Taking into consideration significant pushback from neighborhood homeowners who oppose the project on numerous accounts, Haddonfield’s board of commissioners nonetheless passed upon second reading a zoning ordinance that paves the way for affordable-housing units at the Snowden site.
The purpose of the amendment, approved by the board at its March 9 open public session, is to act as an overlay code paving the way for construction at Snowden, targeted for 20 affordable units on a parcel of land behind borough hall.
The overlay is necessary to allow for medium and high density multifamily residential construction, as otherwise allowed by previously identified base zoning districts, and to ensure any development is in accordance with the borough’s agreement with Fair Share Housing.
In addition, the new code dictates that any new residential development within the boundaries of the overlay will have 100 percent of total units designated for affordable housing, as previously defined in borough code that deals specifically with state-mandated guidelines.
“These are the setbacks, the lot sizes, the density, the height, the parking, how the fences are going to look, landscaping and other elements as well,” explained outgoing Mayor Neal Rochford.
On Jan. 19, the governing body unanimously approved the ordinance upon first reading, but a second reading and final public comment were tabled during a Feb. 9 meeting. A scheduling conflict caused the cancellation of a board meeting scheduled two weeks later, further delaying the matter.
In reviewing the ordinance at its own monthly public meeting on March 2, the borough’s planning board offered two main areas for commissioners to revisit when formulating the site plan: building height and unit density. The units are currently planned for a parcel of less than an acre, with a maximum height of the planned construction at 45 feet.
When the ordinance came up for final discussion, tensions ran high; several homeowners in close proximity to Snowden added their significant opposition to the record.
Jill Poretta, a consistent dissenter, assailed what she termed as “talking points” by commissioners about offering low-to-moderate income families “a choice” to live in Snowden, as well as low estimates for the number of children who would reside in the project’s limited number of three-bedroom units.
Poretta has been critical of the density of the project, already reduced from the originally designated 28 units.
“How are you going to show residents they should have faith in you?” she asked. “It’s really not that hard. I know how. Listen to the planning board to reduce density and height.”
Colleen Bianco Bezich, director of public affairs and public safety, countered that further significant reduction of units would mean an increase in height for the pending construction. She revealed that, as recently as the previous weekend, appointments were kept to look at additional properties in town to address the density issue.
“I’ve continued to explore that for the last 16 months,” Bezich explained. “If we aren’t able for some reason to get it below 20, 19, 18, 17, and we’re looking at reducing density, we may end up with a four, five or six story building.”
One Kings Highway East resident expressed concern on grounds that the historic character of the area would be adversely impacted. He further denigrated the proposed construction, to be called Elizabeth Place, as “a project, with all its connotations.”
“I think you’re getting very close to crossing a line,” Rochford countered. “They’re going to be clean. They’re going to be safe. People are going to want to be there. I just hope that people have an open mind about this.”
Susan Podgor was more sanguine, suggesting Snowden be reduced to as few as 10 units, with remaining land used for green space.
“It’s not a perfect plan. It’s not the Kasko plan, or the Rochford plan or the Bezich plan,” said Commissioner Jeff Kasko. “It’s a plan resulting from years of fighting. But we’re at the point where a judge said, ‘You gotta do it.’
“I’m not 100 percent happy,” he added, “but with all the pressure we’ve been under, we’re finally at a point where we have to move forward.”
Bezich additionally revealed that there is a public meeting expected in May, when the borough’s chosen developer, Community Investment Strategies, is expected to present a site plan application for review and comment.
In other news:
- Two proclamations were introduced during the meeting: one to recognize March as Women’s History Month and another recognizing March 21 to 27 as National Poison Prevention Week.
- Commissioners also authorized the borough to enter into a shared-services agreement with the board of education for Municipal Alliance Coordinator services. With the alliance, government and school officials collaborate to teach students about the dangers or drug and alcohol use and abuse. The agreement allows grant money to be acquired to fund the alliance’s activities.
- With unanimous consent, the governing body also resolved to advertise for sealed bids for the upcoming stormwater remediation projects on Heritage Road, Jefferson Avenue, Lafayette Avenue and Upland Way. Deadline for the bids to be received by the borough is the morning of April 1.
