Phil Guerrieri (R)
1.) This past summer, Cherry Hill Township entered into an agreement with Cherry Hill Land Associates to preserve Woodcrest Country Club that includes new, market-rate residential developments with affordable units at sites such as the Hampton Road and Park Boulevard redevelopment areas and the current Subaru headquarters and a second agreement with Fair Share Housing Center for a development at Short Hills Farm. What is your stance on the agreements and do you feel housing is the best use for each of these sites?
The Mt. Laurel Decision has expired. Suburban townships have been coerced into high density housing development that COAH has been pushing for the last 30 years. We have a glut of existing and planned affordable housing units. High density developments continue to be blessed by our planning and zoning boards, with harmful variances to our Master Plan, even when the development profits no one but the developer. Overall quality of life is sacrificed, in terms of the peace and quiet of our neighborhoods, traffic congestion and safety, even those in “affordable housing.”
Our zoning board just approved (with 39 variances as to density, open space, etc. and despite a lawsuit by residents) 152 units on 9.8 acres at Kresson and Brace Roads.
The race track development began 15 years ago. Today, construction of the housing segment is not complete and existing units are not sold out. Knowing that, why are we planning more multiple units in Cherry Hill? Clearly, this is not what buyers are looking for.
I would adhere to the Master Plan and grant variances very sparingly. I would have lots of discussion with residents before approving any more high density housing in Cherry Hill.
2.) Two other “gateway” properties in Cherry Hill along Routes 38 and Cuthbert Boulevard are also in the process of being declared areas in need of redevelopment. What do you feel is the best use for these properties?
As far as the Master Plan is concerned, these areas should be specified as commercial or light industrial. Given the existing structures and highways, I believe that residential housing is not a good use of that land. Proper planning for traffic is an important factor here. Major thorofares will be impacted. Any plan must address that issue prior to approval.
Chuck Cahn (D)
1.) This past summer, Cherry Hill Township entered into an agreement with Cherry Hill Land Associates to preserve Woodcrest Country Club that includes new, market-rate residential developments with affordable units at sites such as the Hampton Road and Park Boulevard redevelopment areas and the current Subaru headquarters and a second agreement with Fair Share Housing Center for a development at Short Hills Farm. What is your stance on the agreements and do you feel housing is the best use for each of these sites?
As Mayor, working with the township council, I have been committed to preserving open space and, at the same time, to finding a new use for dilapidated and abandoned commercial properties throughout Cherry Hill. You’ve seen transformation at places like LourdesCare, and we’re witnessing it again with the former SYMS building being redeveloped as a state of the art Penn Medical Center. We have worked with our Citizens Cabinet and Business Advisory Council to reinvent distressed sites that have had economic and environmental challenges for years, so that we can protect our open space, increase our tax ratables and bring new commercial vitality to our community.
We have been proactive to make sure that we recycle already developed sites, not open space or green acres. We have won the battle to save Springdale Farm, our last working farm, and the open space at Woodcrest Country Club. We do not need more traffic or more congestion.
As Mayor, I said “No, I will not sit back and watch our critical natural resources and environmentally sensitive areas be developed.” As a result, we preserved open spaces and directed development to areas that need revitalization. We are now in the planning stage to transform several distressed properties to make them economically viable and productive. Those developments will include new luxury market-rate housing that will include a percentage of the legally required amount of workforce housing that is a mandated obligation everywhere in New Jersey.
The township has recently declared two blighted areas as Areas in Need of Redevelopment: the Park Boulevard site (presently the America’s Best Value Hotel) and the Hampton Road site (the abandoned industrial buildings behind the Courier-Post). Both of these sites are in seriously poor condition and are a drain on township and police resources. My goal is to transform these stagnant areas into aesthetically appealing and economically useful contributors to our community because Cherry Hill can do much better than a vacant factory or a crime-ridden motel.
By taking back control of our zoning, we have said no to development on our open spaces, and directed development to areas that need to be transformed into safe and attractive places.
As for the Short Hills project: This development of work-force housing was approved in the early 1990’s, prior to any construction, as part of the overall development of Short Hills. The lawsuit was over three decades old, and all parties were under court orders to resolve this matter in a fair and equitable manner.
By taking back control of our zoning, we have said no to development on our open spaces, and directed development to the most appropriate areas that need to be transformed into viable, productive and safe places again.
2.) Two other “gateway” properties in Cherry Hill along Routes 38 and Cuthbert Boulevard are also in the process of being declared areas in need of redevelopment. What do you feel is the best use for these properties?
In addition to the properties mentioned above, we are also reviewing several other “eyesore” properties — the former Baker Lanes, Express Inn, and Inn of the Dove properties along Route 38. No decisions have been made, but we will work with our planners and engineers, along with our community, to determine what makes sense for these sites. Both are located in close proximity to major highways and the city of Philadelphia, as well as the Cooper River, which regularly hosts recreational activities and rowing regattas. There is a lot of opportunity there and I hope to see those sites transformed into something beneficial for Cherry Hill and the entire region.
