Hamilton Township officials have taken another step toward redevelopment of the former Atlantic City Race Course property by introducing an ordinance that would establish a long-term payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) agreement for Amazon’s proposed fulfillment center.
The ordinance, introduced during the Township Committee’s June 15 meeting, outlines a 29-year agreement that would generate more than $2.4 million in annual revenue for the township. The annual payment would increase by 2.25% each year throughout the life of the agreement. Under the proposal, Atlantic County would receive 5% of the annual PILOT payments.
A public hearing and final vote on the ordinance are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. July 6 at the municipal building on 13th Street.
Township leaders view the proposed agreement as another milestone in the long-awaited redevelopment of the former race course, which has remained vacant since horse racing ended more than a decade ago. Officials anticipate Amazon will receive its building permit no later than Sept. 30, allowing construction to move forward later this year.
The proposed fulfillment center would rely heavily on advanced automation to process customer orders. Products would be stored within a sophisticated automated storage and retrieval system, where robotic technology would transport inventory through the facility to employees responsible for packing and shipping orders. The automated process is designed to improve efficiency while reducing the amount of time needed to move merchandise throughout the warehouse.
Plans for the project were delayed approximately six months after Amazon revised the building’s design. Initial proposals called for a taller, multi-level structure, but the company later redesigned the facility to better accommodate its operational needs. The updated plans required additional engineering and municipal review before moving forward.
The fulfillment center is expected to transform the former Atlantic City Race Course into one of the region’s largest logistics facilities. In addition to generating new tax revenue through the PILOT agreement, the project is expected to create hundreds of construction jobs during the building phase, followed by permanent positions once the warehouse becomes operational.
Redevelopment of the long-vacant property has been discussed for years, with several proposals falling through before Amazon selected the site for its next South Jersey distribution center. If the remaining approvals proceed on schedule, township officials expect construction activity to begin after permits are issued later this year.
The project represents one of the largest private investments proposed in Hamilton Township in recent years and is expected to significantly reshape the former race track property while strengthening the township’s commercial tax base for decades to come.
