Florence, New Jersey December 7, 2016

The Florence Township Council held a regular meeting on the above date in the Municipal Complex, 711 Broad Street, Florence, New Jersey.

The meeting was called to order by Council President Lovenduski at 8:00 PM. He led the Salute to the Flag. Council President Lovenduski requested everyone remain standing to observe a Moment of Silence for the 75th Anniversary of the Attack on Pearl Harbor.

The Opening Statement was read by the Deputy Township Clerk: Notice was sent to the Trenton Times for information; posted on the municipal bulletin board; placed on the web-site on January 7th, 2016; and advertised in the Burlington Co. Times on January 3rd, 2016 and January 10th 2016.

Present: Frank Baldorossi, Paul Ostrander, Jerry Sandusky, David Woolston, Ted Lovenduski

Also present: Mayor Craig H. Wilkie; Richard A. Brook, Township Administrator; Thomas A. Sahol, Assistant Township Administrator, Kelly Grant, Esq., Township Attorney; Nancy L. Erlston, Deputy Township Clerk

MINUTES Sandusky made a MOTION; seconded by Woolston to approve the following minutes. Roll call vote – all ayes. Motion carried. Unanimous approval.

• Township Council Regular Session – October 19, 2016 & November 2, 2016 • Township Council Closed Session – November 9, 2016 • Township Council CDBG Hearing – November 9, 2016 • Township Council Executive Session – November 12, 2016

FINANCIAL CORRESPONDENCE It was the MOTION of Ostrander; seconded by Baldorossi to receive and file the Court Administrator’s Reports for October and November, the Tax Collector’s Tax and Water & Sewer Reports for October and the Clerks Report for October. Roll call vote - all ayes. Unanimous approval.

It was on the MOTION of Ostrander; seconded by Sandusky to approve the Treasurer’s Bill List.

Upon roll call, Council voted as follows: YEAS: Baldorossi, Ostrander, Sandusky, Woolston, Lovenduski NOES: None ABSENT: None Motion carried. Unanimous approval.

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REGULAR CORRESPONDENCE Council President Lovenduski said the Requests for Proposals were received on November 18th and the Mayor and Council are now reviewing them.

APPLICATIONS A. On Premise 50/50 Raffle-Riverfront Middle School, 500 E. Front St., Florence March 4, 2017, 4:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

B. On Premise Merchandise Raffle-Riverfront Middle School, 500 E. Front St., Florence March 4, 2017, 4:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

C. Bingo – The Church of Sts. Francis & Clare McGrath Hall, Hornberger Avenue, 7:15pm-10:15pm January 2, 9, 16, 23, 30; February 6, 13, 20, 27; March 6, 13, 20, 27 April 3, 10, 17, 24; May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, June 5, 12, 19, 26 – 2017

D. On Premise Merchandise Raffle – Riverbank Charter School, 1300 Hornberger Ave., Roebling February 25, 2017, 6:00 pm-11:00 pm

E. Bingo – Riverbank Charter School, 1300 Hornberger Ave., Roebling February 25, 2017, 6:00 pm-11:00 pm

F. On Premise 50/50 Raffle-Riverbank Charter School, 1300 Hornberger Ave., Roebling February 25, 2017, 6:00pm-11:00 pm

It was the Motion of Baldorossi, seconded by Woolston to approve applications A through F. Upon roll call, Council voted as follows: YEAS: Baldorossi, Ostrander, Sandusky, Woolston, Lovenduski NOES: None ABSENT: None Motion carried. Unanimous approval.

PUBLIC COMMENTS Michelle Rosenblum, 19 Buttonwood Drive, asked if there could be a public information session about the Exit 52 development plans. She said there are many municipalities involved and there are many questions and many parts to the plan. For many people the first they had heard of it was from a newspaper article.

Mayor Wilkie produced a map of the area in the question. He explained Exit 52 is the interchange of Interstate 295. He showed where the boundary between Mansfield and Florence was located. When he became Mayor, a property owner in that area located in Mansfield said he wanted to get sewer from Florence Township. Mayor Wilkie said he was under the impression that the property owner had all of the approvals he needed for his project. Page 2 of 36

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The property owner said he had planned to install on-site septic systems but because of the economy he needed to have a different type of business at the site which will employ more people and would require public sewer. It was proposed to be about 2 million sq. ft. of warehouse distribution facilities. Mayor Wilkie said he spoke to Council about the request. They all realized there would be a very large transportation and vehicle issue with a facility that large. There are already traffic issues to be dealt with in other areas of the Township. The Township is working with the State and the County to resolve the issues. The Township denied the request for sewer service. About a year and a half ago the Township learned the developer got permission to get sewer from another community. Florence would now have to deal with the traffic that would be generated. The Township could do nothing or it could talk to the other communities and try to manage the construction of the area. The Township met with the developer and said the concern is the intersection of Florence-Columbus Road and Route 130. The Township told the developer if they would help with the intersection the Township would help with getting sewer to the area. The turnpike expansion makes the communities in the area much more viable for the business industries. Most trucks would probably go to Bordentown to get on the turnpike because it would cost more to enter at Florence. Right now the Township is listening to what is being discussed and will see what is in the best interest of Florence Township. The Township wanted to make sure it was part of these conversations. Planning Area 2 in Mansfield permits sewer. In Florence Township it is Planning Area 4. It does not permit public sewers, only on-site septic. The first piece even before any conversations could be held was to find out if the State would support the Township’s ability to supply public sewer to the acreage in question. This is the piece that needs to be changed in order to allow public sewer. If the State does not agree the issue would be null and void. He said his major concerns are Florence-Columbus Road and Route 130. There needs to be support and funding for the project. He spoke to the County and the State and the only way to get support is to work with Mansfield. Mansfield agreed to work with Florence regarding the Transportation Improvement District. He said anything that is developed in the designated area in Florence and Mansfield would have to provide its fair share of improvements that are necessary on Florence- Columbus Road. Developers cannot be required to do more than their share toward off-site improvements. He knows residents’ concerns are mainly about the traffic. He explained to the developers that if they want to build it will need to meet all of the community needs and concerns. That is why Florence is involved with what is going on with Exit 52. He heard comments that the project was being rushed. He said it isn’t about being rushed, it is about being part of the process, it is a long term project.

Ms. Rosenblum asked what, if anything, had been submitted to the State by the Township. Mayor Wilkie said the Township passed a resolution to the County regarding changing from Planning Area 4 to Planning Area 2. Ms. Rosenblum asked where that documentation was located. Mayor Wilkie said the minutes from that meeting were approved this evening and the resolution was available at the Township Clerk’s Office. Ordinances are on line as soon as they are introduced but resolutions are not posted to the website.

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Ms. Rosenblum said there were graphics with the article that was published in the newspaper. There must be documentation of plans that were prepared and planning and studies that were prepared. She asked where that information would be located. Mayor Wilkie said he did not have that information but he directed her to the County Economic Development Office who provided the information to the newspaper. Ms. Rosenblum said these were issues that directly impact the residents and she was upset that the local government officials did not have information on the plan. Mayor Wilkie said the resolutions are always readily available for review. No one asked to review it. Ms. Rosenblum said the only way to know about the resolutions was to attend the meeting. Council President Lovenduski said the resolutions are on the agendas. Mayor Wilkie said the agendas are posted on the website the Friday before a meeting and again on Tuesday if there were any revisions. Residents can sign up for automatic updates through the website. He encourages people to take advantage of the service.

Mayor Wilkie said there were schematics presented to the Board of Chosen Freeholders by the County Economic Development Committee on those issues. None of it is final and it is still preliminary. None of the schematics were presented to Florence Township for approval. There are many things that would need to happen before anything would be approved. Some may believe the project is being fast tracked but that is not the case. The process will be very slow. If the State doesn’t approve the change the project would not move any further because there would not be public sewer at the site. There have been approvals in Mansfield for a number of years but the economy took a downturn and it was never done. The economy got better so the process has begun.

Craig Allen, 1304 Maple Avenue, said it was mentioned that a study was done regarding the impact to the highways. He asked if there was an environmental impact study done regarding the sewers and the air quality and things along those lines. Mayor Wilkie said it is too early in the process for that. He explained that right now there are just discussions regarding the idea of developing something. The final step would be for the developer to come to the Florence Township Planning Board for approvals. No building could be done until that was accomplished. The plan is nowhere near that point yet. Nothing will happen in Florence Township anytime soon. There is already Planning Board approval in Mansfield. They are committed to move forward. Mayor Wilkie said he wants to make sure that Florence Township is at the table to be able to minimize the impact on the Township and take care of the community.

He knows some are skeptical of what the Township is trying to do. Across Cedar Lane from Amazon is the First Industrial building. There is not an end user at this time for that property. There are rumors, but nothing has come to the Township. The building is smaller than Amazon, but it looks large because it is built closer to Cedar Lane. That was done because there are residences behind the building. In the late 80’s when Morris Court was built the Superfresh building was there and operating. It was only about 200’ feet away from the homes. At that time the residents complained that the operations were all night. The building had been operating since the early 60’s, but the Township contacted them and asked them to be good neighbors, and Superfresh did what it could to adjust. Page 4 of 36

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On the other side behind the site is the Legacy at Meadowcroft development. When the Township met with First Industrial about their developing the site, the Township asked they minimize the impact to the residents of Legacy at Meadowcroft and Morris Court. That is why the building was situated so close to Cedar Lane, and as far as possible from the residents. Those are the kinds of things the Township is able to do when a developer comes in and works with the Township to try and lessen the impact on the community. There were no concept plans presented yet to the Township regarding the Exit 52 area but the first step in the designation of the Planning Area. He learned today that the meeting regarding that issue was postponed until January.

Janet Fekete, 55 Delaware Avenue, said she was on the Township website over the weekend and she didn’t see anything regarding this evening’s meeting. She wanted to thank whoever distributed a flier because that was how she learned of the meeting.

