Tile distributor applies to build new showroom
BY CHRIS GAETANO
Staff Writer

SOUTH BRUNSWICK - A tile distribution company made its case before the Zoning Board for a new state-of-the-art warehouse and showroom July 5.

The company, Garden State Tile Distributors, currently has a facility in Dayton, off Route 130, which acts as a redistribution center for its nine other locations in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The firm's president, Steven Fischer, said he wants to build a larger and newer 40,000-square-foot building behind the existing facility, which is 4,000 square feet.

The new structure will act as both a warehouse and a showroom to display its many types of tile, Fischer said, noting that all of the company's other locations have been updated already. Anticipating aesthetic concerns from the board, Fischer said that the plan calls for the project to be built at the rear of the property, far out of the sight of residents.

"We pride ourselves on the aesthetics of our interiors and exteriors," said Fischer.

He went on to say that customers expect a degree of professionalism in a changing market that taking extra care to address aesthetics will provide, especially due to the sheer number of products the company now needs to display.

"The amount of product to show has exploded in recent years," said Fischer, who added that showing tiles in large binders "like in the old days" won't work anymore.

He said that the application is to the township's advantage because, among other reasons, the larger facility will require more employees and therefore add about 20 jobs.

Board Chairman Martin Hammer expressed concern about large trucks pulling into and coming out of the site, especially given that the new warehouse would have eight loading docks.

"With a 53-footer leaving the site ... that truck is not exiting on to the right lane [of Route 130]," said Hammer, who also noted that since the traffic engineer had not yet testified, it was an issue that would need to be addressed later.

Fresh Ponds Road resident Nicolette Thorn, whose house abuts the property in question, brought some concerns of her own to the table during the public question section of the meeting, principally regarding flooding, the location of the trash disposal area and ATV riders.

Thorn said that she was concerned that stormwater from the site would flow on to her property, and that "it's sort of a pit back there."

"The runoff's a huge concern for me, from an environmental standpoint," said Thorn.

The firm's engineer, Terry DeGroot, said that there will be a detention basin at the back of the site to catch the water, which will then discharge into some wetlands at the rear of the property. He further said that there would be a swale that would completely intercept water.

After Thorn said that garbage from the existing building's Dumpster sometimes ends up on her property, it was agreed that a new location would be sought.

Finally, the issue of trespassing ATV riders was discussed. Thorn said she already has a problem with this, and was concerned that the building might make her property even more accessible. Options such as fencing were discussed, with Hammer saying that, since it is a safety concern, he would like to see the firm come up with some sort of plan.

No decision was made that evening. The application is scheduled to be continued on Sept. 6.