By SHANNON CAULFIELD
The Marlton Sun
A resolution authorizing the Evesham Township Planning Board to begin preliminary investigation of areas in potential need of rehabilitation or redevelopment was passed at the Dec. 4 township council meeting.
The businesses in question include the Tri Town Plaza, Olga’s Diner at the intersection of Route 70 and Route 73, G Boys located at 801 W Route 70, Scooters located at 471 Evesboro-Medford Rd., Borders located on Route 73 and the Beneficial Savings bank on Main Street.
“These are properties that the planning board will investigate,” said township manager Bill Cromie. “This resolution gives the board permission to investigate the status of the properties to be included in the redevelopment plan.”
According to Cromie, the investigation is expected to last approximately four months.
“There are a lot of things they need to do,” said Cromie.
Recently, the township passed an ordinance to cleanup abandoned, bank-owned properties within the township. The abandoned businesses raised concern, sparking the investigation by the planning board to begin restoring properties to Evesham Township’s standards.
“We’ve had some businesses go out of business in town. Here we are in a blossoming community, and we have some commercial residents who don’t believe they need to keep up with standards we set for residents and new applicants,” said Mayor Randy Brown at the Nov. 20 council meeting. “Meanwhile, not only are some of our first-class businesses upgrading, they’re going to get better tenants to get better revenue, and in turn, get better tax revenue for us.”
According to Brown, some new businesses will be opening in some of the places of concern. The grocery store Aldi will be opening in the Staples shopping center off of Route 70, a Super Wawa, a Wawa store with gas station, will be opening at the Citgo across from ShopRite on Route 70, and an Enterprise will be opened at the party warehouse location. Additionally two locations, Staples and AMC, will be upgrading their facilities. AMC will also be restoring its facilities, rebuilding the snack bar and adding new, upgraded seats.
“There’s a lot of commercial development; there’s more on the rise. It’s not that the entities and business aren’t coming to Evesham, they are,” said Brown. “It’s the businesses who have been here and decide not to do anything anymore.”
Proclamations
Three proclamations were presented at the meeting, one of which was given to longtime Evesham Township employee Millie Bonfrisco, who is retiring.
Township clerk Bonfrisco served Evesham for 23 years in many roles throughout her employment.
Bonfrisco served as secretary to the township and deputy clerk before being promoted to the township clerk. She also worked as secretary to the township council, responsible for keeping minutes from each meeting.
Additionally, she worked as an election official overseeing municipal, school, primary and general elections.
“We wanted to honor her for her dedication to Evesham Township,” said Cromie.
Soccer Champs
The Marlton Lightning Red U14 boys’ soccer team captured the NJ U14 State Cup Championship and were honored by the township with a proclamation.
The Lightning defeated the Westfield Premier Soccer Club for the title. The game went into double-overtime, and was eventually decided by penalty kicks.
The team played six straight tournament games, only giving up two goals.
The Lightning finished the season with a record of 22–7–5 ranking fifth in the state, 40th in the region and 84th nationally.
Cherokee High School girls’ tennis received a proclamation for their state championship win versus Cherry Hill East.
The Lady Chiefs triumphed 3–2 in the state match catapulting their season record to 21–3.
The next meeting
Regular action was taken on the consent agenda at the meeting.
The next township council meeting will be held Dec. 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the municipal building located at 984 Tuckerton Rd. in Marlton.
