Public Silent at Hearing on Quick Chek Store Land Swap Proposal

The Board of Freeholders have agreed to vacate part of Central Parkway west of Route 9 so that the road can be lined up opposite Butler Boulevard and a new traffic signal installed, all part of plans for a new Quick Chek store on the northwest corner of the intersection.

The freeholders approved vacating part of the existing road so it can be shifted to the north, opposite Butler Boulevard. The realignment of the intersection and new signal were a condition of the approval of the Quick Chek plans by the Ocean County Planning Board on Aug 1, 2007.

No one spoke at a Feb. 16 public hearing on the proposal.

The part of the road being vacated by the county will become part of the Quick Chek site. The owners of that site will give the county two parcels in exchange. County Engineer Frank Scarantino said the county is giving up 6,878 square feet of property and getting 8,264 square feet. An appraiser said what the county is getting is worth more than the $75,000 value put on the land in July of 2007.

All of the expenses involved in rebuilding the road, installing the new traffic signal, and doing the designs will be borne by the owner of the Quick Chek site, 768 Route 9 LLC, which will lease it to JERC Partners XII, who will operate the Quick Chek business.

The freeholders also agreed to spend $1 million rebuilding and resurfacing county roads in seven towns.

Included in the Berkeley Township area are:

• Birch Street from Ship Avenue to the Garden State Parkway in Beachwood
• Mill Creek Road from Ocean Gate Drive to Chelsea Road in Berkeley
• Longport Avenue from the eastern border of Ocean Gate to the Toms River
• Motor Road from Route 9 to Prospect Street in Pine Beach

The board also appointed Brian Kubiel, representing Health South Rehabilitation Hospital, Thomas Mongelli of WOBM radio, Michele DeNoia of Southern Ocean County Hospital, and Carol Page of Ocean Medical Center to the county’s Emergency Management Council for three-year terms.

Dr. Leslie Cauvin was reappointed an assistant county medical examiner for one year.

William Zychkowski and Harold Morris of Beachwood, Benjamin H. Mabie III of Pine Beach, Laurie Cahill of Stafford, Holly Martin of Forked River, Charlotte F. Ross of Lavallette, Peter Rossi of Ship Bottom, April Yezzi of Toms River and Robin D. Weisselberg of Jackson were appointed to the Missing and Exploited Children’s Advisory Committee for three years.

Theresa Lettman of Manchester, Ronald Dancer of Plumsted, and William Fox of Jackson were reappointed to the county’s Natural Lands Trust Fund Advisory Committee for three-year terms.