Lack of Planning Board Meetings Signals Stagnant Economic Growth
West Deptford's planning board received only five applicants in all of 2012 and only one in the second half of the year. What's going wrong?
On Tuesday evening, West Deptford held its monthly planning board meeting at the township municipal building. Normally, that's not news.
But consider that this meeting ended a seven-month drought for the planning board, the body responsible for helping approve new business development in town. Tuesday night marked the first planning board meeting since May.
The number of applications to the board dropped to a new low this year, with only five received in all of 2012—and just one in the past six months. That's down from eight applications in 2011 and 10 in 2010. In 2010 alone, the planning board had six major site plans to consider.
Township Administrator Eric Campo noted that prior to 2008, the number of applications submitted to the board was “very significant.”
"In the last few years we've seen less," he said, "but I wouldn't suggest any precipitous fall in activity."
Scott Kintzing, chair of the planning board, has worked on township planning for 31 years and said there haven't been many other times when he's seen so few applications in any one year.
"It's unbelievably shocking to me," said Kintzing. "We all know that the economy's been challenged for four or five years, but I still think our town has a lot to offer from a development perspective."
Campo also put some of the blame for the decrease in applications on the downtrodden national economy, which has hampered development in many other towns in New Jersey and across the country.
A decrease in applications isn't for lack of planning board effort, Kintzing said. Kintzing, who is ending his current term on the board, said he's proud of the planning board's work, noting that members are caring and as helpful to applicants as possible.
"I don't think efficiency is our major need," said Kintzing. "I just thing we need to advertise out there a bit more and find some applicants who want to set up shop."
Mayor Ray Chintall said the township wants to attract more businesses to fill the vacancies in West Deptford's industrial parks. Filling any empty business space in the township is a main priority, Chintall added.
Campo said that township officials are trying harder to better promote West Deptford as a good place for businesses set up shop. West Deptford's location offers easy access to highways, such as Interstate 295, plus nearby ports and the industrial parks. There is also room for businesses at RiverWinds.
Township officials are meeting with the state's Economic Development Authority to develop strategies on how to bring more businesses into the township.
"We are utilizing various avenues to advertise West Deptford as a viable and attractive place to start (for businesses)," he said.
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West Deptford Township Municipal Building
400 Crown Point Rd, West Deptford, NJ
R U KIDDING ME
8:29 am on Wednesday, December 19, 2012
"On Tuesday evening, West Deptford held its monthly planning board meeting."
"Monday night marked the first planning board meeting since May".
looks like they had 2 planning board meetings this month, I guess Mike & Shannon don't even proof read thier stuff. how much of this article is really correct. Do you think the Mayor really said the township wants to attract more businesses to fill the vacancies. Vacant builings still are taxable, it does not matter if they are vacant, we need NEW buildings. New buildings mean new tax money. Also the article said Kintzing is ending his term. Why is he leaving after 31 years? It can't be because of too much work, the board only met twice this year.( Monday & Tuesday night). is it because the Mayor won't reappoint him. Is it because he was arrested? I think the Kintzing leaving after 31 years is a story that should be explored. With 31 years on the Planning Board his experiences would make an interesting article, or even a series. (Riverwinds, Mid Atlantic Park, Forest Park, all the housing developments) He has worked for 7 Mayors, I'll bet there are some GOOD stories there! "On Tuesday evening, West Deptford held its monthly planning board meeting Normally, that's not news." AND IT STILL ISN'T NEWS. By the way, Why did they hold a meeting? you never said.
Lauren Burgoon
8:33 am on Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Thank you for pointing out the Monday/Tuesday error. It was mine and it was made in editing, not by Mike and Shannon. It has been corrected.
Also, the story said Scott Kintzing is "ending his current term" because he was appointed to a four-year term in January 2009 and it is ending. We did not say he's stepping down or won't be reappointed. That is decided at the January reorganization meeting.
R U KIDDING ME
8:41 am on Wednesday, December 19, 2012
so, why did they have a meeting?
Ken
9:46 am on Wednesday, December 19, 2012
What is needed is for Cimino to do the job for which he was hired "re-development". If he insits on tracking down Riverwinds errors then fit it in. He wasn't hired to disect Riverwinds, it was to help do as the Mayor said RE-DEVELOP W.D. The drop in businesses in W.D. is what happens when the town becomes a political battleground and we are wasting time trying to hang political parties instead of fixing or bettering the town as a whole.
government_watchdog
1:02 pm on Wednesday, December 19, 2012
$4.5 million dollars missing. That was part of MY tax money you Democrats stole and I hope they everything needed to get it back.... Perhaps you can tell us where the money went.
Ken
2:39 pm on Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Hey I'm glad some of the old regime go, to much power for too long. And hats off if he can figure out how to get out of paying back the 4.5 million, it's not missing it should not have been spent, big difference. I supported the first try, now either we have grounds or we don't to sue, that being said he should do his job and re-develop W.D.
Big Ronn
1:02 pm on Wednesday, December 19, 2012
This is what happens when dopes like Sam and Ray are elected to run the township. Economic development completely shuts down and the witch hunts and bickering start up. This was the lowest amount of applicants in the history of West Deptford and Big Ronn is not happy. Who would want to start a business in this town the way Cianfarini acts?
Big Ronn
1:02 pm on Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Cimino gets paid a quarter million dollars a year for economic development yet he brings nothing to the table. What gives?
Wayne Klotz
2:39 pm on Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Amen to your last comment, big Ron!! Government watchdog; that's old news! Can you please stick to facts instead of the old news?!
countingthedollars
8:03 am on Saturday, December 22, 2012
Here's the facts Wayne. Your ultimate leader, Obama, beggeed for four more years and you granted it to him. His policies are not working and this stat of lack of activity is country wide, things are NOT getting better. You can blame on who you want but the truth is the man spends money and no one works, great plan.
As for Cimino, didn't he work the deal to get GE to purchase rivercove and get them to pay the $1.1 million that rivercove owed WD? Now stick to the facts Wayne.....I'll be waiting for your answer
Kevin Graham
5:55 pm on Thursday, February 21, 2013
the first two ideas are good ones. what is new for economic development in WD? How about port progress?