Ms. Fekete said she has noticed a major increase in traffic on Delaware Avenue and lots of tractor trailers on the street. She called the police two weeks ago because she was awakened at 5:00am from a tractor trailer that was parked across from her house. It was loud and was parked there for a half hour. The police came out and the driver moved his trailer. About a week later around 5:00am the traffic was so loud and heavy it sounded like a racetrack. She thinks it is due to the shift changes at the Amazon facility. She said there were six tractor trailers lined up to go into Amazon and she couldn’t get down Cedar Lane. She moved here from Hamilton a few years ago and she likes the people and the town but she came here because of the quiet. There are large traffic problems and she wanted to know if anything could be done to help with the traffic situation. She thinks the traffic on Delaware Avenue should be residential, not trucks. Her neighbor’s car was rear ended and there have been other accidents. The cars don’t drive safely on the street. She is concerned about the traffic problems. She doesn’t want the project to continue but if it does, she hopes the traffic issues are addressed. She said she moved to Florence because of how quiet it was and the lack of traffic here.

Mayor Wilkie said on Friday the Township posted an update regarding Amazon and some of the initiatives they have taken to try and alleviate the situation. They have been responsive to the Township’s concerns and have approached the Township when there were issues. One problem is Cedar Street versus Cedar Lane. Amazon is trying to be sure the drivers are using the correct street name. There has also been an increase in police enforcement when the trucks are parking where they shouldn’t be. They are being ticketed. There is a pre-construction meeting scheduled for tomorrow regarding the improvements that are planned for Cedar Lane and Railroad Avenue.

Dianna Hawley, 747 Morris Court, said she is not opposed to development, but she doesn’t think warehouses and industrial building is the right direction. She said her background is in finance, she is a payroll manager. She said the data she is using is from Rutgers University. The demographics have changed in Florence Township. The workforce that is here is actually education and healthcare. Page 5 of 36

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There are warehouses being built to support the residents in the community, but it doesn’t support the workforce demographic that is here. She would like to see responsible development. The workers from Amazon have to get here and go home and that causes a lot of traffic. When they go home they might need milk and bread so they might need a Shoprite. The number one up and coming job in Burlington County is a cashier. It would also be an opportunity for the high school students to have a job. There isn’t anything here for the teenagers. She thinks that should be the direction. She has heard this was a prime piece of land. If this was a prime piece of real estate there wouldn’t need to be a redevelopment plan. The developer would not need a PILOT for that. She suggested something like the Wegman’s plaza in Mt. Laurel. It is very busy and would be a big financial benefit to the community. It would also provide tax dollars to the schools. The PILOTS do not contribute to the schools. The retail would put the money back into the community. She thinks that should be the direction. She said her view is that she is a constituent and Mayor and Council are her representatives. She is concerned they were endorsing the plan that was written about in the newspaper. She thinks the representatives need to stand up for the residents and what they want. There needs to be balanced uses.

Mayor Wilkie said he would like to address some of the questions and concerns. He heard comments about what the Amazon workers were paid. The rate is $15 per hour. He also has been asked if any residents worked at the facility. He learned there are 85 residents employed there. He didn’t know how many of them were temporary employees.

There is other development in the Township that before 2012 did not happen because there were no PILOT plans or redevelopment plans. An example is Subaru on Route 130. There is almost 1 million square feet of operations. It is not a large employer, there are about 50. Every part for a Subaru is located at that facility. It is also a training facility. There are people coming from all over the northeast to here. That is potential for local spending. Express Scripts is over 200,000 square feet and keeps a very low profile. They want it that way. There are over 750 employees at the site. The salaries average from $70,000 to $80,000 and many hold PHD or Engineering degrees. Destination Maternity is a 400,000 square foot facility with 250 employees. He doesn’t know how many of the employees at these locations live in Florence. The building currently being constructed, QPSI, will be a corporate headquarters. It is a packaging company. It is a major corporation and the average salary is well into the $70,000 to $80,000 range.

There was supposed to be a grocery store that was going to be an anchor located across from the Wawa on Route 130. It was approved in 2008. It didn’t happen because the economy took a downturn. He has heard over the last at least twenty years is that there aren’t enough housetops in the township to support a grocery store. If there was a lot of traffic coming into town they would see the grocery store and that type of development. The Township is taking into consideration what the residents are saying. These projects will bring traffic. Some people have been saying the building across from Amazon will be an Amazon as well. Page 6 of 36

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There isn’t enough parking for it to be like Amazon. It can’t be as large an employer without space for cars. Amazon is now in its downturn, it is done with its holiday busy season. He said he hoped his response helped.

Ms. Hawley said he did address the issues she raised but she said she wanted the Township to look into putting in retail. Mayor Wilkie said the Route 130 corridor was changed to support a combination. There are many small lots there that can support the retail. It has been encouraged in front of the Haines Center. The problem is the rooftop numbers and volumes. The developers are doing the building, not the Township.

John Kent, 475 East Front Street, said when he moved in 21 years ago he was concerned about the landfill across the river. The Township did a great job with that and he hasn’t smelled anything lately. It was bad but it has gotten much better. Mayor Wilkie said the Township fought twenty years ago and lost every time it went to court. It was the residents that brought the change. He was impressed with how it was handled, and he hoped the Township could do something similar for this problem. He would be very happy and he thinks other people would be too.

Mr. Kent said he wanted to thank the Florence Police Department also. He was coming down Front Street and there was someone tailgating him. The police pulled the driver over and he was thankful for that.

Hadeep Kaur, 79 Ridgway Drive, wanted to know how far from Florence-Columbus Road a building would be. Mayor Wilkie said the Turnpike Extension backs up to her development so it would not be near her. He couldn’t say what the distance would be and it also depends on the size of the building. If the building is large, Florence would ask for it to be set back. He is keeping the community in mind. Ms. Kaur said she moved here from New York City because this was a quiet and peaceful community. Having something industrial takes away from the community. She is concerned the development of the area will destroy her view. Mayor Wilkie said there would be buffering and other aesthetics. It is very early in the process, there are no visions for what will be there. Florence Township is there because something is happening and he would much rather be at the table to make sure whatever the outcome is would benefit the Township rather than have to just deal with the repercussions of the outcome.

Kristan Marter, 220 East Front Street, said there was discussion regarding all of the different businesses that have come to the town and the jobs they may or may not have brought, because of the different types of positions they are. Some of them are more high-level employees. Many of them were discussed and some of them she wasn’t aware of. Now there is discussion of adding something at Griffin Pipe and also at the Roebling Steel Mill site. The town is being surrounded with distribution or manufacturing. She read the ordinance regarding Griffin Pipe and the ordinance said that it would be distribution and/or office space. It also discussed the twenty three acres the town would maintain. She was assuming it was going to be green space. She is concerned because it is a Superfund Site. Page 7 of 36

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Mayor Wilkie explained that Griffin Pipe is not a Superfund Site, Roebling Steel is a Superfund Site. Griffin Pipe is a contaminated site that has not been remediated. A company called Catalyst came in to Griffin Pipe. The company does environmental clean-up. That is what is happening at the site right now. They have gutted a number of different areas and are working with the Township. When Ms. Marter is done he will share what is proposed for the site. This is a clean-up company, they are not builders. The company is looking for ideas on what they could do so they could market the property. If the ordinance is approved by Council later in the meeting it will then be marketed and a developer can come in. He plans to present the worst case scenario. That means because it is in a redevelopment area it is a lot better than what they could do based on simply what the current zoning and Master Plan dictates. One side is General Manufacturing and the other is Special Manufacturing. They are working with the Township for the benefit of the residents. It will be clear when he presents what is proposed.

Ms. Marter said the EPA website states the water on that property has to be monitored until 2025 because there is contamination. In all of the water reports from the Water & Sewer Department, it doesn’t state that it has actually gone into public water. There is an opportunity to have a destination site because Florence is a waterfront town. She said Florence could be another Bordentown, with restaurants and retail and attract people into the town. She said the ordinance referred to Attachment B, but the attachment was not included. Mayor Wilkie said if he known he would have made sure it was made available to her. Administrator Brook said Attachment B was the Redevelopment Plan. Mayor Wilkie said it is a very thick document and invited her to come to the Municipal Building. It is available for inspection.

Ms. Marter said her understanding is that as of right now the site is being remediated. The ordinance for this evening would present a worst case scenario. She noted that would be for a distribution center and/or office and that is what it is actually zoned for. Mayor Wilkie said it is zoned General Manufacturing on one side and Special Manufacturing on the other side. The General Manufacturing is the side next to the river. That was where the pipe foundry actually operated. On the other side of the street was the access to the dump and the offices.

Ms. Marter asked if the residents had any say as to what could be put there. She would like something that could serve the Township through PILOT programs but would also serve the community. She would like to see something that would allow the community to be able to enjoy the waterfront that it has. The only area to utilize on the waterfront is a park and the boat ramp. There is brand new beautiful park on the river in Roebling, but right next to that there is a Superfund Site that is being slated for manufacturing. There are discussions about widening Hornberger Avenue, moving the gas station out of the way and building apartments on the corner of Hornberger Avenue and Route 130. Her understanding was that the apartments are slated to be affordable housing. She asked why all of this is happening when the property has not been remediated yet. There is actually an access out the back of the property. There is a dirt road already and a break in the guard rails on Route 130 that could keep the traffic out of town.

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Mayor Wilkie said regarding the Roebling Steel Mill, some people may not be familiar, but the last operation there was a small steel company back in the early 80’s. After that it was taken over by the EPA as a Superfund Site. Over the last forty years, this has been not funded by the Federal Government a number of times. It was one of the largest Superfund Sites in the nation. At budget times, it was often put off. There has been a lot of work there. When he was on Council in the early 90’s the Township wanted title to the property to have control over the site. The Township worked with the EPA to break up the property. It is a huge site. Until the light rail station went in around 2000, the federal government had never allowed the site to be broken up. That was a major step in the right direction. New Jersey Transit was going to take the area of the Keating property and put the station there because they didn’t want to deal with the EPA. A couple years later there was another section for the Roebling Museum. There is now a phasing plan. Everything along the riverbank and along what is called the little river in the back has been cleaned up. There is now forty seven acres that is available to the Township that used to be slag area. There is now access to the river. In the early 2000’s an electric generation plant wanted to build there. The Township said they did not want that there, and the Township owns the property and decides what goes there. That is the difference between the Roebling Steel site and the other properties that are being discussed. He said there could be a road run to the back of the property and there could be a distribution center there bigger than Amazon, but that isn’t what the Township wants. One of the first things he did coming into office was look into the different options for access there. There were transportation studies performed and it was decided the most viable for the community was to improve Hornberger Avenue and the intersection with Route 130. The Township looked at what needed to be done to encourage development at the site. Hornberger Avenue will need to be widened. As far as the two homes that were there, the homeowner approached the Township about purchasing the property. There were flooding issues. The Township agreed. The township has also been working with the gas station at the intersection. The gas station wants to stay and have a convenience store also. Much of the funding would be from a developer. The Township has made it clear it doesn’t want a facility with cross-docks, that would mean a major warehouse. The Township wants to see something appropriate. The Township has been in contact with the County Economic Development Office. There have been meetings in New York with the EPA to explain what the Township wants. There is a need for manufacturing with about 50,000 square feet. It might be a company that has an old building and would like to move into something else. There are discussions that are ongoing with developers. There are also plans to develop the river area for use. The Township would like to be in the position that if someone would like to build it could happen right away.

