PLANNING BOARD APPROVES NEW CVS ON VALLEY STREET.

The Maplewood Planning Board voted, 5-2, last night to give initial approval for a new CVS on Valley Street, across from Columbia High School in the space of the former A&P and now occupied by a Dollar Store.

Township Committee Member Jerry Ryan, also a planning board member, detailed the latest from the meeting in an email to Maplewoodian.com below:

There was a long review of their site plan and variance requests. The board granted some variances (a slightly-wider-than-allowed curb cut on Hixon Place was approved) and denied some (the request for a flashing LED sign with advertising and messages was NOT approved). There were changes made to the requested signage (instead of a big sign on a tall pylon there will be a smaller ground-mounted monument sign). There were changes made to the look of the building (basically more brick and windows on the front Valley St -facing side).

The modified plan was approved and the necessary variances were granted by a vote of 5-2.

I do not know the exact timeline now. I guess that the purchase of the property was contingent on getting approvals to put in the building, but I don't know that, or any detailed timeline, for certain. The old building will be demolished and removed first.

Beth Daugherty from the Board of Education appeared and asked that the builder coordinate their schedules with the District to minimize any disruptions, which all agreed was a reasonable idea.