The West Windsor Planning Board will hold a public hearing on preliminary and final site plan approval for changes at the MarketFair mall on Wednesday, July 18. Changes include new exterior entrances and store elevations, outdoor eating areas, and new signage.
Some of the mall’s parking areas would be restriped for valet parking for the new casual dining establishments. West Windsor Municipal Land Use Manager Sam Surtees says that the valet parking would be reserved for patrons at the new restaurants, Bahama Breeze and the Seasons 52 Grill.
The entrances will feature new lighting, landscaping, and signage. Surtees called the project “major renovations of all the exterior facades.” He said tenants with significantly different exteriors would include Barnes & Noble and Corner Bakery, a new establishment that will add square footage for outdoor dining. Seasons 52 and Bahama Breeze will also require additional square footage.
The planning board will hear about the future use of the existing food court and Barnes & Noble location. Also among MarketFair’s proposals is seasonal entertainment for a new outdoor dining area at the mall’s south end.
“There will be a covered, outdoor deck with seating and then there will be a small area where somebody can play guitar or some small band can come — it won’t be a venue where they sell tickets for crowds to come. It’s like you will be at MarketFair for dinner and somebody will be playing some Van Morrison music, or more like background music for dining. People could come out with a drink after dinner and listen to music in the evening,” Surtees said.
MarketFair is requesting waivers for the signage due to the large proposed sizes. Madison Marquette Retail Services is the agent for the company that owns MarketFair — Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America.
The West Windsor Planning Board will also continue to hear the cell tower application from six weeks ago as the board wanted to see some more technical information, and the township’s radio frequency engineer also had sufficient time to review the proposal.
The Planning Board’s next meeting will be Wednesday, August 8.
