Committee approves Land Partners agreement to widen 7th Avenue for affordable-housing project; Mayor abstains

Carneys Point officials on Aug. 20 approved an agreement with Land Partners, LLC. to perform improvements to Lanning, Seventh and Leap Avenues that serve a 100% affordable-housing project in the Redevelopment Plan Area (Block 1, Lots 16 & 17). The motion to authorize the mayor to sign the agreement was moved by Dr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Pelura, and passed unanimously with Mayor Brown recorded as abstaining.

S. Cosaboon, engineer with Sickels, presented the design for a planned widening of 7th Avenue from roughly 18–20 feet to a 28-foot roadway with drainage improvements; he said the design avoids tree removal. Residents at the meeting asked about bus stops, driveway impacts and sidewalk installation. "They have no plans for a bus stop" at 6th & Lanning, Cosaboon told the group, but Mr. Pelura added that a stop at Delaware & 6th is planned with grant funding. Questions about driveway access and the alignment of the apartment entrance were addressed individually after the presentation.

Attorney Michael Napuda, Esq. earlier explained that the Delaware View Apartments project used approximately $8.5 million from the COAH Affordable Housing fund and that the funds originate from developers rather than from general taxpayers, a point the Committee recorded during the old-business discussion. Because Mayor Brown lives within 200 feet of the project, he recused from a later vote and Deputy Mayor Bomba presided during that portion of the meeting.