In the first , Bates Mill Partners , owners of approximately 45 residential rental properties in Hammonton , was petitioning the board to approval a change of hammontongazette . com Wednesday , May 8 , 2024
Residents pick up trash , plant flowers
Hammonton Insider : One-on-One with Mica McCullough
Inside Page 8
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Volume 28 • Issue 19
HHS students shine at prom
Photos Courtesy of Candice Atwell
Gianna Tocco , Emma Smith , Evan Arceo , Mia Donio , Z Hess and Julie Petters gathered for a photo after the
Hammonton High School promenade on May 3 . The prom followed at The Sheraton in Atlantic City . For more photos , see Page 15 , as well as our online photo gallery at hammontongazette . com .
Hammonton Joint Land Use Board approves 1 megawatt solar project
BY CRAIG RICHARDS GAZETTE PUBLISHER
HAMMONTON — The Hammonton Joint Land Use Board cleared the way for the construction of a 1 megawatt 1.89-acre ground mount solar facility for a Hammonton manufacturer . During the May 1 meeting of the board , Polyvel LLC , a plastics manufacturing facility at 100 9th street , received the green light to their proposed solar project .
The application to add ground mount solar began in October of 2003 . The ground mount alternative was based on a 2009 roof replacement project and evaluation . After reviewing the consideration of the roof , supports , snow load , and age among other factors , the company decided a roof mounted project was not feasible .
The applicant conducted a lengthy discussion with the board detailing construction , location , and safety issues . In addition , elements like compliance requirements associated with their Pinelands application , storm water plans and a tree survey were also discussed . As it was determined that no variance was required and seeing no issue with the plan the board voted to approve .
Two other planning board issues were voted on including a church conversion to a two-unit residential rental and an individual homeowner requesting permission to place a solar array on a adjacent lot owned by the same resident .
In the first , Bates Mill Partners , owners of approximately 45 residential rental properties in Hammonton , was petitioning the board to approval a change of hammontongazette . com Wednesday , May 8 , 2024
use request for 410 S . Liberty Stret , Hammonton . The former church and one time nursery have stood idle for over five years . The company presented plans for the remodeling of the interior and limited exterior modifications .
The property was acquired in August 2023 and is planned to provide two single family units , both 3 bedrooms with one being 1,750 square feet and the other 1,250 square feet . After some discussion and clarification of the project plans , the board voted 9-0 to approve the request .
In the matter of the individual resident request for solar construction on an adjacent plot of land , the board questioned the necessity of the request for variance . While the project met the requirements for the variance
See BOARD , Page 3
HHS band holds annual car wash
Photo Courtesy of Jennifer
McGraw
Hammonton High School ’ s band held its annual car wash on May 4 at the Early Childhood Education Center . Despite some wet weather , the students were able to wash many local cars . For more photos , see page 4 .
MainStreet holds Downtown Clean Up
Residents pick up trash , plant flowers
BY JENNIFER MCGRAW FOR THE GAZETTE
HAMMONTON — It ’ s been more than a week since Earth Day , and Hammonton ’ s community was still in the spirit for going green .
MainStreet Hammonton went green for their annual Downtown Hammonton Clean Up and Flower Planting on May 4 . Hammonton residents lined the Historic Train Station at 9 a . m . to get assigned to their duties : flower planting or trash clean up .
Sponsored by Flowers Cleaning Services , volunteers were given trash grabbers and planting equipment to spruce up
SUBSCRIBE TO The Gazette • hammontongazette . com • 609-704-1939 downtown Hammonton . Students were also able to be provided with service hours for the work .
Besides the motivation to make their town cleaner , Hammonton volunteers walked away with a sense of pride knowing their efforts made an immediate impact .
MainStreet Hammonton Executive Director Mica McCullough expressed excitement for the continued success of this event .
“ From what I understand it began as a cleanup . So picking up trash was a way for the community to get involved and vol-
See DOWNTOWN , Page 2
Photo Courtesy of Jennifer McGraw
Many gathered downtown on May 4 to help with the Annual Clean Up and Flower Planting .
Police issue traffic summonses
BY CRAIG RICHARDS GAZETTE PUBLISHER
HAMMONTON — On May 2 at 7:34 p . m . at North Egg Harbor Road and Francis Street , Officer Matthew Heizer was investigating a disabled motorcycle in the roadway . He made contact with the driver and identified him as Walter L . Harris IV , 33 of Oceanview , New Jersey . He was found to have an outstanding NCIC warrant . The motorcycle was found to have a fictitious Pennsylvania registration and he stated he did not own the motorcycle . The motorcycle did not appear to be stolen through the NCIC system . It was towed for fictitious plates and Harris was placed
under arrest , transported to police headquarters for processing and then transported to the Atlantic County justice facility on the warrant . The following motor vehicle summonses were given to Harris : Unregistered vehicle , Suspended driver ’ s license , Driver ’ s license required , Fictitious plates , Uninsured vehicle , Failed to possess the registration , Failure to possess the insurance card and failure to possess his driver ’ s license . Harris will be appearing at Hammonton Joint Municipal Court on the motor vehicle summonses .
On May 4 at 5:27 a . m . on the 500 block of Old Forks Road ,
See POLICE , Page 2 one dollar