By James R. Kern III
After completing my first year in office as a Warren County freeholder, I’ve found that no issue gives me greater concern than the widespread applications of warehouse space across our county.
I strongly support the home-rule governing style New Jersey entitles, and as a former mayor I understand the benefit of having localized planning. However, what we are seeing now requires municipalities to be aware of outdated language and mission statements of their masterplans.
Twenty years ago, the fear was overdevelopment of homes and litigation by the Council on Affordable Housing, which led to many towns zoning for commercial or industrial development. Left unchanged, towns now face applications from major developers to build massive logistic and warehouse sites.
Local jurisdictions know what is best for their communities, but when local leaders only focus on tax ratables and their immediate area, the bigger picture can be forgotten for the worse. “Silo” thinking and planning is too pervasive.
Last year I invited mayors and municipal land use board representatives from across Warren County for a frank conversation on light industrial development and to discuss the county’s planned traffic study with the New Jersey Highlands Council. The impact study of large light industrial sites was primarily targeted because they could be future warehouse spaces. In addition to the study, information on funding through the Highlands Council for municipal master plan updates was made available to avoid such future applications.
While I have had my issues with the Highlands legislation in the past with respect to land equity, at this time I believe our visions align with respect to development in our county.
I recently saw that Alpha preliminary approved 600,000 square feet of warehouse space in the borough’s industrial area. This will now be another active warehouse project in Warren County. The developer’s own website gives us a reputation that our region is “one of the fastest growing industrial and warehouse regions in the country.”
Since traditional media is unable to cover these proposals in a timely manner, it has become more crucial than ever that residents attend meetings and put pressure on local governments to be transparent on hearings. Active warehouse projects now exist in Phillipsburg, Alpha, and Lopatcong, Franklin and White townships. If local leaders do not act, our rural character will be forever changed.
James R. Kern III, a former mayor of Pohatcong Township, is in his first term as a Warren County freeholder.
