Woodbridge to Buy Development Rights to Springwood Swim Club

The Township of Woodbridge has entered an agreement to purchase the development rights to slightly more than 9 acres of land occupied by the Springwood Swim Club in Colonia for $400,000, Mayor John McCormac discussed at the May 21 council meeting.

Around the same time the township struck a similar deal with Colonia Country Club, the swim club approached the township about forming an agreement to purchase the rights. Springwood originally had 11 acres of land, then sold roughly seven building lots, but did not want to sell anymore when they decided to approach the township, the Mayor said.

“They didn’t want to sell anymore land but wanted to stay in business,” McCormac said. “They needed the cash so we reached an agreement to bond the development of nine plus acres for $400,000.”

The process took awhile, McCormac said, but they are just about at the point to close the deal.

McCormac explained that the township is not purchasing the acres themselves but the development rights to those acres so that it can never be built on. It will only be used as a swim club or as a recreational facility, he said.

“This is a very significant purchase for the town because that is a very good resource," he expressed. "Nine acres of open space right in a neighborhood in Colonia, you just can’t get that anymore.”

President of the swim club, Anthony D’Alessandro echoed the mayor’s comment about the rarity of the space within Colonia.

D’Alessandro thanked the mayor and township for working with the Springwood Swim Club to make the agreement possible.