Committee approves several redevelopment agreements and PILOTs as large warehouse projects move forward

Carneys Point Township Committee voted unanimously Dec. 3 to authorize a series of redevelopment agreements and amended payment-in-lieu-of-tax (PILOT) deals tied to several large warehouse projects, including a two-level warehouse described in the meeting record at Kelly Farm South and a proposed Amazon facility.

The Committee authorized the Mayor to sign a redevelopment agreement with Phila Partners 3, LLC for the property formerly occupied by Barnyard and Friendly's and approved amended, restated PILOT agreements with RG Carneys Point Urban Renewal, LLC that the township attorney said create separate PILOTs for each warehouse building. Attorney Clint Allen told the Committee the area is already designated as in need of redevelopment and that affected projects will go before the Planning Board for site-plan review.

Why this matters: Committee members framed the votes as steps to secure local investment and jobs. Mayor Brown said an Amazon project at the Kelly Farm South site was expected to be a two-level, highly automated facility that meeting minutes described as "1.7" (units not specified in the record) and estimated to employ about 700 people. Mr. Allen said the amended agreements preserve prior financial terms while establishing separate PILOTs per building.

The Committee also approved a 4th amendment to a redevelopment agreement for CP Land South, LLC to revise the site layout for a Kelly Farm warehouse; Allen said the amendment moves the building closer to Courses Landing Road but does not change the project's stated use. An assignment and assumption of a redevelopment agreement also was approved.

All motions recorded in the minutes passed unanimously. The Committee additionally approved audited vouchers totaling $1,451,673.33 during the meeting.

What happens next: According to statements in the meeting, proposed developments will proceed to the Planning Board for final site-plan review and permitting. The PILOTs and redevelopment agreements establish the framework for future tax-exemption negotiations and were described as separate per-building agreements in the minutes.

Quotes from the meeting: "This area is in need of redevelopment," attorney Clint Allen said in explaining the Phila Partners agreement. Mayor Brown said locally funded roadwork on Route 40 is nearly complete and that developers are funding much of that project.

Funding, jobs and details: The minutes state job estimates and a description of a two-level warehouse as noted above; the record does not specify the units attached to the "1.7" figure. Details such as final building square footage, tax-exemption term lengths, and specific PILOT payment schedules were not specified in the minutes and will be determined in the redevelopment agreements and Planning Board review.