East Greenwich
Committee
Approves Berkley Redevelopment
by
Robert Holt
EAST GREENWICH TWP.- The East Greenwich Township Committee approved a
mixed-use redevelopment agreement with Berkley Square Redevelopers, LLC at
their meeting on Dec. 13, after debating the terms and conditions of the
contract for almost three hours.
The
motion carried by a three to two margin, with Committeeman William Bumbernick
and Jeff Craig casting the negative votes.
The
Berkley Square project would install 92 townhomes on the site along Berkley
and Cohawkin Roads in its first phase, along with commercial development, but
the Committee expressed concerns that the community needed commercial revenue
more. East Greenwich Township Mayor Fred Grant explained that the township has
made significant budget cuts in recent years and spends less money than
anyone, but needs the added revenue the development would generate.
Craig wondered what protection East Greenwich had against the developer
declaring bankruptcy, or the project failing for some reason, citing a recent
redevelopment project in Collingswood that cost the town $8.5 million.
“Any bank is going to make sure the residential is done first, or there will
be no loan for the developer,” replied Committeeman James Watson. “I don’t
think we’ll ever be at a point where there’s no risk.”
“I
would prefer to see Phase 1 as commercial, and then do residential,” said
Deputy Mayor Sam Giordano.
The
Committee also had questions about the potential effect the added families
from more townhomes would have on an already strained township school system.
Grant mentioned that there were 325 town homes and 250 single-family units in
the community, and 292 children in K-6 school districts. “The schools are
already bursting at the seams,” said Craig.
And
Bumbernick questioned whether East Greenwich had sufficient manpower in its
Public Works Department to handle the added trash collection that would be
required.
The
development will include a liquor store, which raised questions from the
Committee, as well as residents during the public portion of the meeting.
Craig asked why the township is selling a liquor license for $90,000. “When I
was on council in Woodbury in 1999, they sold one for $195,000, he argued.
They’ve gotten more valuable than that since.”
“The developer has to make money also or he’ll walk,” answered Watson. “They
have to succeed in the residential financially to build the commercial for
us.”
Bumbernick said approving the agreement brings shame to the Committee.
During the public session, Patricia Zeck of
East Greenwich said that it was not in the best interests of the
township to extend bar and package goods store hours to Sunday, which has been
proposed, or to see another liquor store opened.
Following her on the microphone was Ron Zeck, the developer for Berkley
Square, and Patricia Zeck’s son. “Townhomes are where a lot of couples often
start out their lives,” Ron Zeck said. ”I’m the only developer who’s stepping
forward to clean up that property, and the town is getting 95 percent of the
tax money through a tax abatement.”
Earlier in the meeting, a resolution authorizing the reduction of a
performance bond for site improvements to Amherst Meadows was tabled. Grant
stated that he won’t reduce the performance bond until Pulte comes out and
sees the work that needs to be done.
“We’ve tried to meet with Pulte for two weeks now,” said Grant. “They’ve drawn
a line in the sand, and they are threatening lawsuits.”
Scott Fein, a member of the Board of Trustees for the Amherst Farms Homeowners
Association said they were very disappointed in the results of the work from
Pulte, and a one-mile, two-lane road on the property also needs to be repaved.
“It would be in Pulte’s best interests to complete the road paving before
winter weather arrives,” Fein commented.
“We
will not tolerate what has happened in other communities,” he added.
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