FLORENCE TOWNSHIP — The town has moved forward in its efforts to generate new jobs for the community.
”June 2012 will go down in history in Florence Township,” Mayor Craig Wilkie said.
The Township Council, at its June 20 meeting, approved a redevelopment plan and financial agreement to bring Subaru of America to Florence.
Mayor Craig Wilkie said that final negotiations are pending between Subaru and the site developer NFI, but if approved the space with occupy 524,000 square feet of a 1.1 million-square-foot complex.
The space for Subaru will include a warehouse serving the Northeast region, distribution center, training center and office.
Plans for the site also include a new jughandle and reconfiguration of the traffic light at John Galt Way and Route 130.
Michael Landsberg, NFI’s real estate manager, said that Subaru is looking for a delivery date of June 1, 2013. Construction on the project could begin within 30 days.
”We’re in the homestretch of negotiations with Subaru,” he said.
Council also approved a financial agreement that sets up a 20-year payment in lieu of taxes, or PILOT.
”This (financial agreement) is not going in as rateables, this is going in as a PILOT, therefore the money does come into the town directly,” Mayor Wilkie said. “But if not for this (agreement) it would not be happening. There is definitely a financial advantage to Florence Township and it’s a win-win for everybody in Burlington County.”
Township Administrator Richard Brook previously said that the company would continue to pay full land taxes but that a percentage of the building value taxes would be tiered up over 20 years.
”It can be adjusted in several ways as long as you meet the statutory requirements and stay within the boundaries that the state says you have too,” Mr. Brook said.
This site will generate anywhere from 250 to 300 construction jobs and possibly 50 permanent jobs, Mayor Wilkie said.

