At its most recent public meeting, Cherry Hill Township Council, upon first reading, signed off on an ordinance whose new language seeks to correct that within an existing ordinance dealing with state-mandated standards for stormwater management on any future land development.
During that Feb. 8 online session, Township Business Administrator Erin Patterson Gill explained that any time the municipal government wants to make an amendment to a zoning ordinance, it first needs to be referred to the planning board for review.
“They will review it, and either recommend or make changes and send it back to council,” Gill added. “This ordinance is being adopted simultaneously with a resolution directing it to the planning board. They will review what we discussed with respect to the updated technical standards for stormwater management.”
Should the planning board recommend significant alterations, Gill said, council would have to re-adopt the ordinance and have another first reading. If there are no changes or minor corrections requested, council could move toward approval.
Gill added that she didn’t think there would be any significant alterations, as any language in the ordinance exists simply to mirror current New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection requirements for pending projects.
In response to a question about ongoing issues with stormwater remediation in Kingston Estates, Gill explained that the ordinance wouldn’t specifically have anything to do with existing issues there, unless there were plans to develop land or re-develop existing land or structures.
Earlier in the meeting, council passed the related resolution related to the above legislation.
The next scheduled meeting of the planning board is on Feb. 16. Second reading and further public comment on the ordinance are expected at council’s next virtual session on Feb. 22.
Addressing the ongoing need to refurbish certain locations of interest, council also authorized the township to enter into a shared services agreement to upgrade certain sections of the Kay-Evans house at Croft Farm.
Council President David Fleisher revealed that to utilize the $50,000 grant from the county’s preservation trust fund, the township will provide $12,500 in matching funds.
The agreement also outlines specific restorative work that is mandated and contained within five main tasks: replacing a vent pipe, roof repair and addressing related leaks, rectifying peeling paint and plaster throughout the house, installation of appropriate exhibit lighting on the first floor, installation of a new basement slab, resetting existing brickwork as well as a perimeter drain and repainting of the interior foundation basement wall.
“These are important investments in our historic properties,” Fleisher noted.
In other news:
- Township residents Larry Abrams and Jennifer Lewis-Hall were given proclamations in recognition of their 2021 Camden County MLK Freedom Medal awards last month.
- Councilwoman Michele Golkow revealed that senior citizens without access to computers who have issues with appointments and locations for the COVID-19 vaccine can call (855) 568-0545 for assistance.
