Two South Jersey sod farms see opportunity in youth soccer tournaments. One town loves it, the other is fighting it.

[Teegate]

Some say it will make it harder to get to Wharton State Forest. I get there and never go that way.

Two South Jersey sod farms see opportunity in youth soccer tournaments. One town loves it, the other is fighting it.

One is a town of 14,000. The other has a population of 6,500. At issue is whether welcoming tens of thousands of people for youth soccer tournaments hurts or helps.

www.inquirer.com

 

[46er]

“I’m not anti-sports," resident Steven Horowitz said in an interview. "I just think the scope of this is ridiculous in a highly populated area.”

Hammonton - 14,000 population

Shamong - 6,500 population

Mr. Horowitz needs to check his math.

 

[Zach McGarvey]

Pretty weird that residents in the area would oppose something that would significantly increase municipal tax revenue. Do they like high taxes? In the decaying industrial town where I live, any new business or commercial ratable would bring welcome relief.

 

[Broke Jeep Joe]

Pretty weird that residents in the area would oppose something that would significantly increase municipal tax revenue. Do they like high taxes? In the decaying industrial town where I live, any new business or commercial ratable would bring welcome relief.

Sometimes folks move to or live in areas such as Shamong and don't mind paying higher taxes for the solitude communities like that provide. The opposition comes from the fact of increased traffic, people, etc.

 

[RednekF350]

Well, the crawl and gnashing through the Pinelands gauntlet of regulations for the Gardners should go smoothly. I see that they hired William F. Harrison Esq.. Harrison was the Assistant Commissioner of the Pinelands Commission for twenty years. I think the current Commissioners should recognize the name. Wink, wink.
Well played Gardners !

 

[bobpbx]

Well, the crawl and gnashing through the Pinelands gauntlet of regulations for the Gardners should go smoothly. I see that they hired William F. Harrison Esq.. Harrison was the Assistant Commissioner of the Pinelands Commission for twenty years. I think the current Commissioners should recognize the name. Wink, wink.
Well played Gardners !

I had to chuckle when I read the article in the Pine Barrens Tribune what Harrison said in the town meeting:

"The purpose of (this) is not to have kids play soccer, its purpose is to sell sod....Indeed, the very purpose of the soccer tournaments is to have the tournaments played on the turf so the farm can demonstrate the quality of the turf that is grown on the farm".

That did not go over well with the town folk. The owners of the farm withdrew the application out of respect for their neighbors opinions.