Moorestown Identifies Alternative Site To Pennrose Proposal

MOORESTOWN, NJ - Moorestown has identified an alternative site for a potential 75-unit affordable housing complex, according to township officials.

The township has named The Miles Technology Site as a potential alternative to what has commonly been referred to as The Pennrose Site off Route 38.

The township identified the alternative site in accordance with Judge Ronald Bookbinder’s ruling last month, after Pennrose filed a lawsuit to have a restrictive covenant invalidated so it can begin work on the project.

Now that an alternative site has been identified, it will be up to the judge to decide if Pennrose can move forward with its proposal to build a four-story building with 75 units that will help to satisfy the township's affordable housing obligation by 2025.

In order to build there, a restrictive covenant that states "no dwelling can be built on less than half an acre of land, and that no dwelling that costs less than $5,000 shall be erected on any lot of ground of said premises" must be lifted.

Property owners in the area were listed as defendants because they are real property owners in Moorestown and Mount Laurel this are restricted by the covenant. Read more here: Moorestown May Need To Seek Alternative To Proposed Housing Site

The Miles Technology Site is located on Route 38. A developer suggested the site in April. A vacant commercial building is currently located on the property. The owner of that property has been trying to sell or otherwise repurpose the site. The township has been in discussion with the owner to purchase the site should the proposed Pennrose site become unavailable.

Township officials said they chose this site because it is situated near public transportation and job opportunities, and it is eligible to compete for federal tax benefits.

Additionally, the Catholic Diocese of Trenton has approached the township about rezoning 18 acres of land it owns on Centerton Road and selling it for development. It acquired the land in 2004 with the intentions of building a parish center there. It can’t, so it would like to sell the land to a developer to use for affordable housing. Read more here: Council Introduces Senior Housing Proposal; Diocese Proposes Site

If a housing complex is built on the land, it would actually increase the township’s obligation by 16.6 units. Should the complex be built, the developer will include that obligation in its development. If the site isn’t developed as housing, the additional obligation disappears and wouldn’t have to be honored elsewhere in the township.

The proposal calls for up to 83 homes, with 20 percent of the units set aside for affordable housing, according to township officials.

The site doesn’t qualify for federal tax credits, which made it impractical as a site to house a 100 percent affordable housing complex as the financial burden of the complex would have fallen onto the taxpayer.

The Miles Technology Site was identified by the township’s affordable housing counsel in a court filing on Friday, May 17. To read the full court filing, click here.