It was on Jan. 22, 2014, when the Medford Township planning board held its first public input session to get suggestions on how the township could better attract businesses to the Route 70 commercial corridor.
Nearly one year later, township council is prepared to finally vote on a draft ordinance on changes to the corridor.
Council is expected to have an ordinance up for introduction during its next meeting on Feb. 3.
The draft ordinance includes many of the changes discussed at council and planning board meetings in 2014. The maximum size for many commercial buildings will increase to 100,000 square feet and for industrial, medical buildings and other professional offices to 120,000 square feet.
There are also proposed changes to setbacks and buffers. Front yard setbacks will decrease to 50 feet for all buildings. Setbacks are currently 100 feet for individual buildings and 125 feet for shopping centers. Buffer zones are being cut down to 25 feet for large buildings and 15 feet for smaller buildings.
The changes would take place for the Route 70 area from the Evesham Township border down to Haynes Run. Areas to the east up to the Southampton border are not part of the proposed area.
Most of the discussion at last week’s council meeting revolved around the proposed buffer zone. Township planner Michelle Taylor acknowledged the Pinelands Commission could have an issue with the proposed buffer changes. Part of the Route 70 corridor falls under Pinelands jurisdiction.
“We have some concerns that Pinelands may be concerned about some of those amended provisions,” Taylor said.
Medford resident Chuck Deal also had concerns about the buffer changes. He cited Turnersville as an example, saying the town’s Route 42 corridor is full of nothing but buildings and parking lots. He felt the buffer changes could lead to Route 70 in Medford looking the same way.
“I just don’t want to see a building smack up against the road,” Deal said. “I understand we want development, but at the same time we want to make smart development.”
Taylor said the buffer zones are in addition to the land New Jersey owns as part of Route 70.
“The highway has a 200-foot to a 400-foot right of way,” she said. “The state controls that much of the right of way.”
Deputy Mayor Jeff Beenstock also questioned why hotels were not included on the list of permitted uses in the development area. Taylor said the distance between Medford and major highways such as I-295 and the New Jersey Turnpike led to hotels not being included in the changes.
“It was determined that based upon the vehicle trips per day and the accessibility to roads that it may not be an acceptable use for the corridor,” she said.
Some other commercial uses are only conditionally permitted. Taylor cited fast food restaurants as an example of a conditional use, saying fast food businesses would not be permitted to adjoin residential developments.
After council passes the ordinance on first reading, it must go back to the planning board for approval. Council would then hold a public hearing and vote to adopt the ordinance on second reading.
