Amazon has recently revised its plans for converting the shuttered Atlantic City Race Course into a fulfillment center. Shifting away from a multi-level building, it was redesigned as a one-floor, “lower” design that utilizes more of the former racetrack site, which closed in 2015.
At the April 20 Hamilton Township Committee meeting, representatives for Amazon presented the modified design and provided an update on the project’s progress.
Joe Paparo, an attorney representing Amazon, explained that the redevelopment agreement for the site was executed nearly a year ago and that the company initially moved forward with plans for a multi-story facility before pivoting to a new prototype.
As a result of the change, the site layout was adjusted and subdivided into two parcels, with a larger portion now designated for the fulfillment center.
The revised site plan is currently under review by township engineers and planners, and officials are expecting feedback on whether the application is complete and ready for Planning Board consideration.
Paparo noted that while the building design has changed, the project remains consistent with the township’s redevelopment plan. He added that requirements such as setbacks, height, parking and landscaping remain unchanged.
The venture has also received approval from the Pinelands Commission to proceed under its original certification because the changes “were not significant enough” to require a new one, Paparo said.
Danielle Aristy, Amazon’s senior manager of economic development policy, described the facility as an Amazon Robotics Sortation (ARS) fulfillment center using updated automation technology. Products will arrive on pallets that’ll be broken down, put on totes, moved through material handling equipment and then stored on racks that get moved around by robots.
Aristy said it’s the same facility that was proposed originally, but with a complete new design template. She emphasized that while the building footprint has shifted from vertical to horizontal, the operation inside remains largely the same and will still create roughly 750 full-time jobs.
Now, approval of a start date is needed from the planning board and the Pinelands Commission in order for the township to issue the permits necessary. While no firm construction start date has been set, Aristy said the redevelopment agreement allows for a 36-month construction period following final approvals.
Paparo added that progress on the subdivision phase has helped keep the project moving forward.
“The good news is that again we’re a bit ahead of schedule because of the fact that we did separate out the subdivision from the site plan. We’re able to at least check that box while the site plan technical engineering was being revised,” he said.
The proposed fulfillment center would occupy approximately 145 acres of the 250-acre site, according to plans previously approved by the Hamilton Township Planning Board.
“We remain excited about the opportunity to bring a new operations facility to Hamilton Township and to redevelop the former Atlantic City Race Course site. As we’ve navigated the planning process, we’ve decided to propose some changes to the design of the facility. This won’t impact the function of the facility or the anticipated jobs, and we look forward to continuing to work with local officials and sharing more details as we can,” Amber Plunkett, a spokesperson for Amazon, said in a statement to Shore Local.
