MANCHESTER – A warehouse and alterations to property near the Renaissance Senior community is a proposed redevelopment project before the town.
The Township Council carried the ordinance to the next meeting, meaning that the council didn’t take any action yet.
Redevelopment happens when property is unused or underutilized. Often, the property used to be something productive but now is sitting idle. When a town marks an area “in need of redevelopment,” two things happen: The town gains a stronger control over what goes there, and the redeveloper is allowed access to programs that can cut their costs.
Attorney and former Assemblyman John Paul Doyle, who represents Active Acquisitions, a real estate development company, said the firm wishes to partner with the township.
“They are the contract purchasers at the site. We are now at the end of the first two stages that has taken pretty much two years. It started with the thought that this is an area now vacant, mined out and that needed development,” he added.
“Working together with your direction and determined by your planner it is an area in need of redevelopment,” Doyle told the governing body.
He said a redevelopment plan was in order and that this plan went before the township planning board. He commended the management of Renaissance, noting two community wide meetings and meetings with their executive board.
“The Pinelands (Commission) had some thoughts and we tried to accommodate those thoughts, not that we have a choice and then they had more thoughts and we will try to accommodate those,” Doyle said.
The Pinelands Commission oversees development in the environmentally sensitive Pinelands.
Jeremy Lange, the director of development for Active Acquisitions and a former Manchester resident, said the tract site is 224 acres, part of which was formerly used as a coal mine. He noted the proximity of the Renaissance community and the municipal boundary with Jackson. Freemont Avenue runs across the parcel.
A graphic appearing in a PowerPoint Presentation made by Active Acquisitions was shown during a discussion on the proposed project during a recent Manchester Council meeting. (Photo by Bob Vosseller)
“We started this process in March of 2022 delineating the environmental constraints on the site. In the mine area, there are two different species. We will preserve the pine snake area and the silver leaf golden aster which is a plant that comes up annually which – like the snakes – it likes to be in sandy soil that is hit by the sun which is why the mine site is so attractive both of those species,” Lange explained.
Lange added, “I know that it sounds completely counterintuitive, you would think from an environmental standpoint you would want to build on the mine and not in the pine forest area but that is what the Pinelands (Commission) claims is better for the ecological community … so we will be realigning Freemont Avenue.”
In terms of development itself it will occupy roughly 100 acres according to Lange. “The site will be on the left of new Freemont Avenue. The right side will be fully preserved as a conservation area. We’ll be working out the details with the Pinelands Commission.”
Lange said the architectural facades will be “closer to what you would see on a storefront as opposed to a warehouse” even though there will be no actual retail going on. “This is flex warehouse development and what that means is there will be multiple tenants. The idea is that you can scale up. It can be contractors, commerce – all kinds of businesses.”
He also reported that one of the things that is being done for the Renaissance community between the existing railroad and the new Freemont Avenue is a four-acre area that is developable “which we have agreed to donate that to Renaissance for their use.”
Lange said the plan does allow for outdoor recreation to be in that location. “I don’t know what it will be but it was a very substantial offer between us and the Renaissance community.”
“The existing utility lines will remain on the current Freemont route so those will not be removed but the asphalt will come up,” Lange added.
Council President Roxy Conniff explained that this ordinance would be carried to the December 18 council meeting as the Pinelands Commission was expected to be providing further input.
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