Massive Warehouse Proposal Defeated In South Jersey Town After Neighbors' Outcry

HARRISON TOWNSHIP, NJ — After weeks of residents' pleas, township officials unanimously struck down the application for a proposed two million-square-foot warehouse in Harrison Township.

The meeting lasted past 11 p.m. Thursday as neighbors and the developer made their case for the future of a swath of land in rural Mullica Hill. Residents packed the meeting room at Pleasant Valley School and erupted into cheers after the Joint Land Use Board (JLUB) voted not to approve the application.

“We are grateful and relieved that the JLUB made the decision to deny the warehouse application," residents from the nearby Casella Farms neighborhood said in a statement to Patch. "We will continue to focus our efforts on protecting our neighbors, their families and other South Jersey communities facing similar unfortunate proposals.”

Local business news website 42Freeway.com streamed parts of the meeting on Facebook.

The King’s Landing Redevelopment Plan, proposed by Russo Development, was designed as a four-building complex on what is now vacant land in both Harrison and Woolwich townships in Gloucester County. The land parcels are zoned as a flexible planned industrial-commercial district (C-55) according to Harrison Township documents.

Woolwich officials have already approved the development in their township.

Nearby residents who spoke with Patch in late November said they were concerned how traffic, pollution, and noise would affect their quiet neighborhood.

Read more: Residents Oppose 2M Square Foot Warehouse Development In Mullica Hill

Russo Development, which owns the land according to county records, said it would pursue its rights to redevelop the property in a statement to media:

“We are disappointed that the Harrison JLUB acted arbitrarily in failing to administer the applicable zoning of the property and approve our application which is fully compliant with zoning and the Redevelopment Plan governing the property. As property owners in the Township, we fully intend to pursue our vested rights to redevelop the property for this appropriate and expressly permitted use.”

The Casella Farms Homeowners Association, representing neighbors near the proposed development, filed a civil complaint in Gloucester County Superior Court against Mayor Lou Manzo and the Harrison Township committee, as well.