Township Seeks to Preserve 824 Robbinsville-Allentown Road

Contact: John Nalbone
Robbinsville Township
Office of Communications & Public Information
(609) 259-3600 ext. 1103

Robbinsville Township Looks to Preserve 824 Robbinsville-Allentown Road Parcel; Awaits Appraisal

ROBBINSVILLE, NJ – Mayor David Fried will seek Council support in order to purchase and preserve Block 41.01, Lot 1 on the Robbinsville Township Tax Assessment Map, commonly known as the Wittenborn property at 824 Robbinsville-Allentown Road, near its border with Allentown Borough and Monmouth County.

According to Mayor Fried, the approximately 15-acre parcel should be preserved to prevent further development. The Township Department of Community Development has ordered a professional appraisal by Sockler Realty Services Group, Inc. Robbinsville previously prioritized this parcel, which is currently zoned as “Village Transitional,” for Open Space Acquisition/Preservation Lands when performing its Master Plan Review.

Block 41.01, Lot 1 is located along the proposed development of Mercer Corporate Park, which made headlines for its application before the Township Zoning Board April 20. Residents living along the Indian Run waterway in Allentown were vocal in their opposition to the Johnson Corporation development due to what some consider to be the imminent destruction of an endangered bird habitat.

Preservation of Block 41.01, Lot 1 demonstrates to Robbinsville’s neighbors in Monmouth County that the Township is committed to preventing negative impacts to this area by decreasing the potential for increased traffic and other activity. Robbinsville preserved approximately 54 acres directly across Robbinsville-Allentown Road near the Wittenborn property in 2008. Since taking office in 2005, Mayor Fried has preserved more than 1,250 acres of open space.

In 2016, Robbinsville residents voted overwhelmingly in favor of increasing the Open Space Tax levy by 1.5 cents for every $100 of assessed value to purchase the property formerly known as Washington Woods (225 acres), as well as the golf course at Miry Run (158 acres) – both in partnership with Mercer County.

-RT-