Check out what other top stories took place during February in Cherry Hill.
In 2016, some of the biggest hot button issues in Cherry Hill Township involved zoning ordinances and redevelopment. The first two redevelopment and zoning stories of the year came in February as the township made strides in one area designated in need of redevelopment and amended an old agreement with Cherry Hill Land Associates.
In February, Cherry Hill Township Council approved a redevelopment plan for the Park Boulevard gateway redevelopment area. The township planning board approved of the plan on Feb. 1 and then sent the plan to council for approval.
The property was formerly home to America’s Best Value Inn, Palace of Asia restaurant and Faith Life Christian Center. The redevelopment plan proposed transforming 7.3 acres of land into a 192-unit residential development, most of which consists of a 176-unit apartment building. The building will reach three-to-four stories high and will be constructed along the Park Boulevard side of the property, with many of the units overlooking Cooper River Park.
Next to the large building, across Donahue Avenue, will be 16 townhouse units separated into two buildings. Like the 176-unit building, the townhouses will also be built along Park Boulevard facing Cooper River Park.
Talking about the design, Mayor Chuck Cahn described the development as modern and expected it to fit well with the surrounding neighborhood.
“We think it’s award-winning and cutting edge for this entire area,” Cahn said. “It’s something the region of Philadelphia and South Jersey has not seen before.”
A couple weeks prior, residents received news about a change in a housing agreement between the township and Cherry Hill Land Associates.
In the original agreement between the township and CHLA approved in June of 2015, CHLA would be permitted to develop about 370 residential units at the sit of Subaru headquarters along Route 70.
Early in 2016, the agreement was amended, shifting those units away from Subaru to the former Victory Refrigeration site on Woodcrest Road. The township had previously designated the site as an area in need of redevelopment in 2013.
Cherry Hill Township Chief of Staff Erin Patterson Gill said the Victory Refrigeration site was more appropriate for residential development than the Subaru site.
“You have the train station down the street, you have direct access to I-295, you’re right up the Turnpike,” Gill said about the Victory site in February. “Plus it’s an appealing site for those commuting to Philadelphia. We’re trying to attract young professionals to Cherry Hill. There’s not too many places where you can walk to a train station in South Jersey.”
These two stories were just the first in a long list of development and zoning stories taking place in the township in 2016.
Other top stories from the month of February:
Feb. 10 — Residents help resolve threat at Cherry Hill High School East
During the weekend of Jan. 30 and 31, a threatening text message made against Cherry Hill High School East circulated around residents’ social media pages. As the threat became viral, the community was able to help police in their investigation of the incident.
After receiving numerous tips from residents, Cherry Hill Police were able to catch the culprit, an unnamed juvenile. The juvenile was charged with one count of false public alarm.
Cherry Hill Police Chief William Monaghan said the input of residents was crucial in catching the suspect.
“By having citizens who actively participated, it allowed us to do our job better and it brought this incident to a very quick end,” Monaghan said.
Cherry Hill East was able to open without incident on Monday, Feb. 1.
Feb. 24 — Cherry Hill BOE, CHEA ratify new contract
In February, Cherry Hill Education Association members began working under a new contract for the first time since the 2013–14 school year.
Both sides were happy to come to an agreement after many months of negotiations and disagreements.
“CHEA is grateful to the parents and other community members who supported us during these many months of negotiations,” a statement from CHEA read.
“It was a difficult negotiation and a long negotiation,” board member Steve Robbins said. “But at the end of the day, I think it is a fair result.”
Feb. 3 — Barclay Farmstead kicks off 200th anniversary celebration
The year 2016 was a special one for Cherry Hill Township’s historic Barclay Farmstead. The site celebrated its 200th birthday throughout the year. The celebration kicked off at Cherry Hill Township Council’s third meeting of the year.
Friends of Barclay Farmstead president Beth Beatty said the partnership between the Friends organization, which runs the programs at the farmstead; and the township, the owner of the property, has allowed the historic site to flourish in recent years.
“It’s such a unique interaction between a publicly-owned property and a private support group that has a long history of cooperation,” said Beth Beatty, president of Friends of Barclay Farmstead. “I think it’s something township residents are not really aware about. It’s a great opportunity for the township and the Friends group to call attention to this very positive relationship.”
The celebration at the council meeting was the first in a long list of 200th anniversary events for the farmstead.
Feb. 17 — Four Cherry Hill teens achieve the ranking of Eagle Scout
For four 17-year-old Cherry Hill Boy Scouts, Feb. 7, 2016, will be a day they remember forever.
On that day, Scouts Joseph Lapinson, Nitan Shanas, Christian Termine and Sean Williams officially attained the ranking of Eagle Scout, the highest ranking a Boy Scout can receive. The four had their Court of Honor at Holy Eucharist Church.
“It’s pretty exciting,” Lapinson said. “As a younger Scout, I never really pictured myself as an Eagle Scout. It’s really exciting.”
In The Sun’s feature story, the four Scouts talked about what they love most about scouting and the journey to becoming an Eagle Scout.
