Stop & Shop's Experts Testify About ShopRite Application

A landscape architect and an engineer hired by testified about Inserra Supermarkets' planned ShopRite at a marathon meeting Thursday that lasted until about 12:30 a.m.

Inserra's plan is to build a new 62,042-square-foot ShopRite at the site of the former A&P and strip mall on Wyckoff and Greenwood Avenues. The current unoccupied buildings total 69,260 square feet.

However, both Stop & Shop and Boulder Run are objecting to the plan and have hired attorneys to represent them at the Planning Board. Stop & Shop's attorney, Gail Price, finished her cross-examination of Inserra's final expert at the previous hearing earlier this month. Thursday marked the first two of about five experts the rival supermarket is bringing.

First, landscape architect Mark Vizzini presented images of a 3-D digital rendering of the proposed ShopRite he had created with the original plans. Vizzini discussed the buffer areas around the property, which he said would not adequately block view of the store and parking lot from neighboring residential areas.

However, while Inserra attorney James Delia was cross-examining Vizzini, board members realized that Vizzini's 3-D model did not include the small berm that was planned along Greenwood Avenue, or any of the other changes in ground level around the site.

"'Bamboozled' is the word I'm thinking right now," board member Robert Kane said about the model.

Next, engineer Fred Worstell spoke about the plan to raise the property. Worstell said it could create flooding near the northeast corner of the site, He also said a change in the storm water drains could potentially cause a problem.

Another potential issue Worstell raised is the planned left-hand turn lane to be added for traffic entering the ShopRite site from Greenwood Avenue. According to Worstell, cars moving at 25 mph need at least 155 feet of emergency stopping room, but cars waiting to turn could potentially back up too far for it to be safe.

Inserra attorney James Jaworski said he would like to consult with his engineer before cross-examining Worstell.

The hearing for ShopRite is scheduled to continue at the November 9 Planning Board meeting and at another special meeting November 30.