Question about development along Route 72 East

T

Takoda

New Member
Feb 12, 2012
17
4
Southern NJ
Hi All,

I was curious and figured this would be the absolute best place to inquire, being there are MANY knowledgeable folks on here (I've been a lurker for a while and really love the wealth of knowledge found on here).

Along Route 72 East, on the right hand side, at or about mile marker 14.5 - there's been a wide swath of forest cut down and within the last month or so, heavy construction equipment that is removing the cut debris and what appears to be dozers leveling the land flat.

I thought that develeopment of the forests that are within the "Pineland" zone was prohibited, due to Pinelands restrictions/laws/by-laws?

Does anyone know what is going on with that section of land - why it was cleared and what may be done with the land?


Thanks for any insight or info!!
 
Gibby

Gibby

Piney
Apr 4, 2011
1,651
451
Trenton
There are huge surveyor's grade rods on one corner of the property. The pair have day-glo pink elevation lines. Because of this, I think what is going on here is more than land clearing.

- BTW, cool screen name. I had a '70 Torino Cobra Jet for awhile but sold it to get a '65 Sunbeam Tiger.
 
T

Takoda

New Member
Feb 12, 2012
17
4
Southern NJ
Popping this one back to the top...

Looks like a lot of construction going on at this location since the initial thread was posted. Anyone know the plans for this site? There appears to be fencing being erected, there are plotted areas now and construction vehicles.

I thought the Pinelands is protected from being leveled?
 
Last edited:
46er

46er

Piney
Mar 24, 2004
8,837
2,144
Coastal NJ
If I am thinking of the same spot CJ mentioned, the fencing is really heavy duty; looks like it could hold back elephants. The fence poles are telephone poles. It can be seen on the 2013 GE imaging.
 
T

Takoda

New Member
Feb 12, 2012
17
4
Southern NJ
46er said:
If I am thinking of the same spot CJ mentioned, the fencing is really heavy duty; looks like it could hold back elephants. The fence poles are telephone poles. It can be seen on the 2013 GE imaging.
Click to expand...

You are correct - heavy duty fencing made from what appear to be telephone poles, almost resembles historic log fencing?

As for the baseball site, this is what has been said of that site, which is supposed to be at the intersection of Rte 72 and 532, on 29 acres:
A Toms River-based baseball group is looking to build a state-of-the-art baseball and education facility on a 29-acre site near the intersection of Route 72 and Route 532.

The $6 million complex, proposed by Team New Jersey Elite, will include four high school baseball fields, four Little League size fields, a baseball stadium with seating for 3,000 people, as well as housing for players.

The group hopes to have the facility completed by December 2014. The goal of Team New Jersey Elite is to make the student athletes fundamentally sound as they prepare for the next level of sports and everyday life, whether it is for high school or college, said Dennis Pfefferkorn, a member of the group.
"This complex will be the first true education complex dedicated to the mental, physical and psychological training of student athletes preparing for college," he said.

One potential use for the facility will be to host national baseball tournaments, as well as providing full-time academic and baseball instruction for players during the summer. The facility will be paid for through corporate sponsorships, private investors, donations and fees, Pfefferkorn said.

"These national qualifying tournaments will enhance the local economy by bringing money into the township that we are currently losing to other neighboring states and cities," Pfefferkorn said. "The Youth Baseball Complex will also create a safe, enjoyable and entertaining environment for participants to benefit from."
Before the facility is built, the group will need approvals from the state Pinelands Commission and the local planning board. Paul Leaken, spokesman for the Pinelands Commission, said the group had a preliminary meeting March 8 with TNJ Elite Sports on the project and that no formal application has been submitted by the group.

Township Committeeman Len Morano said the facility would be a positive for Barnegat by bringing in more tax dollars.

Construction on the facility will help provide jobs in the township, said Pfefferkorn.

"A potential of 120 jobs will exist during construction of the project and at the completion of the project," he said.

The township has endorsed the facility in a letter to the Pinelands Commission, the state agency that regulates development in the pinelands.

"This proposed sports and education complex project is the type of clean and beneficial commercial ratables that the Township of Barnegat seeks to attract," Township Administrator David Breeden wrote in a March 8 letter to the commission. "While no formal vote was taken that endorsed the project, the governing body expressed strong support of the organization's efforts in Barnegat."
Click to expand...

I don't think the area being spoken about on 72 @ mile marker 14.5 is 29 acres in size, but maybe I could be wrong....??

I've not been able to find any architectural plans or land plans for this supposed "Elite Stadium", so I can't say for sure if this area may be a possible cut out for the site?
 
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