Dear Neighbors,
This issue of the Lumberton E-News is full of
stories on development. The first story gives us something to think
about. The second story keeps us waiting. The third story is just
for information, the fourth story might make you laugh and one more just to keep
you reading.
New
Development Proposed. Foxcroft Estates is seeking approval to build a
new seven home development, Fenimore Farms, on a 36-acre parcel at the corner of
Ark and Fenimore Roads. The development will border Mount Laurel and
Hainesport. The developer is scheduled to present his site plan to the Planning
Board on Thursday, August 7th.
To my knowledge, this development is the first residential development since
the Transfer and Development Rights (TDR) program was changed.
Last summer, the township committee approved changes to the town's master plan
increasing the minimum lot size from 2 to 5 acres. Under TDR, developers
could build clustered housing by purchasing TDR credits (or development rights)
from undeveloped landowners to achieve the overall minimum acreage. However, in
adopting the changes to TDR, land owners asserted that the market value of TDR
credits was reduced by 60%. Opponents of the change argued that landowners
would opt out of the voluntary TDR program and just sell to developer who would
build homes on 5 acre lots further contributing to sprawl.
The proposed Fenimore Farms site is Zoned RA/S (Residential
Agriculture – TDR Sending). This
land was designated under TDR to be preserved as Open Space. However, it looks like the property owner opted out of TDR and just chose
to sell the land for 5-acre lots.
Possible
SJRA Sale. In the fall of 2002, there was an article in the Burlington County Times
stating that the State Department of Transportation was looking to purchase the
South Jersey Regional Airport (SJRA). At
the July 21st Township Committee meeting, a resident who lives near
the SJRA indicated that the deal was within months of being completed.
If
this is true, this may be significant because the airport expansion has not been
permanently rejected. The current director (as well as the two previous
directors) of the NJ Department of
Transportation stated that he supports the no expansion option for the SJRA.
However, this is subject to change as any other political decision and
may be a problem if the state is both the owner and our last line of defense
against expansion.
On
the other hand, a short runway (less than 4,000 feet) airport is not a
profitable business. Airports make
money by selling fuel. Most
insurance carriers will not insure planes that use less than a 4,000-foot runway
for refueling stops. The state has
deep pockets and can afford better than any private entity to operate an
unprofitable business for the foreseeable future. (Just like the federal government does with AMTRAK.)
The
bottom line is that we really do not know what is going to happen with the
airport. The status has not changed
in almost three years. The only permanent
solution is for the state to formally reject the Environmental Assessment.
To date, the state has not done this despite Lumberton’s urging.
Construction Update. A
common question I receive is "What are they building on the corner of
...." Here are some of the big projects under construction:
Franklin
Machinery: Franklin Machinery is building a facility on the 541
By-Pass
across from the In Range building. Franklin Machinery plans to make
restaurant equipment at the facility. The building is expected to be
complete in the Fall of this year.
Maltbie:
In June, Maltbie broke ground on a 71,000 square foot production facility and
headquarters on the 541 By-Pass next to the Franklin Machinery building.
Maltbie is a leading maker of museum and exhibition displays. The building
is expected to be complete in November of this
year.
Headstart Center: A new
daycare facility is being constructed on Maple Grove Boulevard just off of
Route 38 adjacent to the Lucas Dodge Dealership.
Lumberton Estates: Ryan
Homes
is building 8-10 homes off of Fostertown Road
by Phillips Road in Hainesport. Each house will be on at least a 2 1/2 acre lot.
The home prices
start at $420,000.
Meadow
Glen: Orleans is building a new development with 75 single family
homes off of Municipal Drive across from the Municipal Center. The home
prices start in the mid $300,000 range.
Cellular
Tower and County Estates Take Two.
As I promised in June, there is more news on the Cellular Tower
and Country Estates Expansion. However,
I did not see this one coming.
Each
Planning Board meeting is audio taped for a legal record and for absent members
to come up to speed on each application in time for the next meeting.
Apparently, when one of the township employees went to check the tape
after the June Planning Board meeting, the tape recorder was not turned on or
was not configured correctly. As a
result, the meeting was not taped and there is no legal record.
Since both T-Mobile and the Country Estates Land Developer both
indicated they would challenge the decisions in court, they have to be offered
another hearing since there is no legal record of the first meeting. Both applicants have opted to be
re-heard and are schedule for the August
7th meeting. It
should be interesting to see if decisions change.
The
Power of Competition. Since learning about my newsletter, the township
staff has asked the Township Committee to start using the township's web site, www.lumbertontwp.com,
to provide more information on news and upcoming events in town. If
you visit the site, you will see a new page each month listing upcoming
events. Hopefully,
this newsletter will continue to help push the township to update the site and keep information fresh
and more useful for people in town.
Next Issue: TDR (Transfer and
Development Rights) Explained. In light of the Foxcroft Estates story,
I am going to do a special edition of Lumberton E-News in a few weeks explaining
TDR in basic terms so everyone can finally understand it. Based on my
analysis, you will be able to decide for yourself whether last year's changes improved the
program, wrecked it or had little to no impact.
Finally, I would like to welcome all the new subscribers. I hope you
enjoyed the newsletter. As always, please keep you ideas and questions
coming and continue to share the newsletter with your neighbors and friends.
Enjoy
the rest of your summer!
Patrick Delany
Founder & Editor
Lumberton E-News
