Township council discussed the potential rezoning of the Sharp Road property, currently owned by the township.
The parcel of land is 29 acres, with 20 acres available for development. The remaining nine acres are wetlands and cannot be built on, according to township manager Bill Cromie.
“The sale of the land will help the future and the 2014 budget,” Cromie said.
According to Cromie, the council suggested solicitor John Gillespie draft a request for qualification to see if there was any interest from developers.
“Those RFQs will tell us the interest the developers might have,” Cromie said.
According to Councilman Bob DiEnna, the sale of the property would be one-time revenue, but it would continuously generate revenue through taxes.
Additionally, if the area were to be developed, ratables would improve, according to DiEnna.
“We think there are parties interested in that piece of ground,” DiEnna said. “We’ve taken our time with that part of town; we’re being very careful with how that’s developed.”
Council discussed rezoning for residential, according Cromie.
“The council sent it to the planning board for the entire Sharp Road area,” Cromie said.
According to Cromie, there are numerous residential areas along Sharp Road, including low-to-medium income housing, townhouses and the senior development Sharp’s Run.
“The area would be best used as residential,” Cromie said. “There has been some interest from developers for the area.”
Cromie did not disclose which developers had interest.
“It is felt that with the economy improving and the fact that we have such little buildable ground left, it may be attractive for single-family homes or townhouses,” DiEnna said.
According to Cromie, the value of the property has not been determined. Once council establishes the value, it will set a minimum bid for auction.
The council has considered the increase in population with the possible new residential area, according to DiEnna.
“The township will not need another school because enrollment is down and police and fire are good,” DiEnna said.
Despite the township’s interest in residential development, it may not “entirely be the case, depending on the RFQs for some other use,” Cromie said.
The sale of the land can be tied to the township raising taxes, DiEnna said. The council is interested in making money back due to funds lost in tax appeals.
“We continue to look toward Trenton to pass some legislation to enable us to recoup our loss from the tax appeals. The county gives us a credit but not until the next year,” DiEnna said.
The council is also in the process of redeveloping sections of the township, as well.
“We’re doing our due diligence and working hard to develop the town in a fiscally responsible manner,” DiEnna said.
In other news:
• Engineer Tim Staszewski created a few schematics for the 9/11 memorial slated for construction at the Main Street Firehouse, according to deputy manager Monica Vandenberg.
The piece of steel will be placed on a memorial to the left on a patch of lawn, according to DiEnna.
“We are hoping for the spring to begin construction, because by the time the paperwork is put together, it would be in the heavy months in winter,” Vandenberg said. “Hopefully, it will be done by June or July.”
The project is preliminary. According to Vandenberg, there is consideration asking people who want to donate material/labor, though the decision is not definitive.
“We are seeking ways to have the residents, businesses and organizations participate and make a contribution. We’re looking to involve the community,” DiEnna said.
Evesham Township officials acquired the 1,700-pound piece of steel last October.
The steel has been housed in the municipal building by the courtroom.
“The piece of World Trade Center steel was a great acquisition from our mayor, Randy Brown, because it’s a big piece of steel. It will be in a prominent place in town forever,” DiEnna said.
The design has not been chosen for the memorial, but DiEnna said he would favor a design where “the steel is standing erect.”
“I want to remember the World Trade Center buildings standing tall,” DiEnna said. “It was prominent on the landscape in New York [City] and it will be prominent in Marlton.”
• The next meeting is scheduled for Oct. 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the municipal building.
