PLUMSTED – As the result of a new federal grant from the U.S. Department of Defense, Plumsted will be participating in an upcoming Joint Land Use Study (JLUS) involving what the Defense Department now refers to as Joint Base New Jersey, according to Mayor Ron Dancer.
Plumsted is 40 square miles in size, 20 square miles of which are part of the Fort Dix Military Reservation, and is geographically at the hub of the contiguous mega-base area consisting of McGuire Air Force Base, Fort Dix and Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst.
All three military bases have been merged for administrative purposes, although each base will retain its service specific Army, Air Force and Navy missions, according to the mayor.
Ocean County Freeholder Director Jack Kelly has informed the Township Committee that Ocean County will be the JLUS grant coordinator for Burlington County, the Pinelands Commis-sion, the state Office of Smart Growth and the local municipalities having portions of these military bases within their jurisdictions. The JLUS will address land compatibility issues, especially within two miles of the military base boundaries. A key outcome of this study grant will be improved communication and better coordination of land use decisions and activities, Dancer said.
Quite significantly, for participating in this JLUS grant, Plumsted will qualify for federal funds to preserve or acquire land for open space purposes. Other major benefits of the JLUS grant include analyzing current and future noise and accident zones, as well as recommendations to minimize any negative on-base impacts to the host and surrounding communities, the mayor said. The economic impact to the local economies from Joint Base New Jersey will be better quantified. Presently, excluding military personnel, the three bases employ more than 18,000 civilians.
The Township Committee will be appointing representatives from the community to participate in the JLUS grant program with the U.S. Department of Defense. Dancer asked anyone who is interested in being considered for an appointment to contact him.
In other news, Dunkin’ Donuts will be starting construction in the spring next to the Yardville National Bank at the intersection of Route 539 and Route 537. The new Wawa convenience store with gas service will be doing a demolition of the abandoned buildings and beginning construction across from the existing Wawa at Route 539 and Route 528 in late spring or early summer, according to the mayor.
The next regularly scheduled public meeting of the Township Committee will be April 4 at 8 p.m.