Tire Storage Proposal at AAA Site Comes Under Scrutiny

Planners want to learn more about a proposed tire storage area at a Route 37 automotive service center before they grant their approval. 

The storage area proposed at the 1199 Route 37 East AAA would have a 20 by 8 foot section to temporarily house new tires, and a 16 by 10 foot area where used tires would be stored until removal. Toms River Planning Board members last week raised health and aesthetic concerns and requested more information before making a decision. 

A concern raised by the board was that, exposed to the elements, the used tire area may become a "breeding ground" for mosquitoes. Applicant attorney Michael York said that used tires are not expected to be in the outside area for long, but couldn't say how often they would be hauled away.

"The applicant is not planning to store the tires for a long period of time," he said. "I know it's not for any permanent or long-term storage."

Having opened about a year ago, the AAA site — a former Saturn car dealership location — is "pretty nice," said board Chairman Chairman Bill Suchodolski. The potential of unsightly rust on the steel container for new tire storage is a concern, he said. 

The unit proposed for new tires is "a typical steel container like you'd see on a truck," the kind used for shipping purposes. It has been refurbished and adapted for storage, said applicant engineer John Ernst.

The board also wanted to know whether it may be possible for the tires to be stored inside. According to the applicant, the refuse area, which would be expanded under the plan, would receive coverage from a wooden fence. Tire storage would be positioned behind that fence and shielded from surrounding properties.

"I just wonder if there's not another way to store these new tires," Suchodolski said. Another member questioned whether there might be room inside the building to store the tires, but the applicant said that is not possible. 

Board member John Sevastakis said that he has noticed some automotive repair businesses store used tires outside, which can become unsightly. The board requested that the applicant take a survey of other tire businesses in the area and return in February with more detail, including how often used tires would be removed.