By David Kilby, Special Writer
BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIP— Phase 2 of the town center redevelopment project has been passed by the Township Committee and forwarded to the Planning Board, but not without reservation from the committee.
Known as the Southern Gateway Project, Phase 2 of the redevelopment project includes commercial development in the southern part of Bordentown Township, and road improvements that would ideally alleviate traffic on Farnsworth Avenue.
The committee discussed the plans at its meeting Monday.
”There have been substantial improvements from what we were looking at the last few times,” said Committeeman Jim Cann of the Southern Gateway Project.
”One of the things we wanted to get in here was that the project does now take into consideration some substantial road improvements,” he said. For instance the plan to date includes a connection between Rising Sun Road and Dunns Mill Road, which will help take truck traffic off of Farnsworth Avenue.
But even with the changes, Mr. Cann was concerned that there would still be backup issues on Farnsworth Avenue. To help fix this, there was also discussion of adding a right hand turn lane from Route 130 onto Farnsworth Avenue.
Mr. Cann also mentioned trying to get the New Jersey Department of Transportation to abandon its weigh station on Route 206 so there could be an extension of the left hand turn lane to Georgetown Road.
The updated plans also changes permitted uses of the land. For instance, permission to build tattoo parlors, adult bookstores, and possibly grocery stores have been removed from the project.
”We really got down to the meat and potatoes and got rid of the things we didn’t want to even have considered for the township,” Mr. Cann said.
Mr. Cann expressed his concern for amount of commercial usage that is included in the redevelopment plan, despite the township Master Plan’s assertions to keep the area residential.
”I still am having a very hard time getting over the fact that we have had an Master Plan in place for a very long time, that has been reasserted every five years by previous committees,” that has called for different development in this area, he said. “This change where we’re changing that corridor to highway commercial, I think that’s not giving due consideration to previous committees.”
Nonetheless, he did not object to passing the plans on to the Planning Board.
”I think we’re a long way from where we were last year,” Deputy Mayor Michael Dauber said. He stated that one of the main objectives of the plan is “to make Farnsworth truck free.”
Noteworthy, the plan now calls for a direct connection between Interstate 295 and the truck stops along Route 206.
”This (updated plan) is a dramatic improvement,” Mayor Karl Feltes said. “I think because of the work done by DOT and the county in the northern Burlington County area, this is the best time to move this forward.”
Acting as the redevelopment authority, the committee passed the plans for the Southern Gateway Redevelopment project to the Planning Board at the meeting. Mr. Cann accepted the plans with the stipulation that his concerns are noted.
The Planning Board’s September meeting has been cancelled, so it won’t have a chance to discuss the plans until its next meeting Oct. 11, Mr. Dauber mentioned.
”Hurry up and wait,” Mr. Cann said.
”We did our part,” Mr. Dauber added.
In other news, Bordentown Township’s Community Day will be this Saturday, Sept. 15, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Community Center, 3 Municipal Dr.
After a brief opening ceremony on the front lawn of the Community Center, there will antique cars on display, games, and crafts for residents to enjoy and free food.
Additionally, a caricaturist, clown, fortune teller, magician, live band, and DJ will be on hand to provide entertainment for folks. Free prizes will also be given out throughout the day through raffles.

