Proposed Buffalo Wild Wings Makes Progress

The vacated building at 1540 Route 46 once housed a Chili’s, which closed in 2011. Houlihan's Restaurant and Bar eyed the property in 2012, but did not move forward.

Hoping to take a stab at the property, Buffalo Wild Wings is progressing toward its end goal. BWW received minor site plan approval last month and went back in front of the Planning Board’s minor site plan/subdivision committee on Tuesday night.

Many aspects were touched upon and the discussions were put on hold until the next meeting so that BWW could update its design plan.

James Henry, Principal at Dynamic Engineering Consultants, said that “they’re proposing an infiltration basin along the eastern side of the property line.” However, due to the added parking spaces to the site plan, the basin sits very close to the property line causing concern for adequate buffer between the site and the residential streets that border it, Sandra Drive and Sandra Court. The number of parking spots will increase by about 60 spots.

Gordon Meth, board Engineer suggested an underground basin with parking on top.

Henry said that was an option, but is costly.

A short break was taken for the board to discuss what size buffer they were comfortable with.

During the break, Henry spoke to the applicant.

“I spoke to our client and our client has agreed to cut back the infiltration basin so that this entire 35-foot buffer is all going to be landscaping and trees,” said Henry. “We’re going to supplement the basin by doing an underground retention basin.”

However, since “the overall layout is going to change because of this,” he’ll need to revise the site design.

Henry added that they’ll work with the township forester to figure out what kind of landscaping to use for the northeastern corner of the property.

There was another witness that night to discuss planning aspects of the proposal, but that witness testimony was tabled until the revised plan was completed.

The applicant will return with a revised plan depicting the new basin layout and landscaping buffer, hopefully by the next meeting, Oct. 7.  The discussion will carry to the next meeting and if the applicant’s plans are not ready, it will be carried to the following meeting.

Check back with Patch for more on this meeting.