Personal services establishments such as beauty and nail salons may soon be unable to begin operations in the central corridor of the borough.
Borough commissioners at the Tuesday, Oct. 23 meeting approved an ordinance on first reading that would amend the borough code under Chapter 135, “Land Development.”
The amendment, said Commissioner Ed Borden, is the product of work from the planning board and community development staff with input from the Partnership for Haddonfield.
New personal services stores would be prohibited from the downtown corridor on Kings Highway from Chestnut Street to Haddon Avenue, with certain types being allowed on Kings Highway from Chestnut Street to the high speed line and Haddon Avenue to the high school area, said Borden.
The most common would be barber shops and hair salons, he said.
Other categories of businesses such as tattoo parlors would be permitted, but only on side streets such as Tanner and Mechanic Streets.
According to Mayor Tish Colombi, this ordinance will drive more retail businesses to the downtown section.
“It has taken us several years to get here,” Colombi said, citing that Midge McCauley recommended the change.
Colombi said that the current formula, as explained by the borough’s retail coordinator, Remi Fortunato, should have no more than 20 percent of special services in a town and should never occur on a main street.
For personal services establishments already operating in the downtown corridor, it will be business as usual.
“They can remain as what is called a ‘pre-existing non-conforming use,’” said Borden.
Another ordinance, amending chapter 232, “Vehicles and Traffic for Placement of Stop Signs,” approved on first reading will potentially bring a stop sign to the intersection of Clement and Mechanic Streets.
The yield sign currently in place would be removed.
Domestic violence
A shared services arrangement with Cherry Hill for a victim’s services domestic violence response team (DVRT) was authorized at the meeting.
Representatives from the program, “Side-by-Side,” were on hand to accept a proclamation from the commissioners for Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
As a woman, said Colombi, she is grateful for their work.
“It’s an enormously important thing you do,” said Borden.
The program will assist the Haddonfield Police Department with counseling services for victims of domestic violence consistent with state guidelines.
According to Cherry Hill Township’s website, “The Side by Side DVRT is composed of trained volunteer citizens who respond to the police departments on an on-call basis. All volunteers go through a rigorous screening process followed by an intensive 40 hours of training. Upon successful completion of the training, volunteers are able to speak to victims in a confidential nature.”
Goals, according to the website, include decreasing emotional trauma, increasing education for victim’s to make better decisions about options and increasing access to community resources.
“We do appreciate it,” said Chief John Banning of the work of the program’s members.
Next meeting
The next meeting of the commissioners is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m. in room 102 of Borough Hall.
