Brandon Twp.- Jim Campbell doesn’t want a 144-unit apartment complex as his new neighbor and he says he isn’t alone.
‘Talking to the neighbors in my area, I haven’t found a single person excited about the apartment complex,? said Campbell, referring to the project planned for a parcel of land off M-15, north of Solley’s Appliance and Fireplace Center and zoned RM- residential multiple.
The plan won preliminary approval at the June 12 planning commission meeting, but Campbell is forming a group, Brandon Residents for Responsible Development, to fight it. Instead of the traditional, 1-bedroom apartments, Campbell says the group would support an owner-occupied condominium development.
‘The difference is we feel the apartments would be likely to attract low-income residents and people on government assistance that would have less respect for the property and perhaps raise crime,? said Campbell, an Oakhill Road resident. ‘I think with condos, there would be two and three bedrooms and more families and people that would be more respectful. We want responsible development.?
Campbell says he and his neighbors are looking into how to form a legal entity. The group would have four goals? to sway the planning commission and the developer, Silverman Development Company, into having condominiums on the site instead of apartments; to reduce the density of the complex from 144 units; to relocate the planned septic field to a more centrally located place on the gravel pit (currently, the field is planned for the southeast corner, about 250 feet from Campbell’s well); and to change the access drive to M-15 to a boulevard, to avoid an emergency access drive from Oakhill Road.
Campbell acknowledges the boulevard would require a wider road through the wetlands that are protected on the property, but says the group believes they could save wetlands elsewhere on the property.
Steve Robinson, president of Silverman, said the developer is governed by the ordinances of the township.
‘We will always listen to any concerns the neighbors have and are open to meeting with them at any time,? he said. ‘We understand that new development can cause questions in the minds of our neighbors and are willing to meet and talk with them about questions.?
Robinson had no comment on whether the company would entertain the idea of condominiums instead of apartments and declined to address any specific concerns.
Campbell plans to send a letter to the planning commission and address concerns of the neighbors at a public hearing, for which a date has not yet been set.
‘We’re not trying to deny Silverman the right to develop, but we don’t think apartments are the best use of land for our community,? he said.
Campbell invites all residents concerned about growth in the township to join his group. For more information, send an e-mail to njcampbell@juno.com.