The Harrison Township Committee adopted two ordinances for redevelopment plans at Cohawkin and Cedar roads, respectively, during a June 17 meeting.
The Cohawkin Road plan focuses on converting a parcel of land that sits on the stretch of farmland near Dunkin Donuts – at Mullica Hill’s border with Mantua – into a residential cul-de-sac. The plan also requires that a nearby pump station near the part of Cohawkin Road closest to Route 45 be redone.
“This developer will cart off and donate whatever the amount is and dedicate that to the town for the new pump station to be built,” said Mayor Louis Manzo.
During a public hearing on the Cohawkin Road ordinance, meeting attendee Deb Murphy asked whether the project interferes with master plans in other towns, in this case Mantua.
“If you look at any redevelopment plan, which there’s like 30 of them on our website, there’s a lot of template information that talks about the road systems and identifies them,” Manzo explained. “I-295, the (Woodbury) Turnpike, (Route) 55 – whatever. “It’s basically explaining what the connecting state and county roads are.
“That’s more of a commentary on what the use is and what the impact is going to be on connecting communities,” he added. “When you put in a residential (lot) – cul-de-sac in this case – when you put it on the edge of our town, it kind of fits the possibility of being something other than residential. It’s not going to put a burden on those people.”
The Cedar Road plan will classify as residential the large portion of land on the thoroughfare that is across from CVS, so the township complies with the state’s affordable- housing requirements. A housing complex for people with disabilities is expected to be built on the township-owned land by the nonprofits Project Freedom and Circle Haven.
“So basically, it’s going to be a complex focusing on people with disabilities that will have resources and services that are self-contained,” Manzo noted. “Project Freedom is a long-standing, existing entity that has six or seven of these facilities throughout New Jersey.
“Circle Haven is a new entity that is similar and focused on people with disabilities and provides housing and support,” he added. “Project Freedom is the developer; Circle Haven will have a portion and Project Freedom will have its portion.”
Several resolutions related to the Cedar Road plan were also approved by the committee. The ordinances were approved by all members of the committee save for Jeffrey Jacques, who was absent.
The next Harrison Township Committee meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Monday July 1.
