Traffic Flow For Proposed Chick-Fil-A In Bridgewater Discussed
BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Traffic flow and access to the proposed Chick-fil-A site in Bridgewater in case of emergencies were the topic of discussion at the latest Planning Board meeting.
Chick-fil-A’s Engineer Zachary Chaplin spoke on Tuesday night addressing a supplemental review memo submitted by Bridgewater Township professionals to the applicant about access points to the site at the long-vacant former Ruby Tuesday location at the Bridgewater Towne Center off Route 202.
The application before the Planning Board proposes to demolish the existing one-story masonry building within the shopping center and construct a new standalone 4,989-square-foot Chick-fil-A restaurant with a drive-thru with two lanes and 29 queuing spaces.
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Concerns were raised that there was only one access point into and out of the site and no pass-through along the drive-thru.
“I do want to make it a point that the majority of Chick-fil-A’s do not have a bypass lane,” said Chaplin.
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Chaplin exhibited six existing locations in New Jersey showing their configurations. None of the locations in North Brunswick, South Plainfield, Edison, Parsippany, Old Bridge, and Lawrence displayed a bypass lane.
However, Chaplin noted that “unlike most drive-thrus that have one lane, we do have two lanes.”
In the event there is an emergency, such as a car breaking down in the drive-thru, Chaplin said the Chick-fil-A staff have the ability to move vhieles and get vehicles out of the site.
In response to the memo and concerns, Chick-fil-A also modified its proposed plan to include an added an exit curb cut so drivers can get out of the site without having to fully traverse the drive-thru.
Councilman and Planning Board Liasion Michael Kirsh said he liked that there is another way to get off the site but still expressed concerns.
“I still remain concerned about what could become a chokepoint of getting in and out which is your main entrance. I guess I will remain particularly concerned in the scenario where we need to get an ambulance in there,” said Kirsh. “If there is a restaurant visitor or a staff person that has a medical emergency. It could be a chaotic situation with cars coming in and out and all kinds of crazy stuff.”
Kirsh suggested making an additional curb cut-out that would be accessible right from Town Center Road near the Route 202 intersection. This would only be open to emergency personnel to use.
Overall, Kirsh said he felt the proposed site is “a little tight” compared to other Chick-fil-A locations.
“As you come back next time, I would just look for additional reassurance that while crowded this site will work,” said Kirsh. “It’s a tight space and getting out of this whole complex and going north again is a bit of a challenge.”
Chaplin noted that the benefit of the Bridgewater location is that it is in a shopping center.
“If it is tight we’re not impacting major highways or like having issues with main access points,” said Chaplin.
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“I totally heard what you are saying,” Chaplin continued. “We will come back, we’ll have a couple of things to say to reassure you that this does work. That we’ve done a lot of calculations and a lot of plan preparations and we’ll reassure the Board and the public this can work.
The hearing on Chick-fil-A’s application will continue at the Board’s Reorganization meeting on Jan. 7.
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