Committee Tries to Debunk Redevelopment Rumors

The township committee tried again Monday to debunk rumors that its latest redevelopment efforts are aimed at driving out existing businesses along Route 130.

Last month’s decision by the planning board to recommend large sections of the Route 130 corridor be deemed areas in need of redevelopment concerned a number of businesses, who worry the township could be using redevelopment as a tool to replace them with bigger, better businesses—presumably using eminent domain.

“All of us are here because we feel insecure,” said Riggins owner John Feghali, who plans to address committee's May 20th meeting to bring those concerns directly to the committee members. “It sounds like we're getting rid of the little guy to bring in somebody else who'll pay higher taxes. My main worry is my livelihood.”

Deputy Mayor Anthony Minniti attempted to soothe those concerns at this week’s committee meeting, insisting not only is eminent domain not on the table, it’s incredibly difficult—legally—to exercise.

“The idea that a viable business could be taken and handed over to another viable business is, to say it’s an impossibility would be an understatement. It just isn’t the reality of how eminent domain is used,” said Minniti, adding, “Philosophically, the committee has had issues with the idea of eminent domain, and government seizure of property.”

Township attorney John Gillespie also said the standards for using eminent domain in a redevelopment area are very narrow. He explained the township would have to find blight in order to exercise that power.

The one and only time the township has used eminent domain, according to officials, was when it intervened—with the consent of the landowner and developer—in the sale of the land where the Shoppes at Cinnaminson was built. In that case, the township invoked eminent domain to clear the site of deed restrictions to allow the sale to go through.

Some of the business owners took issue with the planning board’s blanket approach to redevelopment—instead of being selective, the board recommended broad sections of the corridor be deemed in need of redevelopment, even though certain properties didn’t meet most of the criteria.

Minniti explained however, that the township has traditionally handled redevelopment this way. For example, he said, the entire Route 130 corridor from the Shoppes at Cinnaminson to Highland Avenue—AKA “motel row”—was, at one time, deemed a redevelopment zone so the township could address the problems (crime, blight) it was having in that area. That zone also included Hathaway’s, the (at the time) newly built Sleep Inn and Main Line Hair Salon.

“It gave the township the ability to go in and alleviate the properties it was truly concerned with, which were the motels,” he said. “What we’ve never done, is the idea of saying, ‘This property is a redevelopment zone property’ … Then what happens is it becomes a becomes a debate about, ‘Well, you say that I’m in need of redevelopment, but why isn’t this one?’ It fractures your process, and gives the property owner the feeling they’ve been targeted.”

The township isn’t looking to push out existing businesses, Minniti explained. But the benefit for a business finding itself in a redevelopment area is that, essentially, it makes the property more attractive to potential developers—and thus, more valuable to the property owner (assuming they’re interested in selling).

“Is there a detriment? I don’t see one,” Minniti said. “Is there a benefit? There is a benefit, because you may get some deep-pocketed investor that will come in and say, ‘You know what, (this property is) worth $500,000; I’m going to give you $1,000,000 for it.’ That’s where redevelopment becomes helpful.”

Township committee is expected to discuss the planning board’s recommendations at its May 20 meeting.