Butler’s fire chief who wanted to ensure his fire engine had multiple points of entry if an emergency did occur on Quick Chek property. According to Cahill, the radius of both entrance driveways, on Route 23 and Bartholdi Avenue have been increased to the fire chief's satisfaction.

Board members had less negative comments towards Quick Chek representatives at this meeting, but many members of the public remained unsatisfied. Several Lafayette Avenue residents said they felt that more should be done.

Jerry Allison, a Lafayette Avenue resident said, “It’s much too little.”

In response to his concern, Allison is attempting to fight back. He has organized a group of concerned citizens who will meet on Mar. 22 at 7:30 p.m. at the Bartholdi firehouse and discuss what they can do in response to this issue. 

The public has their chance to question Cahill at next month's meeting on Apr. 21.  Following the public’s questions, a traffic engineer will discuss and answer questions relating to the flow of customers, workers and deliveries as they enter and exit the store.