Franklin Lakes November 7, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 7 Bank planned for Urban Farms Shopping Center by Frank J. McMahon JP Morgan Chase Bank is planning to build a new branch at the Urban Farms Shopping Center on Franklin Lake Road in Franklin Lakes. The one-story bank and two drivethrough lanes would be constructed on the site of the former Exxon gas station, which is owned by the shopping center. Gregory Meese, the attorney for JP Morgan Chase, recently told the Franklin Lakes Planning Board that his client’s proposal is to demolish the existing service station building and replace it with a building of approximately 3,419 square feet. The bank building would be located in the northwest corner of the property with the drive-through lanes on the western edge of the site. Access to the bank will be provided from a two-way driveway on Franklin Lake Road and by a connection to the existing parking lot associated with the shopping center. The site also contains a brook that traverses the property from a culvert along the southern property line within Franklin Lake Road northeast to a culvert within High Mountain Road. The application would require the approval of several variances that pertain to signage on the site. A variance related to the queuing of cars in the two drive-through lanes is also being requested. The applicant is also requesting a variance for the parking space size of nine by 18 feet, as opposed to the 10 by 20 feet required by the borough code, which Meese claims has already been granted for the shopping center, and a variance for parking up to the street line, which has also already been granted for the shopping center. The site is about three quarters of an acre, and Meese said the bank is basically only redeveloping that area and not adding much impervious coverage to the shopping center. The plan would add 23 parking spaces, however, whereas the code only requires 14 spaces. Storm water on the site would be handled by infiltration of root water into the ground. Meese advised that Exxon is responsible for removing any underground tanks on the site and that company is in the process of doing so. While JP Morgan Chase has an environmental expert involved in that tank removal, the bank is not involved in the actual work. Exxon estimated the tanks will be removed by March. The bank is seeking variances to permit three wallmounted signs rather than one, and to permit the signs to exceed the 50 square foot permitted sign area by 7.6 square feet; four 16 square foot logo signs; two 2.2 square foot directional signs; one 4.5 square foot sign for the automated teller machine; and one 560 square foot nameplate sign where 180 square feet is permitted. A variance is also being requested for having more than one principal building on a lot, and several design waivers are being sought. Professional Engineer Mark Gimigliano described the site plan to the board and the various variances and waivers being requested, the traffic circulation, and the lighting and landscaping. He also explained that the owner of the shopping center will reconfigure a Passaic Valley Sewer Authority pump station on the site into a smaller area to allow more room for the bank. Borough Engineer James Kelly asked Gimigliano for details about the reconfiguration of the pump station and asked if it required the approval of the Passaic Valley Sewer Authority. Gimigliano said it did, not but Kelly asked him to confirm that it did not require that approval. John Spizziri, the board’s attorney, asked Gimigliano to provide some information about who would make an application to the board to reconfigure the pump station. The public hearing was carried to the Nov. 7 public hearing of the board. Sara Losch, MS Ed, director of Lifelong Learning at Barnert Temple Preschool and Family Center, and temple member/licensed clinical psychologist Peter Fishkin, Ph.D. will present “Cawfy Tawk,” a two-session set of informal talks for parents. Cawfy Tawk is open to the public and is free of charge. RSVP to schooloffice@barnerttemple.org. On Nov. 19 from 7:30 to 9 p.m., the discussion will cover the use of practical wisdom from Jewish teachings, the writings of Wendy Mogel (author of “Blessings of a Skinned Knee”), and the combined experience of Losch Parents invited to attend Cawfy Tawk and Fishkin. The presentation will include a look at learning how to embrace and support the unique and ordinary child. Coffee and the adult version of milk and cookies will be served. The second Cawfy Talk conversation will be held at 9:15 a.m. on Dec. 3. Losch will present “Raising a Balanced Child.” Barnert Temple Preschool & Family Center is located at 747 Route 208 South in Franklin Lakes.