4-02-2025 7:56am

County Catch up - Montgomery Actions Results in Gas Station Demolition

Donnella Tilery Editor

Montgomery Mayor Neena Singh and Deputy Mayor Vince Barragan were pleased to see the former Texaco gas station knocked down on March 7 and final clean-up underway.

MONTGOMERY, N.J. – A dilapidated gas station has finally been demolished after Montgomery Township prompted the owner to act. The now-cleared property is at the corner of Route 206 & 518 (see map).

Township officials and staff cheered as they watched an excavator crash through the broken-down roof at 1276 Route 206, Skillman on February 6.

“We are glad to finally move forward and see this eyesore removed from Montgomery’s busy commercial gateway,” said Deputy Mayor Vince Barragan.
The much-awaited demolition was completed by the property owner in response to municipal actions, including notices of violation, a property maintenance judgement filed by a Montgomery Township health inspector, and a new municipal vacant property maintenance ordinance.

Mayor Neena Singh, speaking for the Montgomery Township Committee, made a special point of crediting Township staff for their vigilant work to bring about this and other demolitions of derelict properties near Montgomery’s busiest intersection.

“Our township staff worked very hard for very long to ensure that this owner finally brought their property into compliance. Special thanks to our Health, Code Enforcement, Engineering, and Planning Departments, and Fire Subcode Official, who all firmly persisted,” said the mayor.

While the property sat vacant and in disarray, with trees growing out of the roof, the property owner wrangled with the Montgomery Zoning Board and the NJ Department of Transportation (NJDOT) for years. His stance was that he would complete demolition when his denied zoning variance, needed to build the Dunkin drive-thru he wanted, was approved.

The Zoning board’s primary concern was one of safety. The application for the tight concept plan included an exit allowing left-hand turning out onto Rt. 518, which would cause traffic back-ups and a hazardous traffic situation.

In April, 2024 the owner withdrew their second of two lawsuits against the Zoning Board of Adjustment. The board’s denial of an application to build a Dunkin store was upheld.

Longtime residents may remember a thriving Texaco gas station and auto repair shop at this corner. By 2004 the station was no longer in use and its underground gasoline storage tanks were removed. A “no further action” letter was issued by the NJ Department of Environment Protection, confirming that the property was in compliance with applicable environmental clean-up regulations.

The property has changed hands over the years. Following the gas station closure, the property was purchased by Daibes Gas 20, LLC in 2006 and the Township quickly took action to start the redevelopment process to kickstart a renewal of that corner. Redevelopment was not pursued by that owner, and several years passed until the property changed hands again. The property was purchased in 2011 by the current owner, Anton Nader of Bernardsville for $750,000. He owns a number of Dunkin stores in northern New Jersey.

In the 14 years that Mr. Nader has owned the property, he sued the Montgomery Zoning Board twice. The first time was in 2015 when the board approved his application but banned left-hand turns from the site onto Rt. 518. Nader filed suit in Superior Court of NJ Law Division. That case outcome depended upon NJDOT review. The DOT in 2020 agreed with the Zoning Board’s left hand turn prohibition and added further concerns about egress onto Route 206.

A new conditional use variance application was filed in 2021. After four public hearings with considerable public comment and expert testimony, the Zoning Board unanimously denied the application in January 2022. Among other safety issues, it was demonstrated that a firetruck would not have sufficient space to access the building in the case of an emergency.

On February 7, the property owner’s hire, Luciano Porchetta of Porchetta land & Site LLC, completed take down of the building and removal of the rubble.

With the building gone, the owner must still comply with the township’s vacant property registration ordinance, health codes regulating nuisances, and construction code regulating unsafe structures.

At this point it appears that the property owner has made the property available for lease. According to an online real estate advertisement (LoopNet), the 0.10 acre commercial property could be considered for an urgent care center use. There has not yet been a submittal to Montgomery Township, which has no comment on this potential use at this time.

Other properties at this busy intersection have seen recent clean-up at the township’s prompting.

According to Township Administrator Lori Savron, “When I took this position in 2022, one of the first priorities set for me by the Township Committee was to clean up the corner of 206/518. We utilized every enforcement action available to us. In January 2023 the former PGT (GammaTech) building behind Wawa was taken down by the owner, in May 2024 demolition of the former auto parts store, Thuls, was completed, and now the former gas station building is gone. We are glad to share this good news!”