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Kingsway Regional proposes synthetic turf field; board flags drainage, lighting and parking concerns
Summary
Woolwich Township JLUB reviewed a courtesy application from Kingsway Regional High School on March 5, 2026 for a synthetic turf field; the applicant amended stormwater measures to address Pennoni’s review, but board members asked for a culvert inspection, an ITE parking analysis and more detail on nighttime lighting.
The Woolwich Township Joint Land Use Board on March 5 reviewed a courtesy preliminary and final major site plan from Kingsway Regional High School to replace an existing grass area with a multi-use synthetic turf playing field. The applicant’s engineer, Ted Wilkinson, described the proposed surface, crushed-stone underlayment, limited bleacher seating and protective netting, and said the design meets high-school standards.
Planner Ashton Jones and engineer Wilkinson told the board they revised the infiltration and recharge system to address items raised in Pennoni’s review letter, including berm adjustments and a vertical-recharge approach the applicant says will handle roughly 50% of the runoff. Wilkinson also noted a 30-year-old culvert beneath the site that needs inspection before construction can proceed.
Why it matters: board members expressed concern about increased evening use of the field producing light spill into adjacent neighborhoods and about parking demand around games and practices. Vice Chair Cotton specifically requested an ITE parking-demand calculation to quantify impacts; Wilkinson said the school will avoid scheduling simultaneous activities to reduce overlap. Mayor Matthias said overlapping seasons could still create conflicts, and Chief Daniels said he was not aware of current parking problems on Route 322 but that the issue should be monitored.
Details and debate: Wilkinson described design elements intended to contain play and protect neighbors, including 20-foot black netting on both sides of most of the field and a visitor bleacher sized for about 100 people. He told the board the turf will be installed on a crushed-stone layer and that lighting will match existing stadium lighting locations. On stormwater, Wilkinson said the team amended the infiltration system after Pennoni’s review and believes the revised system complies with regulations; Jones read Pennoni reviewer Mr. Raday’s letter into the record and said remaining comments were addressed.
Board response and next steps: the JLUB did not vote to approve construction at this meeting; instead the board accepted the courtesy review, requested verification of the culvert condition and asked the applicant to supply an ITE parking-demand analysis and more detailed lighting specifications to address potential light spill. No formal approvals or permits were issued by the JLUB on March 5.
Representative quotes: "We won't have multiple activities at the same time," said the applicant's engineer, Ted Wilkinson, describing the school's scheduling approach to reduce overlap. Jones said Pennoni's concerns were addressed after revisions to the infiltration system. Mayor Matthias urged the applicant to consider neighborhood impacts from lighting and parking.
The board moved on to a separate agenda of housing-element amendments and ordinance consistency matters; no construction permits were granted. The JLUB adjourned at approximately 7:52 PM.