Ms. Marter said it was her understanding that the Roebling Steel Mill site has not been remediated. Mayor Wilkie explained the area that has not been remediated would be remediated by a developer building on it. The building would cap the site. All the volatile and dangerous issues are being removed. It is capping. The park area was done to a higher standard because they knew people would be playing there. The rest of the site would be held to what is called an industrial standard. It is not designed for someone to be living there but the square footage of the building and the parking lots all work toward capping. By getting the developer there it would minimize the cost.

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Mayor Wilkie said Griffin Pipe, the Florence Foundry, was first built in the 1850’s. R.D. Wood bought it around 1860. The town in the area was built up by R.D. Wood and the company. When someone looks at the site they may see the big buildings. Woodlawn Ballfield and RD Wood Baseball Field are also part of the property. They are all now owned by Catalyst who bought the property. It is a vital interest for the Township to work with them and to keep the project moving forward. The Township doesn’t want it to be another steel plant. This will be a benefit to the community and if the Township didn’t acquire some of the open space the owner would be able to build even closer to the residents. When the owner met with the Township, the Township said the biggest issue is trucks. Florence was built on trucks. Every day pipe foundry trucks came in and out. There was a trucking company that made their living off Griffin Pipe. At Walnut and Fifth was another trucking company that was right in the middle of a residential area. When the design was being created the idea was to not have truck traffic coming in. Front Street and Delaware Avenue is a County Road. The guidelines of the State of New Jersey designate it as a truck route. Most of the trucks for this site have been coming in through Burlington. Burlington Township agreed to it. The trucks are coming in on Dulty’s Lane. Dulty’s Lane is a local road in Burlington Township. They would have the right to tell us that the trucks can’t use that road. Florence told Burlington that the project is being designed to have the traffic come through Burlington. The project would also need to get the required Planning Board approvals. This project will not be as wide as Amazon, it won’t have the cross docks. It also won’t have the parking. The developer also agreed to provide a relief parking lot for the nearby residents where there is a parking issue. The developer is turning over to Florence Township Woodlawn Field, RD Wood Field and the road. The rail spur is not needed and the developer wants to get it removed. He presented two visuals to show what the sites would look like. There is also some other land that will be used for the expansion of the sewer plant. The plant needs to be kept up to date because it needs to be able to support the Township. In the late 80’s nothing could be done in town because there was a moratorium. Ever since then the Township has done what it has to do to not be in that situation again and has stayed ahead of the game.

There will be buffering and the building will not be seen by the residents, in some areas there would only be a small view. There will also be a solar field on the capped landfill that the Township could use to supply power to the Water & Sewer Plant. The walking path will also be extended on open space and the solar power can be extended to other Township buildings. The Township is trying to lessen the impact on the residents so that is why these buffers are being put in place.

Kelly Doyle, 1038 Potts Mill Road, said she was looking at the Seal of the Township of Florence. Where she lives there is farmland and open space. She is concerned about losing the agricultural feel of the community. Once there is a facility it will be gone forever. She noted the seal shows a barn and a tractor, showing agricultural not industrial.

Mayor Wilkie said many years ago when the Township was reviewing its Master Plan the Turnpike Extension was the barrier for water and sewer service. If a property was on the east side there was no sewer. The plan was always to provide water to the entire community but not sewer. Page 10 of 36

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He reviewed properties that are already preserved in that area. It was done through a County program. This is all assuming the Planning Area 4 will be permitted to be changed to allow for the Planning Area 2. He reviewed other open spaces in the area and parcels the Township has purchased with open space funds. This is not an easy issue.

Dan Meo, 420 Arnold Drive, said the farm being developed is crucial to the town. It is the entrance to the town so it is very high profile. It gives the town its identity. He asked regarding the Roebling Steel site, would whoever builds there pay taxes. Mayor Wilkie said because of the tax structure in New Jersey, things don’t happen. An example is the Haines industrial site. That has been operating since the mid-90’s and everything was happening in Burlington Township. It wasn’t until 2007 or 2008 that Florence actually had industry being built there. Florence Township negotiated a five year PILOT program. He said the first year there were no taxes paid on the building improvement portion of the tax bill, the next year twenty percent is paid, then forty percent, sixty percent, eighty percent then the entire amount every year as a regular tax payer. The projects that have happened recently in Florence Township would not have come without the PILOT programs. The Roebling Steel Plant, with all of the environmental issues, will not happen without a program. The same is true for Griffin Pipe. In 2008 and again in 2012 the Township created a Redevelopment Plan that covered certain areas that were deemed Areas in Need of Redevelopment because nothing had happened in over twenty years. The PILOTS encourage the development that the Township has agreed to. This past year over $1.2 million came into the Township. In 2014 when three sites became tax payers the rateable base jumped and taxes for homeowners went down. The Township works with the community. It reached out to the school district and the fire district in 2012. He explained that the Township had debt service at $1.4 million through 2015. When the PILOT money from Whitesell went away in 2014 and became rateables the Township went from getting $1.8 million to eighteen percent of that. The Township would have had to impose a hiring freeze and have lay-offs. The new industry has contributed to the road improvements and the tax rate has remained stable. When the Township meets with developers they advise them to talk to the school district and fire district if they want to contribute to the Township. The Township can’t force a developer to contribute to the community. Over the years the developers have contributed. NFI donated $15,000 to the school district. The Township provided a matching gift to the schools. He provided other examples of how the industries moving into the community have donated and contributed.

Luke Uzupis, 220 East Front Street, said he agreed with the things people have been saying. The residents have been told a lot of things in the past. Before Amazon came residents were told it was going to be an IT center and there would not be a lot of trucks. Mayor Wilkie asked where he had heard that information. Mr. Uzupis said he would rather not say. Mayor Wilkie said with all due respect, when he says something, he is held accountable for it. If it was said by him or anyone else in this administration he would need to know about it. Those are the types of things that are important, he and the administration need to stand by what they say. Mr. Uzupis said there is some skepticism from residents about what is going on. It is easier to do what is being done than to ask a developer to put a promenade on a remediated or formerly contaminated site. Everyone would like to see some things done that would revitalize the town. Page 11 of 36

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He doesn’t think people should have to go to Burlington or Bordentown for more upscale dining. There are plenty of pizza places here. Maybe some of the money coming in could be used for that. Mayor Wilkie asked if he was saying he wanted the Township to use taxpayer dollars to put commercial businesses in. Mr. Uzupis said the Township is giving up something when these projects are brought in. Mayor Wilkie said the Township is taking Griffin Pipe, a site that has many environmental issues, and turning it around. He asked how this was hurting the town. Mr. Uzupis said he still thinks something needs to be done to revitalize the center of town. The town could do something zoning-wise to encourage that. He said he is concerned because of the trucks using Front Street. He doesn’t know where they are coming from but there are a lot of them. It goes on all night and they park in front of the houses. He realizes it is a County road and there is a process that needed to be followed to get the state to agree to change the designation of certain routes. He suggested the Township establish a truck route system. That requires a certain amount cooperation from the County. He suggested the Township limit the amount of trucks that use the route. Mayor Wilkie said that has been requested for the last twenty years. In the past the Township tried to decentralize the road and take it off the truck route. The problem is there has to be an alternative to offer. Going down Dulty’s Lane was not an alternative, the alternate route had to be within the Township. Mayor Wilkie said he had wanted to put a road next to the turnpike but it was not well accepted. There are still conversations about the alternate route and the process is still being reviewed. He can’t say for sure it will happen but there are ongoing conversations. It is his understanding that any County road is a truck route.

Mr. Uzupis said he read information in the New Jersey Administrative Code about traffic regulations. One thing that can be done is to make a request to the State to establish a Truck Route System. Once that is approved by the State Engineer, the authorities controlling the other roads would have to acknowledge the impact on their roads. How can we impact a road with trucks that has nothing but trucks on it and industry on either side of the road? He would think it is something that should be fairly easy to do, particularly since the Township is already doing some things that seem to be fairly complicated with the other intersections. Mayor Wilkie said the Township is in negotiations with Burlington Township. He doesn’t know if they will agree to it. They will want something in return and the two municipalities are talking.

Colleen Campbell, 210 West Second Street, suggested as a short term fix have the trucks go out through Railroad Avenue. Mayor Wilkie said anything from Amazon is supposed to be travelling Cedar Lane and going to Route 130. Ms. Campbell said they aren’t doing that. She also said the signage is poor. Mayor Wilkie said additional signage has been ordered and will be installed. Part of the problem is that drivers are becoming confused with Cedar Street and Cedar Lane. They enter the wrong name in their GPS systems.

Ms. Campbell said she is concerned and thinks the Township is waiting for an accident to happen. It also needs to be convenient to the residents to enter and exit the town.

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She works in North Jersey and sees this consistently there. She doesn’t want to see it happen here. There are weight limitations on these roads. The County is aware of that and she believes they have distribution of weight limits on Delaware Avenue. That should be precluding many of these trucks from using Delaware Avenue and Front Street.

Assistant Administrator Sahol said Mr. Uzupis mentioned the Administrative Code and the Township’s ability to work on truck routes and listing and delisting. The municipality did go through that process about twelve to fifteen years ago. When the municipality did go through the process to specifically set aside one roadway, which is required by the Administrative Code, as the one municipal roadway that had to be designated, it was Railroad Avenue. By virtue of the fact that County roads are automatically enrolled as truck routes, they do not have weight restrictions. The inbound traffic on Railroad Avenue is difficult. It is a hard turn, and outbound is even worse. It is unsafe. The exit of Ready Pac is designed to force a right turn, but they do cheat. The police are aware of it. The Township has been working with the general manager as well as with the location next door. The signage has been ordered and will be installed by the Township. Amazon is using Cedar Lane to enter and exit. The Township is discouraging the use of Railroad Avenue simply because of the corner at Delaware Avenue. The township will be meeting in Trenton to talk about some of the traffic signals. The signals are the big problem. They are the limiting factors with the exit and the lines that are seen at Delaware Avenue. A fourteen to fifteen second exit is not acceptable. The traffic on Route 130 is not stacking to the point where it can’t accept a thirty five to forty five second exit que out of the community. When the police, paid by Amazon, are out there operating the lights for twenty five to thirty minute periods at the two peak times when Amazon is coming and going there is not a problem. The Township has learned through the process that it is going to change, either the officers will continue to do it or the light will be changed during this thirty minute window twice a day where modifications are needed. If that happens there will be fifteen or more vehicles clearing the road at Delaware Avenue. That is the goal. One of the problems with truck routes in under the Administrative Codes is entrapment. The Township cannot entrap a truck. If Dulty’s Lane is approved, there would not be entrapment, but until then the Township has been working with Burlington Township.

Melanie Mieczkowski, 1000 West Fourth Street, said she is shocked where one building at Griffin Pipe is going to be built. She is glad the site is being used but she is concerned because that is a big area for wildlife. There isn’t much space for wildlife anymore. There are deer there who are now going to the ball parks. They don’t have anywhere else to go. They are getting pushed out. She has another concern. Ever since The Estates at Oak Mill was built she hears the noise from the turnpike traffic all the time. Mayor Wilkie said he can’t say the noise will go away but there will be buffers. She is afraid there won’t be anything left. There isn’t anything left. Mayor Wilkie said the Township doesn’t own the properties, they are able to build within zoning guidelines.

Kathy Paul, 46 Delaware Avenue, said there is speeding along Delaware Avenue. In the summer she sat outside and watched the cars go by and they were traveling at fifty miles per hour. Page 13 of 36

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She didn’t have a speed gun but people are flying and this is a residential area where all of the houses are close to the road. Someone hit her car when they were texting. The police said they would put something out to post the speed limit.

Dennis Slaboda, 75 Ridgway Drive, asked when the meeting for the State Planning Board would be. Mayor Wilkie said it was postponed to sometime in January. Mr. Slaboda asked if someone from the municipality would be appearing. Mayor Wilkie said the resolution was sent. But he will have the meeting date posted on the Township website. Mr. Slaboda asked if the Township was going to take a position with respect to the farm and it being changed to industrial. Mayor Wilkie said the Township passed a resolution requesting the change from Planning Area 4 to Planning Area 2. The Township needs to be at the table. If the Township doesn’t do that it will still end up with the traffic and won’t be able to manage it. As it is being moved forward the Township wants to be part of the process. Right now the town is saying it encourages it so it can be at the table and deal with those issues.

Mr. Slaboda asked if that encouraged development. Mayor Wilkie said it does but the Township needs the improvements done to Florence-Columbus Road and the only way to make that happen is with the Transportation Improvement District working with Mansfield Township in order to encourage that development. If something were to happen in Mansfield and the development didn’t happen Florence would say they don’t want the change. But right now Florence needs to be involved in the process. Despite what people are saying it is very early in the process. Everything else for Florence would come back here. It would need to go to the Planning Board. Mr. Slaboda said once the area is rezoned to industrial wouldn’t that open it up in the future. Mayor Wilkie said the change would put the parcel back to Township control. The Township would then decide if it wanted to run sewer there. The agricultural zone is the one in question and there are public hearings and a whole process. That is far off.

Sharon Waznik, Oak Mill Estates, said she moved here a year ago. She feels like she moved into an industrial park. She doesn’t want to regret moving here because she fell in love with the community and the people. She is a transplant from Ocean County and she lost everything in Sandy so moving here was like rebuilding. She doesn’t know that she will live to see all of the buffers and development. She works in health care and also works for the American Cancer Society. Her sister was impacted by a chemical plant and she developed cancer and passed away from it. Her concern is the impact on the health and quality of life of the community. She has an app on her phone for the DEP and some days she wakes up and can’t even inhale. The app allows her to report it. The problems are air quality, traffic and an industry coming to a community that is supposed to be a residential community. She doesn’t want to move her job for fear that she might have to move out of Florence. Her concern is the quality of life and what is being compromised to bring in industry. Mayor Wilkie said she wasn’t here but the pipe foundry was operating for many years, it closed down around 2009. He has heard stories about what was sitting on people’s cars. Any of that could come back here without the encouragement of the Township. It is zoned for general manufacturing. Page 14 of 36

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Ben Russert, 110 Fourth Avenue, said he has lived in Florence for a little over a year. What brought him here was all of the industry and the public transportation. He thinks the industry is a good opportunity for blue collar people like him. He asked what the larger plan is, if the Township was making the area on southern Route 130 industrial. Mayor Wilkie said the plan will provide for sewer in that area. Mr. Russert asked what the sewer would be for. He asked what the plan was for the Roebling Steel Mill site. Mayor Wilkie said the site is being cleaned to the level of commercial/business, it would not be residential. There are no real residential plans throughout the community. Residential has been built where it was necessary. He has been hearing from people that they don’t want more residential. The only reason residential would be done is to meet the affordable housing requirement. The Township has been working on its plan for over a year and is waiting for the judge to sign off on the settlement. It would protect the Township through 2025.

Ms. Rosenblum said she wanted to discuss the rural planning area. She asked what other zoning classifications permit sewer and water. Mayor Wilkie indicated on a map where water and sewer are not permitted at this time. Administrator Brook said he believes many of the questions are related to the article that was in the newspaper. In his opinion the article was premature, it left people with an impression of something that is not there yet. All the Township has done is tell the developer the Township knows there is an issue with respect to traffic on Florence-Columbus Road. Mayor Wilkie and Council are actively looking at all three major intersections along Route 130 to see what can be done for improvements. With respect to Exit 52, all the Township said to the developer was that they are open to sitting down and having a discussion. There are no plans and no documentation has been submitted. That is how the article took people in the wrong direction. The Township has made commitment whatsoever to actually go forward with development. The municipality talks to developers all the time. It turned down a plan for an asphalt plant off Exit 52. The only thing that is occurring with respect to Exit 52 are discussions, which happen all the time with developers.

Ms. Rosenblum said this plan has been endorsed by the Burlington County Board of Chosen Freeholders and Mansfield. Now they need Florence to also endorse it. Ms. Rosenblum said there are other zoning classifications that could be there that don’t require an industrial use, to bring water and sewer to those areas. She also thought there should be shorter PILOT Agreements or maybe some kind of alternate type of industry there. It is an agricultural zone, she would like to see something more compatible with that area. All of the agricultural land in the area would be wedged in by the industrial uses surrounding it. Administrator Brook said the area is not being zoned industrial. The Township does not go and actively seek out distribution centers. It has reached out to grocery stores, well known hotel chains and the like. He offered to meet with her to discuss what PILOT agreements are. The owners are still responsible for full land taxes. The Township does much more than many other municipalities regarding the PILOT money. It reinvests it into the infrastructure. A PILOT is often seen as a free ride and that is not the case. The Local Purpose Tax hasn’t changed in four years and the money is going back into the community in many different ways. Page 15 of 36

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Regarding Exit 52, all Florence Township has said is that they would sit and talk to the developer. He understands that some may think the Township should not have considered going to a PA 2 but it does not mean the property is going to be rezoned industrial or that it is automatically going to be a warehouse or distribution center or that the property will be redeveloped.

Ms. Rosenblum said she disagreed and the article said that NFI is potentially under contract for the Wainwright tract of land. Mayor Wilkie said that would be a private deal or arrangement.

At this point he asked if Council could continue with the agenda for this evening because there were six ordinances for public hearings this evening. He explained that the meeting would be opened to the public for each one but questions could only pertain to the ordinance. There would then be another open public hearing once all of the business was done, toward the end of the meeting.

RESOLUTIONS

RESOLUTION NO. 2016-236 Deny Release of Water Distribution & Sanitary Sewer Performance Bonds Pulte Homes, Estates at Oak Mill, Phase 3

RESOLUTION NO. 2016-237 Authorize Refund Use of FAAD Building Fee

RESOLUTION NO. 2016-238 Resolution Canceling Taxes on Property Owned by a Totally Disabled Veteran

RESOLUTION NO. 2016-239 Resolution Canceling Taxes on Property Owned by the Township of Florence

RESOLUTION NO. 2016-240 Resolution Canceling Tax Overpayments Less than $10.00

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RESOLUTION NO. 2016-241 Approve Change Order No. 1 and Payment No. 2 for the 2015-2016 Road Resurfacing Project Richard T. Barrett Paving Company, Inc. 400 Prospect Street, Trenton, NJ 08618

RESOLUTION NO. 2016-242 Transferring Certain 2016 Budget Appropriations

RESOLUTION NO. 2016-243 Water & Sewer Payment Plan for Block 156.10, Lot 2 316 Pigott Drive

RESOLUTION NO. 2016-244 Amend Resolution No. 2016-58 Accounts Deposited at BB&T Bank to Include Nancy L. Erlston, Deputy Clerk as a Signer on Various Accounts

RESOLUTION NO. 2016-245 Award of Contract for 2017 Crane Truck to Bayshore Ford, 4003 N. Dupont Blvd. New Castle, DE 19720

RESOLUTION NO. 2016-246 Approve Request to Release Performance Bond for Gres Paving Note: Conditioned upon posting a Maintenance Bond & payment of any escrow funds due

RESOLUTION NO. 2016-247 Approve Request to Release Performance Bond for Tilton Lane, LLC Note: Conditioned upon posting a Maintenance Bond & payment of any escrow funds due Page 17 of 36

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RESOLUTION NO. 2016-248 Authorizing Refund of Certain Tax Overpayments

RESOLUTION NO. 2016-249 Resolution of the Township of Florence Waiving the Appointment of a Risk Management Consultant/Insurance Producer and Indemnifying and Holding Harmless the Burlington County Municipal Joint Insurance Fund as a Result of any Claims Arising from Said Action

It was the Motion of Ostrander and seconded by Sandusky to approve Resolution Nos. 2016-236 through 2016-249.

Upon roll call, Council voted as follows: YEAS: Baldorossi, Ostrander, Sandusky, Woolston, Lovenduski NOES: None ABSENT: None Motion carried. Unanimous approval.

ORDINANCES ORDINANCE NO. 2016-28 AN ORDINANCE RESCINDING ORDINANCE 2016-07 AUTHORIZING AN AGREEMENT FOR TAX EXEMPTION WITH ROEBLING GROUP, LLC FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1301 HORNBERGER AVENUE, BLOCK 126.02, LOT 1.02 (1st Reading) (Public Hearing & Adoption 12/21/16) Council President Lovenduski explained this ordinance rescinded the PILOT Agreement for the Sassman Property on Hornberger Avenue.

It was the Motion of Sandusky, seconded by Woolston to approve Ordinance No. 2016-28 and set the public hearing and adoption for December 21, 2016.

Mayor Wilkie said this pertains to the building that has been sitting empty since 2010. It is on the corner of Hornberger and Tenth Avenues. The owner has met with the Township on numerous occasions and he claimed he was going to finish the project and Council tried to work with him but he has not met any of the deadlines that he provided.

Upon roll call, Council voted as follows: YEAS: Baldorossi, Ostrander, Sandusky, Woolston, Lovenduski NOES: None ABSENT: None Motion carried. Unanimous approval. Page 18 of 36 Florence Township Council Regular Session 12/7/16

ORDINANCE NO. 2016-33 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE PRIVATE SALE OF CERTAIN VACANT PROPERTY OWNED BY THE TOWNSHIP OF FLORENCE NOT NEEDED FOR PUBLIC USE (2nd Reading) (Public Hearing & Adoption)

At this time Council President Lovenduski opened the meeting to the public regarding Ordinance No. 2016-33.

Mayor Wilkie explained this pertains to the lot that is adjacent to the Liquor Barn. As part of a legal settlement it is being transferred.

Ben Grilletto, 414 Arnold Drive, asked if the settlement was now finished. Administrator Brook said the settlement is complete. Mr. Grilletto asked if it was now a public record and if it was could he review it. He asked if he could review it before Council adopted the ordinance. Mayor Wilkie said it is Council’s prerogative to approve ordinances. He said Mr. Grilletto is welcome to review the agreement and voice his opinions at the next meeting. Mr. Grilletto asked if there was any recourse if there was something in the settlement that the public didn’t agree with.

Administrator Brook suggested moving the ordinance to a later part of the meeting and he would get a few copies of the agreement for members of the public to review right now.

Council President Lovenduski said the ordinance would be pulled for now so the public could review the agreement.

Dianna Hawley, 747 Morris Court, said that Mr. Grilletto should be given more time to review the agreement. Councilman Sandusky said if Mr. Grilletto feels he was not able to digest it in that amount of time he can express that during the public hearing and it could be addressed at that time.

Mr. Grilletto said there may be other residents who were not present who may also want to review the document. Administrator Brook confirmed with Solicitor Grant that the ordinance could be held until the next meeting to allow Mr. Grilletto and others to review. He explained for Ms. Hawley’s information the Township spent an evening discussing the agreement at length. He said he will provide a copy of the document and it will reflect what was discussed at length at a previous meeting.

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Jennifer Brennan, 700 Olive Street, said she attended the Planning Board meeting two weeks ago and thought she heard the ordinance was going to be for low income affordable housing. She said Mayor Wilkie said at that meeting this property was going to be affordable housing. Mayor Wilkie explained at that meeting he was discussing the Township’s COAH Plan but this property was not part of that. Ms. Brennan said Mayor Wilkie said there would be sixty units. Mayor Wilkie said the sixty potential units he was referring to would be located at the corner of Route 130 and Hornberger Avenue.

It was the Motion of Sandusky, seconded by Woolston to hold Ordinance No. 2016-33 and set the public hearing and adoption for December 14, 2016. All ayes.

ORDINANCE NO. 2016-34 AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF FLORENCE, IN THE COUNTY OF BURLINGTON, NEW JERSEY, PROVIDING FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT IN AND FOR THE TOWNSHIP, APPROPRIATING $2,400,000 THEREFOR, AND AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF $2,280,000 IN WATER & SEWER UTILITY BONDS OR NOTES OF THE TOWNSHIP TO FINANCE THE SAME (2nd Reading) (Public Hearing & Adoption)

Council President Lovenduski opened the meeting to the public regarding Ordinance No. 2016-34.

Mayor Wilkie explained that this ordinance refers to major upgrades to the Water & Sewer facility. The last time it was done was about forty years ago. There have been improvements during that time but these are major components. The components being upgraded have met their life expectancy. They are still working but it is being done to be better prepared for the future.

It was the Motion of Woolston, seconded by Baldorossi to close the public hearing on Ordinance No. 2016-34. All ayes.

It was the Motion of Woolston, seconded by Baldorossi to adopt Ordinance No. 2016-34

Upon roll call, Council voted as follows: YEAS: Baldorossi, Ostrander, Sandusky, Woolston, Lovenduski NOES: None ABSENT: None Motion carried. Unanimous approval.

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ORDINANCE NO. 2016-35 AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF FLORENCE, IN THE COUNTY OF BURLINGTON, NEW JERSEY, PROVIDING FOR TOWNSHIP COSTS OF COUNTY SHARED SERVICES AGREEMENT FOR INSTALLATION OF PEDESTRIAN SAFETY MEASURES IN AND FOR THE TOWNSHIP, APPROPRIATING $75,000 THEREFOR, AND AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF $71, 250 IN GENERAL IMPROVEMENT BONDS OR NOTES OF THE TOWNSHIP TO FINANCE THE SAME (2nd Reading) (Public Hearing & Adoption)

Council President Lovenduski explained this ordinance deals with the installation of three pedestrian signals, one at Front and Broad Street, one at Boulevard and Front Street and one on Cedar Lane at the bike path across from the high school.

It was the Motion of Ostrander, seconded by Woolston to close the public hearing. All ayes.

It was the Motion of Baldorossi, seconded by Sandusky to adopt Ordinance No. 2016-35.

Upon roll call, Council voted as follows: YEAS: Baldorossi, Ostrander, Sandusky, Woolston, Lovenduski NOES: None ABSENT: None Motion carried. Unanimous approval.

ORDINANCE NO. 2016-36 AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF FLORENCE, IN THE COUNTY OF BURLINGTON, NEW JERSEY, PROVIDING FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO HORNBERGER AVENUE IN AND FOR THE TOWNSHIP, APPROPRIATING $910,000 THEREFOR, AND AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF $864,500 IN GENERAL IMPROVEMENT BONDS OR NOTES OF THE TOWNSHIP TO FINANCE THE SAME (2nd Reading) (Public Hearing & Adoption)

Council President Lovenduski explained this was for drainage improvements on Hornberger Avenue from Parish Lane to Second Avenue. Mayor Wilkie said the State finally moved forward on the Transportation Trust Fund. The Township received a grant last year to make improvements on Hornberger Avenue from Delaware Avenue to Parish Lane. The Township then received another grant to continue the work to Second Avenue. The funding may not be enough to go all the way to Second Avenue, but if it is not included and the funding was available the Township would not be able to do it. The pricing for paving has been coming in extremely low so that is why that length was selected. Page 21 of 36 Florence Township Council Regular Session 12/7/16

It was the Motion of Sandusky, seconded by Ostrander to close the public hearing. All ayes.

It was the Motion of Sandusky, seconded by Baldorossi to adopt Ordinance No. 2016-36.

Upon roll call, Council voted as follows: YEAS: Baldorossi, Ostrander, Sandusky, Woolston, Lovenduski NOES: None ABSENT: None Motion carried. Unanimous approval.

ORDINANCE NO. 2016-37 AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF FLORENCE, IN THE COUNTY OF BURLINGTON, NEW JERSEY, PROVIDING FOR THE ACQUISITION OF 207 IRON STREET IN AND FOR THE TOWNSHIP, APPROPRIATING $140,000 THEREFOR, AND AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF $133,000 IN GENERAL IMPROVEMENT BONDS OR NOTES OF THE TOWNSHIP TO FINANCE THE SAME (2nd Reading) (Public Hearing & Adoption)

Mayor Wilkie said this property is in terrible condition and it would be a benefit to the community to have the Township step in and clean it up. This is the only way to eliminate blight. The Township is moving forward to acquire the property and demolish it then clean it up.

Council President Lovenduski opened the meeting to the public regarding Ordinance No. 2016-37.

John Smith, 10 Boulevard, asked if the property taxes were in arrears. Mayor Wilkie said he didn’t believe so because there was a bank that was paying them. The condition of the property is so bad that no one is going to step forward to do anything about it.

It was the Motion of Ostrander, seconded by Sandusky to close the public hearing.

It was the Motion of Ostrander, seconded by Sandusky to adopt Ordinance No. 2016-37.

Upon roll call, Council voted as follows: YEAS: Baldorossi, Ostrander, Sandusky, Woolston, Lovenduski NOES: None ABSENT: None Motion carried. Unanimous approval.

