FLORENCE: Township acquires land

By Amy Batista, Special Writer
   FLORENCE — Council unanimously approved the final passage of two ordinances, one to authorize the acceptance of donated land and another to buy a single-family dwelling, on Oct. 17.
   The donated property is located on the corner of Florence Columbus and Old York roads, and is a 6.5-acre parcel.
   Council President Jerry Sandusky requested that Thomas Sahol, assistant municipal administrator, give an overview of the ordinances during their second readings.
   As for the donated land, “This is an ordinance that allows the governing body to accept property that was donated by a developer,” said Mr. Sahol. “It is apparently being farmed and will continue to be farmed. The municipality will add it to its Open Space inventory.”
   As for the single-family dwelling, Mr. Sahol said it “allows the municipality to purchase a property that is located at the corner of Spring and West Second Street adjacent to the Duffy School,” Mr. Sahol said. “The purpose is to advance the (Council of Affordable Housing) potential that is going to be realized when this is school is ultimately redeveloped.”
   ”The purchase is $175,000 with the land and the property,” Mr. Sahol said. “It is all coming out of COAH funds and this is not a burden on the tax payers.”
   The public had a chance to speak during the public hearing on the second reading. One resident questioned why the township was paying more than what he saw the property appraised as.
   ”I looked at the appraisal values for this property, they are more like in the $150s right now so I am wondering why we are paying $175 and so is this to someone who has a favor within the government?” resident Michael Sanchez asked.
   ”Absolutely not, sir, that is totally inappropriate,” Mayor Craig Wilkie responded.
   ”What will the property be used for after the town has ownership of it?” Mr. Sanchez asked.
   Mayor Wilkie said, “It’s part of meeting our low to moderate income housing. The plan is to renovate Roebling Duffy School and to make the whole site proper.”
   He noted that the property, part of the Duffy site, is part of Florence’s COAH obligation.
   ”The tax assessor reviewed the assessment and that number was within reason and the attorney reviewed it confirmed that number was acceptable,” Mayor Wilkie said.
   ”The Duffy was given to us from the school district and it has been going through the process I would say for probably six years,” Mayor Wilkie said. “The previous developer went to the state for financing four times, was unsuccessful, we’ve switched the developer last year and we are in the process of getting that whole site done.”
   Further, “If they don’t build it, we have to build those homes somewhere else and that’s not what we want,” Mayor Wilkie said.
   He added, “We want it done so we preserve a historic community center which is the Duffy School and this is the best partnership for the town.”
   In other news, Mayor Wilkie congratulated Florence Memorial High School student Lexi Smith — who recently broke records to become the national champion in high school field hockey.
   The mayor reminded everyone that there is a Halloween curfew in effect starting Oct. 27 and starts at 9 p.m.
   Next council meeting is Nov. 7 at 8 p.m. and will be the only meeting in November.
   There will be a special meeting to discuss plans for the new Burlington Coat Factory company headquarters slated for Florence. It will take place at 6 p.m. Nov. 19.