Robbinsville Township has reached an agreement with Princeton Memorial Park that will permanently block construction of a previously approved crematorium on Gordon Road.
Township Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding by Resolution at its Feb. 12 meeting.
Under the agreement, Princeton Memorial Park Association Inc. has agreed in principle to forgo construction of a crematorium at 403 Gordon Road and instead pursue approval of a mausoleum on the site, pending Land Use Board and other required approvals.
“I am pleased to announce that this agreement with Princeton Memorial Park reflects our community’s concerns and priorities, while also respecting the cemetery’s long-standing and highly regarded presence in our town,” Mayor Mike Todd said.
“An integral component of this agreement is a deed restriction on the property, which provides permanent assurance to our residents that a crematorium will not be constructed at this site now or in the future,” Todd said.
According to the MOU, the existing crematory approval will remain in place until plans for the mausoleum project are fully approved.
“PMP shall withdraw and forego all plans within the Crematory Approval if all necessary approvals for the Mausoleum Project are obtained within 6 months of PMP submitting said complete application,”the agreement states.
“Upon obtaining all necessary approvals for the Mausoleum Project, PMP agrees to place a perpetual deed restriction on the Property prohibiting the construction of a crematorium thereon or any extension thereof,” says the agreement.
The crematorium was originally approved following a March 2024 land use application that included a D-3 variance request for the cemetery property in the township’s Rural Residential Zone.
Under New Jersey law, crematoriums are permitted as customary and incidental uses within cemeteries, limiting the township’s ability to deny the use outright.
The proposed facility was a 1,350-square-foot, one-story structure.
The plan sparked significant community opposition, particularly because of the site’s proximity to Sharon Elementary School, Community Park and nearby residential neighborhoods.
In October 2024, a petition posted on Change.org urging the state Department of Environmental Protection to deny a pre-construction permit gained more than 1,100 signatures in less than one day.
The petition cited concerns about potential air emissions and health risks, including volatile organic compounds, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, methane, ammonia, lead and particulate matter.
“Not only do we have young children attending Sharon Elementary, which backs up directly to the cemetery,” the petition stated, “but we also have kids playing sports and enjoying other recreational activities at Community Park, directly across the street.”
According to the draft permit at the time, the crematorium would have been permitted to operate for up to 3,800 hours annually. There are a total of 8,760 in a normal calendar year.
Residents also raised concerns about the absence of certain monitoring or record-keeping requirements in the draft permit, including mercury emissions.
In December 2024, then-Mayor Dave Fried wrote that the DEP had postponed a public hearing on the draft permit at the request of the applicant.
“The NJDEP stated it wanted to allow for more public comment — that period was extended to Dec. 31 — and it also allowed us time to work with the owners of Princeton Memorial Park to explore other avenues, including the possibility of a non-combustible, zero emittance solution,” Fried wrote.
Fried cautioned residents that the township had to proceed carefully.
“Again, we must be very careful with our words because the last thing anyone wants is for this to end up being litigated in court,” Fried wrote.
He also noted that state policy supports crematoriums in established cemeteries and referenced pending legislation at the time that would have expanded siting allowances.
Over the next year, township officials, state lawmakers and cemetery representatives continued discussions aimed at finding an alternative solution.
Local and state officials, including Fried, Todd, members of Township Council, Sen. Linda M. Greenstein, Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo and Assemblywoman Tennille McCoy, backed resolutions and engaged in talks with Princeton Memorial Park.
“This outcome is the result of constructive dialogue, collaboration, and a shared commitment to finding a solution that balances community interests with responsible land use,” Todd said.
He thanked Princeton Memorial Park for working cooperatively with the township throughout the process, as well as Fried, Greenstein, DeAngelo and McCoy for their support.
Todd also credited Township Council, the administration and residents who voiced their concerns.
“Robbinsville is dedicated to seeking innovative solutions for some of its toughest challenges to preserve the quality of life that makes our community a wonderful place to live,” he said.
Greenstein, DeAngelo and McCoy released the following statement applauding the MOU.
“This positive outcome came from respectful, open conversations among residents, the Robbinsville Township Council and Administration, state and local officials, and Princeton Memorial Park,” says the statement.
“As cremation rates continue to rise, so do concerns about the potential impacts of the toxic fumes this process creates. By coming together, we found a better path forward that will protect our schools, homes, and recreation areas from adverse health impacts and support the future business of a longstanding community cemetery,” the statement concludes.
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