Nearly a year after asking the planning board to look into changes regarding the Route 70 zoning districts, Medford Township Council is ready to move forward with ordinances implementing some of the board’s recommendations.
Mayor Chris Buoni said council needs to start moving forward with some of the proposed changes.
“We need to move on with it,” Buoni said. “We started this process last year.”
Council is waiting to hear feedback from planner Scott Taylor before drafting ordinances and plans to have a detailed discussion on changes as soon as the next council meeting on Oct. 21.
Council members did not say if all or some of the planning board’s recommendations would be crafted into ordinances. In July, the planning board made recommendations to make numerous zoning changes, including increasing the size of buildings and decreasing buffer requirements to increase visibility from Route 70 for businesses.
Buoni’s fellow members of council also said progress needs to be made on the subject. Councilman Frank Czekay approved the recommendations as a member of the planning board and said some of the changes, such as one increasing the size of buildings, are needed to make many existing buildings along Route 70 in conformance with township ordinances.
One resident, Jerry Gray, is continuing to battle against the changes. He told council two of the three goals listed at the beginning of the process were not going to be met with the changes.
“They’re not going to increase the quality of life in Medford, and it’s going to increase the traffic,” Gray said.
Gray said council wants to further develop Route 70 to increase its commercial tax ratable base, something Buoni denied.
“You never heard us use the word ratable when submitting those suggestions,” Buoni said.
Buoni added one of the goals is to bring facilities such as hospitals to Medford, saying such facilities cannot be constructed in the township because of restrictive ordinances. He said bringing in these facilities would allow residents to stay in town rather than travel.
“What we’re trying to do is create a new system that is functional,” Buoni said.
Gray’s biggest concern is preserving the character of Medford. He shared his fears of Medford turning from a woodland town into a commercial center.
“A lot of people are happy,” Gray said. “Not everyone is chomping at the bit to see some change.
Buoni disagreed with Gray, saying the №1 thing residents told him when he was campaigning for council in 2011 was the township needs more businesses.
Deputy Mayor Chuck Watson added the changes are going to be done responsibly. He said township officials would make sure development adequately balances with preserving the character of the township.
“Our proposal of Route 70 will not look like Cherry Hill’s Route 70,” Watson said.
Councilman Randy Pace said he is confident the township will not overdevelop after changes are made.
“We’re not going to allow crowding,” he said. “It’s not going to happen.”
