SOMERS POINT — The future site of an ALDI Food Market has been cleared for construction.
City engineer Greg Schneider said the developer has all permits in hand and would start with on-site work such as curbing and stormwater management, then move onto the building foundation and construction.
The Planning Board unanimously approved an application to build the market at the junction of Route 9 and Groveland Avenue, an area plagued by narrow streets, heavy traffic and recurrent flooding, in April 2023.
The developer, Provco Somers Point LLC, plans to build the 21,659-square-foot market at the site of the former Walgreens pharmacy.
Attorney Stephen Nehmad, representing Provco, said when they approached the city with a plan for the market, they were “told in no uncertain terms” that traffic and stormwater management would have to be addressed for any redevelopment plan to be considered.
“They are not able to open until that is complete,” Schneider said, noting it would be taking place simultaneously with construction.
He expects about two months of work, which will result in lane closures with police presence.
City Council agreed July 21, 2022, to adopt the West Groveland Redevelopment Plan, an agreement that granted concessions to the developer in exchange for major site improvements, including dedicated left-turn lanes, new traffic signals and crosswalks and an extensive drainage system to alleviate flooding. Council members later voted to adopt that plan.
Josh Sewald, of Dynamic Engineering, testified before the Planning Board that the intersection would be completely reconstructed and fully modernized with push-button signals and crosswalks. More importantly, he said, the dedicated left-turn lanes would allow traffic to flow rather than backing up and even blocking the box.
Traffic engineer Andrew Jafolla said at the hearing that there would be a crosswalk on both sides of Groveland Avenue and one on the north side of Route 9.
Another change planned is a two-way left-turn lane on Route 9. Jafolla said there currently is no left-turn lane into Galloway Auto & Tire and that since the driveways are offset, the single lane would be beneficial to both businesses.
Sewald said the Walgreens was about 10,000 square feet with a drive-thru and 49 parking spaces. The new building will be 19,209 square feet with an option for a 2,450-square-foot expansion and 98 parking spaces.
He said the new building would be farther back on the site, with parking to the east. It would have two front facades, facing Route 9 and Groveland, and extensive landscaping featuring at least 130 evergreen shrubs.
Schneider said he is unaware when the project will begin but noted “they are anxious to get started on the surveying work, so I would expect pretty soon.”
– STORY by CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff