While in normal times the Cherry Hill Mall sees no shortage of customers, the adjacent Plaza at Cherry Hill has seen frequent store turnover throughout the years. So township council has referred the Route 38 site to the planning board to see if it qualifies for rehabilitation.
At its most recent virtual meeting, council passed a resolution authorizing the board to conduct a study of the area to see if it meets local and redevelopment and housing law criteria for rehabilitation. From there, the planning board will return to council with its recommendations.
Cosmas Diamantis, the township’s director of community development, stressed the resolution is just the first step in the rehabilitation process. From there, the planning board will need to conduct a hearing where it reviews the site, and where the township’s redevelopment planner will provide an overview of the plaza’s surrounding uses and cite applicable sections of state redevelopment laws. Members of the public will also have the opportunity to comment at the planning board meeting.
From there, the matter will come back to council for final review and approval. If council does designate the site an area in need of rehabilitation, then the planning board can begin drafting a redevelopment plan with the township’s redevelopment planner. Diamantis said at that point, his office, the public and the owner of the site will all have opportunities to provide input on the redevelopment plan.
Mayor Susan Shin Angulo said the site is currently facing multiple vacancies.
“This underperforming site has had a long struggle to retain tenants,” Shin Angulo noted of the center, home to a Red Lobster and an Aldi store. She added the township will contact surrounding neighbors as the plan unfolds to ensure they’re part of the planning process moving forward.
Council President David Fleisher also stressed the importance of the public’s voice.
“Neighborhood outreach is critical during all of this as well, if there’s indications that this is gaining traction and proceeding,” Fleisher said.
Shin Angulo said the official designation “in need of rehabilitation” gives the township options moving forward.
“If this site qualifies under the statute, then we will have the ability to try and reinvent that site with a new layout, more greenery and zoning that will allow for a viable tenancy,” Shin Angulo added.
The next meeting of Cherry Hill Township Council will take place on Monday, July 27, at 7:30 p.m.
