Redevelopment would bring housing to H’way Garage, garden site, more
Page 4 • Wednesday, July 17, 2019 • The Hammonton Gazette
TOWN, from Page 1
the proposed community devel-
opment area includes the commu-
nity garden, located at 151 11th
St., the lot behind it, the town high-
way garage, located at 394 S. egg
Harbor rd. and the adjacent state
highway building.
according to Mayor Stephen
DiDonato, council plans to even-
tually look for a developer that will
oversee the community develop-
ment area and work towards pur-
chasing surrounding properties for
future development by coordinat-
ing with the state.
among the properties that have
been considered is the restuccio
residence, also located on South
egg Harbor road. However, be-
cause the property is located in a
non-condemnation zone, DiDo-
nato said it would only become the
town’s if the homeowner is willing
to negotiate a deal with the devel-
oper and the state in good faith.
“as far as the restuccio piece is
involved, they would have to make
a deal for that piece. Both parties
would have to sit down and haggle
out the number … the party that
was interested would have to sit
down with them and either have a
three-parcel subdivision or a four-
parcel subdivision if the restuc-
cios can come to terms with the
numbers,” DiDonato said.
according to councilman
Joseph Giralo, council will not
have a role in any negotiations be-
tween the restuccio property own-
ers, developers and the state.
“the state of New Jersey would
have to agree as well … there’s a
homeowner involved, and the
town would have no jurisdiction
over the state with the home-
owner,” Giralo said.
DiDonato said the ultimate goal
for the community development
area is to construct 45 to 55 hous-
ing units in the hopes of spurring
economic growth and attracting
more young adult residents to
town.
“the developer could put all the
parcels together, maybe with the
train closeby. if somebody were to
put apartments or condos or town-
houses there, then we have some
increased homes for millennials
that maybe want to rent. Maybe
they work from the city—atlantic
City or Philadelphia—and we’ll
have some more walking wallets
in the town of Hammonton
that can support our downtown
business … it’s inclusionary and
it’s the way to move forward. it’s
smart growth, and that’s a good
thing,” DiDonato said.
in accordance with the state’s
Council on affordable Housing
(COaH) requirements, 15 percent
of however many units end up
being build throughout the devel-
opment area would be set-aside as
affordable housing units for low-
to-moderate-income residents. Di-
Donato said the affordable units
would look exactly the same com-
pared to the other units and they
would not be advertised as afford-
able housing units.
“any development moving for-
ward is going to have a 15 percent
set-aside. So, if it’s a 50-unit build-
ing, it’ll be seven-and-a-half—
seven—units for low-income
housing and you will not know the
difference. You will not know un-
less i raise my hand and say ‘i’m
one of the units,’” DiDonato said.
if the planning board’s investi-
gation of the community develop-
ment area goes according to plan,
several members of council are
hopeful that it will boost Ham-
monton’s economy and its appeal
as a place to live.
“the attraction of younger pro-
fessionals who will come and live
in the town—that’s what i would
See PLaN, Page 15
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