Keep Our Homes Safe: Stop 24/7 Semi-Truck Traffic Beside Our Kids' Backyard and Oppose the 322 Commerce Center Warehouse Development

As neighbors and members of the Woolwich Township community, we, the undersigned, voice our deep concern and strong opposition to the proposed 322 Commerce Center warehouse development. This plan involves constructing over 1.6 million square feet of warehouse space on 176 acres, with buildings and parking lots positioned dangerously close to our residential properties.

If approved, this project will fundamentally and negatively impact our lives in the following ways:

 

1.  Increased Traffic and Safety Risks

The proposed warehouse complex is designed to accommodate hundreds of semi-trucks daily, with driveways and access points alarmingly close to homes. This influx of commercial truck traffic along Pancoast Road and other adjacent streets will:

• Endanger pedestrians, cyclists, and especially children, who may be walking, playing, or simply trying to get to and from school.
• Increase noise levels and diesel exhaust in areas where families are raising young children.
• Make our streets busier, making daily commutes and neighborhood travel more dangerous and frustrating.

We deserve safe streets where we and our children can walk and play without worry.

 

2.  Loss of Peace, Quiet, and Quality of Life

Warehouses of this size operate around the clock, with constant loading, unloading, and truck traffic. The noise and activity generated by 24-hour operations will disrupt the peaceful, residential character of our neighborhood. This is not just about noise – it’s about the inability to enjoy a peaceful life in our own homes.

Our homes should be a sanctuary, not a place to endure industrial noise and activity.

3.  Harmful Environmental Impact

With the addition of so many trucks and large buildings, we can expect:

• Decreased air quality due to vehicle emissions.
• Increased light pollution from the necessary 24-hour lighting, reducing the natural beauty and tranquility of our neighborhood.
• Potential flooding and drainage issues due to increased pavement and runoff from such a large paved area.

The health and environmental risks are too great to ignore.

4.  Reduced Property Values and Community Aesthetic

The proximity of massive warehouses to residential areas is expected to reduce property values and detract from the community's visual appeal. With building setback requirements reduced to as little as 58 feet instead of the usual 100, these towering warehouses will be uncomfortably close to our homes, blocking our views and impacting our quality of life.

Our homes and investments should not suffer for the sake of commercial interests.

5.  Overwhelming Scale of the Project

The development plan is staggeringly large, encompassing three massive buildings with 1,000+ parking spaces for both trucks and cars. This is far beyond what a residential-adjacent area should have to endure. The proposed variances on setback and driveway width prioritize industrial interests over the safety and well-being of local residents.

A project of this scale belongs in a designated industrial zone, not beside a family-oriented community.

In Summary:

The 322 Commerce Center will fundamentally alter the character of Woolwich Township, transforming our safe, family-centered neighborhoods into an industrial zone dominated by truck traffic, noise, and pollution. We call on the Joint Land Use Board (JLUB) to recognize the long-term consequences this development will have on our quality of life, safety, and environment.

We urge the JLUB to deny the requested variances that prioritize commercial convenience over the well-being of Woolwich Township residents. Let’s protect our neighborhood and keep our community a place we can all be proud to call home.

 

PUBLIC HEARING INFORMATION:

People will have the opportunity to appear in person at the Woolwich Township Joint Land Use Board meeting on Thursday, November 21, 2024, commencing at 7:00 P.M. in the Woolwich Township Municipal Building, located at 120 Village Green Drive, Woolwich Township, New Jersey 08085, to present any objection to this project.  

 

Please sign this petition to stand with us in opposition to the 322 Commerce Center warehouse development.