Company plans B'town Twp. fitness center
A company headed by a retired NFL football player plans to construct a 78,000-square-foot fitness center along Route 130 that would have a swimming pool, indoor practice field, basketball court, salon and cafe.
The center would be built on land just north of Mastoris Diner. The land is owned by Growmark FS LLC, a company that supplies fertilizers, seed and other products to the agricultural community.
According to plans filed at the township municipal building, Growmark would sell 24 acres of the 32-acre property to K. Johnson Enterprises LLC of Hamilton Square. The company is headed by former NFL wide receiver Kevin Johnson.
The fitness center would be constructed on the front portion of the property, along with a 78,503-square-foot medical office building, a 30,000-square-foot professional office building and a 3,010-square-foot pad site. Growmark would move its operation to the remaining eight acres of the site.
A 26,000-square-foot indoor practice field would be constructed behind the fitness center.
Herb Ames, president of management consulting firm Devin Group Inc., is representing the applicant for the project. Ames said the fitness center would be called Team 85 Fitness and Wellness. Johnson's jersey number was 85.
"(Johnson) believes in the whole team concept," Ames said. "Everything in life revolves around a team and not an individual."
He described the proposed business as a "full-service family fitness" center.
Johnson, a Trenton native who still lives in the area, chose to build the fitness center in Bordentown Township because it is convenient to both Burlington and Mercer counties, and is close to several major highways.
"It's sort of a hotbed for residential and commercial growth," Ames said. "The demographics show that there is a need for wellness in the Bordentown area."
According to the project's Web site, www.team85fitnessandwellness.com, the center would open next year.
Johnson played football at Syracuse University, before playing five seasons with the Cleveland Browns. He also played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Baltimore Ravens and the Detroit Lions.
The developer presented plans to the township Planning Board at a meeting Thursday night. Mayor George Chidley said the developer will likely go before the Township Committee in July, and the committee will decide whether to grant site plan approval.
Since the property is in a redevelopment zone, it could be eligible for tax breaks, but Chidley said the developer has not applied for any tax abatement yet.
Chidley said the project was received well by the Planning Board, and he believes the public will be pleased with the look of the complex. He said the fitness center and office buildings will be a "boon to the community" and will transform an underutilized and mostly vacant property.
By LAURI SHEIBLEY
E-mail: lsheibley@phillyBurbs.com
| 
