June 10, 2021

ROBBINSVILLE, NJ (MERCER)–Mayor David Fried will seek Council support in order to purchase and preserve Block 41.01, Lot 1 on the Robbinsville Township Tax Assessment Map, commonly known as the Wittenborn property at 824 Robbinsville-Allentown Road, near its border with Allentown Borough and Monmouth County.

According to Mayor Fried, the approximately 15-acre parcel should be preserved to prevent further development. The Township Department of Community Development has ordered a professional appraisal by Sockler Realty Services Group, Inc. Robbinsville previously prioritized this parcel, which is currently zoned as “Village Transitional,” for Open Space Acquisition/Preservation Lands when performing its Master Plan Review.

Block 41.01, Lot 1 is located along the proposed development of Mercer Corporate Park, which made headlines for its application before the Township Zoning Board April 20. Residents living along the Indian Run waterway in Allentown were vocal in their opposition to the Johnson Corporation development due to what some consider to be the imminent destruction of an endangered bird habitat.

Preservation of Block 41.01, Lot 1 demonstrates to Robbinsville’s neighbors in Monmouth County that the Township is committed to preventing negative impacts to this area by decreasing the potential for increased traffic and other activity. Robbinsville preserved approximately 54 acres directly across Robbinsville-Allentown Road near the Wittenborn property in 2008. Since taking office in 2005, Mayor Fried has preserved more than 1,250 acres of open space.

In 2016, Robbinsville residents voted overwhelmingly in favor of increasing the Open Space Tax levy by 1.5 cents for every $100 of assessed value to purchase the property formerly known as Washington Woods (225 acres), as well as the golf course at Miry Run (158 acres) – both in partnership with Mercer County.

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Allentown’s Mayor Fritts put out a special announcement about the preservation today:

For months I have been meeting and discussing a variety of topics with our neighbors.

Robbinsville’s Mayor fried and I have discussed mutual interests and one of those interests which is a top priority of our historic village, is preserving the Wittenborn property.

Today I bring great pleasure in announcing that Robbinsville has publicly stated their desire and efforts to preserve Wittenborn on behalf of Robbinsville and Allentown.

This is just one of the initiatives that we are currently working on with more great news to come in the coming weeks. On behalf of the Allentown governing body and myself, our promise is to do everything we can to ensure a quality future.

As I always say, we are better together. Please read today’s announcement from Robbinsville. https://www.robbinsville-twp.org/news_detail_T2_R513.php

Sincerely,

Mayor Fritts

Allentown

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