McDonald's and AutoZone
are planned for Woolwich.
By Justin Kelly
NJ Real Estate Broker-Salesperson
Woolwich Township named McDonald's USA and AutoZone Northeast as redevelopers of two lots on Auburn Road, and each designation runs on a 60 day clock.
What was reported
- On August 3 the Township Committee adopted two resolutions, naming McDonald's USA, LLC redeveloper of 1060 Auburn Road and AutoZone Northeast, LLC redeveloper of 1070 Auburn Road
- Both lots sit inside the Weatherby Town Center Redevelopment Area, which the township designated an area in need of redevelopment in 2018
- Each designation runs 60 days from adoption and authorizes the parties to negotiate a redevelopment agreement, with one 60 day extension possible and any further extension by formal action of the Committee
The story
Woolwich Township has named McDonald's USA, LLC and AutoZone Northeast, LLC as redevelopers of two lots on Auburn Road. The Township Committee adopted a resolution for each company on August 3: R-2026-335 covers 1060 Auburn Road, Block 4, Lot 4.02, and R-2026-336 covers 1070 Auburn Road, Block 4, Lot 4.03.
Both lots sit inside the Weatherby Town Center Redevelopment Area, which the township designated an area in need of redevelopment in 2018 under the Local Redevelopment and Housing Law. A redeveloper designation is not an approval to build. It names one company as the exclusive party for that lot and authorizes it to negotiate a redevelopment agreement with the township.
Each designation is effective for 60 days from the date it was adopted. The Mayor or the Township Administrator can extend it once by another 60 days if the company is proceeding in good faith, and any extension past that takes formal action by the Township Committee. A non-conditional designation follows only when a redevelopment agreement is adopted.
The resolutions do not carry building sizes, opening dates, or site plans, and no hearing dates are named in them. Those come later in the process, if the negotiations reach an agreement.
A redeveloper designation is not a development approval. Formal site plans have not been filed and no Joint Land Use Board hearing has been scheduled. Plans can change. Reported by Township of Woolwich. This is a summary in our own words; the full report is theirs.
Our take
A redevelopment designation is how a township matches an empty lot to a specific tenant before any site plan is filed. If you own vacant commercial land in a redevelopment area, this is the step that decides who gets to build on it.
