Will New Stop & Shop Add Traffic To Millburn Avenue?[POLL]

Residents and the township engineer raised concerns of traffic safety, after representatives from Springfield presented the proposed building and landscaping plans for the Stop & Shop on Millburn Avenue.

The Stop & Shop is proposed for the old Saks Fifth Avenue location, 92 Millburn Ave., in Short Hills. Even though that property is located in Springfield, Millburn has jurisdiction on the 20-foot piece of land entering the property, the township engineeer, Thomas Watkinson, said.

"There will be some more talk because the there's an issue with the way it's set," said Watkinson at this week's Zoning Board meeting. "It's the driveways, that's what causes the problems."

This week, the traffic engineer for ARC was scheduled to address the traffic plan, but the engineer didn't attend. Instead, ARC Springfield's civil engineer, Michael Fowler, presented the astectics of the building and Kenneth Narva of Street-Works in White Plains, N.Y. presented the landscaping plan. 

that the county has approved the widening of Millburn Avenue to accommodate a light at Millburn Avenue and Baltusrol Way to allow for a left turn lane into and out of the parking lot and onto Baltusrol Way.

The other driveway on Millburn Avenue would be for delivery trucks only and would not allow for an right turn exit out of the property because that would put trucks headed in the direction of downtown Millburn.

Watkinson said he is worried about the truck traffic on Millburn Avenue increasing causing conjestion. He also said the right-hand turn from Morris Avenue to Millburn Avenue more than a 90-degree turn, which would be sharp for 18-wheelers.

"I don't know where it is headed," Watkinson said. "I just know I raised my issues and now it is up to the board."

Residents were told ARC Springfield's traffic engineer will attend the next public hearing Monday, Oct. 1, in the Town Hall. 

Other residents raised their concern throughout the meeting saying there were already issues with traffic on Millburn Avenue without the addition of a food store. Residents previously have had concerns with noise as well. 

The president of the Short Hills Association, Eleanor Wallen, also addressed these issues in a .

"The Short Hills Association proposes that Millburn and Springfield Township officials meet with Stop and Shop representatives to discuss traffic solutions so that Millburn does not bear this traffic burden while Springfield collects the property taxes from the proposed Stop and Shop."

The 20-foot piece of land is a sidewalk that goes all the way to the curb and landscaping that will call for the removal of six trees and the addition 12 different trees. It was given to Millburn in land deal with Springfield that shifted the boundary line by 20 feet back in 1957