Some might think Evesham is growing by leaps and bounds, but if developer Fieldstone Associates LLP gets its way, in the near future, Evesham will officially grow by just more than two acres of land.
Jeffry Baron, attorney for Fieldstone, has started preliminary work on plans that would eventually result in neighboring Medford granting to Evesham two acres of land along the towns’ border on Route 70.
The annexation stems from a Fieldstone proposal to construct an apartment complex on the site containing more than 200 units, and Medford indicating to Fieldstone that it would only accept commercial property on the land.
“We went to Medford, and Medford indicated that they were not pleased with a plan that would give them residential units because they did not want additional school costs,” Baron said.
Fieldstone believes it’s impossible to develop commercial property on the land because of water and sewer costs and burdens.
“If you were trying to develop that parcel commercially, you could not do it,” Baron said. “Between the septic system that you would have to install and the sanitary and the water wells that you would have to put in, it would be undevelopable. So it really has no use to them.”
Baron said he informally approached the Evesham Municipal Utilities Authority to see if it would be able to provide sewer and water into Medford for the land, and while open and cooperative to the idea, Fieldstone still wanted residential properties that Medford would not accept.
To rectify the situation, Fieldstone suggested to Medford that the township simply give the two acres of land to neighboring Evesham, which would be more receptive to Fieldstone’s residential development plans.
Previously, Fieldstone developed the apartment project on East Main Street in Evesham where the former municipal building was located.
“To Medford’s credit, they saw I think the opportunity that we presented to them, which was my client would be willing to do something financially with Medford Township if they were willing to annex that two-plus acres to Evesham,” Baron said.
However, Baron said Medford has asked him to determine if Evesham would go along with the idea before Medford would start to invest any time or effort in developing the land transfer.
“Medford has informally approved it,” Baron said. “They have not put it on a formal agenda because they required of me that Evesham indicate they would go along with it before they’ll actually act on it.”
Baron also noted the financial benefits to Evesham potentially receiving the land and complex, with each unit costing close to $70,000.
“If we’re correct that we get between 200 and 250 (units), the ratable here will be over $15 million to the township,” Baron said.
Fieldstone has agreed to reimburse Evesham up to a certain amount for any work that was done on the rehabilitating or redeveloping of the site, and noted that the water and sewer connections fees would go to Evesham instead of Medford.
And although Baron hasn’t specifically discussed with Fieldstone the costs that would arise from changing township maps, he foresees no problems with Fieldstone also assuming those burdens once actual numbers were realized.
Township officials also negotiated with Fieldstone to include some retail units on the base floor of any potential complex.
“It is viable,” Baron said. “It’s not something that I haven’t seen before or participated in, and I truly believe it’s beneficial to both towns. It’s a piece of Medford that they’ll never develop.”
