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Pep Boys Applicants to Return Tuesday

They ran out of time during the Township Planning Board's May 22 meeting.

 

A group looking to bring a Pep Boys franchise to the corner of Blackwood Clementon and Little Gloucester roads will go before the Township Planning Board next Tuesday.

It will be the applicants' second trip before the board in three weeks.

The May 22 hearing for the proposed 4,988-square-foot automotive service and tire facility was continued after two hours of testimony, according to officials. The applicants are seeking preliminary and final site plan approval.

The Pep Boys franchise's would-be neighbors—the owner of the McDonald's franchise at 1505 Blackwood Clementon Rd. and residents in the Woodmill development—object to the proposal and are expected to provide testimony at the June 12 meeting, according to Township Council Vice President Orlando Mercado, who sits on the Planning Board.

"His concern is that the individuals that go to service their cars will be parking in his parking lot," Mercardo said of the McDonald's owner during Council's workshop meeting Monday night.

Woodmill residents are concerned about noise from the proposed automotive service center, the councilman said.

Mercado noted the proposed Pep Boys would not include a retail component, making it significantly smaller than some Pep Boys locations in the area, and that its service side would have six bays—two of which would be dedicated to oil changes.

The lot, located on the northwest corner of Blackwood Clementon and Little Gloucester roads, is just 0.79 acres. It previously served as home to a Checkers fast-food restaurant.

The majority of applicants are identified as Texas residents in documentation submitted to the township earlier this year. They are doing business as Embree Asset Group Inc.

The land is owned by a California woman.

"Here's an opportunity to blend a piece of property there. It's a national chain that wants to come into Gloucester Township. And, again, there's not going to be retail, so it's not going to compete with Advance or AutoZone."

Tuesday's meeting is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. It will be held in Council chambers at the municipal building.

Related Topics: Blackwood Clementon Road, Gloucester Township Planning Board, Orlando Mercado, and pep boys

Joanne

8:03 am on Friday, June 8, 2012

I'd love to have a Pep Boys in town!

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Michelle Wolfson

12:45 pm on Friday, June 8, 2012

I understand the desire to attract business to that area which desperately needs it, but a Pep Boys. Really?
Might as well just slap another drugstore down.
Nothing personal with Pep Boys, I can just think of about 100 businesses I would rather see in this area!

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Darren Gladden

2:12 pm on Friday, June 8, 2012

Are you man hateing on Manny, Moe and Jack ......;-)

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David Vaccaro

11:30 pm on Saturday, June 9, 2012

Michelle,

So I guess the town should submit all applications for your approval? I'm trying to understand how anyone has much a case against a business like Pep Boys? If there were 10 auto service businesses in town and someone, a good American company felt they could compete and was willing to take the chance...why not? Now if someone comes in asking for a whorehouse, I'm with you...but Manny, Moe and Jack have to clear a hurdle?

Thomas Yandell

4:32 pm on Friday, June 8, 2012

Yes, there are a ton of places that could go there, and Pep Boys isnt the best idea. But i find it funny how McDonalds years ago didnt want anything to do with the old gas station there before checkers went in, the site has been empty for how long? and now they dont want a pep boys there either. Maybe we should just ask Mcdonalds what they think should go there....

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Michelle Wolfson

4:45 pm on Friday, June 8, 2012

Maybe McDonald's can just expand and take over double the area. That way we can become an even more sickly and obese society. :)

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David Vaccaro

11:35 pm on Saturday, June 9, 2012

Michelle,

Again you show your authoritarian nature. This is America, not Cuba or Venezuela. ..yet. Michelle Wolfson doesn't like or use the Pep Boys...next. Now McDonalds must have respect for you and keep as low a profile as they can. I'm guessing toys in the kids Happy Meals are a hanging crime? Whatever happened to live and let live? I know...liberals came along to show us all the way.

Michelle Wolfson

4:46 pm on Friday, June 8, 2012

I guess I'm just hating because I'd like something I would actually use to go there. I will never go to Pep Boys, so it's a totally useless addition to the area for me.

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David Vaccaro

11:37 pm on Saturday, June 9, 2012

Michelle,

Let me guess...a militant vegan? And a big believer in mass transit?

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