More than one-half of Southampton Township’s non-Pinelands Highway Commercial (HC) zoning district and commercial property tax ratable base lies along the South Pemberton Road (NJ Route 38 / County Route 530) corridor. Since the completion of the South Pemberton Road widening, many residents, businesses, and developers have expressed interest in improving their existing homes and businesses and in the future of undeveloped, underutilized, and abandoned properties along this corridor.
Historically, for one reason or another, Southampton has found difficulty in attracting, growing, and keeping businesses along South Pemberton Road. The Southampton Township Committee has asked the Township’s Planning Board to study certain properties in this corridor to determine whether they may have some site-specific reasons or general underlying conditions that have hampered their rehabilitation and future development potential.
In accordance with the Local Redevelopment and Housing Law, ERI prepared a preliminary investigation for a determination of an area in need of rehabilitation, as well as an area in need of non-condemnation redevelopment, to assist the Township improve this primary economic development corridor and adjacent residential areas. The Planning Board and Township Committee approved these studies in July, 2021. Stakeholder meetings will be held in the next few months to begin preparation of redevelopment plans for future corridor economic development, housing improvements, and infrastructure projects.