Pagilione questions: “What Will Be the Impact of Proposed Low Income Housing on Our Schools and Property Taxes?”
The council issued a Request for Qualifications to developers for a proposed low income housing rental project at 200 Hartford Road. This issue directly affects all Moorestown residents. The council’s contemplated proposal is for 150 units of “very low, low and moderate income housing,” most likely high-density one, two and three bedroom rental apartments. The council is planning to donate 12.5 acres of real estate to the developer of the housing project. It is very likely the owner of the development and its residents will pay no property or school taxes if the developer is a “non-profit” entity that meets certain legal requirements. Instead, the township would receive another form of payment in lieu of taxes. The amount of any such payment is unknown, but typically is only a fraction of the property taxes that would normally be paid.
The number of new students to the school system from the development is unknown, it could be as many as 180–450 (or more?). Will this number of students entering the school system at the same time lead to overcrowded classes, require construction of a new elementary school and expansion of the other schools?
The public sewer service for the development will be hooked into Mount Holly M.U.A., most likely at taxpayer cost. Does that also mean that Moorestown taxpayers would pay sewer bills to Mount Holly for the low income housing project for decades to come?
What will be the impact on our infrastructure? Traffic studies have not yet been performed to my knowledge.
The council has not appraised the real estate they are donating. I wonder if it is legal/makes sense for a public body to donate a valuable publicly owned asset without knowing its value?
Will Moorestown taxpayers’ property and school taxes increase to support the new students and services for this development? The council has not provided us with information about the impact on our schools and taxes. We presented a petition to the council with 10 questions about this plan on Sept. 25. To date, the council has not responded with any answers. The lack of transparency by the council makes me wonder whether due diligence has been performed on this important issue.
Moorestown deserves better than the current low income housing project planned by the council. If you have similar concerns about the impact on our taxes and school system, please reach out to the mayor and council. The next council meeting on Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. Visit “Change.Org” for a Petition on Affordable Housing in Moorestown for more information.
Roberto Paglione
