Moves have been made on the Bancroft property in Haddonfield by Recovery Centers of America.
At the Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 18, commissioners revealed that RCA put in a request for a permit on Aug. 3. The borough denied the permit, and an appeal was sent in on Aug. 17. The zoning attorney is reviewing it.
Other than that, borough officials couldn’t give more information. However, they wanted the public to know they are still in talks with RCA.
“I have little information to give you, but what I do have I want to get across to the public,” Commissioner Neal Rochford said.
At the end of the commissioners’ meeting, Rochford gave an update on the Bancroft property and RCA. According to Rochford, the construction office received a request for a permit on Aug. 3 without a use variance. The borough denied that permit, based on the fact it felt RCA needed a use variance. RCA appealed the permit back to the borough on Aug. 17.
“We will be updating you as soon as we understand better from our zoning attorney what appeal process will take place next,” Rochford said.
A citizen asked if that meant negotiations between the borough and RCA were through. Mayor Jeff Kasko denied that, saying they are still having conversations, one as recently as a week ago, about finding an alternative for RCA and other negotiations. Kasko said he believes RCA is just following a procedure it feels is necessary.
Commissioner John Moscatelli wanted to reinforce that statement, saying he is surprised J. Brian O’Neill, CEO of RCA, didn’t do this sooner. He feels O’Neill might be using this request for a permit as a negotiating tactic to get people riled up and get more money from a possible sale of the property to the borough. He reinforced the borough is still in talks with RCA, and citizens shouldn’t look too much into things just yet.
“We’re still talking with (O’Neill). He is exercising his legal options, and he certainly has every right to do that. So I wouldn’t read too much into any of that,” Moscatelli said.
Kasko said he knows this negotiating process is taking a long time, but asks residents to be patient because they only have time on their side.
“We are still continuing to negotiate, and we hope to work something out,” Kasko said.