Council President William Carter III gives opening remarks at the Sept. 29 council meeting.
Township council has approved an amended zoning ordinance on second reading that was originally introduced in August.
The ordinance will establish a new mixed-use overlay zone that will be residential inclusionary, meaning that within the designated area, projects that mix residential with retail or commercial are encouraged. Such zones also require developers to set aside a percentage of units for affordable housing.
The township planning board reviewed the ordinance during its Sept. 15 meeting and found it consistent with Cherry Hill’s master plan. Adoption was recommended by board members, though they asked that small edits be made to the measure, including more references to procedural history.
After council went over the details of the ordinance at its Sept. 29 meeting, it opened the floor for public comment, when two individuals voiced their support for the resolution. Charles McDonald represented Urban Edge Properties, owner of the site where the new zoning will take place.
“We are fully supportive of this proposed ordinance and appreciate any future development flexibilities for the site,” he said.
Township resident Anne Einhorn also expressed her support for the measure, specifically its affordable housing.
“So I really am in favor of this,” she noted. “I did listen to the planning board that night when they were discussing this issue, and we do have to fulfill our affordable-housing needs. My only concern that night was the development of the property when it ensues, but I am comfortable, because this is something that Cherry Hill needs to do.”
Five council members voted to approve the ordinance; members Sangeeta Doshi and Carole Roskoph were absent. Councilwoman Jennifer Apell was in favor of the measure.
“I really appreciate that there are green building fixtures featured in that ordinance,” she pointed out. “So that’s a really good step for Cherry Hill. And hopefully, the builder will incorporate a lot of green building features.”
In other meeting business, council approved a resolution authorizing the township to accept a grant of up to $638,286 from the state’s Historic Trust for the preservation of Kay Evans Farmstead – also known as Croft Farm – and authorized the rejection of bids for the purchase of trees, shrubs and evergreens. The township can now re-bid the project with revised specifications.