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ORDINANCE NO. 2016-38 AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF FLORENCE ADOPTING A REDEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR PARCELS WITHIN THE GRIFFIN PIPE PROPERTIES REDEVELOPMENT AREA (2nd Reading) (Public Hearing & Adoption)

Mayor Wilkie said the Township advised the Planner that this was an area that was in need of redevelopment. That was approved many years ago. The Township has been working with the developer. The Planner developed the plan and it was put in place. It was referred to the Planning Board for review and was determined to be consistent with the Master Plan and is in the best interest of the community. It now came back to Council for them to take action. If it is adopted tonight, the company currently cleaning up the property would then market it for someone to do the actual development. They would be required to get permission from the Township before anything could be built. There were roughly 250 employees at the facility when it shut down and it operated twenty four hours a day. There was a rail line that serviced the site. The rail line has been eliminated and the goal is to have it physically removed. He hopes it will become an all-purpose walking/bike path. He hopes eventually it will run from the light rail station in Florence along the tracks to the roundabout and connect to the sidewalks to the spur. He would also like to have an access to the river for residents by Griffin Pipe that might connect to some of the parks along the river. He would like to see some things happen that would be a benefit to the community. The Township has worked with Catalyst to create something that would have the least impact on the community. They do own the property and they do have rights. They could build without a PILOT agreement and without any of the benefits to the community.

Council President opened the meeting to the public regarding Ordinance No. 2016-38.

Melanie Mieczkowski, 1000 West Fourth Street, said she opposes this ordinance.

Ms. Marter said one building in the plan is manageable but she opposes the second building. She thinks the truck traffic is going be a problem on Front Street and Delaware. She hopes whatever agreement that is made with Burlington Township would redirect the traffic out of the Township. She said there is already a problem with traffic coming from Burlington area.

Mayor Wilkie said part of this plan directs that the truck traffic must go through Burlington Township. Ms. Marter asked if the plan included a way to keep the traffic out that is coming from Burlington. Mayor Wilkie said that is not part of this plan, they are two different issues.

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Ms. Marter said she hears a lot about what it used to be, but Florence is no longer a foundry town. The industry that caused pollution is gone. The Township is trying to build on a site that was contaminated. Her concern is the excavation and dust in the air. Mayor Wilkie said this is part of a capping process. The site is being cleaned up now. Ms. Marter said it is going to be built on and to build there must be excavation. She is concerned about that. She is also concerned about the wildlife and keeping the small town community. That is why she moved here and it feels like she is being surrounded by distribution centers. She opposes the ordinance.

Ms. Brennan said she opposes the ordinance.

Mr. Smith wanted to know why the site has to be zoned General Manufacturing. The other part is Special Manufacturing. That area wasn’t zoned for that before, there was different zoning. He asked if this ordinance was creating the change in zoning. Mayor Wilkie said the General Manufacturing zoning was always in place. The site runs to the boundary of West Third Street. He indicated where the Special Manufacturing was located and where the Residential was located. He said the Township is not looking for more residential building and especially not at this site.

Mr. Smith asked why it had to remain General Manufacturing. He asked if the Township was being selective. The same thing isn’t happening at the Roebling Steel Plant site. This is going to be a heavy impact on the residents. People are upset. He thinks the Township is chasing rateables to the detriment of the residents. Eventually the town will be surrounded with walls.

Mayor Wilkie said the Township owns the Roebling Steel Mill site. It doesn’t own the Griffin Pipe site. He thought it was in the best interest of the community to acquire from the owners Woodlawn Park and RD Wood Park and the types of things the residents could enjoy. Without that the owner could have tried to develop the sites. They would have every right to do that.

Mr. Smith said somewhere along the line the zoning was changed. He recalled something about Research Park zoning. Mayor Wilkie said in 2007 the Reexamination Report talked about Research Park but nothing was ever done to make those changes. Mr. Smith said something happened with zoning. Mayor Wilkie said if there was it was before his time.

Mr. Smith said prior to the Township owning the Roebling Steel site, in the eighties, it was on the tax rolls. There is nothing happening there and there was a Reserve for Uncollected Taxes that the Township had to provide. Page 24 of 36

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A former Tax Collector lobbied to the County and it was taken off the tax rolls. Mayor Wilkie said that was a benefit for the community. In New Jersey the municipality collects all the taxes and has to pay the taxes out. At one time the Roebling Steel Plant was about twenty five percent of the tax base. If they aren’t paying it is a drain on the community.

Coleen Campbell, 210 West Second Street, asked if the Township could require the owner to build clean technology. She would like to see less industrial and less distribution. She said she would like to see more tech jobs or small businesses. The Township has not been very good at attracting small businesses to the community. And when they do come they don’t seem to last. She would like to see businesses that the residents could support.

Mayor Wilkie said nothing prevents that from happening here. Anything could. This is the beginning so the developer can move forward. They made an investment cleaning up and capping the site. The Township did not want the site to continue to stay stagnant. Ms. Campbell asked him to explain capping. Mayor Wilkie said the site must be cleaned to a certain level under the guidance of the DEP. The contaminated soil needs to be removed and replace it with new soil. In addition, this site had to be built up because it is in the flood plain zone. Those are major costs that are part of this. This isn’t the final part. Once there is a real plan it has to come before the Planning Board.

Beth Gensel, 217 Woodlawn, noticed that was a lot of dirt trucked in. There is a high mound. She wanted to know where it was from and why was it there. DEP is reviewing the Soil Permit. They allowed the owner to bring the dirt in, put they can’t spread it yet. They are hoping for that approval shortly. That will cap and raise the site.

Ms. Mieczkowski asked why there was spraying at the site. Mayor Wilkie said it was to keep the dust down.

Mr. Uzupis asked about the second building. He asked if there were limitations as to what would be allowed. He asked if there were restrictions as to the size and shape of the building. There is the potential to have more than one tenant. He would like the Township to encourage them to have a few small businesses in there that were not distribution or manufacturing. It would be a lot more tolerable. This is something the Township could do to generate the kind of traffic in town that might invigorate the center of town and bring businesses.

Mayor Wilkie said there is a list in the redevelopment ordinance of what would be permitted there. They were given a broad brush so they can market the facility. Mr. Uzupis asked if they were allowed to just do what they want. Page 25 of 36

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Council President Lovenduski said it would be market driven and at that point it would come back to the Planning Board and then the Board would decide what is permissible and what isn’t.

Ms. Marter said the drawing must have been provided by an engineer. Mayor and Council said that was correct. Ms. Marter said this is a preliminary plan of some sort with loading docks and distribution buildings. It is zoned for this, but she read in the ordinance distribution centers and/or office space. Even though it is zoned as Industrial or Special Manufacturing it would be the perfect place for a corporate business center. There is a nice view. Mayor Wilkie said that would be a permitted use. Ms. Marter said she presuming what was shown in the rendering is what will be there, the plans are drawn up. Council President Lovenduski said the drawing shows the most the site could be developed. It depicts the biggest building that would be able to be there. It isn’t saying that is what is going to be there, but it can never be any bigger than what is shown in the drawing but it can be smaller. It will be market driven. The developer is coming to get approvals to build two buildings of that size. The Township does not know an end user. The key is that it can be smaller but it can never be any bigger.

Mayor Wilkie said Liberty, the developer of the Amazon building, brought three options to the Board. It was large building with the option of another warehouse in front, a large car parking or large truck parking location, depending on who the end user would be. It was being built on spec. Liberty actually went to the Planning Board. The plan shown tonight has not gone to the Planning Board. It is in the only in the first step of the Redevelopment Plan. The next phase is for the owner to find someone who wants to build on the site. That person would then go to the Planning Board for approvals. Ms. Marter asked who was responsible for the marketing. Mayor Wilkie said is the responsibility of the property owner. She asked what the hours would be. Mayor Wilkie said all of the operations are able to be 24/7.

Councilman Sandusky said it was important for the public to attend the Planning Board meetings and voice their concerns over the application when it is there.

Ms. Hawley asked if there were grants that would be applied for the parks in the surrounding area. Council President Lovenduski said they were not Township owned yet. She asked if the Township knew where it would apply for grant funding once the ownership was turned over. Mayor Wilkie said the Township applies to the County. Currently there is an application to acquire funding to replace the basketball courts that are almost fifty years old. The Township also wants to put a playground at the site. There was one there a very long time ago but it was never replaced. Page 26 of 36

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He would like to do these things as soon as possible because there have been concerns raised about lack of basketball courts and lack of playgrounds.

Mr. Smith said he would like to reiterate that the zoning in the area should not be General Manufacturing. Mayor Wilkie explained that the zoning isn’t changing, it is because it is in the Redevelopment Zone. Mayor Wilkie said there is Residential, Special Manufacturing and General Manufacturing. Mr. Smith said that is his point. That area does not need to be General Manufacturing. He said the Roebling Plant is not General Manufacturing. Mayor Wilkie said there are similar uses that could be there. The Township owns the Roebling Steel site, it does not own Griffin Pipe. Mr. Smith said the Township did the zoning and it doesn’t have to be Special Manufacturing.

Ingrid Schoen, Florence-Columbus Road, asked if the Township Fire Department was responsible for all of these large buildings. Mayor Wilkie explained that they are. The Christmas Tree Shop warehouse had a fire and the local department took care of it. The department has a lot of training and inspects all of the building. Ms. Schoen said the Township keeps adding more and more on. That is her concern. Mayor Wilkie said the Fire Department is ready to handle whatever might come up. The department has not raised any concerns. When applications go before the Planning Board, the fire official reviews and raises any concerns he may have.

Ms. Brennan said she lives at the intersection of Olive Street and Cedar Lane and she sees the trucks get caught all the time because they are turning around at the intersection. She noted she has video of it. She offered to share them.

Richard Popso, 9 Boulevard, said he was late to the meeting and heard there was discussion about adding on to the Water & Sewer Plant. Council President Lovenduski said at this time of the meeting the discussion was limited to the ordinance on the table. Mayor Wilkie said part of the agreement with the owner of Griffin Pipe is that the owner will provide the Township with three acres adjacent to the Water & Sewer Plant so if expansion was necessary it could be done. In 2000 the plant was completely redone, but that was sixteen years ago. They are also providing an additional acre with access to the river that the Township does not currently have. There is right-of-way to get there but this will provide the actual ownership to have access.

Mr. Popso asked if with all the building being built there would be an addition to the Water & Sewer Plant. Mayor Wilkie said the Township is always keeping an eye on the capacity of the utility on a regular basis. Mr. Popso is worried about odor from a bigger facility. He asked if it going to be closed in.

