BY LINDA SMITH HANCHARICK
WEST MILFORD — All systems are go for the ShopRite renovation and addition of a TJ Maxx store in the center of town, according to Tonya Cubby, West Milford Planning Board secretary. In most recent developments, the Passaic County Planning Board gave its unconditional approval for the project in late July, Cubby said. That is a key piece of the process the developers were waiting for after receiving conditional approval from the township in April. County approval of the site plan is needed because the property is located on county roads.
Inserra Supermarkets owns the entire property in the ShopRite Plaza, located at the corner of Union Valley and Marshall Hill Roads, except for the McDonalds and Wells Fargo sections. The bank property is included in this renovation project. Inserra started the planning process for an expansion and renovation years ago. In 2009, the company’s plan was to expand toward the back of the existing store. But that would have required them to close the store throughout the process, according to Larry Inserra, president and CEO of Inserra Supermarkets. Instead they decided to expand toward the front and renovate the entire facade of the shopping center and repave the parking lot.
Long awaited renovationCubby said three important steps are needed for this long-awaited renovation to move forward:
Developer agreement must be filed and recorded
Bond must be posted
The township planning department must receive the final, revised site plans from the county
“I have been advised all are completed and on the way to my office,” said Cubby on Tuesday.
First TJ MaxxThe building of TJ Maxx is the developer’s priority, said Cubby. The off-price retailer will set up shop in the former Abby Cinema, adjacent to ShopRite in the plaza, Renovation of that building will begin as soon as the necessary documents are in hand. Cubby said the roof will be removed, the interior demolished and the floor leveled, but the exterior walls will remain. Then, the TJ Maxx contractors will come in and fit it out for the store.
The second priority for the contractor, according to Cubby, is completing the sidewalks and curbing for the entire project.
“They want to get it done ‘before the snow flies’,” said Cubby. “They want to get in next week.”
First, they must have a preconstruction meeting with the township engineer, she added.
More delayLast October, Inserra addressed the township council and the public about the project. He did so because of an online petition started by a group of concerned residents that called for a ‘clean and healthy environment’ in which to shop for their food. At the time, he said he anticipated the project would take six months total, but that was before TJ Maxx was on board. He called for a Black Friday finish to the renovation of ShopRite. That is not going to happen, in part because they were waiting for county approval. And now TJ Maxx is the newest priority.
What is plannedThe renovation calls for an additional 4,000 square feet for the outdated supermarket. The facade of the entire complex will be renovated with stone, brick and wooden clapboard. The TJ Maxx store is proposed for 20,262 square feet, taking up the entire adjacent building.
What are your thoughts about the project? Go to westmilfordmessenger.com and get in on the conversation.