Vernon plan may bring Circle K gas station, retail store, apartments to town center

Eric Obernauer   | New Jersey Herald

VERNON — A proposed amendment to the town center master plan could see the D&S strip mall on Rt. 515 give way to a Circle K gas station, a convenience store and two, two-bedroom apartments.

The Land Use Board has already signed off on the concept, which the Township Council will introduce in the form of an ordinance Monday. The ordinance is expected to come up for a final vote Feb. 8.

Mayor Howard Burrell said a developer has already offered to buy the 1.28-acre shopping center property, located across from the Acme supermarket, but won’t proceed without some assurance of having its plans approved.

Even if the ordinance passes, it won’t be the last word as the developer will also need to obtain site plan and permit approvals from the Land Use Board.

“This same company that has signed an agreement to purchase the D&S Mall property has recently completed and opened a beautiful new Circle K convenience and fuel station store on Route 23 in Hardyston,” Burrell said. “They are enthusiastic about Vernon, but they are not going to buy it if they can’t put their business there.”

The company also has a location on Newton-Sparta Road in Andover Township.

Vernon, like other municipalities in the state’s Highlands Preservation Zone where development is restricted, has staked much of its commercial future on developing its existing town center. Township officials believe doing so will also help stabilize sewerage rates by spreading the costs among more users.

The town center master plan envisions an area of mixed-use retail and business establishments catering to residents as well as skiers, golfers, hikers and visitors to the township’s resorts. The plan is designed to encourage the integration of enhanced building design, parking, landscape, and signage elements to improve the overall appearance and streetscape.

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Over the last five years, a CVS and Taco Bell have opened in the town center. However, because the existing town center plan doesn’t allow for additional gas stations, an amendment is needed before the developer can proceed.

Burrell said the developer’s plans to construct a “high-end” fuel and retail establishment and to give the property a thorough facelift justify the amendment and are consistent with the types of businesses the township is trying to draw.

“People have asked me, ‘Why don’t you bring in a Panera Bread or something similar’,” Burrell said. “Believe me, I would love to have something like that, but what people have to understand is I can’t simply bring someone in. They have to want to come in, and to do that, you have to first try to do the best with what you have.”

The developer’s willingness to invest in the town center could go a long way toward encouraging others to do so, the mayor said.

Circle K has more than 7,200 locations in the United States, a number that ranks second only to 7-Eleven among major convenience store chains, Burrell said. It also has thousands of additional stores throughout Canada, Europe and Asia.

The Township Council meets virtually at 7 p.m. Monday.

Eric Obernauer can also be contacted on Twitter: @EricObernNJH or by phone at 862-273-5349.