HARRISON TWP. — The first public review of a large townhouse project proposed for along Swedesboro Road raised some concerns.
Members of the Harrison Township Joint Land Use Board reviewed a subdivision design for King Court at Mullica Hill at their March 20 meeting for almost four hours without taking action. One potentially problematic aspect is that traffic signals may not be allowed for a new intersection at the main entrance and exit from the development.
Board members are to pick up the review at their meeting April 17, with more testimony and public comment scheduled.
Daniel Disario, the traffic engineer for the project, told them that board developer D.R. Horton is pushing hard for a signal-controlled intersection.
Its location would be aligned opposite one of the two places where Cider Press Drive now meets Swedesboro Road, which could immediately benefit drivers using it.
Though Swedesboro Road is a state road, Gloucester County has jurisdiction over it. County planners have said they think another signalized intersection so close to Route 45 is a bad idea.
In a letter, county planners said a signalized intersection must be a last resort. They urged the developer to consider creating driving connections from its property to East Wolfert Station Road, “and/or” to Cromwell Drive, and to Windsor Drive.
“We can’t effectuate either of those connections out to Wolfert Station Road or out to Cromwell,” Disario said. “But eventually, hopefully, those connections could be done at some point in the future.”
Disario said county officials believe making those road connections would lessen the need for a traffic signal on Swedesboro Road.
“I can tell you that that is not the case,” Disario said. “Particularly with the connection out to Windsor, I envision people from Leigh Court, where Windsor (Drive) is, coming through this development to use the traffic signal we’re proposing to make a left turn onto Swedesboro Road.”
Disario said there would need to be restrictions on the intersection if only traffic signs will be used.
The development would consist of 508 townhouses spread over approximately 57 acres of the roughly 62-acre Visalli Farm at 140 Swedesboro Road (Route 322). There would be approximately 1,650 residents, with perhaps 1,000 vehicles.
Harrison Township officials want the project because 102 of the townhomes are for low- and moderate-income buyers.
The township is required by law to ensure affordable housing is available here. A state court-mediated settlement wanted this property used for that purpose.
Robert Fecso, a vice president with D.R. Horton, estimated that it will take 12-18 months to install roads and other infrastructure before houses start to be built. It may take five years to six years to complete the 508 units.
“We’re in a great market, a great community, a great school system,” Fecso said. “So, I think it’s going to be a very successful development.”
Joe Smith is a N.E. Philly native transplanted to South Jersey 36 years ago, keeping an eye now on government in South Jersey. He is a former editor and current senior staff writer for The Daily Journal in Vineland, Courier-Post in Cherry Hill, and the Burlington County Times.
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