GEMS Redevelopment Moving Forward

The Township Council will vote on an ordinance at its meeting Monday night that will move redevelopment of the GEMS landfill property one step closer to fruition.

Council briefly discussed the redevelopment plan at its workshop meeting Wednesday night.

If Council approves the ordinance on second reading, presumably at its Sept. 24 meeting, it would clear the way for solar-panel development on the Superfund site to begin.

The Township Planning Board unanimously advanced the plan at its Aug. 14 meeting. The bipartisan board had in April recommended the property be declared as one in need of redevelopment.

Council in May accepted the Planning Board's recommendation and designated itself as the redevelopment entity for the GEMS, or Gloucester Environmental Management Services, property, which is located at Hickstown and Erial roads in the township's Erial section.

Council then moved a redevelopment plan crafted by Haddonfield firm Remington & Vernick to the Planning Board for its review in late July.

Township engineering consultant John Cantwell, of Remington & Vernick, has indicated 73 of 131 acres of the GEMS property is covered with a "cap," which serves to contain toxic material to the site.

The township is looking to bring in a private developer to put solar panels on the property.

"We have been contacting some renewable-energy developers already," Cantwell told Council Wednesday night, "letting them know this is coming."

The solar panels will have to be installed so as to not pierce the cap.

The federal Environmental Protection Agency and state Department of Environmental Protection would have to sign off on any future development on the GEMS property.

Gloucester Township owns the GEMS property.