ROBBINSVILLE: Walgreens clears final council hurdle

By Joanne Degnan, Managing Editor
   ROBBINSVILLE — The first project in the new Town Center South redevelopment area received the final go-ahead from township officials last week and is expected to break ground later this year.
   The Township Council on Sept. 27 adopted an ordinance amending the Town Center South Redevelopment Plan to subdivide a 2.4-acre lot from the rest of the redevelopment zone so that the 15,000-square-foot pharmacy and drive-through can be set farther back from Route 33 than the zone allows.
   Tim McGough, the township engineer and director of economic development, said the groundbreaking for the project at the corner of Route 33 and Washington Boulevard is expected to occur this year. The pharmacy is anticipated to be open for business by September 2013, he said.
   The amendments approved last week allow the building to be set back 80 feet from Route 33 and 50 feet from Washington Boulevard. The project will provide 53 parking spaces fronting Route 33 and Washington Boulevard. There will also be a large “gateway” sign with the township’s name and logo on the top, the Walgreens logo in the middle, and an electronic message sign at the bottom.
   The changes were negotiated by the redeveloper, Ferber Co., and the Town Center South Redevelopment Subcommittee, which includes two council members and other municipal officials. There was no comment during the Sept. 27 public hearing on the ordinance prior to its unanimous adoption by the council.
   There are 90 acres in the Town Center South Redevelopment Area and two approved redevelopers so far for parcels comprising a total 54.4 acres.
   Ferber now has approval for the 2.4-acre Walgreens parcel at the zone’s western edge and the joint venture of Sharbell Development Corp. and Elite Showcase Complex LLC is the developer candidate for a proposed project on 52 acres of vacant township-owned land at the eastern end.
   The Sharbell-Elite concept plan includes a 385-by-550-foot air supported field house for sports competitions and entertainment events; four mixed-use multi-story buildings with residential units on the top floors: and stand-alone pad sites for restaurants or possibly a hotel.