[Date Prev][Date Next] [Chronological] [Thread] [Top]

(rshsdepot) North Pemberton Railroad Station Update

Well, the Zoning Board Meeting was last night and it looks like we actually
won round one.  WaWa had their big shot lawyer, Mr. Timothy Prime, and it
seems that WaWa wasn't prepared.  They didn't have their traffic study,
which they need to obtain a variance and that has bought us some time.  Our
lawyers were not allowed to question witnesses or object to anything they
said.  We will be able to do so at the next meeting on Feb. 23rd but only at
the end of the meeting when they address public comments.   We have letters
of support from every Historical Preservation Organization in New Jersey
like the following from Preservation, NJ  We need all the support we can
get.
 
January 19, 2005 
Mr. Christopher Pettit, Chair 
Pemberton Township Zoning Board 
500 Pemberton Browns Mills Rd. 
Pemberton, New Jersey 08068 
 
Dear Mr. Pettit and Members of the Zoning Board, 
 
On behalf the Board of Directors and more than 1,200 organizational and
individual 
members of Preservation New Jersey, I am writing to urge you consider
carefully the 
issues regarding variances for a convenience store on the site of the
historic railroad 
complex in Pemberton. Known historic and archaeological resources will be at
risk of 
destruction should the proposed development go forward, and Pemberton will
forever 
lose the opportunity to fully and appropriately preserve and interpret the
rich railroad 
and agricultural history of the community. 
The Township, its citizens and the committed leaders and members of the
Pemberton 
Historic Trust and the North Pemberton Railroad Museum have created an
outstanding 
interpretive center and heritage tourism destination that is among the
finest of its kind 
in the state. Creative fundraising has already set the stage for even more
impressive 
progress in the future, and as you know, heritage tourism has been
demonstrated time 
and again in New Jersey and across the country to be among the most
productive 
economic development engines available to communities. 
The potential negative impacts of the project as proposed, adjacent to a
designated 
historic site, near a stream and agricultural open space aside; the
permanent loss of 
opportunities to fully preserve and recreate the railroad complex; and the
loss of Green 
Acres and county open space funding would be unfortunate for Pemberton. 
We at Preservation New Jersey, the statewide nonprofit education and
advocacy 
organization that works to sustain communities by helping to protect and
preserve 
historic resources, urges you to carefully consider the impacts on
irreplaceable historic 
resources and future economic development opportunities as you consider the 
variances before you. 
 
Yours sincerely, 
Ron Emrich 
Executive Director 
 
Executive Committee 
Michael Calafati, AIA 
President 
Genny Rabe 
Megan E. Thomas, Esq. 
Vice Presidents 
Jerry Raymond 
Treasurer 
Carlos Rodrigues, PP, AICP 
Secretary 
Michael J. Mills, FAIA 
Immediate Past President 
Board of Directors 
Janice E. Armstrong 
Dennis N. Bertland 
Rashid Burney 
Sara R. Cureton 
Alice Larsen Deupree, RA 
Orlando C. Esposito 
Jeffrey G. Frake 
Felipe J. Gorostiza, PhD 
John D.S. Hatch, AIA 
William L. Hoffman, Esq. 
Mary-Anna Holden 
Betty Demy Hutcheon 
Diane S. Kaese, RA 
Greta Kiernan 
Glasgow A. Limerick, ASLA 
Alan Mallach, AICP 
Marguerite L. Mount, CPA 
Frederick C. Raffetto, Esq. 
Mary Lou Strong 
Ron Emrich 
Executive Director

=================================
The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org

------------------------------

End of RSHSDepot Digest V1 #1070
********************************

=================================
The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org