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Administrator Brook said that was a good point and it would be an enclosed facility. It would be more modern. The issue of odor could not occur because it would be fully enclosed. Mayor Wilkie said that is not an immediate plan, but there are conversations because the Township is looking ahead. The debt service in the utility is starting to drop off.

Fred Swart, 19 Fourth Avenue, asked if there were weight restrictions for the trucks coming through town. Mayor Wilkie said the plan would call for all truck traffic to come through Burlington Township. He said what is already here is really big warehouses. He thinks this is what will be built at the site. He hasn’t seen any other types of businesses come to town. Mayor Wilkie discussed that some of the new companies have many employees. Some of the facilities are huge but don’t have a lot of employees. Others have many employees. There are different pieces in the area. This site would not be huge. It doesn’t have the availability for cross docks and it doesn’t have the width to be a major distribution center. It could be a fulfillment center or a corporate headquarters. It could be many things.

Mr. Smith said when Griffin Pipe closed the residents got some relief. Now there could be something there that would be the same kind of thing. There will be light pollution also. He asked if there were any concerns about the Riverwalk that the County is trying to implement. He wanted to know if it would run there. Mayor Wilkie said the Riverwalk goes down Front Street and River Road, it does not go along the river itself there. Mr. Smith asked if there were any plans to change that. Mayor Wilkie has requested that, but it would depend on who the owner is and what the end user is. Mayor Wilkie said it is not likely to be the smoke stack type of industry that was there. And lighting standards as they are today do not permit light pollution. There are restrictions.

It was the Motion of Woolston, seconded by Ostrander to close the public hearing. All ayes.

It was the Motion of Ostrander, seconded by Sandusky to adopt Ordinance No. 2016-38.

Upon roll call, Council voted as follows: AYES: Baldorossi, Ostrander, Sandusky, Woolston, Lovendusky NOES: None ABSENT: None

ORDINANCE NO 2016-39 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY KNOWN AS BLOCK 140.02, LOTS 1.01, 1.03, 1.04 AND 1.05 IN THE TOWNSHIP OF FLORENCE FOR FUTURE ROADWAY IMPROVEMENT PURPOSES (2nd Reading) (Public Hearing & Adoption) Page 28 of 36

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Mayor Wilkie explained this is the lot located at the corner of Amboy and Hornberger Avenues. Many may remember it as the lot where the Pete’s Pizza truck used to park. This is part of the plan for the expansion of Hornberger Avenue. There was an opportunity to purchase the property so the Township moved forward.

Council President Lovenduski opened the meeting to the public regarding Ordinance No. 2016-39. Seeing no one wishing to be heard, it was the Motion of Sandusky, seconded by Ostrander to close the public hearing.

It was the Motion of Baldorossi, seconded by Sandusky to adopt Ordinance No. 2016-39.

Upon roll call, Council voted as follows: AYES: Baldorossi, Ostrander, Sandusky, Woolston, Lovendusky NOES: None ABSENT: None

REPORTS Committees, Boards and Officers: Administration Mayor Mayor Wilkie thanked everyone who had anything to do with today’s Pearl Harbor Observance. There was a ceremony this morning at 11am and there was a rededication of the Veteran’s Monument that was built in 1991 and dedicated December 7th, the 50th Anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack. Today the people who were part of that process were honored. There were three veterans from WWII who attended and there were four or five from the Korean War. Commander Yancy, a Florence resident who served in WWII, the Korean War and Vietnam, was in attendance. There was a nice crowd of over fifty people.

Christmas in Roebling is this Saturday. The Roebling Museum said it runs from 11am-4pm and Santa will be visiting from 1pm-3pm. There are house tours and other activities. It is held by the Roebling Museum and the Roebling Garden Club. He invited the audience to participate and support the community.

December 15th, a week from tomorrow is the annual Hoops for the Holidays. It is a partnership between the Police Department and the Florence Township School District. The fundraiser collects funds and food items for local food pantries. It is scheduled for 6:30 at the Riverfront School gymnasium.

Saturday, December 17th at 2pm the Fire Department will be driving Santa throughout town on a fire truck.

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Mayor Wilkie said there have been comments about open space in the Township and if there was any. With the County Farmland Preservation as well as properties that the Township has purchased, there will be over 562 acres that has been preserved between the Township and the County. In addition to the Green Acres parks there is quite a bit that is in the Township. The information will be posted to the website. There were questions about communication. Information will continue to be posted to the website and residents are welcome to share it with others through social media.

Township Administrator

Division of Water & Sewer Utilities

New Business The 2017 Requests for Proposals were received. Mayor Wilkie asked that if Council had any concerns with any of the professionals, please let him know. At this point he will be reviewing the proposals to make recommendations at the Reorganization Meeting.

Public Comments: Open to the Public David MacFarland, 609 East Sixth Street, said he realizes the Mayor and Council have their hands full but he knows they are invested in the community. Not only for themselves, but for their children and grandchildren. He understands they live just like the other residents and this is their home town. He knows if he raises a concern the Mayor and Council will listen and do what is right.

Tuesday before Thanksgiving he almost hit someone who was walking to work to Amazon. The man was not dressed appropriately and was crossing the street underneath a bridge at the bottom of the whirlybird where it is very dark. He went to speak to Amazon and was told the employees are only required to wear their safety vests inside the building. He was told if there was a problem he should contact the Mayor. He spoke briefly to the Mayor earlier this evening and he directed him to talk to Administrator Brook and Assistant Administrator Sahol. He said he would visit the Municipal Building the next day.

He said regarding the other issues that were discussed he thinks the Mayor and Council have a good handle on things and are trying to work their hardest to make everyone happy. With Amazon, or with any other new neighbor, there needs to be trust in the leaders and patience. When the time comes, if reasonable means don’t resolve the issues, residents need to reach out. He reached out to the police when he wasn’t satisfied with the response he received from Amazon and went to the Police Department. He dealt with two officers and they were both very professional and wonderful to talk to. They understood his frustration and were very understanding. He commended the officers and thanked everyone for their time.

Phil Wilgus, 662 Delaware Avenue, said the traffic issues in the morning and the evening have gotten better. He asked what would happen if the DOT said no to the traffic changes. Assistant Administrator Sahol said there are alternate mechanisms that the Township will employ when working with political officials higher than this level. The Governor’s Office is extremely engaged when it comes to the need of municipalities. Page 30 of 36

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If the DOT doesn’t hear it and it doesn’t resonate properly to them, he doesn’t think even their own study would show anything other than what the Township is asking for. If the DOT proved the Township wrong, he would be shocked. The Township will continue to work with the community neighbors. Amazon has done some things to try and work with the community. They have staggered their dismissal times. And the employee numbers went from 800 between the two shifts to about 500 between the two shifts. They are working with the Township and trying to help the situation. The Township will seek all the mechanisms that are available. Mr. Wilgus said he has noticed an improvement in the traffic. Administrator Brook said Assistant Administrator Sahol provided a diplomatic answer, but he was going to blunt. If the DOT person at this level were to say no, Council would pass a resolution that would go directly to the commissioner, the lieutenant governor and our elected representatives asking them to intercede.

Ron Menold, 707 Varga Circle, said regarding the Exit 52 project, one thing he has noticed is that the deceleration ramp is horrible. The acceleration ramps are the same. Now there is talk about potentially putting more and more semi-trucks getting off at that exit. It would make getting on Route 295 at that exit impossible. He won’t use it now; he goes up to Bordentown. He thinks the design of the exit needs to be considered when the plans for the project are created.

He understands running sewer to the site brings money to the Township but he thinks the Township could still have some say over how it gets zoned. He thinks the Township needs to keep that in consideration.

Ms. Schoen said coming off the interstate at Exit 52 there are areas of puddling and it freezes in the winter. Council President Lovenduski said that is a County road located in Mansfield Township. She is concerned with the increase in traffic, she already has trouble getting into her driveway. She asked that be taken into consideration.

Ms. Brennan said she lives at the intersection of Cedar Lane and Olive Street and she sees a lot of the traffic coming and going from Amazon. Trucks get stuck at her intersection all the time. She said it is a hazard and she is worried there is going to be a fatal accident. She is worried the emergency responders will not be able to get out of Firehouse Lane and it will cost someone their life. She heard the Fire Department has been complaining about it also. She thinks before any more projects are approved the roads should be fixed. She asked where the roundabout would go and when it was being installed. Mayor Wilkie said the roundabout is going to be installed at the intersection of Railroad Avenue and Cedar Lane. He explained how the roundabout would work. Ms. Brennan asked how that would help with the large trucks. Mayor Wilkie said it would force them to slow down. Mayor Wilkie said right now vehicles might come down Railroad Avenue and blow through the intersection. The roundabout will guide traffic in a safe way so that can’t happen. Ms. Brennan asked if there had been any discussion about making a better overpass instead of having the whirlybird. Mayor Wilkie said there have been improvements to the whirlybird and there are ongoing conversations going on about different adjustments. Ms. Brennan said stacking has been an issue at Amazon and it causes backups on the whirlybird. Page 31 of 36

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Mayor Wilkie said that was caused by Amazon and how they were handling their distribution. Amazon is addressing the problem. In addition there will be a turn lane installed at the car entrance. The biggest improvement on Cedar Lane will be the roundabout, but there other improvements that are being done on Cedar Lane. There will be lighting and sidewalks. It is all part of this process.

Ms. Brennan asked where the traffic will go while the roundabout is being installed. Assistant Administrator Sahol said tomorrow is the pre-construction meeting for the project. He explained there would not be a closure of the roadway. The roundabout is being constructed in such a way that it will be built entirely around what is there. The existing road will be utilized. There may be a section of Railroad Avenue that would be closed for a brief period of time. That is only because they will need to accommodate the lane shift, base paving and removal. Tomorrow the staging plan will be discussed. Assistant Administrator Sahol said it has been a nightmare coordinating all of the utility companies and getting them to actually do their work. To take advantage of the easements that will be created they need to be approved by the County. This is all County roadwork. It is very time consuming. The Township had hoped everything would have been done and on line. The process started over a year ago. That shows how long this takes. The Township is hoping some of the base work will be done, that would be the drainage and some of the outlying curb areas that will create the outside of the roundabout. The internal piece can’t happen until there is good week of paving opportunity. Right now that season is passed. Right now it looks like it will be installed in the spring.

