McCormick Taylor Named Lenola Project Design Consultant

MOORESTOWN, NJ - McCormick Taylor has been appointed as the engineer design consultants for the Lenola Town Center Improvement Plan. The company was unanimously appointed by Moorestown Council Monday night.

McCormick Taylor is based out of Philadelphia. The office that will handle the project is in Mt. Laurel.

The company has said it will incorporate Scott Taylor for continuity purposes, something council members Victoria Napolitano and Mike Locatell pushed for during council’s reorganization meeting on Jan. 7.

A formal proposal with a fee schedule is now expected to come before council at the Feb. 11 meeting, according to Township Manager Thomas Neff. He said they are currently setting up meetings with the firm.

A $971,500 Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant from the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) has been secured to cover much of the cost of the project.

However, that grant can't be used to cover the costs of services of an engineer for the development of plans, specifications and estimates for the plan. A township looking to receive support for eligible design services must select from a pool of six engineering design consultants selected by the state.

None of Moorestown's previously appointed professionals were designated for this pool. So if the township wanted to avoid putting the burden of this cost on taxpayers, it would have to select from the state’s pool. It will also help to have a firm the state is familiar with working on the project in case the project runs behind schedule, Neff said.

“We have an ad hoc committee that’s been working on this,” Napolitano said. “I hope we can have another meeting where we can introduce them to McCormick Taylor and make sure everyone’s up to speed.”

David Hess is a member of that committee. During the public comment portion, he voiced concerns that the project will end up not happening because of delays. He said the committee had been meeting twice a month, and was willing to do so again to make sure the project gets completed. He also noted this is just the beginning, and the committee has other ideas.

The project focuses on revitalizing a quarter mile of the Lenola Town Center Camden Avenue corridor. Hess pointed out many people come into the area from out of town to go to the fields in the area. He called it Moorestown’s gateway, and noted it was necessary to get improvements done.

“This is something we all want to see happen,” Mayor Lisa Petriello said. “People all around town are excited about this.”

Patch file photo by Rob Scott.