Moorestown Mayor Quinton Law (left) presented Jai Patel, executive director at Contact of Burlington County, with a proclamation declaring April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month in the township at council’s April 7 meeting.
The township is forming a Historic Preservation Commission and is seeking volunteers to fill its seven-member board.
All are welcome to apply but preference may be given to people with knowledge of building design, construction or architectural history and people with knowledge or a demonstrated interest in local history, according to the township website.
Interested residents can learn more about the commission by reading Ordinance 06-2025, which was passed by township council at its April 7 meeting. The measure amends the township code to create Chapter 96 governing Historic Preservation and to amend Chapter 6-45.1 governing Appearance Committee.
The provisions of Chapter 96 are intended to accomplish the protection, enhancement and perpetuation of noteworthy resources of the township’s environment to: safeguard the heritage of the township by preserving historic sites and districts; maintain and develop an appropriate and harmonious setting for the historic sites and districts within the township; discourage the unnecessary demolition or other destruction of historic sites and properties within historic districts; and enhance the visual and aesthetic character, diversity, continuity and interest in the township and its neighborhoods, among other points.
The township planning board adopted an updated Historic Preservation Plan element to the master plan earlier this year, providing clear master plan support for the adoption of Ordinance 06-2025. Under the new commission, members will make recommendations to the planning board on the Historic Preservation Plan Element of the Master Plan, such as the inclusion of designated historic properties, structures, sites and districts.
“This ordinance has been in the works for a very long time,” said Deputy Mayor Sue Mammarella. “We’ve been intensely working since the beginning of 2024 to make this happen … We really worked hard to make sure that when the public said, ‘We really don’t want that structure taken down,’ this part of the law gives us that chance.
“It’s not an absolute power but that’s what really prompted – again, as was usual in the past – that when the buildings were threatened, the public really came together,” she added. “This ordinance will help us do that.”
Another benefit of the ordinance, according to Mammarella, is that if a structure does have to come down or something has to be constructed, the commission will make sure it’s compatible with the rest of the historic district.
“Moorestown is a historic town, and now we’ve backed it up with an ordinance that will protect the historic nature of the town,” noted Lenny Wagner, president of the Historical Society of Moorestown.
“Really, this day came about because there were just so many caring people that saw the historic character of this town and how important it is to preserve it. That’s what makes us unique,” observed Dorothy Guzzo, vice president of Saving Historic Moorestown.
“This ordinance protects and historically preserves less than 1% percent of the actual area of Moorestown, and while it’s less than 1% percent of the entire town, it’s arguably the most important 1% of the entire town,” explained Julie Maravich, president of Saving Historic Moorestown.
“This is the highest concentration of historic buildings in a period of significance for the town, which is from 1680 to the Victorian period to the late 1800s. That’s the highest concentration of these wonderful buildings, which give our downtown its village character.”
For more information on Ordinance 06-2025, visit www.moorestown.nj.us/DocumentCenter/View/8729/06-2025. For those interested in serving on the Historic Preservation Commission, complete a Citizenship Leadership Form at www.moorestown.nj.us/formcenter/volunteering-3/citizen-leadership-form-43 and select Historic Preservation Commission from the list of committees.
Before the adoption of the historic preservation ordinance, Mayor Quinton Law presented Jai Patel, executive director at Contact of Burlington County, with a proclamation declaring April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month in the township.
“This proclamation brings needed visibility on an issue that too often remains in the shadows,” Patel said. “It sends a powerful message – in Moorestown – that survivors are seen, supported and never alone.”
