Several residents on Francine Drive advocated for an in-ground basketball hoop the township says is a zoning violation at council’s June 8 meeting.
George Hutchinson IV, who installed the hoop, was not only told it was a violation, but that council couldn’t grant him the zoning variance for which he applied either.
Hutchinson said several of his neighbors are in favor of the hoop.
“I received community support,” he said. “We are trying to support community engagement in a safe, controlled environment on a dead-end street in Cherry Hill. Of which, after my house, there’s only six other homes. So there’s no through traffic or anything like that.
“I’m trying to understand where to go with this.”
Anne Eggink lives next door to Hutchinson. She’s been a resident of Francine Drive since 1972 and wants to see the hoop remain.
“During the ’70s and ’80s when we were kids, everybody was out on the streets playing whatever it may be,” Eggink recalled. “Basketball, kickball, bikes. These days, society has an issue that the children aren’t outside enough playing, that they’re all inside on their tablets and computers.
“So I encourage the council to do what they can to help approve the basketball hoop, because it’s gotten the kids outside and playing.”
Bonnie Kabat is another neighbor of Hutchinson’s who says her child appreciates the hoop.
“I have a special needs son who is loving the basketball court,” she noted. “And it helps me with him having to not have to run anywhere to take him. It gets him out of the house with me and he gets some exercise. And if I have to take him up to the park, it’s hard for me to do, because I have handicap issues myself …
“So just walking out with that basketball court there is really helpful.”
Neighbor Marisa Snyder said the hoop is worth keeping for the benefit of all kids on Francine Drive. She alluded to remarks from Mayor David Fleisher earlier in the meeting to make her point. He told council the issue is with how the hoop is mounted.
“It provides kids a place to get exercise and spend time together,” Snyder pointed to council. “And given the mayor’s earlier comment tonight, specifically about the importance of exercise and social connection in our community, this hoop supports exactly those goals.”
The mayor also talked about the Cherry Valley Bike bus, where students ride their bikes to school as a group, and thanked residents for addressing the hoop issue.
“Thank you to your neighbors,” he said. “We all want neighbors like you have. So thank you and it sounds like they love you, too. So great.”
Brian Bauerle, the mayor’s chief of staff, confirmed in an email that the mayor spoke with Hutchinson and discussions are underway to find a solution.
George Hutchinson addresses council about his controversial basketball hoop, for which neigbors on Francine Drive expressed support.
