This release was provided by the Haddonfield School District website:
Proposed Sale and Use of Bancroft Property, Public Information Session April 22, 7 p.m., High School Auditorium
As most of you have heard, the Bancroft School has agreed to sell their 19-acre property, directly adjacent to the Haddonfield Memorial High School, to Recovery Centers of America (RCA). RCA reportedly intends to establish a drug and alcohol detoxification and rehabilitation facility, serving both inpatients and outpatients, on the property. RCA has requested use of the Haddonfield Memorial High School auditorium on April 22, beginning at 7 p.m., to present to the community more details concerning their plans for the use of the property. The School District, as is our custom, has agreed to allow RCA to use the high school auditorium in this manner.
Since the announcement of Bancroft’s sale of the property to RCA, the Haddonfield School District has heard from many citizens concerned about the possible impact that a drug and alcohol detoxification facility might have on the adjacent high school and the nearby Tatem Elementary School. It is our understanding that RCA’s proposed use of the Bancroft property will require it to apply to the Haddonfield Zoning Board of Adjustment for a use variance. According to New Jersey Municipal Land Use Law, no variance may be granted, including a variance involving an inherently beneficial use, without a showing that such variance can be granted without substantial detriment to the public good and will not substantially impair the intent and the purpose of the zone plan and zoning ordinance.
Because the high school is directly adjacent to the Bancroft property, and Tatem Elementary School is approximately 500 feet from the property, the district will represent its interests at the future Zoning Board hearing(s). The School District is in the process of obtaining legal representation and developing factual information that will help it determine whether RCA’s plans will interfere with the educational mission of the schools. As of today, RCA has not made a formal request to the Zoning Board for a variance. The public can attend the information session at the high school to learn from RCA more about their plans, and the public may also attend likely future Zoning Board hearing(s), where members of the public can present their comments, questions and testimony.
At the Board of Education meeting on Thursday, April 16 the school board approved the appointment of special council for representation at the Zoning Board meetings that are held in regards to the Bancroft property.
