MILLSTONE – Members of the Millstone Township Planning Board have approved the development of a warehouse with 1.2 million square feet of space at the site of the former Showplace Farms horse training and rehabilitation facility on Route 33.
The board’s decision means the property will not be used for residential development.
Following testimony during a recent meeting, board members granted preliminary and final major site plan approval to an application that was submitted by 2020 Acquisitions.
Attorney Kenneth Pape presented the application for the warehouse at 505 Route 33, on the eastbound side of the state highway. approximately across the highway from Dugans Grove Road.
The warehouse will be constructed on the former site of Showplace Farms. The business closed in 2015 and the 140-acre lot, which is still owned by Showplace Farms, LLC, has remained vacant ever since.
The development of the warehouse comes on the heels of a settlement agreement among Millstone Township, the Fair Share Housing Center and Showplace Farms, LLC, regarding the municipality’s affordable housing obligation.
Affordable housing is defined as housing that is sold or rented at below market rates to individuals and families whose income meets certain guidelines.
According to township officials, Millstone’s obligation is 231 affordable housing units, which will be met under the approved settlement agreement.
Showplace Farms, LLC, was an intervenor in Millstone’s affordable housing litigation and the property’s owner, Howard Schoor, previously sought to have Toll Brothers develop hundreds of market rate units and affordable housing units on Route 33.
With the settlement agreement in place, Schoor no longer intends to develop homes on Route 33 and the planned residential development at Showplace Farms will be replaced by the approved warehouse.
Municipal officials have said the warehouse will generate $1.9 million in affordable housing fees, although no housing will be built at the site, and add revenue to Millstone Township’s tax base.
Millstone Township officials are working with Baldachino Properties on a proposed residential development that would consist of 242 units, 48 of which would be designated as affordable housing.
The location for that project is 711 Perrineville Road (Route 1), near Etra-Perrineville Road (Route 571) and the border of East Windsor. The Baldachino plan would be subject to a public hearing before the Planning Board.