Ms. Brennan asked when the signage was due to be installed. Assistant Administrator Sahol said the signage has been ordered and he hopes it will be in very soon. The Police Department is trying to ease the situation with the temporary measure. Ms. Brennan said the sign for the Amazon building is not very well lit and she can understand how it is missed. She doesn’t blame the trucks getting lost she is just looking for a better way. Assistant Administrator agreed that the signage doesn’t have enough contrast. He appreciates all of the input the Township receives by many different venues, the comments really reiterate what the Township also is aware. Sometimes there is something new they were not aware of. Truly with much of this the administration is living this just like the residents. They are all from the community and have family here and this is what they live and breathe. He says the administration sees a lot of the same things the residents are seeing and are on it as quickly as possible. This evening he was looking at the sign to see what he could recommend to create a better contrast on the Amazon sign. The Police Department made some good recommendations and Amazon is following them.

Assistant Administrator Sahol said it was mentioned how dark it is under the overpass. He had that conversation just over a week ago at the Township Safety Meeting. That is just an internal employee group discussing safety issues they have noticed in the community. Today he spoke to someone at the Turnpike Authority and explained there needed to be lighting under that road. They said they don’t do that. Assistant Administrator Sahol said he was fortunate enough to find a location outside of this community where the Turnpike Authority underlit one of their overpasses. Page 32 of 36

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Ms. Brennan requested a police presence at the intersection of Olive Street and Cedar Lane between Midnight and 5am because there are a lot of trucks turning around. She was told that they certainly will. Assistant Administrator Sahol said there were issues with Cedar Lane, Cedar Street and Cedar Lane Extension. He met up with a truck driver who was following a dot on Google maps. He got him to the Amazon facility and learned whoever sent the driver the map didn’t plot it exactly where the Amazon site was.

Robert Castro, 108 Andrews Drive, asked to see visual of the Exit 52 area again. He said he understood Planning Area 2 would permit sewer. Mayor Wilkie indicated what was Planning Area 2, located in Mansfield. Mr. Castro asked where the sewer would be run from. Mayor Wilkie said it would be coming from Burlington City. Mr. Castro asked if the parcel in Florence was an Area 4 and the goal was to change to an Area 2 would Florence run sewer to the area? Mayor Wilkie said the Township would need to decide if they would agree to do that. That is part of the reason he approached Mansfield, to be able to be involved. Mr. Castro asked what the likelihood was that the developer would dig that far to go to Burlington City? Mayor Wilkie said there isn’t a way to know for sure but it would be a very expensive prospect for them. Mayor Wilkie said it is necessary for Florence to be at the table and be part of the project to have a say in what will happen. The main thing is that the Township needs to be able to design what will happen on Florence-Columbus Road and Route 130.

Patricia DiMassa, 1039 Cedar Lane, said she lives directly across from the high school. She has been keeping a log of all the truck traffic that travels the road. Her understanding was that trucks four tons and over were prohibited from Cedar Lane. Mayor Wilkie told her that was correct. He believes it is posted. Ms. DiMassa said she contacted the Police Department and wanted to come voice her concerns at this meeting. She is concerned because her daughter is going to be starting high school next year. Mayor Wilkie said the safety crossing was approved this evening. She loves the bike path but cars speed on the road. She was glad to hear about the safety crossing. Regarding the trucks, Assistant Administrator Sahol said he sat down with the command staff of the Police Department regarding the message she left with the police and there is a restriction that the Township put into place in 2007 and the County provided the signs that were installed. Patrols were given memos for tonight and they will ramp up enforcement. Assistant Administrator Sahol spoke to the County Traffic Engineer. He said he will be driving by to see if the signs are still there. They were installed on July 11, 2007 and if there was a problem with the signs it would be corrected. Assistant Administrator Sahol said he will also look for the signs.

Frank Puchino, 19 Buttonwood Drive, said improvements to Florence-Columbus Road were mentioned during the discussion about the Exit 52 project. He asked what those improvements would entail. Mayor Wilkie said he didn’t have real specific information at this time. A lot of it would depend on the volume numbers. He discussed some of the options that were being explored. Mr. Puchino asked if there were plans right now to widen Florence-Columbus Road. Mayor Wilkie said he doesn’t have a traffic study at this time. It is too early to know what will be required.

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Mr. Puchino said the article he read in the paper said most of the traffic would be using the Pennsylvania and New Jersey Turnpikes. The only way onto those two roads from the proposed location is to take Florence-Columbus Road and onto Route 130. Mayor Wilkie said it would make more sense for the tractor trailer drivers to use Route 295 and go to Bordentown and get on the Turnpike there. It would also be cheaper.

Ms. Hawley said she agreed the trucks are taking Route 295. She has seen an increase in truck traffic on that road also. Mayor Wilkie said when the process is further along a traffic study will be done and then the numbers will be generated.

Mr. Puchino said the size and scope of the projects is enormous. He read it would be 6.5 million square feet. The Amazon warehouse is 600,000 square feet, and he can see the traffic problems that has caused. The new project could be the size of eleven Amazon warehouses. Mayor Wilkie said people should keep in mind how the project is designed. There is 1 million square feet at the Subaru warehouse and there is very little truck traffic. It is not so much the square footage that generates the traffic but the use of the building. He reviewed some of the potential sizes for different parts of the site.

Jean Paxton, 28 Florence-Tollgate, said she had a request for Administrator Brook. He mentioned he would be happy to discuss and explain PILOTS. She wanted to formally request an informational meeting about the PILOTS that are currently approved in Florence Township as well as the criteria that the Township used to approve new PILOT agreements. Mayor Wilkie requested she provide contact information to Administrator Brook and she could be a point of contact to help set up the meeting. Administrator Brook said she was welcome to bring as many people as she would like. Ms. Paxton said she would like for it to be a public session. Administrator Brook said that would be fine.

Ms. Rosenblum thanked everyone for spending so much time answering residents questions and concerns. She realizes that the Exit 52 plan is bigger than Florence Township and it is a giant game of chess. She asked the Township advocate for the residents and get all the parties to the table; the municipalities, the County agencies, all of them there so everyone can be there to coordinate. There are multiple municipalities that will be impacted. She would like to make sure that Florence has a say in how the municipality would be impacted.

Mr. Popso asked if the Recycling and Trash Collection trucks could keep away from Delaware Avenue and Hornberger Avenue from 7:15am-8:30am. He suggested they collect somewhere in town at that time and not on the main streets. It is hard because this when the children are being dropped off at Roebling and Riverfront Schools.

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Bill Lee, 551 Shave Drive, said he seen people almost get hit on the whirlybird also. The traffic goes very fast and at the curves are driving on the shoulders. He asked if there was some kind of temporary barrier that could be used to keep the cars off the shoulder. Mayor Wilkie said he understood Mr. Lee’s point. His understanding from the Police Department is that since the shuttles have started the number of people walking has dramatically dropped. This will be discussed at the pre-construction meeting tomorrow.

Ms. Hawley said she appreciates that the Township distributes information about the Amazon warehouse. She suggested the Township be a little more proactive and do that type thing with the traffic that they have been doing. She said she has discussed the traffic and she appreciated that information was provided but the traffic is a huge safety issue. She has called numerous times and one of the things that she sees is people picking up and dropping off on Cedar Lane because they don’t want to have to enter the Amazon facility. The fire equipment would not be able to get out when there are vehicles parked on the shoulder of the road. The shoulder is there for a reason and people could be ticketed for being there. She asked the police monitor that when the employees are leaving the facility. She tried to politely mention it to someone who was parked there and she couldn’t repeat what was said to her. Council President Lovenduski said the police would increase enforcement.

Mr. Smith asked what was planned for the other properties on Florence-Columbus Road the Township recently purchased. He said he assumed they were the parcels on either side of Brown Boulevard. Mayor Wilkie told him that was correct. He said the one adjacent to the woods is being reserved as open space. It is eleven acres. The other piece closer to Route 130 was just part of the COAH settlement the Township reached. There are no plans at this point in time for the parcel. If it is necessary to expand Florence-Columbus Road, that piece is available. Mr. Smith asked if the zoning on the property was still the same. Mayor Wilkie said the zoning had not changed and it was still zoned Office Park.

Mr. Smith said the property was zoned that way because it was the most attractive road in town for that kind of building. The Township wanted it to have something like what is in Columbus. Now there are house there. Mayor Wilkie said the zoning was in place for the last twenty years and there was no interest shown by anyone to develop the property. The piece of property that was turned over to the developer in settlement that is adjacent to the Liquor Barn can have other uses besides residential that could be used. Mayor Wilkie said he knows it would be nice to have a plaza like what is near Homestead and he has spoken to Mansfield and Mansfield said they are struggling to keep the businesses there. There are many empty store fronts there.

Mr. Smith suggested a street light be installed on Cedar Lane by the Amazon sign. Mayor Wilkie said lights are planned as part of the improvements there. Assistant Administrator Sahol mentioned it earlier, lights will be installed, but the poles are going to need to be relocated. The lighting will be installed after that. Page 35 of 36

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Mr. Smith said on River Road there is light that needs to be relocated at the new intersection on River Road and Neck Road. Assistant Administrator Sahol said he would look into it.

Ms. Marter asked if there was a time frame for the Griffin Pipe project. The Mayor and Council said right now there was no time frame in place. Ms. Marter asked if there was a time frame as to what they were doing to the land right now. Mayor Wilkie asked if she was referring to the capping. She confirmed this. Mayor Wilkie said the company was waiting for DEP approvals. He was under the impression they are in daily contact with the DEP. Ms. Marter asked who is responsible for monitoring the water until 2025. Mayor Wilkie said it is the responsibility of the property owner.

It was the Motion of Ostrander and seconded by Sandusky to close the Public Comment portion of the meeting. Roll call vote - all ayes. Unanimous approval.

ADJOURNMENT 11:47 PM MOTION of Ostrander; seconded by Sandusky to adjourn. Roll call vote – all ayes. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,

Nancy L. Erlston Deputy Township Clerk /aek

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