RE: (rshsdepot) Pemberton NJ

["Lee Taylor" <sing4him3_@_comcast.net>]

Guys, we need your help.  If any of you could write letters of support for
the Pemberton Township Historic Trust/North Pemberton Railroad Station, it
would be greatly appreciated.  It's costing us a fortune in legal fees to
fight WaWa.  We believe so much in what we are doing for the railroad and
especially for the people of this town.  We already have the grant money to
restore this site to what it was 100 years ago.  It isn't going to cost the
taxpayers one cent.  We are all dedicated volunteers.  We have already
restored the RR Station, the Section House (on its original foundation) and
are now restoring an old PRR wooden caboose.  The children from the
neighboring schools come there for field trips (free of charge) which they
won't ever be able to do again if WaWa gets that property.  There will be no
place to park the busses.  We sponsor many annual events such as the annual
hayride that takes the kids on a 45 minute ride on the beautiful 2.5 mile
rail trail, the annual toy train and collectible show, the annual lamp and
lantern show, the MS Walk, The Deborah Walk-a-thon, etc.  If you contact me
personally, I will be glad to send you a newsletter and any other
information you might want.  These WaWa people are ruthless.  They build
their gas station/convenience stores, make their money and get out.  They
care nothing about the people or the towns they ruin.  What we want to do
will still be there 100 years from now.  So, if you could just take a few
minutes to write a letter on our behalf, it will go a long way in helping to
preserve this site for future generations.
Lee Taylor,
Secretary: Pemberton Township Historic Trust
PO Box 1647
Browns Mills, NJ 08015  

- -----Original Message-----
From: rshsdepot-owner_@_lists.railfan.net
[mailto:rshsdepot-owner_@_lists.railfan.net] On Behalf Of tonydawson1 Dawson
Sent: Friday, February 25, 2005 8:42 PM
To: RRStations
Subject: (rshsdepot) Pemberton NJ

NOTE: This message had contained at least one image attachment.
To view or download the image(s), click on or cut and paste the
following URL into your web browser:


http://www.Railfan.net/lists/listthumb.cgi?rshsdepot-02-25-05

10099995.gif (image/gif, 250x262+0+0 19933 bytes)

Latest on the Pemberton project.
Tony Dawson

Pemberton Twp. delays hearing on Wawa's plan

Thursday, February 24, 2005

By CAROL COMEGNO 
Courier-Post Staff 
PEMBERTON TWP. 

The zoning board on Wednesday decided to postpone a hearing on a proposed
convenience store and gas station. 

Wawa Inc. wants to build a store and 16-pump station on vacant land at
Arneys Mount and Fort Dix roads. The area is a historic site once operated
by the Pennsylvania Railroad and is adjacent to a restored railroad station.


The board postponed the hearing after listening to objections from Frederic
F. Azrak, a lawyer for the Pemberton Historic Trust. Azrak objected on
jurisdictional and procedural grounds, saying Wawa's application did not
meet legal requirements. 

The board gave Wawa the opportunity to file a new application and is
expected to consider the proposal at its April 20 meeting. 

Wawa's plan would require several zoning variances for the 9 1/2-acre tract
commonly known as the Trilco property, named for a defunct lumber company. 

The Pemberton Historic Trust and Preservation New Jersey want the township
to buy the tract so a former railroad operation can be re-created with a
living history railroad museum, shops, a restaurant and an existing
locomotive turntable. 

The township received approval for an $800,000 state Green Acres grant last
year to buy the property. The municipality also has a commitment for an
$85,000 grant from Burlington County. 

However, Mayor Robert McCullough and some members of council want to see an
immediate taxable property at the site. ADVERTISEMENT - CLICK TO ENLARGE OR
VISIT WEBSITE
 
<http://gcirm.courierpostonline.com/RealMedia/ads/click_lx.ads/news.courierp
ostonline.com/stories/local/1956/x22/Online_Mall/10099995.gif/63646238663630
323364306266323530>  
               Featured Advertisers All Shore Advertise with
us!<http://miva.courierpostonline.com/miva/cgi-bin/miva?reps.mv>
           
     



In addition, McCullough said the property has not been available for
purchase for more than a year because Wawa has exercised an option to buy it
from the owner. 

A smaller Wawa sits across the street from the proposed site. That would be
replaced should the company's proposal be approved. 

Some residents suggested Wawa expand or build a bigger store on its current
site. 

Bob Pelletier, a 53-year-old federal civil service employee, said the new
store and gas station "would be nice to have," but said it should "be on
Route 38 or South Pemberton Road, further away from local stores." 

He called the plan for a museum wonderful. 

"It would give us a positive image, something that we need," Pelletier said.


Burlington County officials also would like to see the land preserved. They
say a historic railroad depot complex would give the township an enhanced
image and attract visitors who could contribute to the local economy. 

The county is pursuing a rails-to-trails open space project, and part of
that trail already is in place alongside the railroad station. 

Mary Pat Robbie, director of the Burlington County Department of Resource
Conservation, said the county money is there if the township wants to use
it. 

More than 90 percent of the township is within the Pinelands preservation
area, which limits development there. 

McCullough, who is not a member of the zoning board, has said he does not
want the township to lose a viable taxable property like a Wawa. 

"We are faced with a 33-cent (per $100 of assessed property value) tax rate
increase, and for us to take ratables off the table is not fiscally
responsible," he said. 



- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ----
Reach Carol Comegno at (609) 267-9486 or
ccomegno_@_courierpostonline.com<mailto:ccomegno@courierpostonline.com> 
Thank you for visiting www.courierpostonline.com


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



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

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

End of RSHSDepot Digest V1 #1094
********************************

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