Moorestown Accepts 13 Acres Of Land For Open Space

MOORESTOWN, NJ — After years of litigation, Moorestown is finally taking possession of land at the corner of Hartford Road and Centerton Road that can be used for open space.

Moorestown Council unanimously approved a proposed ordinance to accept a portion of the Laurel Creek Mews Development for $1 at its meeting Monday night at town hall.

The Toll Brothers previously acquired the property and were granted permission in 2003 to build additional housing on the property, provided they donated a 13-acre piece of land to the township, according to a memo included with the ordinance.

The proposal then became the subject of years of litigation that went all the way to the state Supreme Court. Once the litigation was settled, and the Toll Brothers started closing out the development, they went back to the township about accepting the land.

Their request was made in 2014, but it was stalled for the next several years. Council approved the acceptance of the property Monday night, but the dedication is pending final improvements, which include a bike path and landscaping.

The township will dedicate the land to the homeowners’ association, which will make the payments. The township will be responsible for maintaining the property, which will include mowing twice a year. That will be paid for using the township’s open space funds, officials said.

The property is being accepted as open space/recreation. While it is being accepted as recreation, Councilman Mike Locatell described it as “passive recreation,” meaning there could be some fields built, but nothing along the lines of a skate park, which would be considered “active recreation.”

Council also gave final approval to a proposal to designate a portion of New Albany Road between Camden Avenue and the Cinnaminson border as a “No Passing Zone.”

This was done to make that stretch of New Albany consistent with the rest of the road, which is already a “No Passing Zone.” Officials said it will also make the area safer for both pedestrians and drivers.