Community Alert Update:
Despite massive resident outrage, Dollar General will try to get approval once more on Nov 23rd @ 7:30pm over ZOOM meetings.
It is now time to speak up if you do not want this urban blight in your beautiful Centerton Historic Area!
Zoom Link for Nov 23rd @ 7:30pm: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88497844377
Will Dollar General continue to force themselves on our township despite the largest anti Dollar General petition in history? Despite the largest Pittsgrove meeting turnout in history the last time they showed up?
The “Centerton” of our historic township has this beautiful farm vista :
Here is what is proposed over ZOOM meetings to replace it:
Yup, you guessed it, this project was brought to you by the same ZOOM meetings which terminated a dance studio and initiated an industrial trash facility proposal.
You should attend the next meeting related to this, it may be your last chance to put your concerns on government record.
Dollar General will also be asking for many variances, which should be denied.
There are multiple hard questions around key zoning details:
It is a fact: This property is NOT zoned commercial. It is zoned “Neighborhood Business”.
Neighborhood business, as any common resident would interpret it, is Andersons, Centerton Inn, Sweet Things, and other tiny family run shops.
Does dollar general fit your local interpretation of a “Neighborhood Business” in Pittsgrove?
Dollar General is obviously more similar to existing Highway or Commercial zoned business.
Is our law being bent again to serve outsider corporations?
Who invited these projects into our community, and who will clean up the mess?
These are important questions for our officials. Residents have invested their lives into ground controlled by their local laws. We have all played by the rules for decades.
Our township is a blossoming, scenic, rural, residential area where families raise children safely.
It is a township where development is held to the highest standard.
It is a township unique to this state and country.
It is a township where Dollar General should NOT be bent into Neighborhood Business zoning PERIOD.
There is a planning board meeting tuesday November 23rd at 730pm
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89298006752
Hot off the OPRA, check out this link to view all of the planning documents for yourself:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1U7eFheFNp5Aba3xAjXO2PxyHfWKSl37H?usp=sharing
Moving forward:
This area is zoned Neighborhood Business, and none of the businesses in our town in this zoning are similar to Dollar General. However, when you pick apart our laws like a greedy lawyer, the specific definition of businesses allowed does not specifically prevent “Formula Type Business” franchises such as Dollar Generals. If residents are opposed to this type of business, they need to make their feelings known and request that changes be made to the definitions of the allowed businesses, required architectural structures, etc. This is proactive SMART PLANNING, not reactive opposition when plans have already been submitted.
Residents can and should file appeals to the NJ Supreme Court and damages lawsuits should this project move forward.
More on the Reality of Dollar Generals Across the Nation:
