By Amy Batista, Special Writer
FLORENCE — Council unanimously approved an ordinance for preliminary work and improvements to Hornberger Avenue at its meeting on Sept. 3.
"If the township is ever going to land a developer for the Roebling Steel plant it has to be able to provide improved access in and out of the site and do it primarily from Route 130 and not off of Delaware Avenue," said Township Administrator Richard Brook. "It will be far ahead of the game."
This is designed to take the township through the permitting process of the state Department of Transportation and possibly acquire some right away or properties along that area, he said.
"It is meant to be able to put the permits into place and seek reimbursement in the future from whoever develops the property for the cost the township is incurring," he said.
According to the ordinance, the improvements include the widening, realignment and improvements to Hornberger Avenue, from Route 130 Southbound to Second Avenue, including but not limited to all preliminary and final engineering work, permitting (including anticipated state permits from the state Department of Transportation and Department of Environmental Protection), property surveys, acquisition of property parcels, in whole or in part, if necessary, and construction of roadway beds and surfacing, lateral support, curbing, drainage and other related work.
"It’s more than just a study," said Council President Ted Lovenduski.
"Really what you are doing with this ordinance is setting the stage for future development by making sure your permits are in place," Mr. Brook said.
The township has appropriated $1.5 million, including the sum of $75,000 as the down payment for the improvement, according to the ordinance.
"The biggest issue with the steel plant has been and continues to be access to the site," Mr. Brook said. "So this is designed to begin the process of having the engineer work through New Jersey Department of Transportation."
Mr. Brook discussed access issues to the Roebling Steel plant.
"I think everyone here knows very well about the Roebling Steel plant," he said. "One of the major obstacles to the steel plant has always been access."
"There are only a couple of ways to
it," he said. "Several years ago there was a study done by Florence Township with the help of Burlington County and New Jersey Department of Transportation was involved."
He said that they looked at two different alternatives on how to approach the steel plant and how to improve access to it.
"One of them was to potentially widen Hornberger Avenue and make improvements there at the intersection," he said. "The other was to create a separate entrance way that would connect into Fairbrook Drive."
That would mean going through and cutting a significant swath through several properties, he said.
"When the township is looking at this large attractive property and trying to anticipate how do you develop it in this day and age the one thing you have to try and be extremely proactive," he said.
He said another option was discussed a couple of years ago with a potential developer.
"A third option that came about a couple of years ago when the township was talking to a potential developer of the steel plant was to create a separate drive into the plant off Route 130, Spring Factory Road."
He said that they have already met with NJ DOT representatives "informally."
"It was determined that one of the best routes was to do it was to make Hornberger Avenue more of a streetscape and to widen it where possible," he said. "Hornberger Avenue right now when you first come in it off of Route 130 is a little worn down."
"Over the past 30 years Florence Township has received no tax dollars for this property," he said. "It is a tremendous drain on the municipality at times."
He said it would "benefit everybody in the community."
"It really is more of a road widening program that will eventually … help the Village of Roebling and the Township of Florence," he said.
He said the goal "isn’t to make millions of dollars off the sale."
"It is to develop the property for the betterment of the community and have tax dollars coming in," he said. "If in the process of doing that Hornberger Avenue is improved for all the residents, that’s a plus."

