NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF WINSLOW ACCEPTING A DEED OF DEDICATION FOR CERTAIN OPEN SPACE LANDS WITHIN THE ROYAL RIDGE DEVELOPMENT PURSUANT TO PLANNING BOARD APPROVALS
WHEREAS, the Township of Winslow, a body corporate and politic of the State of New Jersey, with offices located at 125 South Route 73, Winslow Township, Camden County, New Jersey (the "Township"), is authorized pursuant to the laws of the State of New Jersey to acquire, accept, preserve, maintain, and hold lands for open space, conservation, recreation, drainage, environmental protection, and related public purposes; and
WHEREAS, Hallmark Homes – Royal Ridge, LLC, having a principal business address at 865 Easton Road, Suite 320, Warrington, Pennsylvania 18976 (the "Developer"), is the owner and developer of certain property located on Chews Landing Road and designated on the official Tax Map of the Township of Winslow as Block 1302, Lots 4, 5 and 7; Block 1303, Lots 4.01 and 9; and Block 2203, Lot 2, together with related subdivision lots and parcels created pursuant to approved subdivision and site plan applications (the "Royal Ridge Development"); and
WHEREAS, the Township Planning Board previously granted preliminary and final major subdivision and site plan approvals for the Royal Ridge Development, subject to numerous conditions and requirements; and
WHEREAS, among the conditions of said Planning Board approvals was the requirement that certain lands designated as open space be offered and dedicated to the Township for public ownership and preservation purposes; and
WHEREAS, the Developer has offered to convey to the Township, by Deed of Dedication, the open space parcel identified as Lot in Block on the Township Tax Map, as more particularly described in Exhibit A attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference (the "Open Space Parcel"); and
WHEREAS, the Township Engineer, Township Planner, and Township Solicitor have reviewed the proposed conveyance and have determined that acceptance of the Open Space Parcel is consistent with the conditions of the applicable Planning Board approvals and serves the public interest; and
WHEREAS, the Township Council has determined that acceptance of the Open Space Parcel will promote the preservation of open space, environmental resources, natural features, stormwater management functions, buffering, and other public purposes contemplated by the Planning Board approvals.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Township Council of the Township of Winslow, County of Camden, State of New Jersey, as follows:
SECTION 1.
ACCEPTANCE OF DEED OF DEDICATION.
The Township hereby accepts the conveyance of the Open Space Parcel by Deed of Dedication from Hallmark Homes – Royal Ridge, LLC, subject to review and approval of the final deed form, legal description, title documentation, and related conveyance materials by the Township Solicitor, Township Engineer, and Township Planner.
SECTION 2.
AUTHORIZATION TO ACCEPT TITLE.
The Mayor and Township Clerk are hereby authorized and directed to execute any and all documents necessary to effectuate acceptance of title to the Open Space Parcel, including but not limited to deeds, affidavits, certifications, acknowledgments, escrow releases, corrective instruments, and recording documents.
SECTION 3.
PURPOSE OF CONVEYANCE.
The Open Space Parcel is being conveyed to the Township in satisfaction of conditions imposed by the Township Planning Board in connection with the Royal Ridge Development approvals.
Acceptance of the Open Space Parcel shall not relieve the Developer of any other obligations imposed by the Planning Board approvals, developer's agreement, ordinances, resolutions, permits, or applicable law.
SECTION 4.
USE OF OPEN SPACE PARCEL.
Upon acceptance, the Township may utilize, preserve, maintain, manage, restore, improve, regulate, or otherwise use the Open Space Parcel for any lawful public purpose, including but not limited to:
- Open space preservation;
- Environmental conservation;
- Stormwater management;
- Recreation;
- Passive recreation;
- Greenway and trail purposes;
- Habitat protection;
- Buffering and screening;
- Municipal purposes authorized by law.
SECTION 5.
NO OBLIGATION TO IMPROVE.
Nothing contained herein shall obligate the Township to improve, develop, maintain, construct facilities upon, or otherwise alter the Open Space Parcel.
The Township may preserve all or any portion of the Open Space Parcel in its existing natural condition and shall retain sole discretion regarding future management and use.
SECTION 6.
TITLE REQUIREMENTS.
As a condition of acceptance, the Developer shall provide:
- A recordable Deed of Dedication;
- A current survey acceptable to the Township
Engineer;
- A metes and bounds legal description;
- Evidence of marketable title;
- Such title insurance, title commitments, certifications,affidavits,andcurativedocumentsasmaybe required by the Township Solicitor;
- Confirmation that the Open Space Parcel is free and clear of liens, encumbrances, mortgages, easements, restrictions,orclaimsthatwouldmateriallyinterferewiththe Township's intended ownership and use; provided that the Developer may reserve, and the conveyance shall be subject to, such drainage, access, stormwater, utility, conservation, and related easements and restrictions as are necessary to serve the Royal Ridge development or as required by the Planning Board approvals.
SECTION 7.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITION.
The Developer shall remain responsible for any environmental condition, contamination, violation, or remediation obligation to the extent caused by the Developer’s activities on the Open Space Parcel prior to conveyance. The Developer shall not be responsible for pre-existing conditions not caused by the Developer, for conditions migrating from off-site, or for naturally occurring conditions.
Acceptance of the Open Space Parcel shall not constitute a waiver of any rights or remedies available to the Township under federal, state, or local environmental laws.
SECTION 8.
DEVELOPER WARRANTIES.
The Developer shall warrant that it possesses good and marketable title to the Open Space Parcel and full authority to convey same to the Township.
The Developer shall defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the Township from claims arising from title defects, ownership disputes, boundary disputes, or encumbrances existing prior to conveyance.
With respect to title defects, ownership disputes, boundary disputes, or encumbrances existing prior to conveyance, the Township shall look first to the title insurance policy to be provided pursuant to Section 6; the Developer’s indemnification obligation under this Section shall be limited to matters not covered by such title policy and shall not extend to matters insured thereunder.
SECTION 9.
RESTRICTIONS RUNNING WITH THE LAND.
To the extent required by the Planning Board approvals, developer's agreement, conservation restrictions, deed restrictions, or applicable law, the Open Space Parcel shall remain subject to such restrictions and conditions as may be imposed for preservation, conservation, stormwater management, buffering, or related public purposes.
SECTION 10. RECORDING.
Upon acceptance, the Township Clerk, Township Solicitor, or their designee is authorized to record the Deed of Dedication and any ancillary documents in the Office of the Camden County Clerk.
SECTION 11. SEVERABILITY.
If any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause, or phrase of this Ordinance shall be declared invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such determination shall not affect the remaining provisions of this Ordinance.
SECTION 12. REPEALER.
All ordinances or parts of ordinances inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed to the extent of such inconsistency.
SECTION 13.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Ordinance shall take effect upon final passage, publication, and filing as required by law.
Notice is hereby given that the foregoing Ordinance was introduced and passed upon first reading at a regular meeting of the Mayor and Township Committee of the Township of Winslow on the 21st day of July, 2026 , at 7:00 P.M., and the same was then ordered published according to law; and the same ordinance will be further considered for final passage during a meeting of the Mayor and Township Committee of the Township of Winslow to be held in the Mayor Dominic Maiese Municipal Complex, 125 S. Route 73, Braddock, New Jersey on August 18, 2026, commencing at 7:00 P.M., prevailing time, or at any time and place to which such meeting from time to time may be adjourned. All persons interested will be given an opportunity during said time to be heard concerning such Ordinance by order of the Mayor and Township Committee.
LISA L. DORITY, RMC
MUNICIPAL CLERK