Downtown H.P. anchor location could become a 7-11

At the April 14 Planning Board meeting, board member Heather Wilkerson reported on 7-11's application before the Highland Park Redevelopment Authority (HPRA) to build a convenience store on the corner of Raritan Avenue and South Second Avenue.

Wilkerson told the board that although 7-11 representatives have been cooperative with the HPRA, there are two sticking points: a controversial curb cut on Raritan Avenue and a "monument sign" the store wants to place on the corner of the intersection.

According to Planning Board Chairman Jon Carnegie, Wilkerson and fellow board member Paul Lanaris have regularly attended Redevelopment Authority meetings with 7-11 management.

"The first application 7-11 placed before [the Redevelopment Authority 18 months ago] was denied because it did not include a two-story building," Wilkerson said.

In addition, there were other issues, including the Redevelopment Authority's intention to discourage any business from having parking along Raritan Avenue/Route 27.

When 7-11 corporate officials came back to the Redevelopment Authority, Wilkerson said that it was clear they were ready to make concessions about aesthetics to the convenience store project, including building a two-story building with 7-11 corporate office space on the second floor.

Board Clerk Diane Reh said that 7-11's representatives [CORRECTION, should be: will present their proposal to the Planning Board in person on May 19th] <remove: will be back again before the Redevelopment Authority in May to continue making their case. That meeting has not been scheduled>.

Wilkerson noted that on the matter of 7-11's trademark large sign along Raritan Avenue, company officials were currently "playing hardball" with the town. However, she added, "I don't think they are willing to walk away from the project because of a sign, and I don't think the town is going to make them walk away because of it either."

Wilkerson said she believes there is plenty of room for "finding a middle ground," although she expressed concern that the signage issue was defined as a "threshold issue" for 7-11 -- an issue that could potentially be a deal breaker.

Carnegie said that 7-11 officials will have to acquire a signed agreement with the Redevelopment Authority before they begin their process with the Planning Board. As borough officials review the site plan being proposed, the plan will be weighed against both the municipality's Redevelopment and Master plans.

Carnegie also explained that, should they receive approval from the Redevelopment Authority, such an endorsement would exempt the proposed 7-11 from any future adverse redevelopment consequences, such as the potential imposition of eminent domain upon their business and building.

Even after 7-11 finds consensus with the Redevelopment Authority, should they do so, he made it clear that does not mean the Planning Board will not thoroughly do its job in safeguarding the residents of Highland Park. He made it clear that the Planning Board has its own criteria that must be met by 7-11 and that corporate officials will need to address those, in addition to those of the Redevelopment Authority.