Let’s talk warehouses.
No, they’re not the prettiest part of town — and we know the truck traffic isn’t winning anyone over. But most of us had a package delivered this week, right? Warehouses are part of how the modern world moves — literally.
Thanks to our location between NYC and Philly (with great highway access), Bordentown Township became a hot spot for warehouse development — fast. Nobody really expected that boom, but we have taken action.
In 2022, we cut the amount of land where warehouses can be built by 50% through Master Plan rezoning. Today, 90% of the Township doesn’t allow warehouse development at all.
Sure, we wish some of the newer warehouses could have been built elsewhere, but historic zoning and property rights allowed those developments to be built. And under state law, those rights still matter.
So why does this matter to you?
Taxes:
While the average municipal property tax in NJ has gone up about 2.2% per year since 2013, in Bordentown Township that number is just 0.05% per year.
That’s significantly less than the NJ average — and warehouses have been a big part of that stability.
“But don’t they all get tax breaks (PILOTs)?”
No, not really. Some of the warehouses received 5-year tax abatements, but definitely not all of them. And, contrary to what some believe, none have received long-term, 20- or 30-year PILOTs.
A PILOT is a “Payment In Lieu Of Taxes” — a temporary, fixed payment made instead of regular property taxes. It’s a tool sometimes used to attract investment — but it’s not a free pass.
And here’s something most people don’t realize:
Since 2014, Bordentown Township has voluntarily shared 25% of all non-residential PILOT revenue with the school district. That’s nearly $2.5 million since 2018 — including $250,000 in 2024 alone.
Clean energy:
Thousands of solar panels now line warehouse rooftops, feeding clean power back into the grid through a state-sponsored program. Residents can even sign up to use that energy at a reduced rate. I don’t know about you, but with today’s energy costs, we can all use all the help we can get.
Replanting:
Township code requires that for every tree removed during construction, at least two new trees must be planted. Over 1,000 new trees have been added across the Township in recent years.
Warehouses aren’t perfect — and we’re not pretending they are. But we’ve worked hard to limit their footprint, plan responsibly, and make sure they contribute in meaningful ways.
Sometimes you don’t get to choose the lemons.
But you can still make some pretty decent lemonade.