Sicklerville Redevelopment Plan Amendment Delayed

A Pennsylvania-based developer looking to bring 180 townhouses to the township's Sicklerville section will have to wait at least another month to move forward with his vision for the property after Township Council members expressed concerns about the proposed housing development's impact on schools during a special meeting Monday night.

The two sides tentatively agreed to meet again on Monday, May 21, to discuss an amendment to the so-called New Vision Redevelopment Plan, which was first adopted in 2002.

The 20-acre property is located behind the Lowe's home-improvement store in the Town Square Plaza shopping center, which fronts Berlin-Cross Keys Road. The land is currently zoned to allow for only senior-restricted housing in terms of residential use.

Councilman Dan Hutchison was first to question how an amendment to the redevelopment plan would impact schools in the area during Monday's session.

"How close are we to maxing out before we need to build another local school? How is it going to impact (Ann A.) Mullen (Middle School)? How will it impact Timber Creek (Regional High School)? ... I've got to be honest with you, guys, as Council, as the redevelopment entity, doing this without getting that information is scary."

David Newman, principal of Plymouth Meeting, PA-based Newman Development Group LLC, informed officials at the conclusion of the meeting that his professionals would forward the township an estimate of the number of school-age children that would live in the townhouse community, among other estimates requested during the meeting.

Newman expressed frustration with Council's decision to push back the amendment at least another month.

"I appreciate your comments. I really do. It's just I have to be honest, and I think everybody here knows me a little by now—I am a bit frustrated," he said.

Newman Development Group LLC has owned the property for about eight years now. The company brought Town Square Plaza to Sicklerville.

Newman noted the list of permitted uses for the vacant, 20-acre parcel of land his company owns is rather lengthy—a movie theater, an office complex, a bowling alley, a motel, distribution centers and more—but a townhouse development was the consensus decision during a series of meetings he and township officials had with Wye Oak residents in 2011. It's also what makes sense to him as the developer.

"Retail is an absolute no-go back here. ... Here's where we end up. And, truthfully, I thought we were doing a good thing. This isn't choice one or two. I don't even know if it's three. I think it's four," he said. "But, in any event, this is where we ended up, and I thought that this was a meeting of the minds, if you will, with the folks who are adjacent, who will be our neighbors."

If Council decides it would like to see Newman Development Group proceed with the townhouses, it would request that the township Planning Board amend the redevelopment plan to allow them, Solicitor David Carlamere said. The Planning Board would send its recommendation back to Council for its consideration as an ordinance.